Cheap Green Cleaning Supplies Made With Vinegar
Vinegar is an Anti-Bacterial Mold Killer That Dissolves Rust, Tarnish, Minerals
Jul 22, 2009
Vinegar is the product of a double fermentation process. First is the fermentation of natural sugars to alcohol; the second is the fermentation to vinegar. This process makes vinegar a very versatile product. Vinegar's bacterial killing properties have been tested numerous times and Good Housekeeping microbiologist Gina Marino stated in a test done for Heloise (Tips From Heloise) that vinegar killed 90% of mold and 99.9% of bacteria. Heloise has long been an advocate of green cleaning with vinegar.
Vinegar as a Solvent
The historians at The Vinegar Institute claim that Cleopatra demonstrated vinegar's ability to dissolve pearls, which, in modern terms, touts its ability to dissolve mineral deposits and hard water stains.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends vinegar as a possible alternative to muratic acid and other products used to clean bathrooms and suggests using a vinegar soak for tubs and sink fixtures.
Drain cleaning can be accomplished by pouring one cup baking soda into the drain, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. This solution should sit for about five minutes before flushing the drain with hot water.
Vinegar Instead of Ammonia and Bleach
- Ammonia and Bleach are harmful chemicals, but vinegar is non-toxic and is safe to use around animals and pets for green cleaning.
- Vinegar cleans glass, tile, dishes and can be used as a stain remover in laundry. Rubbing distilled white vinegar directly onto cotton clothes can remove many stains. Adding one cup of vinegar to the laundry rinse water will freshen and soften clothes.
- Using a mix of distilled white vinegar with table salt is effective for use on surfaces that would normally be cleaned with ammonia based cleaners.
- Using a mixture of two cups of white distilled vinegar to one quart of distilled water will kill mold in carpets, fabrics and on walls.
- A mixture of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and one quart of warm water makes an effective window cleaning solution.
Remove Stains from Metals with Vinegar
- Polishing metals such as brass and copper can be done with a mixture of two tablespoons of ketchup and one tablespoon of white distilled vinegar. Rub on and polish with a clean, soft cloth.
- Polishing tarnish from silver and other metals can be done with vinegar and table salt mixed to a paste, rubbed on and polished with a clean, soft cloth.
- Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to a teapot full of water, heating and letting the mixture sit overnight will clean the mineral deposits in the kettle. Using this same combination in a bowl in the microwave, heating and letting it sit will also clean the inside of a microwave.
- Cream of tartar and vinegar mixed to a paste make a quick and easy chrome polish paste when rubbed on and polished with a clean, soft cloth.
Other Vinegar Cleaning Uses
- Adhesives can be removed by rubbing distilled white vinegar over the sticker or sticky spot repeatedly until the area is soaked. Rub to remove.
- Odors can be removed from plastic bowls, dishes, glasses, lunchboxes and coolers by rubbing with distilled white vinegar or soaking in a mixture of white vinegar and water overnight.
Mizkan Americas, Inc., the makers of a variety of vinegar products, has published a list of uses for vinegar including many great green cleaning ideas called "1001 Uses for Distilled White Vinegar" and The Vinegar Institute has also published their list of the many uses of vinegar. Vinegar truly is a versatile product.
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