The 5 Times Vinegar is Essential | Downtown Toronto Maid Service

Every cook knows that vinegar is a blessing when it comes to flavoring food, but do you know the 5 times vinegar is essential when it comes to cleaning? Unfortunately, many people are put off by the vinegar smell. However, you may be able to get over the odor once you realize how essential this fermented gold is when it comes to cleaning and cost-efficiency. That’s right, so many household cleaners can be replaced by this cheap, non-toxic liquid! Plus, you probably have at least one kind of vinegar in your kitchen cabinets already. And so, if you’re looking to spend less on cleaning supplies, dipping into your stash of vinegar is the solution you’ve been waiting for!

Why Vinegar?

What makes vinegar such a great cleaning agent? Glad you asked. When it comes to vinegar, it’s the acetic acid that you’ll be relying on. Though acetic acid isn’t the only compound in vinegar, it’s the property that acts as a disinfectant and deodorizer. In fact, the high acidity levels in vinegar are perfect for counteracting buildups of grease, dirt, soap scum, hard water brine and residual glue from stickers. Plus, not only will vinegar act as a master cleaner, it has the ability to disinfect your items and save you from contracting salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria!

The 5 Essentials

It’s hard to come up with a list of what you can use vinegar to clean, because the list would be endless! However, we are going to discuss how you can use vinegar to your cleaning advantage when it comes to rust, grease, the dishwasher, rags and glass!

Rust

When it comes to cooking, you may favor using cast iron pots and pans. However, you’ll quickly realize how rust starts setting in after repeated use. For smooth-sailing during cooking times, prevent the rust before it gets there! To do so, simply soak your cast iron items in a solution of half white distilled vinegar, and half water. Just be careful that they don’t soak for too long! Aim for 10 minutes. As we mentioned, the acid in the vinegar is very strong, and leaving items soaking for too long can damage your cook wear. When it comes to rusted utensils, soak them in a more concentrated vinegar solution and then brush them off. You’ll have sparkly clean, rust-free items in no time!

Grease

Have you ever had to preheat your oven, just to open it and get a face full of smoke? Look into your oven you’ll find that cause of your trouble is most likely grease. But don’t worry, vinegar will come to your rescue! Instead of putting the oven on a self-cleaning cycle, simply soak a sponge in pure, distilled white vinegar and wipe the area clean. Then, watch to see how easily the grease and grime comes off. At the end of the day, vinegar allows for a maximum grease cleaning, using minimal elbow grease! For a more thorough clean, check out this baking soda and vinegar method.

Dishwasher

A common myth about dishwashers is that they don’t need to be cleaned. However, just like you need to clean the shower that cleans you, you need to clean the appliance that cleans your dishes! When you don’t clean your dishwasher for a while, you’ll find that a build-up of mineral deposits have started to accumulate. Can you guess what you’ll be using to clean it up? Yep, vinegar! The process is easy. First, pour half a cup of distilled white vinegar into the soap compartment of your dishwasher. Then, make sure your dishwasher is empty and run a normal wash cycle. When you open the door an hour or two later, the inside of your appliance will be squeaky clean!

Rags & Sponges

You may not love putting dirty rags in the wash with your clothes. And if you don’t have an excess of rags to clean, you may want to go green and refrain from a whole laundry cycle. If you’re looking for a greener way to clean your rags and sponges from dirt and stains, introduce them to vinegar! To clean rags and sponges with vinegar, place them in a container filled with just enough water so that they are covered. Then, add a quarter cup of distilled white vinegar and let rags sit in the solution overnight. When morning comes, simply rinse the rags with water and hang them up to dry. And that’s that!

Glass

If you’ve ever cleaned glass, you know that getting the job done effectively can prove to be a challenge. For example, washing your glass-wear in the dishwasher can leave mineral scratches and watermarks. So next time you have a dinner party, consider using vinegar to clean your glasses! Start by hand-washing your delicates glasses, and then spray them with distilled white vinegar. Next, simply rinse off the vinegar in hot water and let your items dry!

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Written by Savannah Binder, Maid4Condos