White Vinegar is just about the most inexpensive and versatile cleaning product you will every use. Most supermarket products fall into one of two categories: toxic or expensive. There is a third option. Inexpensive and not at all harmful to humans; it's a multi-purpose --one container can be used in the laundry, kitchen, bathroom you can even use it to on pests and weeds.
White Vinegar is a weak form of acetic acid that forms through the fermentation of sugars or starches and is completely edible.
Spray Bottles – you will need two
Preferably, you want two Spray bottles--one with pure vinegar, the other with 50/50 vinegar, water combination.
All Purpose
For persistent room odours, place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
For spills on carpet, use a sponge or cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Then spray with a mixture of half vinegar, half water. Let stand for about two minutes, and then blot with towel or sponge. Repeat as needed.
To clean windows, spray with half vinegar, half water. Wipe clean with either newspapers or cloth.
Floors (Tiles) can be cleaned with a solution of 1 cup vinegar per 2 litres of water for a shinier surface.
Bathroom
To remove oxidisation or chemical build-up from showerheads, soak in vinegar overnight.
Remove stains from the toilet bowl by spraying with vinegar.
Wipe porcelain bowls with vinegar
To remove soap build-up from taps, clean with a mixture of 1 part salt to four parts vinegar.
Spray shower walls and shower curtain with vinegar to help prevent mildew.
Kitchen
Problem with ants; spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, countertops - anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail, clean it with vinegar.
To remove odours from the sink or garbage disposal, Wipe out with vinegar, do not rinse!
Wipe your hands with vinegar after chopping onions, garlic etc., it will remove strong odours
To clean wooden cutting boards, wipe with vinegar then wipe with Olive Oil
Vinegar is an excellent cleaner for all kitchen surfaces - counters, refrigerators, stovetops.
To clean your microwave oven, put a microwave-safe bowl of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in the oven, and cook long enough to boil. In addition to removing any lingering odours, this will loosen any baked-on food from the microwave's walls.
Laundry
To stop colours from running in the wash, soak in vinegar before washing.
To decrease lint on clothing, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Many persistent stains can be removed with vinegar: coffee, chocolate, ketchup, jam, cola, wine. Gently rub stain with vinegar, then wash.
To make your clothes a little “brighter", add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
To remove scorch marks from an iron, rub with a mixture of vinegar and salt.
To remove soap residue from the washing machine, run an empty (no laundry) cycle with one cup vinegar added.
To remove the smell of smoke from clothing, add a cup of vinegar to a tub of hot water. Let clothing hang in the same room for several hours.
Pet Care
To keep cats off windowsills or other surfaces, spray with vinegar. This will also keep them from scratching upholstery (spray an unnoticeable area of the fabric first to make sure the vinegar doesn't cause a stain).
If your dog should have a run-in with something smelly, wipe him/her down with 50/50 vinegar water. Repeat as needed.
There are 1000's of other uses for "White Vinegar" and I will add to these in time.
...and remember...have a fabulous retirementLIFE!
