As we strive to clean up our environment and lifestyle, the cleaning products we use every day in our homes can be switched to all natural replacements, such as vinegar. When you use natural products instead of man-made ones, you are eliminating harmful chemicals from your home. Buying a jug of white distilled vinegar is far less expensive than buying a bottle of window cleaner or toilet bowl cleaner, for example. It is also a great bacteria and germ killer because of its natural acidity level.
Vinegar has long been used as a natural and effective household cleaner. There are many ways in which you can use vinegar to clean that you would probably never even think of doing. Here are just a few tips you can use for your next cleaning session. Remember to never mix vinegar with ammonia, as it produces harsh vapors. Also, never use vinegar on marble because it may damage the surface.
1) Clean your kitchen
Most items in your kitchen can be cleaned with vinegar. Wipe down your counters with vinegar by applying with a clean cloth. You can also wipe clean your appliances, like your refrigerator, stove top/oven, dishwasher, sink and even microwave. For the larger appliances, mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. That way you will not have to use as much and it will still be effective.
2) Clean your bathroom
Like in the kitchen, just about everything in your bathroom can be cleaned using white distilled vinegar. Wipe down your sink and shower/tub with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution. To get your grout extra clean, let the vinegar sit for a while. Do not use the 50/50 mixture for this, just straight vinegar. Then use an old toothbrush and scrub the grout clean. Add vinegar to your toilet bowl. Let it sit for several hours or even overnight. Then all you have to do it scrub with the toilet brush and you have a sparkling toilet.
3) Cleaning wood
Who would have thought you can even clean wood with vinegar? Before you clean any wood furniture in your home, test a small, hidden area first...just to make sure it will be okay. Then you can use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and vegetable oil to wipe down the wood. When you are cleaning wood surfaces, rub in the direction of the grain, not against it. You can also wipe down wooden cutting boards with vinegar to get rid of germs and bacteria growth.
4) Dusting
To dust surfaces in your home, you don't need full vinegar and on a rag to clean. Go back to your 50/50 vinegar and water solution. Place it in a spray bottle and mist the items you want to dust. Then gently wipe with a clean rag until the surfaces are dust-free. You can even just mist the rag if that works better for you.
5) Removing strong odors
White distilled vinegar not only cleans your household surfaces, but it can also clean you! If you have that ever-powerful onions smell on your hands that will just not go away, simply wipe your hands with vinegar. It will also remove juice stains from your hands. To kill room odor, place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
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