Cleaning with Vinegar

I was thrilled to see the introduction of “White Vinegar” as a cleaning product in Mercadona at a very fine Price of 0.69cents. I immediately bought two bottles to try out. 

As we have been told for many years many of the cleaning products that we have in our households are bad for our environment and can affect our own breathing. Although I do use bleach in the house I use it very sparingly. Many people still put a“cup” full of bleach into a bucket where as research shows that a “cap” will do the job more than adequately. 

The Spanish are great fans of ammonia but I am sure most of you know that this must never be mixed with bleach ( I found out the hard way when I first moved away from home. Luckily I was on a terrace and the smoke fumes soon disappeared, but the smell was definitely over powering).


Here are some tips on cleaning with vinegar......

Cleaning with White Vinegar.

 White vinegar is another amazing, ecofriendly product that we can use to replace our chemical cleaning products. It is cheap, has a very very long shelf life, It is edible and biodegradable and is a fantastic cleaner.
To show you have versatile this substance is here are just a few ways in which we can use white vinegar.

1.       Eliminate odours. You can use vinegar for an immediate effect such as boiling a cup of water with a       table spoon of vinegar. This will work with strong kitchen/cooking/ smoke smells. You can also put a       small bowl of neat vinegar in a corner of a room or fridge to elevate.

2.       Clean Kitchen surfaces with a clean cloth and vinegar for a fresh smelling clean kitchen.

3.       Wash down tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms with a clean cloth and vinegar to clean off mould.

4.       Clean the fridge with a cloth and half water/half white vinegar to fight unwanted smalls and bacteria.

5.       To remove dirt from a microwave. Heat up a small amount of vinegar in the microwave, leave for three minutes and then wipe the microwave with a dry cloth.

6.        Soak cotton wool with vinegar and leave on taps overnight to clean off lime scale.

7.       Dishwashers can receive a clean up with a cup of white vinegar on an economy run.

8.       Wipe out plastic food containers and lunch boxes with a vinegar soaked cloth to disinfect, clean and remove smells.  

9.  Mix equal amounts of table salt with white vinegar into a paste and use to clean brass, copper and pewter. 

 

10.   To disinfect, clean and remove smells from dish cloths soak over night in a bowl of vinegar mixed with water.

11.    Before leaving the house tip three cups of white vinegar down the toilets to clean and deodorize.

12.    Clear blocked drains with handful of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar. Leave for three minutes and then pour hot/boiling water down the drain. Repeat if necessary.

13.    Leave the shower head for several hours in a cup of white vinegar to get rid of lime scale and clean. Run hot water through the shower head when finished.

14.    Deodorant stains on clothes can be treated by placing a small amount of white vinegar and then washing as normal.

15.    Mix one part vinegar to two parts water to clean the coffee pot. Place in the water section and turn the machine on. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm soapy water and then with clear water.

16.    Add a teaspoon of vinegar to a spray bottle and wipe off mirrors and windows with scrunched up newspaper.

17.    Clean carpet stains with a mixture of one teaspoon of each of white vinegar and a mild detergent with a little amount of lukewarm water. Apply this mixture to the carpet stain and rub it with a soft brush or a towel, until the stain is vanished.

18.    To clean floors add half a cup of white vinegar in about 15 litres of water. A few drops of your favourite essential oil can also be added.

19.    Remove watermarks from wood with a small amount of vinegar mixed with olive oil.

20.   Wipe down surfaces such as telephones, light switches, and computer key boards with a very slightly damp cloth lightly dipped in vinegar.