Distilled White Vinegar - 26 Reasons it's the Natural Cleaner

Before, I typically had five or six different cleaners on hands for different projects: Windex for windows, Kaboom for the bathtubs, toilet bowl cleaner for the toilets, granite cleaner for the countertops, stainless steel polish for the appliances, etc.   It was expensive and exhausting trying to keep up.  Now, I've found one product to do it all and it's saved me money, cabinet space, and headaches.  The best part?  I feel safe using it with my toddler and dog running around with their mouths on everything.

So just what is this miracle cleaner? 

Distilled White Vinegar!  Did you know just how versatile vinegar is?  Me neither! From fruits and veggies to countertops and faucets, distilled white vinegar is a safe and natural way to clean your home without the harsh chemicals. 

However, don't be fooled by the giant bottles of distilled white vinegar lining the shelf stores.  Distilled white vinegar is made from corn. First, corn is distilled into alcohol, then the corn alcohol is combined with water and nutrients.  From here, it is fermented under controlled conditions to make distilled white vinegar.  Nearly 90% of corn in the United States is genetically modified.  So what may seem a natural and "green" way of cleaning, isn't actually.

To avoid this, make sure to purchase Non-GMO organic distilled white vinegar and avoid potentially harmful side effects that GMO's cause. Spectrum Naturals makes an organic Non GMO distilled white vinegar.  You can purchase it through many retailers including Amazon and Vitacost.  A 32 oz container will cost you around $7.  (If you plan to use a lot of it or want to divide it amongst friends, a great option is to buy it here; you can get a 32 oz container for $3, when purchasing a pack of 12).

Now, let's take a closer look at its many uses...

1. Bathtub Film:
Bathtub film can be removed by wiping with white distilled vinegar and then with baking soda. Rinse clean with water.

*2. Blanket Renewal:
Cotton and wool blankets become soft, fluffy and free of soap odor if 2 cups of white distilled vinegar are added to the rinse cycle of the wash.

3. Brass Polish:
Brass, copper and pewter shine with the use of distilled white vinegar. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir in flour until it becomes a paste. Apply paste to the metals and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water and polish until dry.

4. Bumper & Glass Jar Stickers:
To remove bumper sticker residue, try cleaning with vinegar. Wipe the surface repeatedly with white distilled vinegar until it is soaked. In a few minutes, it should peel off easily. Test on a small invisible area of the car to ensure there will be no damage to the paint.

5. Carpet Stain Removal:
A mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water will remove non-oily stains from carpets. Apply it to the stain with a soft brush or towel and rub gently. Rinse with a towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. Then dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer. This should be done as soon as the stain is discovered.

6. Dishes and Glasses:
Pour 1 ½ cups to 2 cups white distilled vinegar in the bottom of dishwasher, along with regular dishwasher soap.  Wash full cycle.

7. Floors:
To wash no-wax floors, add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water.

8. Flowers:
Keep flowers fresh longer.  Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-quart vase of water.  Trim stems and change water every five days.

9. Fruit, Vegetable, and Herb wash - My personal favorite!
Fill sink with water and add about 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar.  Add fruits, veggies or herbs and let soak for 20 - 30 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly with water.  Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables.  I do this immediately with most of my produce (berries, grapes, cherries, zucchini, squash, tomatoes), and it keeps much longer!

*10. Freshen Baby Clothes:
The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

11. Grass:
To kill grass on sidewalks and driveways, pour full strength white distilled vinegar on it.

12. Kitchen Drain/Garbage Disposal:
To combat odor and keep clean, pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

*13. Lunch Box:
It is easy to take out the heavy stale smell often found in lunch boxes. Dampen a piece of fresh bread with white distilled vinegar and leave it in the lunch box overnight.

14. Microwave:
Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave, then wipe down. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize. 

15. Offensive Cooking Smells:
Simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.

16. Paintbrushes:
To soften any paintbrush, soak the paintbrush in hot white distilled vinegar, and then wash out with warm, sudsy water.

*17. Pest Fighter:
A teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty-pound animal.

18. Pet Accident:
Test the color fastness of the carpet with white distilled vinegar in an inconspicuous place. Then sprinkle distilled vinegar over the fresh pet accident. Wait a few minutes and sponge from the center outward. Blot up with a dry cloth. This procedure may need to be repeated for stubborn stains.

19. Refrigerator:
Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar.

20. Shower Doors:
Rub down shower doors with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar to remove soap residue.
 
21. Showerhead Build Up:
Corrosion may be removed from showerheads or faucets by soaking them in white distilled vinegar overnight. This may be easily accomplished by saturating a terry cloth towel in vinegar and wrapping it around the showerhead or faucet.

22. Stainless Steel Appliances:
Apply vinegar with a soft cloth.  Try in an inconspicuous place first.

23. Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
Stubborn stains can be removed from the toilet by cleaning with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.

24. Weeds:
Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have starved.

25. Windows:
Window cleaning with vinegar will make your windows gleam and will not leave the usual film or streaks on the glass. Mix equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.

26. Wine Stains:
Spots caused by wine can be removed from 100 percent cotton, cotton polyester and permanent press fabrics if done so within 24 hours. To do it, sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots. Then clean according to the directions on the manufacturer's care tag.

* These are suggestions I personally have not tried, however felt they were important to keep on the list to show variety. VinegarTips.com is a great website I discovered after writing this.  They list 1001 uses for vinegar that include every day cleaning solutions as well as wacky, off the wall ideas.  If you have tried any or have additional tips, please feel free to share your discoveries!

 

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