White vinegar is not only good for cleaning vegetables but also for cleaning your home. It can be a very effective remedy for getting rid of bad odors in the microwave and making it easier to clean.
There are many uses for white vinegar in the home. You can use this product to disinfect vegetables before preparing and eating them, polish glass and metal objects, clean windows, deodorize the refrigerator, remove stains from carpets and kitchen towels, and even disinfect the washing machine.
For this reason, it is considered to be one of the most common and easy-to-find allies for cleaning the home.
Other uses of white vinegar
The uses of white vinegar are not limited to disinfecting lettuce and plant-based foods. Did you know that it can also be used for cleaning other things?
1. For marks on wood
First of all, if you have parquet flooring at home or furniture that looks dull or has marks, don’t hesitate to use white vinegar. Just moisten a cotton or linen cloth with a little of this liquid and the “magic” will appear.
Keep in mind that vinegar will not completely remove marks on the wood, but it can help to fade them, especially the most recent ones.
2. To keep away ants and other insects
Secondly, among the most common uses of white vinegar is, without a doubt, its use as an insect repellent. If there is an area where ants accumulate, it will be very useful to moisten a cotton pad with white vinegar.
You will see great results. Don’t forget to change it every 3 days!
3. To remove rust
On the other hand, you probably have some container or tool at home that, being left outdoors, has ended up covered in rust. Before you give up on those objects eaten away by rust, try the effective action of white vinegar.
To do this, you just need to fill a container with white vinegar and submerge the object in it. After two days, the rust will have lost strength and you can easily remove it.
4. To clean and deodorize the microwave
One thing that usually characterizes microwaves is that, daily, they end up impregnated with food remains and bad odors that stick to them.
To solve these problems you just have to put half a glass of water mixed with 5 tablespoons of white vinegar, and put it in the microwave for one minute.
The steam it gives off will allow you to remove all those impurities and get rid of bad smells in less than 10 seconds. It never fails!
5. To improve the functioning of the coffee maker
Surely, on more than one occasion, when using your coffee maker you have noticed that the coffee does not come out as quickly and that the flavor is not the same.
One of the uses of white vinegar is also to clean the coffee machine filters and optimize its operation. To do this, if it is an espresso machine you will only have to put half a cup of water with white vinegar in the water tank and use it, but without putting coffee in the receptacle.
If your coffee maker is a carafe, clean it with hot water and white vinegar, leaving it to soak for half an hour. You will see great results.
We recommend you read: 12 reasons why you should have hydrogen peroxide at home
6. To disinfect kitchen rags
To disinfect kitchen rags, many people soak them in a basin of hot water and a touch of coarse salt. This last ingredient is completely optional.
Procedure
- Fill a basin with hot water.
- Add the salt (a tablespoon is enough).
- Stir with a spoon and add the vinegar.
- Soak the rags for at least 30 minutes.
- Then rinse with your usual detergent and let dry.
7. Clean glass bottles
Just as you can use white vinegar to clean windows and leave them sparkling, you can also use this product to clean decorative glass objects, such as cognac bottles and the like.
Some people use it as is, and others dilute it with a little water. Either way, it works. Give it a try!
8. Disinfect the washing machine
After washing a pair of tennis shoes (or other shoes ) that were quite dirty, it is best to disinfect the washing machine. To do this, you would run a cycle, half load, and instead of adding detergent, you would simply add a cup of white vinegar (200 ml).
Once the washing machine completes its cycle, we will see how the drum is clean and shiny.
Is it a good idea to mix vinegar with other products?
White vinegar is a product that is generally not mixed with anything to clean household surfaces. However, to polish and clean metals (from silver to steel) some people mix it with a little baking soda.
What you should never do is mix vinegar with bleach or ammonia, as the resulting mixture can be dangerous for both the skin and the lungs.
Finally, keep in mind that when cleaning, it is best to wear gloves. This way, you will protect your skin from the products and avoid irritation, dryness, and other adverse reactions.