Be Green – Get Clean – Use Vinegar
Going green and being good stewards of our environment is on so many people’s minds these days, and it’s not just about the environment, it’s also about minimizing our exposure to the chemical toxins in so many cleaning products that are bad for our health. So how do we get things clean without those products?
A while back we talked about the many uses and benefits of cleaning with lemons, today we’ll talk about the many “cleaning hats” that vinegar wears…altough you can use different kinds, we recommend white distilled vinegar.
The cleaning qualities of vinegar…
It might surprise you that vinegar is such a great tool for cleaning, in fact, “back in the olden days” I’ll bet your grandma used to keep it around as a cleaning staple:
- White vinegar – Acetic acid – is a great disinfectant, and will kill about 80% of germs by chemically changing the fats and proteins in the germs, which destroys their cell structure.
- It’s a deodorizer – it doesn’t mask the odor as some aerosol sprays, it absorbs and eliminates them. Although it does leave a vinegary odor behind for a short time, it is harmless and will dissipate as it dries. If it bothers you too much, you can add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil or some citrus peels.
- It is a solvent that cuts grease and soap scum
- It tackles bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli
- It can clean your stainless or enamel pots and pans and your sheet pans
- It can be used for stain removal…after blotting, not rubbing, the stain well, soak the stained item in vinegar before washing.
- It can remove the stains from your plastic storage containers
- It’s inexpensive (compare it with other cleaning products on the market.)
- It rinses totally clean with plain water.
Safe or not safe…
Vinegar is a great surface cleaner and is the perfect, safe product to wipe down or clean
sinks and tubs- toilets
- grout
- showerheads
- inside the refridgerator
- many countertops
- cutting boards
- can be added to your laundry for a softer, fresher smelling batch of clothes
- you can even use it in the yard to kill unwanted grass or weeds
Vinegar is not safe to use on marble surfaces, waxed floors or the screens of your electronic devices…it is acidic and can damage those surfaces.
The best use yet… a great homemade window cleaner
Many experts declare vinegar one of the best window cleaners ever, it doesn’t leave a filmy residue, but leaves your windows clean and clear, even eterior windows. Here’s a recipe for a great recipe that works!
2 Cups water
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Tsp dish detergeant
Use it in a spray bottle or a bucket, whatever works best for you.
Even using the best products that can be found, you may not want to clean your own windows so…
I have been cleaning windows in the Seattle area for nearly 30 years, and quite frankly, I enjoy it! I will be happy to answer all of your questions, and I know the mistakes to avoid. I clean private homes or apartment complexes.
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