Cleaning with Vinegar

Archives: Tip: Cleaning with Vinegar and other Frugal Tips Archived on 10/12/2006 A few drops of vinegar in a pot of water, will help poached eggs hold their shape. Make your own inexpensive furniture polish with one part vinegar and three parts olive oil or lemon oil. Need to clean the bottom (as well as the inside) of a steam iron? Wipe the iron's bottom (make sure it is unplugged and cooled off) with a cloth soaked in undiluted vinegar. For the interior, periodically put some vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Flush with water when done. Try this to get rid of water lines in a vase. Place a vinegar - soaked towel in the vase so that it has contact with the sides and let it sit for a spell. You should be able to clean it with ease. To remove decals "paint" them with several coats of vinegar, allowing it to soak in. Depending on the surface and the age of the decals, they may slide right off, otherwise a bit of elbow grease may be needed. Sandra More Vinegar Tips: My Tips Use a cloth, I use the disposable handi-wipes type ones for this, soaked with vinegar for sanitizing kitchen counters, stove, and bathroom surfaces. This is just as effective as the anti-bacterial products and does not promote resistant strains like the commercial products can, this is also a cheaper and greener way to protect your loved ones. A vinegar soaked sponge microwaved for 60 seconds rids your microwave of odors. Use the hot sponge to wipe down the microwave after heating. The steam loosens the stuck on particles making the cleaning that much easier. A little vinegar and salt cleans up discolored copper quickly with no scratching. I use vinegar to sanitize my kitty's litter pan when changing the sand. It sanitizes and deodorizes at the same time and no harnful chemicals to bother kitty. Run a cup of vinegar through your coffee machine to rid it of scale. Toss a bit of salt into the carafe along with the hot vinegar to remove any burnt on stains, rub lightly. Good for a thermos also. Spray or wipe down your pet's feeding area once a week with vinegar to keep ants away from the area. To remove haircare product buildup from your hair, rinse hair with vinegar and a little baking soda let set a minute then shampoo. To clean jewelry place in hot vinegar with a little baking soda, this foams a lot, and let sit for 5 minutes. Lightly scrub with a soft toothbrush, to get in crevices, rinse clean and wipe dry with a soft cloth. WARNING: Do not use with soft stones, pearls or glued pieces. (08/30/2001) By Mrs Kathy Cohen Northfield,VT Vinegar Cooking Hints I have 2 cooking hints for vinegar... put a tablespoon or so in the water when you hardboil eggs. It will keep the egg from running out if is should crack while cooking. Bring eggs to a boil... boil exactly 1 minute, turn heat off and let set for 10 minutes. Drain and cover with cold water to cool. No more rubbery egg yolks. And the second is not really a tip but a recipe for piecrust that will get you compliments EVERY time. Never Fail Pie crust Makes two single or one double crust pie. Combine 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1 1/4 cups shortening until fine crumbs. Beat 1 egg with 1/4 cup of cold water and 1 Tablespoon of Vinegar Add gradually to the flour mixture until it forms a ball. This crust will be very tender and can be rerolled if necessary. If you want a prebaked shell, you will have to bake it with foil over the top and fill the foil with dry beans to use as a weight. Otherwise it will shrink as it bakes. (09/04/2001) By Harlean Vinegar Tea A tablespoon of real cider vinegar in a tall glass of ice water makes the water taste wetter, is cheaper than a soft drink, and provides some overlooked nutrients. This refreshing beverage is called vinegar tea. Vinegar tea is known to decrease susceptibility to colds. If you already have a cold, it can shorten the miseries. Vinegar Cooking Hints I have 2 cooking hints for vinegar... put a tablespoon or so in the water when you hardboil eggs. It will keep the egg from running out if is should crack while cooking. Bring eggs to a boil... boil exactly 1 minute, turn heat off and let set for 10 minutes. Drain and cover with cold water to cool. No more rubbery egg yolks. And the second is not really a tip but a recipe for piecrust that will get you compliments EVERY time. Never Fail Pie crust Makes two single or one double crust pie. Combine 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1 1/4 cups shortening until fine crumbs. Beat 1 egg with 1/4 cup of cold water and 1 Tablespoon of Vinegar Add gradually to the flour mixture until it forms a ball. This crust will be very tender and can be rerolled if necessary. If you want a prebaked shell, you will have to bake it with foil over the top and fill the foil with dry beans to use as a weight. Otherwise it will shrink as it bakes. (09/04/2001) By Harlean Vinegar Tea A tablespoon of real cider vinegar in a tall glass of ice water makes the water taste wetter, is cheaper than a soft drink, and provides some overlooked nutrients. This refreshing beverage is called vinegar tea. Vinegar tea is known to decrease susceptibility to colds. If you already have a cold, it can shorten the miseries. Vinegar tea taken hot is a good gargle for a sore throat, and it also helps loosen clogged sinuses. If you can't get used to the tea right away, you can add a little honey. Gradually, use less honey, and learn to savor the subtle undertones of the vinegar itself. Cider vinegar added to pet drinking water can deter biting insects, such as fleas, from snacking on your canine or feline companion. Vinegar tea is a very portable beverage. Put it into drink bottles, filling half way and freezing, and top off with some more just before you leave. It is so good while it is still cold, and it still is nicer than stale water when it gets warm. If you should decide to dump it out somewhere, you know you are not adding any pollution or attracting vermin. (09/04/2001) By Rose B, mother of three, in NC 50 Vinegar Uses I found and saved this list of 50 Things to use Vinegar for... 1. Kill grass on walks and driveways. 2. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved. 3. Increase soil acidity. In hard water: one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrums, gardenias, or azaleas. 4. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known. 5. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength. 6. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse. 7. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don't want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on. 8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears. Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar. 9. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Put a little in their drinking water. 10. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar over night. 11. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar. 12. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons water before boiling eggs. Keeps them from cracking. 13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching. 14. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply. 15. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo. 16. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water. 17. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. 18. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow. 19. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer. 20. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling. 21. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water. 22. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing. 23. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar. 24. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar. 25. Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water. 26. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime. 27. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night. 28. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. 29. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water. 30. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through 31. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty. 32. Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware. 33. Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth. 34. Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry. 35. Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away. 36. Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize. 37. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar. 38. Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution. 39. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron's water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water. 40. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains. 41. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. 42. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing. 43. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue. 44. Brighten fabric colors. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. 45. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot. 46. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual. 47. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam. 48. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off. 49. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar. 50. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water. (09/04/2001) By pat31750 Vinegar Rinse Vinegar in rinse water for dishes not only cuts soap, it also sanitizes. (09/19/2001) By Anna Spritzer for My Face I like to mix 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water into a spray bottle. I use it as a spritzer on my face. I also spray my underarms each a.m. and allow to dry before I put on my deodorant. It helps fight odor better than anything else. My last tip is to add 1 cup of the cider vinegar to my bath. It helps fight yeast infections. (You can also use the spray bottle and apply it to the vaginal area) (04/25/2002) By dunndeanna Soften Water Vineger is also proven to help dissolve Uric Acid (why it can be used in the washing machine to soften the water and your clothes). Fantastic on pet stains, or soiled laundry. Also you can set out a small bowl of vinager to freshen the air in your house, and it's great mixed with water on no wax floors and will help break up any build up from commercial cleaners. I also like to put some in my carpet cleaner with water for geneal weekly cleaning & freshening. (09/12/2004) By Jennifer Cleaning With Vinegar Use vinegar as another all around cleaner. Floors, windows, glass, and believe it or not, oven and microwave oven cleaners! (11/09/2004) By Gloria Hussar Which Vinegar Should I Get? I have heard all the wonderfull things that can be done with undiluted vinegar including cleaning the church pews. However, I live in Birmingham, AL and I have not been able to locate any undiluted (only 5%). I have been to grocery store, hardware store, drug store...what am I missing? Can someone please guide me? (01/23/2005) By Nancy Hi Nancy, When they say undiluted vinegar, they mean straight from the bottle. Don't worry about the percentage. What comes from the bottle is strong enought. (01/23/2005) By Susan from ThriftyFun Vinegar Tips For Bathroom Cleaning Don't waste money on dangerous commercial mineral deposit removers for your tub, sinks & commode. When you can be sure to leave your sink or tub unused for about eight hours, lay a facecloth or dish towel on the stained area. Soak the cloth with undiluted vinegar. Cover with a baggie or plastic wrap. To treat the commode, remove all or as much of the water as possible from the bowl. Pour in enough vinegar to submerge the stained area. After about eight hours, uncover the previously stained areas & scrub gently with a plastic scrubber & dish soap. Just flush the toilet as you would normally. The acidity of the vinegar neutralizes the alkaline minerals & allows them to be easily removed. For stubborn rust deposits scour gently with "Barkeepers' Friend". (02/28/2005) By Zaideh Vinegar for Cleaning I use white vinegar to clean so many things. I cleans my tile floors, my windows, my bathroom, tub, mirrors, counters. I also rinse my white clothes with it. It really helps get them clean and white. It will remove lipstick, crayon etc. from about anything. I don't use it on anything with color: re: clothes etc. (05/27/2005) By Lisa Washing Diapers We had four children and was unable to buy expensive throw away diapers. We bought cloth diapers, washed them in detergent and rinse with 1 cup of vineagar, not one of our children had a diaper rash! (05/27/2005) By granylou Using White Vinegar Use it to clean your mirrors, your floors, your tubs, rinse your hair, clean your glasses, put in your dishwasher rinse department, rinse your white clothes in it, gargle for sore throats, use as good antiseptic and many more uses. (06/20/2005) By Sandi Report Spam or Abuse