White Vinegar: The Power Cleaner!
I use white vinegar on a daily basis. I love that it’s a “one man show”. It’s natural, safe for everyone in the family (including pets) and its affordable. There are folks who think they need a separate cleaner for every room in the house. However, you have everything you need if you have white vinegar!
Vinegar has been around since 3000 B.C. It was originally made from dates, figs and beer. Yeah, they drank beer in ancient Babylon! Aside from cooking, it was also used for medicinal purposes. That’s pretty much how vinegar has been used up until modern times. Except, now it’s also used for cleaning the entire house!
So, what is vinegar made of?
According to Wikipedia, vinegar is “an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace chemicals that may include flavorings”. By volume, standard vinegar will contain 5-8% acetic acid and the rest is water. Acetic acid is produced through a fermentation of sugars. Different varieties of vinegar are created depending on the fermentable material used. Historically, fruits, grains and alcohol were primarily used for making vinegar.
What is the difference between “Distilled White Vinegar” and “Apple Cider Vinegar?
Distilled white vinegar is produced, not through distillation, but through the fermentation of distilled alcohols. It is also called “Spirit Vinegar. It’s a clear, pungent liquid that can be used in hundreds of applications around the home. It is also used in cooking and pickling. There are stronger vinegars available aside from the commercial 5-8%. But they are more corrosive and harmful to exposed skin. Thus, they also require special handling.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is exactly what it sounds like. It is golden/brown and has a more mellow aroma than white vinegar. It can be purchased unfiltered or “unpasteurized”, meaning it contains the “mother”. The mother is really just a gelatinous glob that lives in the vinegar. It may be ugly but it’s totally harmless. Plus, some people swear the mother is what makes vinegar so effective. If you’re considering making your own ACV, you can use the mother to start each new batch!
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Other types of vinegar:
There are tons of different types of vinegars available. But here are a few that you may be most familiar with:
– Balsamic: Contrary to it’s name, balsamic vinegar does not contain balsam. It’s created from the juice of a certain type of grape grown in Italy. It’s also higher in sugar content than other vinegars.
– Rice: This type of vinegar is available in white, red and black variety. It’s used mostly in asian cooking, preparing sushi rice and salad dressings.
– Malt: As you might have guessed, this one gets it’s name from malting barley. It’s also the traditional seasoning for making fish and chips.
What you need to know about vinegar:
As I mentioned previously, vinegar has been used for cooking and medicinal purposes since ancient times. Today, it’s useful in other ways. But, here are a few things you may not know about vinegar:
– White vinegar is used not only in cooking and pickling, but to create salad dressings, vinaigrette, hot sauce, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise…or just about every condiment you could possibly want.
– Vinegar doesn’t need to be refrigerated and can last indefinitely.
– While it has not been medically proven, some people swear that ACV helps reduce blood sugar spikes after eating a meal. There are also claims that is can help minimize the need for insulin in diabetic persons. Since every person is different, take this with a grain of salt.
– White vinegar is safe for cleaning nearly every surface except hardwood, marble and stone. Using vinegar on these surfaces may cause dulling or pitting.
– Vinegar should never be mixed with hydrogen peroxide or bleach. These combinations can be highly corrosive and hazardous to inhale. Vinegar and baking soda are generally safe mixed together as long as you don’t store the leftover mixture.
– In a pinch, vinegar can be used to ease the sting from a jellyfish attack.
– Vinegar is a safe substitute for hazardous weed killer. Just be careful you don’t spray it on plants you want to keep.
– It can safely clean stainless steel, chrome and glass without streaking. It can also be used to polish copper, brass, bronze and silver…even jewelry!
My Favorite Uses for White Vinegar:
In the kitchen:
1. Use white vinegar to remove hard water buildup around your faucet. Soak a paper towel or rag in vinegar and wrap around the faucet. Let sit for about 30 minutes and voila’…no more buildup.
2. Use a healthy splash of white vinegar in the rinse water after washing dishes. Not only does it prevent water spots from forming but it cuts down on that hazy film that hard water creates.
3. Use it to remove buildup in your coffee maker. Fill the pot with equal amounts of vinegar and water and run it through a normal cycle. You can leave it sitting in the pot for awhile if you want to remove the hazy buildup in the pot as well. Make sure to run a couple pots of distilled water through the coffee pot afterwards. Otherwise, your coffee is going to have a tang to it!
4. Clean and deodorize the microwave. Combine 1/4 c. vinegar and 1 c. water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for five minutes and let cool. The steam does all the work so all you have to do is wipe it clean.
5. Add 1/2 c. vinegar to a sink full of water when rinsing fruits and veggies. Let sit for 30 minutes then rinse and let air dry before storing. This removes dirt and the wax coating on some produce. Also, research shows that this process may help produce stay fresh longer.
6. Because of white vinegar’s acidic quality, it’s great for killing the germs and bacteria that cause food poisoning and botulism. So when it’s time to clean or maintain your wood cutting boards, use vinegar and baking soda instead of soap and water. It’s also better for the wood fibers. Simply sprinkle the baking soda on the board, spray with white vinegar. Once the bubbling stops, give it a good scrub. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing. Never let a wood cutting board sit in a puddle.
7. Do you have a sponge or scrubber that is still use-able but smells bad? Soak it with white vinegar and place in the microwave for one minute. Not only will it smell fresh, it also kills bacteria.
In the bathroom:
8. Pour a cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and let sit overnight. Give it a scrub with the toilet brush and flush. No more toilet bowl ring. Plus, it will help deodorize the bathroom. A win-win!
9. Got a clogged shower head from hard water deposits? Fill a Zip-loc bag with equal parts water and vinegar and attach to the shower head with a rubber band. It’s easier to place the rubber band around the shower head first and then just roll it over the bag once it’s in place. Let the bag sit overnight if possible.
10. Unclog drains by pouring equal amounts of baking soda and then vinegar down the drain. Let the bubbles do their thing for about 15 minutes and then flush with hot water. Bonus:it deodorizes as well.
In the laundry room:
11. Did you forget about that load of laundry in the washing machine? Run it through the wash cycle again but add 1/2 c. of vinegar to help remove the musty smell.
12. Vinegar can also be used in place of a fabric softener.
13. When washing an item with a bright color (red) for the first time, soak it in white vinegar first. This will help prevent “bleeding”.
Throughout the home:
14. Got a carpet stain? Combine 1/2 c. white vinegar and 2 tbsp. salt. Rub this mixture into the stain and allow it to dry. You should be able to vacuum the stain away. If you have a more stubborn stain, add 1 tbsp of borax to the mix and repeat the process.
15. White vinegar can also be used to eliminate odors due to pet accidents.
16. Do you have lingering odors after frying fish? Fill a small bowl with white vinegar and let it sit out on the counter. This trick also works in other parts of the house for odors left behind by smokers.
17. How about those white, water marks on your coffee table? Mix equal parts white vinegar and olive oil. Use a cloth to apply the mixture in the direction of the wood grain. Use a clean cloth to buff clean.
18. Use white vinegar to remove the sticky residue left behind from labels and stickers.
Bonus tip: Soak your feet in 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. This helps to loosen and remove dead skin. it will also help with foot odor and possibly, athlete’s foot. Bonus: it’s also relaxing!
An internet search will provide you with a hundred more uses for white vinegar. This list is just the tip of the iceberg! I encourage you to give vinegar a try before you reach for some cancer-inducing chemicals.
If getting rid of chemicals in your house is important, white vinegar is a good place to start. Seriously, you can get rid of so many hazardous cleaning products by replacing them with white vinegar. And you’ll save money in the process!
If you have a favorite use for white vinegar, I’d love to hear about it. Just leave a comment below. And feel free to share this post with someone you know who is looking for a healthier, more economical way to clean.
Until next time,
lisa
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