Cleaning With Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the best substances for cleaning, cheap and environmentally friendly! Cleaning with vinegar is also quick and easy.

You can reuse spray bottles or buy new and label accordingly. For pastes, a recycled glass jar will store safely.

All-purpose cleaners

For:

glass
stainless steel
plastic laminate surfaces

Fill a recycled a spray bottle whether to pass water one part distilled white vinegar and a couple of drops of washing up liquid. This will make an effective quick clean solution.

For:

cleaning walls
painted surfaces

Fill a recycled spray bottle with a cleaning solution made from 110 miles (half cup) white distilled vinegar, 225 mls (1 cup) of ammonia and a quarter cup of baking soda in 3.7 L (1 gallon of water).

Spritz it on spots and stains whenever needed then wipe off with a clean towel.

Scouring mix

An effective scouring mix which can be used safely on all of your metal cookware including copper pots and pans.

Combine equal parts of salt and flour and add just enough white distilled vinegar to make a paste.

Work paste around the cooking surface on the outside of the utensils then rinse off with warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft dish towel.

Pesticide

Countertops and plastic surfaces – Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and wipe over the surface. In addition to cleaning the surface, the solution acts as an insect repellent
Cupboards – Make up a mix of 375mls (1 ½ cups of apple cider vinegar) and add a couple of drops of washing up liquid. Place the bowl in the cupboard and leave it there for a week it will attract the bugs which will fall into the bowl and drown
Flytrap – Make a trap for flies by filling an old jar about halfway with apple cider vinegar. Make holes in the lid, screw the lid back on and the flies will crawl through the holes.

Kitchen and Utility Room

Aluminium cookware – Remove dark stains mixing 1 tsp of white vinegar for every cup of water needed to cover the stain. Boil for a couple of minutes then rinse with cold water.
Aluminium utensils – Bring back the shine by boiling a solution of 2tablespoons of white vinegar in 1ltr (1 3/4 pts) of water.
Breadbox – Clean and disinfect by wiping over with full strength white vinegar. This also helps to eliminate odours.
Bottles and Decanters – Place a dessert spoon of salt in the bottle and moisten with white vinegar. Shake vigorously then rinse with cold eater.
Ceramic floor tiles – Add around 500ml (1 pint) of white vinegar to a bucket of water. This method is faster than using detergent as no rinsing is needed.
Ceramic wall tiles – Mix 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water and use a cloth to wipe tiles clean. This also preserves the color of the grout.
China – Remove tea/coffee etc stains by submerging in a solution made by boiling equal parts of water to white vinegar. Soak for an hour, then rinse with clean water. For stubborn stains, scrub with equal parts of white vinegar and salt.
Cloths and sponges – Keep fresh by soaking overnight in a solution of 55ml (1/4 cup) of white vinegar and water. Rinse before use.
Chrome – Spray lightly from a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Buff with a soft cloth for a gleaming finish.
Coffee maker – Fill the decanter with 450 mls (2 cups) white vinegar and 225ml (1 cup) of water. Put a filter in the machine and pour the solution into the coffee maker’s chamber. Run the machine through a brew cycle. Change the filter, then run clean water through twice, replacing the filter for the 2nd run. You might need to do this more than twice to clear the vinegar thoroughly.
Containers/storage jars/cutting boards – Clean and disinfect by wiping with full strength vinegar.

Dishwasher

Remove built up soap film and increase performance by pouring 225ml (1cup) of undiluted white vinegar into the bottom of the unit. Run a full cycle with the machine empty.

NOTE – Check with the dishwasher manufacturer that it’s safe to use vinegar in your dishwasher.

Adding a55ml(1/4)cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle eliminates spots and cloudiness from everyday glassware.

For Crystal and fine cut glass, add 2tablespoons of white vinegar to the dishwasher then rinse in a solution of 3 parts warm water to 1 part white vinegar.

Even More Vinegar Kitchen Cleaning Tips!

Drains – Deodorize by pouring half a cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar (through a funnel) down the drain. When the foaming subsides, flush with hot ta water. Wait 5mns then flush again with cold water.
Frying pan/Skillet – Boil 2 cups of white vinegar in your frying pan for 10mns. This will help to keep food from sticking for several months.
Grease splatters – Remove splatters by wiping down surfaces with full strength vinegar. Rinse with cold water then wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Burnt on grease and food in saucepans – Soften with a solution of 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Apply the mixture while the pan is still hot and let it sit for about an hour.
Grill hoods/hotplates – Wipe with full strength white vinegar.
Kettle – Remove limescale by filling the kettle with water and adding about 1/2 a cup of white vinegar. Let it stand overnight then rinse with clean water.
Microwave – Place a glass bowl filled with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water inside the microwave. Zap for 5mns on the highest setting. Once the bowl is cool, dip a cloth into the liquid to wipe away splatters and stains from the interior of the oven.
Cooking smells – Stand a small bowl filled with full strength white vinegar on a countertop to absorb unwanted odours.
Fridge – Clean and disinfect by wiping round with full strength white vinegar.
Scissors – Clean your scissors with full strength vinegar rather than water (which makes them rust faster).Wipe down with a clean cloth.
Stainless steel – Soak in 2 cups of white vinegar for 30mns then rinse with hot soapy water followed by a cold rinse.
Thermos flask – Fill with warm water, add some rice (acts as an abrasive) and about 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Close and shake well,, rinse then air dry.
Washing up liquid – Make your detergent go further and add more effectiveness by adding 3 to 4 tablespoons and giving it a shake.

Clean Your Oven With Vinegar!

General Cleaning – Make a paste of 225ml (1 cup) of white vinegar and30g (1/4cup) of laundry powder. Heat the oven for 5 mins at around 180 degrees then turn off. Spread the paste around the oven applying more heavily to very greasy areas. Leave the paste on for about an hour then use a plastic spatula to scrape the dirt away. Wipe with a clean cloth.
Odours – If you use a chemical cleaner, wipe around the oven with white vinegar as a final rinse. This gets rid of the smell by neutralizing the harsh alkali found in chemical cleaners.
Prevent greasy build up – Dip a sponge in full strength white vinegar and wipe down all sides of the oven to help prevent that greasy build up.

COMING SOON – CLEANING YOUR BATHROOM!