One of the questions I’m asked a lot in person (and online via email) is the type of cleaners I use. Quite a few of my friends are looking for gentle products to clean their homes. Since they know I’m not a fan of using harsh chemicals they will come to me for advice. Some of them are a bit surprised when I tell them my favorite cleaner is distilled white vinegar.
The only thing I don’t like about vinegar is the smell, but that dissipates shortly after the surface is dry so I can live with the area smelling like pickles since it’s such an effective cleaner.
White vinegar is a weak acid that contains about 5 percent acetic acid. Because of this it can be extremely effective for removing calcium deposits, water deposits from glass, tarnish from certain metals like brass and copper, and stains from sinks.
I’ve found that white vinegar is an extremely effective way to clean our floors. Over the years, I’ve noticed that it leaves our floors much cleaner (for longer) than any other “fancy product” that I could purchase. In fact, I’ve been using white vinegar as my “cleaner solution” with my Hoover Twin Tank Steam mop with much success. I also use vinegar to clean my windows!
While I occasionally use apple cider vinegar for my natural vegetable washes when it comes to cleaning around the home I always reach for distilled white vinegar.
Q – That is my favorite cleaner! My mom used it and passed my love for it down to me. LOL! I buy it in the gallon size at Costco. Now that I dye wool it really go through the stuff. We had new windows installed and it was recommended to use vinegar to clean and to not use any ammonia products on them at all.
Also, want to get rid of the callouses on you feet, nothing like a vinegar soak. I like the smell. LOL!
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@curls and q, Your comment made me smile. My grandmom used vinegar a lot. She passed away in 2004 at the age of 93, but I still miss her so much. My grandmom would soak her feet in vinegar, I must try that some time!
I’ve tried some of the “fancy” earth friendly products but they don’t make my place any cleaner than vinegar. I for one, won’t be spending extra money for a “green product” when I can get the same results with my cheap vinegar. 😉
I’ve read that vinegar can be used with dyeing. I haven’t dyed anything yet, but will use vinegar when I get around to dye experimentation.
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Vinegars are WONDERFUL for so many things!!!!
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Agreed @Jennifer, I was running low so purchased two gallons of vinegar. Yesterday, I received my hand held steam cleaner! I plan to do a lot of deep cleaning today!
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