The benefits of Vinegar

Vinegar would be the most popular alternative household cleaning product on the market. Also recognised as Acetic Acid, vinegar can be found in most kitchen cupboards. It can be used for most cleaning applications but most stains are acidic so vinegar will not neutralise these stains because vinegar is an acid itself, even with this in mind, vinegar is always a good option to try on most stains.

For most cleaning applications a mixture of 10% vinegar mixed with water (basic solution) will be suitable. It is unlikely you will need a stronger mixture than this, you will need to use weaker concentrations for individual tasks.

Some simple precautions when using vinegar should include wearing rubber gloves due to the drying effect it has on the skin. Also, although a relatively safe product the fumes from vinegar can irritate the nasal passage and the air way so avoid breathing the vapour or wear protective gear.

Vinegar can be purchased anywhere from the local supermarket to the corner store. No-Name brands can be found for around $2 per litre and these are ideally suited to cleaning applications.

Some of the many uses around the home for vinegar include:

  • One of the most common uses for vinegar is as a window cleaner. Several commercially available window cleaners contain vinegar along with other ingredients including synthetic chemicals in many cases. You can use a basic solution of vinegar as a general purpose window cleaner suitable for most window cleaning tasks. Use paper towel instead of cloth rags to avoid lint. Paper towel can be added to the compost heap if using a simple water and vinegar cleaning solution.
  • Lime and scale build up in coffee makers, kettles or tea pots can be dissolved with vinegar. This is a one of only a few times I recommend using full strength vinegar. Soak for a short period of time, swirl around and discard. Rinse several times before reusing the appliance to remove any vinegar contamination.
  • Vinegar can be used as a mild bleach on light stains. Though it is not suitable for extreme staining or stains that have aged before treating.
  • Tiled or Vinyl floors can be cleaned using a basic vinegar and water solution. Use a rope head or cloth mop not a sponge mop as the vinegar can dissolve the sponge head quickly.
  • Vinegar and baking soda will help clear drains. Add a couple of table spoons of baking soda down the drain and follow up with half a cup of vinegar. The effervescing action will help block drains and also acts as a deodoriser.

Vinegar is an ideal first option before moving on to harsher cleaners. In many cases Vinegar will get the job done on the first go, sometimes on the second or third. Vinegar also has the potential to prevent stains from adhering to surfaces with regular repeated uses.

В© Eric J. Smith

September 26, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Organic Home Cleaning

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