Cleaning with Vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar is economical and healthy. Since vinegar is a natural product, you can use it without fear of allergies, or reactions to harsh chemicals. Vinegar is versatile and can be used with great success to clean almost anything!

Add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle while doing laundry to get rid of lint on your clothing. A side benefit is that your dryer will run more efficiently with less lint on your clothing but also you won't have to spend time using a lint roller. Don't worry--the vinegar smell doesn't linger on your clothing at all. In addition, vinegar will help brighten your colored clothing.

To keep your washing machine in good working order, add one cup of vinegar to the machine and wash on your regular cycle. Doing this helps unclog hoses, and keep everything clean and tidy.

Go ahead and let them get messy. . .not only is vinegar great for getting tougher stains out of clothing, you can also get stains out of upholstery and other fabrics. Use a toothbrush and rub in vinegar before washing.

Clean your coffee maker by "brewing" vinegar. Fill the reservoir with vinegar and turn your coffee pot on for a normal cycle. Doing so will remove mineral deposits and coffee stains from your pot.

To make your brass, copper or pewter shine like it was new, dissolve one tablespoon of salt in one cup of vinegar. Shine with a dry, lint free clothe. Soon your pots will shine!

Clean your microwave by heating up some vinegar and a slice or two of lemon. The steam created from the heated vinegar and lemon will help to loosen splattered on food and it will also deodorize the microwave.

You can use vinegar in the bathroom in several ways to keep everything working and smelling great. Dilute a cup of vinegar in a gallon of water and use it to clean the floors. Keep your shower fresh with a spray of equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar is also a disinfectant--you can use a spray of equal parts water and vinegar to spray on your door knobs to keep the most germ prone parts of your house clean!

Vinegar is very versatile and there is almost nothing that it can't be used on: cookware, all types of flooring, upholstery, walls, laundry and the bathroom. It absorbs odors, disinfects and is non-toxic. Best of all, it costs a fraction of what chemical cleaners cost and is just as effective.