Cleaning the Greener, Cheaper Way!
by: Elena White

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar, is a great and inexpensive way to clean your home. It is also a greener alternative to chemically-based products because it’s better for the environment. You may begin by buying an inexpensive spray bottle (24-36 oz.) and mix a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water. You can use this solution to clean all most all areas of your home. Vinegar is not only a great all-purpose cleaner, but a deodorizer and disinfectant, as well. Please note: vinegar that isn’t properly diluted can eat away tile grout (remember, it is acidic!) and should never be used on marble surfaces. You may be worried about your house reeking of vinegar. Not to worry! The smell disappears once it dries. Here are some uses of white vinegar for your home, broken down by area.

KITCHEN
Use your “all-purpose” vinegar water solution to clean:

• Stovetop
• Appliances
• Countertops
• Sinks

Other ways vinegar can be used in the kitchen:

• Floor (linoleum and wood)-Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a warm bucket of water. Remember, the vinegar smell will go away after it dries, but you can add about 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to your bucket for fragrance. My suggestions are: lavender, lemon, pine and eucalyptus.
• Garbage disposal- you can make full- strength white vinegar ice cubes by pouring white vinegar into an ice cube tray. Pour several cubes down the disposal while fl ushing with cold water. This will not only clean and deodorize the disposal, but also kill mold and bacteria.
• Microwave- in a microwave dish, add 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar and heat i tfor 3-4 minutes. Once you’re done, stuck on grease and food should come off easily
• Dishwasher- you may clean and deodorize your dishwasher by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the empty dishwasher and run the short cycle. You may also add vinegar to your rinse dispenser instead of using Jet Dry!

BATHROOM
Use your “all-purpose” vinegar-water solution to clean hard-water stains and soap scum from:

• Bathtubs
• Sinks
• Shower
• Toilet

Other white vinegar cleaning tips for the bathroom:

1. For stubborn stains, you may use full-strength white vinegar.
2. To make chrome sink fi xtures shine (dulled from lime buildup) use a paste of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
3. Really like scouring cleaners? Make your own by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon of your favorite eco-friendly liquid detergent. Add a few capfuls of white vinegar to give it a creamy think texture.
4. For gunky/stinky drains, clean and deodorize by pouring 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of hot white distilled vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then run hot water down the drain.

CARPETS AND FLOORS
For general cleaning of high-traffi c/problem areas on carpets or rugs, use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Use a sponge to lightly press the solution into carpet, rinse then blot dry with a towel/rag. Let the carpet dry before using the area. For carpet stains, white vinegar can be the answer to your prayers! Here’s a list of most common stains and how best to remove them:

• Chewing gum: Moms will love this one! To get rid of chewing gum stuck in carpet (or any cloth) saturate the area with white vinegar and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes (you can heat the vinegar for faster results). Then carefully pull the gum off.
• Ink: Immediately treat ink stains by blotting and spraying the stained area with hairspray. Once the ink spot is gone, use a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water on the area to remove the sticky hairspray.
• Red Wine: Immediately blot all moisture up from the spill, then sprinkle the area with salt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. The salt will absorb the wine in the carpet (turning the stain pink). Next, clean the entire area with a combination of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water.
• Mildew: When mildew gets in a rug, it fl ourishes and grows. Kill it with a half white distilled vinegar, half water solutions. Make sure the rug dries completely. You can use a hairdryer on the low setting to speed up drying time.

HARD-SURFACE FLOORS
You can make hard-surfaced fl oors sparkle by using white distilled vinegar.
Check out the following tips:

1. Wood- Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon bucket of water and mop hardwood fl oors lightly (don’t saturate). You don’t have to rinse. Now your fl oors will be shiny and greasy buildup will be removed.
2. Ceramic tile- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon water and mop to make these fl oors sparkle.
3. Vinyl/Linoleum- You may scrub these fl oors with a mixture of 1cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of water. For extra shine, use club soda. For extra tough stains on linoleum fl oors, apply full-strength white distilled vinegar and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before wiping it up. For additional cleaning power, add a sprinkle of baking soda over the white vinegar.

For the full article containing more tips on cleaning with vinegar, please visit Life The Green Way at: www.lifethegreenway.org.