Home Cleaning with White Vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar: It’s cheap, it’s natural, and it’s tough on bacteria, mildew, and dirt. Acetic acid is the compound in vinegar that makes vinegar acidic and this also makes it an effective cleaning agent. Distilled white vinegar has a pH of 2.4 which means that distilled white vinegar is a pretty strong acid and an excellent cleaning solution.

White vinegar is more acidic than coffee or orange juice.
It is usually made of laboratory-produced acetic acid combined with water. White vinegar is the most acidic. This makes it a potent cleaner, but it can also make it too strong for some types of cleaning. You should dilute it with water when using it on more sensitive items or surfaces.

Here are 12 Ways to Use White Vinegar for A Cleaner Home

1. Unclog Your Steam Iron
To dissolve mineral residue in steam irons, pour equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water into the water reservoir. Turn the iron to the steam setting and allow it to steam for five minutes in an upright position. Unplug and cool the iron. Empty the reservoir — and the dissolved minerals.
2. Clean Your Scorched Iron Bottom
Heat equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub mixture onto the bottom of a cooled iron to remove scorch marks.
3. Clean Scorch Marks on Clothes
Dip the corner of a cloth in white vinegar. Rub lightly on scorched area of fabric. Wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat as needed.
4. Use It  As A Glass Cleaner
Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water. Apply to windows with a sponge. Wipe clean using a squeegee. (Remember to wet the squeegee blade first so it won’t skip.)
Use a 50-50 vinegar-water solution to keep glass tables or stereo cabinet doors sparkling.
5. Flush Your Automatic Coffee Maker
To dissolve minerals and oily build-up, fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run the coffee maker through a brewing cycle. Empty the carafe. Rinse away vinegar residue by running a full reservoir of water through the brewing cycle. (As always, follow manufacturer’s care instructions.)
6. Clean Your No-Wax Floors
For rinse-free cleaning, mop using a solution of ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water. Change water as it gets dirty.
7. Shine Up Your Copper, Brass, and Pewter
To effortlessly remove tarnish, apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ cup of white distilled vinegar and enough flour to make a paste. Apply to the metal and allow it to stand for 15 minutes. Rinse with clean water and polish with soft, dry cloth. (The flour keeps the vinegar and salt in contact with the tarnished surface.)
White vinegar makes quick work of cleaning bathroom fixtures which may be made of copper or brass.
8. Remove The Film on Your Bathtub
Remove bathtub film by wiping it first with white distilled vinegar then with baking soda. Rinse away grime with clean water.
9. Clean Your Shower Doors
To prevent soap scum build-up, wipe shower doors with a sponge soaked with white distilled vinegar. No need to rinse.
10. Unclog Your Showerhead
Use vinegar to dissolve mineral build-up in showerheads. Add a cup of vinegar to a plastic storage bag. Position the bag so that the showerhead sits in the vinegar. Allow it to soak overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and turn on the shower to rinse.
11. Clean Pet Urine In Carpets
Blot up as much of the urine as possible by laying several paper towels over the area and walking on them (the extra pressure increases absorption). Replace towels and blot until most of the urine is removed.
Carpet pet odor remover: Wet the spot with vinegar. Sprinkle with baking soda, and work the two together with a brush or your fingers. Let dry (ideally overnight). Vacuum.
Before treating the area with vinegar, test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous place. If colors don’t run, saturate the stain with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water. Allow it to sit on the area for 10 minutes. Blot as before, replacing towels as needed. When the carpet is mostly dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area. This will help absorb odors. Vacuum in about an hour.
12. Deodorize Your Drains
To keep drains fresh, pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain once a week. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes then flush with cold water.

Upper Valey Home Cleaning

If you are seeking a professional cleaning service for your home or office and you are located in the Upper Valley then give us a call at 802-295-6065 or use our contact form. We are a professional residential and commercial cleaning service and have been serving the Upper Valley since 1993.