The Cleaning Agent That Has Superpowers
With the many uses and capabilities of vinegar, it’s astonishing that there hasn’t been an infomercial about this amazing product. I can see the video reel now: “It cleans, it shines, it disinfects, it deodorizes, it protects. But wait, there’s more! It’s naturally derived and non-toxic. How much is this amazing product? You can pick up your gallon of vinegar today for the amazingly low cost of just under $3.” Cue the audience ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’.
As children, many of us encountered this product in the spring, when our parents pulled out the box of dyes and started boiling eggs for Easter. I also remember making that volcano for science class and being wide-eyed with wonder when the baking soda and vinegar mixed together to provide a spectacular show. I even recall my aunt dousing her dog with a vinegar solution after his run-in with an ornery skunk in the back yard.
I didn’t connect all of these memories to the multifaceted and expansive uses of vinegar until years later when I had my ‘a-ha’ vinegar moment. I had forgotten the many uses I had seen of vinegar in my younger years. So, like many others, I was buying countless cleaners that were not only expensive, but also toxic and dangerous, especially with my toddler in the house.
When we purchased our new home, the builder advised us that our new wood floors would be damaged by many of the commercial floor cleaning products. I was immediately reminded of those years growing up with wooden floors and of using the nondestructive vinegar and hot water solution.
As I began to ponder the many uses vinegar may have around the house, I began to do some research. I was amazed at the never-ending list of things vinegar was capable of, and I loved that it was non-toxic and safe around my child. I was happy to rid the house of the many bottles of dangerous and expensive cleaners plaguing my cabinets.
I knew that with its highly acidic pH levels, it would make a great cleaner and disinfectant. Yet, I was amazed at just how far this plant-based product’s uses could go. Leave it to Mother Nature and the fermentation process to produce something so great.
I now use distilled white and apple cider vinegars in hundreds of different ways on a regular basis. So, let’s start touching on some of them. For those who have laundry troubles, vinegar can be used to remove yellow stains, set dyes, remove general stains and can even be used as a fabric softener. It will even brighten both whites and colors.
After the laundry comes out of the machine, use a mixture of it to then clean the washer. It’s great for cleaning dishwashers as well. Also, while we’re on the subject of cleaning, vinegar makes a great all-purpose cleaner that does great with water spots, soap scum, as well as cleaning and disinfecting toilet bowls. For jobs outside the bathroom and kitchen, vinegar can be used to polish various metal surfaces and even clean and polish wood. When it comes to random uses, vinegar can take the form of insect and animal repellant or as an odor eliminator. Oh yeah, and you can cook with it, too. This list barely scratches the surface. In fact, it’s hard to imagine something vinegar can’t be used for.
While it is non-toxic, it is important to avoid contact with the eyes due to its high acidic nature. If it does come in contact with the eyes, simply flush them with water for 10-15 minutes. For many of its uses, it is recommended to dilute the solution with things like water, salt, baking soda, etc. A quick search online should yield the recommended ingredient mixtures and ratios for the desired use of the vinegar.
There’s a saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” Thankfully, in the case of vinegar, this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s inexpensive, has an unlimited amount of uses and it’s safe. I can’t imagine a more universal product on the market that does a better job, let alone at a better price.
