It took our generation a little while to figure out what our grandmothers knew all along: Vinegar is one of the most effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly cleaning agents available. It is non-toxic and harmless to children and animals, unlike some conventional chemical based cleaning solutions. Blending vinegar with other natural products will give you a cleaning formula worthy enough to tackle most household cleaning chores. From freshening up your fridge to unclogging drains – Yes, “Versatile Vinegar” really does it all!
Microwave
Place a bowl filled with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of water inside the microwave, and heat until boiling. Keep the door closed and let the steam do its work for 10 minutes. Use a microfibre cloth and the cooled down vinegar water to wipe out the oven, and watch as stubborn food stains wipe off with ease, leaving your microwave looking and smelling clean and fresh.
Dishwasher
To disinfect the interior of your dishwasher, pour ½ cup of vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle, or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack of the dishwasher and run an empty cycle.
Surfaces
Save your orange, lemon, grapefruit or lime peels and place them in an airtight jar, cover with white vinegar and seal. Leave the mixture for 1 to 2 weeks. The citrus fruit essence will infuse into the vinegar leaving you with a wonderful homemade cleaning solution, that is not only highly effective on most surfaces, including glass and stainless steel, but that smells amazing too.
Floors
Mix one cup of white vinegar and baking soda with a tablespoon of homemade or eco-friendly dish soap into a large bucket with 5 litres of hot water, and use the solution to mop your floors. This hardworking mix will have your floors clean and shiny in no time. Note: Do not use vinegar on marble or other stoneware, as it can cause the stone to pit and corrode.
Glass
Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water and pour into a spray bottle for a healthy, non-toxic homemade glass cleaner.
Tiles
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, ½ cup of Castile soap and ½ cup of water to make great tub and tile cleaner.
Unclogging Drains
Instead of pouring harsh chemicals down your sink and drains to clear them. Simply mix together ½ cup of baking soda and1 cup of white vinegar into a bowl. The mixture will begin to effervesce but this is normal. Quickly pour the effervescing mixture down the drain and let it sit for about half an hour before flushing with boiling water. You may need to repeat the process for heavy blockages.
Carpets
To lift light stains from carpets, mix together ½ cup each of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and lightly spray onto carpet stains. Leave to sit for a few minutes and then blot with paper towels or a light coloured cloth. Repeat the process until the stain has faded.
Bathrooms
For a pristinely clean bathroom, mix together 2 cups of water, 1 cup of white vinegar and 10 to 15 drops of Peppermint or Lavender essential oil into a spray bottle. Use to clean all surfaces in your bathroom.
Shower Heads
Carefully pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the shower head, ensuring the head is submerged in the vinegar before securing with rubber bands. Leave to soak overnight. Rinse with water in the morning and buff to a high shine with a dry cloth.
Stinky Shoes
For shoes that smell brand new, just soak the insoles in warm water and a little vinegar before leaving them to dry completely.
Toilets
To get the outside of your toilet super clean, fill a spray bottle with half water half vinegar then spray down the outside. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and wipe clean. For tougher areas or stains, you may need to add a little more vinegar to your mixture. For tough stains on the inside, just pour vinegar directly into the bowl.
Glasses
To remove stubborn spots and streaks from glasses. Spray white vinegar on your lenses and wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Fridges
To clean the shelves and interior of your fridge, simply mix an equal water vinegar solution together, this will not only clean your fridge but deodorise it too.
Note: While vinegar is good at cleaning many things, you shouldn’t confuse it with soap. Alkaline cleaners such as dish detergent are ideally suited for lifting grease, whereas vinegar will have little effect on it. If you have a greasy cleaning job, reach for regular soap and leave the vinegar on the shelf. You should never use vinegar on waxed surfaces.