Home » Misc » How vinegar cleans

How vinegar cleans


9 Eco-Friendly, Inexpensive, Multipurpose Uses

Multipurpose cleaners are convenient because they’re usable on many different surfaces. But while effective, some of these cleaners aren’t exactly healthy or environmentally friendly.

Vinegar, on the other hand, is nontoxic and eco-friendly, making it the ultimate multipurpose cleaning solution. And the best part, it’s super cheap.

Keep reading to learn what types of vinegar to use, along with nine ways vinegar can be used to clean and disinfect your home.

You probably have a bottle of vinegar sitting in your cupboard right now. But like so many, you might only use vinegar as a salad dressing or as a marinade for vegetables, meat, poultry, or fish.

Made from acetic acid

Vinegar isn’t only useful for cooking, though. It also makes a great cleaner and disinfectant because it’s made from acetic acid.

Acetic acid is a colorless organic compound that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It’s also an ingredient in some store-bought household cleaners.

The acidic nature of vinegar is so powerful it can dissolve mineral deposit, dirt, grease, and grime. It’s also strong enough to kill bacteria.

Different types of vinegar include:

Best type of vinegar to use

White distilled vinegar is the best vinegar for cleaning because it doesn’t contain a coloring agent. Therefore, it won’t stain surfaces. Staining can happen when cleaning with a darker-colored vinegar.

Plus, distilled white vinegar has about 5 percent acidity, which is also similar to the acidity level in many everyday multipurpose cleaners.

About that vinegar smell

The strong odor of white vinegar can be unpleasant, in which case you can use apple cider vinegar instead.

It has the same cleaning properties as white distilled vinegar, but since it’s made by fermenting apple juice, it also has a slightly sweet scent.

Apple cider vinegar is darker in color, so dilute it in water before using it as a cleaning agent.

If you’re using vinegar as a cleaner, the scent may linger for about an hour or so. However, this might be a small price to pay for a cleaner that’s nontoxic, natural, and environmentally friendly.

You can mask the smell by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil, to a spray bottle containing a vinegar water solution.

Or, open a window and let some fresh air in to help remove the scent quicker.

Here’s a look at a few common uses for vinegar around the home.

Use vinegar to make your own glass cleaner. Combine one part water with two parts vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on glass surfaces and wipe clean for a streak-free finish.

Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it can clean and disinfect countertops after food preparation. For tough stains, add a few drops of Dawn soap to one-part water and two parts vinegar.

Vinegar can also remove odors from countertops, but it shouldn’t be used on granite or marble. Use a natural stone cleaner instead. The acid in vinegar can diminish the luster of natural stone.

Vinegar can also deter ants that may scour countertops at night in search of food scraps.

Combine 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt to remove calcium deposits on faucets and fixtures. This solution can also remove hard water stains from showerheads.

To get rid of stubborn stains, spray fixtures and faucets with vinegar and then tie a bag around it overnight. Scrub and rinse the next morning.

Thick soap scum and mildew can be challenging to remove. Spray undiluted white vinegar over tub and shower walls. Let the vinegar sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse away.

Or, combine baking soda and vinegar to create a paste and scrub away tough grime.

Pour 2 to 3 cups of undiluted vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for up to 3 hours. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush. This helps eliminate rings around the bowl and deodorizes the toilet.

Vinegar also makes a great floor cleaner, but only on certain types of floors.

You shouldn’t use vinegar on hardwood floors because it can dissolve the finish and leave watermarks. The natural acid in vinegar can also damage natural stone floors.

You can, however, use vinegar on no-wax linoleum.

Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1/2 gallon of water. To clean ceramic tile, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

To break through soap scum in a dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse compartment and let the dishwasher run for an entire cycle.

To eliminate odors in your microwave, place a bowl containing a 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water inside the microwave and heat for a couple of minutes. This solution can also loosen any stubborn stains.

Vinegar is also great for cleaning the inside and outside of appliances, including stainless steel. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray down appliances.

Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the solution. Don’t use abrasive pads, which can scratch the surface of appliances.

Distilled white vinegar is also a great choice for removing fabric odor and stains. Don’t use dark vinegar or you might stain your clothes. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.

But while vinegar is a great household cleaner, can it help your internal digestive system?

Vinegar — or more specifically apple cider vinegar — has been touted as a natural remedy for digestive issues, although there aren’t any rigorous studies or science to back up these claims.

May relieve bloating

It’s possible, though, that apple cider can improve digestive issues, considering how it may increase the acidity level in the stomach.

This can help relieve symptoms like bloating, which is sometimes due to low stomach acid.

May combat acid reflux

Apple cider vinegar may also help combat acid reflux.

One belief is that the vinegar can balance pH levels in the stomach, which not only helps neutralize stomach acid, but also prevents an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut.

This may help reduce gut inflammation.

May flush toxins from the body

Another purported benefit of apple cider vinegar is its ability to flush toxins out of the body. Some people use it as a natural detoxifier, as well as a remedy for constipation and a weight loss aid.

Dilute with water and drink only 1 glass per day

The only way to know whether apple cider vinegar can improve your digestive health is to try it and then see how you feel. Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water and drink.

Use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and only drink one glass per day.

It’s normal to have some sediment floating. This is called the mother. Too much apple cider vinegar can damage your tooth enamel.

Vinegar isn’t only for cooking. It’s also an eco-friendly and inexpensive household cleaner. And in most cases, you only need to mix vinegar with water.

Although, you can add salt and baking soda to create a more abrasive cleaner or a few drops of essential oil for a lighter scent.

How Does Vinegar Work for Cleaning

Kitchen

Alexandra Ossola

updated Sep 20, 2022

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Chances are you probably have at least one type of vinegar, if not more, in your kitchen cabinets right now. From plain ol’ distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar (or ACV, if you will) to balsamic, red wine, sherry, and Champagne vinegars, vinegar is a staple in our dressings, marinades, and our dill pickle brines.

And some types of vinegar have a second talent: cleaning! Here’s the science behind what makes vinegar so useful as a cleaning agent.

What Is Vinegar Exactly?

Have you ever tasted wine that’s turned? I’ll spare you the test, if you haven’t. It tastes pretty sour, kind of like that bottle of vinegar in your pantry — or rather, exactly like that bottle of vinegar in your pantry.

Let’s back up a bit: To make wine, the sugar has to be converted to alcohol in a process known as fermentation. After the sealed bottle has been opened (or sometimes before, if the cork has been compromised), there’s a second kind of fermentation that happens. During this process, the alcohol is turned into acetic acid, the main compound in vinegar.

Acetic acid isn’t the only compound in vinegar, but it’s the one that makes vinegar acidic. In fact, with a pH of 2.4, distilled white vinegar is a pretty strong acid, more acidic than coffee or orange juice, but still less acidic than your stomach juices or, say, the liquid inside batteries (luckily).

What’s the Right Type of Vinegar for Cleaning?

Dozens of different types of vinegar come from this double fermentation: Balsamic comes from a unique blend of grapes from southern Italy, wine vinegar from red or white wine grapes, apple cider vinegar from apple cider, rice vinegar from rice, and so on.

The only exception is white vinegar, which is usually made of laboratory-produced acetic acid combined with water. White vinegar is the most acidic, which can make it a potent cleaner, but it can also make it too strong for some types of cleaning, in which case you can dilute it with water — or go with something milder, like apple cider vinegar.

More on Cleaning with Vinegar

How Does Vinegar Work?

Vinegar’s acidity is what makes it such a good cleaner. Because vinegar is so acidic, it can counteract some icky buildups. It can dissolve away soap scum, brines left by hard water, and glue left behind by stickers.

Vinegar is great for giving windows and mirrors (use a combination of vinegar and water and wipe with a newspaper instead of a paper towel to avoid streaks), no-wax floors, and wood paneling or cabinets an extra-clean shine.

Another use for vinegar? Getting rid of stubborn stains. Lots of stains, whether from sweaty armpits or grass, are slightly acidic, which means they will dissolve away in the presence of another acid, like vinegar.

A paste of vinegar and baking soda can dissolve set red wine stains. Vinegar can even get cat or dog urine out of carpets or other cloths and, bonus, that pungent smell can keep pets away from places you don’t want them to go.

When Not to Use Vinegar

Be careful, though, because vinegar that is too concentrated can stain delicate fabrics. And there are other surfaces where vinegar can do more harm than good.

Using it on natural stone like granite or marble can scratch it. And though some people use vinegar as a disinfectant, it’s not approved for this purpose by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because there’s no evidence that vinegar can get rid of some of the most harmful pathogens that lurk on surfaces, like salmonella.

Do you use vinegar to clean your kitchen?

What can and should never be cleaned with vinegar

March 9, 2022 A life

Check this list before you start cleaning.

You can listen to the short version of the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

Can be cleaned with vinegar

1. Windows

To make your own window cleaner, dilute half a tablespoon of vinegar in a liter of water (ordinary table 6 or 9 percent will do). Pour some into a spray bottle. Wash the glass as usual, and finally wipe it with a dry cloth. There is no need to rinse this mixture. nine0003

2. Dishwasher

Vinegar will help remove accumulated dirt and grease. Pour two cups of vinegar into a large glass bowl and place on the top rack. Run a normal cycle, but without detergent and without drying. The vinegar will mix with the water and clean the car.

Find out more 💡

3. Towels

If the towels become hard, put them in the washing machine and pour half a glass of white vinegar into the powder compartment - do not add the powder itself. Vinegar will remove detergent residue and mineral deposits from the fabric that make it rough.

4. Carpets

To remove stains from carpets such as wine, mix a tablespoon of liquid soap, a tablespoon of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Wet a clean sponge in the mixture and apply a little at a time to the stain, blotting occasionally with a dry cloth. Continue the process until the stain is gone. nine0003

Vinegar can also remove stains and odors from pet urine. Mix a quarter cup of vinegar with a liter of warm water and wet the stain with the mixture. Leave for a few minutes to absorb the liquid and then pat dry. Repeat as needed.

5. Vegetables and fruits from the supermarket

Vinegar will help remove bacteria and pesticide residues used in stores to extend their shelf life. Mix three parts water with one part vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Treat vegetables and fruits with this mixture, and then rinse in water. nine0003

Reading now 🥦

there.

Do not clean with vinegar

1. Granite and marble countertops

Vinegar can damage the surface of the stone. To clean these countertops, use a mild dish detergent and warm water.

2. Stone floors

They can also be damaged by acid cleaners like vinegar and lemon. Wash these floors with special stone soap or mild dishwashing detergent.

3. Broken Egg Remains

If you drop a raw egg on the floor, don't reach for the vinegar to collect the egg white. The acid in the vinegar can cause the egg to curdle and make it harder to peel. It is because of the protein reaction that vinegar is added when poached eggs are boiled. nine0003

Try it 🥚

4. Iron

Vinegar can damage internal parts, so don't pour it into the water container in an attempt to clean the iron. To prevent clogging of the steam holes, empty the iron after use and clean according to the manufacturer's instructions. nine0003

5. Hardwood parquet

Better play it safe and use a special cleaner. If you really want to try vinegar for cleaning, be sure to dilute it with water (half a glass of vinegar per four liters of water) and first check in an inconspicuous area.

6. Stubborn stains on fabric

No matter how hard you try, stains from grass, ink, ice cream or blood cannot be removed with vinegar alone. They are quickly absorbed into the fabric and do not react to acid. It is better to treat them with a stain remover, and then wash them with a powder that contains enzymes. nine0003

Read also 🧐

How to clean your face with vinegar? | Flacon

The idea of ​​using vinegar for cosmetic purposes is not new: the first mention of its positive properties dates back to the era of Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon: there it was made from dates. Then vinegar began to be used in Ancient Rome, where wine vinegar became the most popular. nine0003

How is natural vinegar made?

There are two types of vinegar: chemical and natural. The first one is made from products of dry distillation of wood, and it is absolutely not suitable for cosmetic use.

The second is made on the basis of sugar-containing must - for example, grape wine, honey, apples and other fruits. First, alcohol is obtained from the feedstock, which is fermented (that is, acetic acid bacteria and / or ethanol are added) and stirred vigorously until the alcohol is oxidized and forms an acid solution. nine0003

Vinegar, skin and hair

Vinegar is actually a natural alternative to acid products: it is rich in AHA acetic acid, pectin, beta-carotene, vitamins C, B1, B2 and B6, biotin, folic and pantothenic acids, and also contains various bacterial enzymes. Among its undeniable benefits for the skin are the following:

  1. Delicate exfoliation, softening of the stratum corneum and preparation for subsequent care. Acetic acid refreshes, exfoliates and tones the skin, which gives the face a healthy glow and a slight lifting effect. nine0025
  2. The fermentation process (adding bacteria) gives the vinegar astringent and antiseptic properties that help destroy pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This makes vinegar an attractive ingredient for acne-prone skin.
  3. Acidic bite helps to balance sebum and pH level, which is important for people with combination and oily skin.
  4. The rich ionic composition of natural vinegar saturates the skin with antioxidants and minerals.
  5. Vinegar in hair care products helps to balance excessive oily roots and get rid of dandruff by exfoliating the scalp. It is also a good conditioner that gives hair a healthy shine and shine. nine0025

fly in the ointment

There are many DIY beauty recipes on the Internet using vinegar. To use them on yourself or not is a personal matter for everyone, but still it is worth mentioning some unpleasant moments associated with this ingredient. Even the highest quality and natural vinegar can cause irritation if the dosage is exceeded, increase sunburn and even provoke a chemical burn and cause depigmentation.

Therefore, it is more reasonable to start introducing vinegar into your beauty routine with professionally formulated products, the formulas of which have passed safety tests, and negative effects are minimized. nine0003 Prebiotic Face Vinegar, Gallinee

One of the flagship products of the French brand specializing in skin microbiome care. The toner contains a proprietary blend of Actibiome prebiotics, postbiotics, acetic acid, and works to gently exfoliate to unclog pores, balance pH, and saturate skin with antioxidants.

Aura Mirabilis Beauty Vinegar, Roger & Gallet

Another French natural brand with a history spanning over 150 years, also produces a biphasic purifying toner based on acetic acid and 18 plant extracts. The product removes make-up and impurities well due to its oily phase, has a mild peeling effect, soothes inflammation, tightens pores and prepares the skin for subsequent care.

Learn more