Throw the first stone who never used vinegar to clean anything inside the house.
From floor to wall, from bathroom to kitchen and from carpet to dirty clothes. Vinegar is full of uses.
And that is why today’s post is totally dedicated to the use of vinegar for cleaning.
Come and see!
Why does vinegar work as a cleaning agent?
Does vinegar really have that cleansing power that most people believe it has?
To better understand how vinegar works it is important to know that in its composition there is an acid called acetic acid, the same used by the industry to manufacture various types of cleaning products.
And it is precisely this acid that gives vinegar antibacterial, degreasing, disinfectant and deodorant functions.
But be careful: there is a correct way to use vinegar so that it really acquires this cleaning power.
The first is not to mix vinegar with other cleaning products, especially chlorine and bleach. When combined, these ingredients release toxic gases harmful to human health.
The second point to note is the amount of vinegar used for cleaning. For vinegar to act as a disinfectant, it must be present in at least 50% of the mixture.
That is, for each part of water it is necessary to add a part of vinegar. At least that’s what the National Sanitation Fundation, a scientific organization dedicated to studies, tests and certifications located in Michigan, USA.
Still, according to the organization, for the disinfectant action of the vinegar to take effect it is necessary that the surface is in contact with the product for at least 30 minutes, the famous soak.
Advantages of vinegar cleaning
It’s cheap
Vinegar is one of the cheapest homemade ingredients out there. It is much cheaper, for example, than detergent, bleach, multipurpose and disinfectant.
A 500 ml bottle costs, on average, R $ 1.50. And if you consider that the product will be diluted before use, the cost benefit increases even more.
And here is a reminder: the vinegar used to clean the house is white alcohol. In addition to being the cheapest option, it is also the most recommended because it has no aroma or dyes.
It is ecological and good for your health
Vinegar is a natural ingredient and this also makes it sustainable. This means that by choosing to use vinegar you make your home more ecological and friendly to the planet.
It is also important to remember that vinegar does not pose any health risks (except when mixed with bleach), that is, it does not expose you and your family to any type of allergy or intoxication.
It’s versatile
Vinegar can be used for so much that it impresses. With a single product it is possible to clean the floor, the bathroom, wash the clothes, clean the kitchen, among other utilities.
It’s easy to use
To clean the house with vinegar is no mystery: just dilute the product in water and pass the surfaces you want to sanitize.
In some specific cases you may need to add some more ingredient, usually baking soda, an inseparable partner from vinegar.
Where to use vinegar to clean the house
Floors and tiles
To clean the floors and tiles of the house, just dilute a glass of vinegar in a liter of water. To make cleaning more efficient, also add a glass of alcohol.
Then just spread this mixture over the coverings with the help of a clean cloth.
To clean the grouts, apply pure vinegar and wait for about 30 minutes. Then scrub the area with a toothbrush.
Toilet
To clean the toilet bowl with vinegar, do the following: pour about a cup of the ingredient inside the bowl. Soak it for 30 minutes and then scrub with a brush suitable for this type of cleaning.
Bathroom shower
The grease from the bathroom stall can also be cleaned with vinegar. To do this, mix warm water, detergent and vinegar and rub with a sponge the entire area of the box. Rinse afterwards.
Enjoy and pour some vinegar in the bathroom drain to eliminate bad odors.
Kitchen sink
Do you know when the sink tub looks dirty and grimy? Clean it with vinegar. Just spread the ingredient on the spot, wait 30 minutes, rub with a sponge and you’re done.
Crockery and Pans
Crockery and pans are cleaner and brighter with the use of vinegar. For glass dishes, just soak them in a bowl of water and vinegar.
In the case of pans with grease stains and burnt, pour a little pure vinegar over the place, wait a few minutes and wash as usual.
Washing clothes
Vinegar is great for washing and softening clothes. The ingredient serves both to disinfect clothes and to soften them, and can replace the ordinary fabric softener.
To do this, put about a cup of vinegar in the washing machine dispenser and you’re done. Just be careful not to mix the vinegar with bleach and bleach.
Elimination of odors
Vinegar is also an old acquaintance when it comes to eliminating bad odors from inside the house. This goes for smells like cigarette, frying, mold and animal urine.
To eliminate bad odors from surfaces, dilute the vinegar with water and run through. To eliminate the bad smell from the air, spray vinegar in the environment.
The bad smell inside the microwave can also be removed with vinegar. Place a cup with half water and half vinegar in the appliance and switch on for about 30 seconds. The steam will eliminate odors from inside the appliance.
Remove mold and mildew stains
Mold and mildew stains can be removed using vinegar. Just wipe the place with a cloth moistened with water and vinegar. For places with very large stains or difficult to remove, soak with vinegar and wait a few minutes.
Carpets, mattresses and upholstery
Also use vinegar to clean and remove odors from carpets, mattresses and upholstery. For simple cleaning and deodorization, dilute a part of water, a part of vinegar and an alcohol in a spray bottle. If desired, add a little fabric softener. Then just spray on the surfaces you want to clean, taking care not to moisten too much.
Glass and mirrors
Clean your windows and mirrors with vinegar. To do this, add half a part of water and half of vinegar to the sprinkler, then just spray on the glasses and finish with a cloth.
Oven and stove
Cleaning the oven and stove is easier with vinegar. To do this, soak the surface of the stove in vinegar and water. Finish cleaning with a cloth.
For the oven, the tip is to moisten a cloth with water and vinegar and pass through the entire appliance.
Kitchen boards
Disinfect kitchen boards with a mixture of water and vinegar in equal parts. Leave the mixture to soak on the cutting board and wash well afterwards.
Where not to use vinegar to clean the house
Even though it is a great ally for cleaning, there are some places and objects where the use of vinegar is not indicated, since the product can cause damage and deteriorate surfaces.
This happens, for example, with wooden floors and furniture. Vinegar can deteriorate the protective layer of the wood and leave it exposed to insect attack and more susceptible to damage caused by time.
Stone countertops, such as slate, granite and marble, suffer from the acidity of vinegar.
Cell phone, TV and tablet screens should also not be cleaned with vinegar. The effect of the acid is also detrimental to these devices.
In these cases the tip is to use specific products for these types of cleaning.
