Why Vinegar Might Be Your New Cleaning Favorite
Cleaning your home is a tall order; we know that. There are so many surfaces, rooms, and nooks and crannies, no matter how big or small your area. When it comes to cleaning supplies, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up, with different products and devices for every different task.
If you’re looking to simplify your cleaning product cabinet this year, look no further than white vinegar. Most people already have some in their home, and it’s relatively inexpensive. While there are certainly more popular vinegars for cooking and eating – like red wine, balsamic, and apple cider – white vinegar is a classic, fundamental item with tons of uses. Today, we’ll discuss how you can use it to clean a ton of different areas of the home.
What Is Vinegar?
It might sound like a silly question, but it’s definitely one we’ve found ourselves asking before. You probably already know just from smelling it and tasting different kinds that vinegar is an acidic solution that packs a real punch.
But when it comes to what the solution actually is, vinegar is created by fermentation, which is far more scientific than we need to get into, but basically, it means that sugars are being eaten by bacteria, leading to an acidic result. It can take anywhere from a few days to a year to make vinegar.
This acidity is what makes vinegar such a powerful cleaning tool. Though it has an incredibly pungent smell, vinegar is useful for removing odors, and its acidity makes it particularly effective on pesky stains. Let’s discuss specifically how you can use vinegar in your cleaning efforts.
The Kitchen
In many homes, the kitchen is one of the messiest areas, not only because, duh, you cook in that room, but also because there are simply so many surfaces, each made of a different material, and each more difficult to clean than the last.
Before you start cleaning with vinegar, you should dilute it with water, as vinegar is strong in its acidity, and therefore it can corrode certain metallic materials, as well as mineral deposits in glass.
Now that you’ve diluted your vinegar, it’s time to clean that kitchen. The kitchen has more than a few elements that can be cleaned using vinegar. Using a washcloth with your vinegar solution, you can clean your stove, counters, and appliances.
On a deep cleaning day, you can use vinegar to wipe down every corner of the inside of your fridge to remove any rogue stains or bad smells. Some recommend placing a bowl of undiluted vinegar in the fridge to absorb smells, but this isn’t necessary unless you have a particularly lingering scent.
The last thing you can do, for those with dishwashers that get a lot of use and therefore are noticeably dirty, is fill a plastic, dishwasher-safe cup or bowl with vinegar, then place it upright in your dishwasher and run it. This will fill your dishwasher with scent-killing vinegar.
The Bathroom
Moving on, along with the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the second room of your home that needs the most frequent cleaning. Just like the kitchen, the reasons are obvious. The room gets used a lot, and there’s a lot of moisture in there. Even with a lot of natural light, it can get dirty fast.
From soap scum to corrosion on metal handles, vinegar has got you covered. Bring the same solution you were using for the kitchen and a new washcloth and you’ll be cleaner in no time.
However, just like the kitchen, the bathroom is often in need of a deeper clean. To accomplish this, we recommend mixing your vinegar with baking soda to form a sort of thin paste or thick liquid. These two, working together, can help remove stains on porcelain or enamel tubs and other appliances. Lather it on, then leave it for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing away.
Windows and Walls
One of the oldest methods of cleaning windows that is still in use today in the United Kingdom is malt vinegar sprinkled onto newspaper to wipe down the windows. This is a fine way to do it, but we recommend a micro-fiber cloth instead of newspaper, and you can use white vinegar instead of malt.
For the walls, simply take the same solution as before and scrub those walls down. Many people don’t think about cleaning the walls, but especially in the bathrooms and kitchen, grime can gather in these areas easily.
Leave it to the Pros
You’re amazing at cleaning your home – we know that. But we also know it can be exhausting to have to keep up with your household tasks with everything else going on in your life.
That’s why we offer custom maid services that fit your needs. With the same team member visiting your home or office each week, you’ll get someone who knows how to do it just the way you like. Contact Custom Maid today to receive a free quote.