When I see the endless rows of chemical cleaning agents lining supermarket shelves my mind is boggled. Sure they come in all kinds of fluorescent colors, smell like a chemical soup and are labeled with enticing promises, but their overall efficiency is dubious and their costs are insane.
This is one time when looking to the past may hold an answer.
I remember that every time I would visit my grandmother’s lovely home it always smelled so fresh and clean. I also know that the only cleaning agents she would use in her homes were vinegar, baking soda, ammonia and water.
Here are some of the ways that vinegar can make an effective cleaning agent on par with any chemical cleanser on the market.
– Stains and food encrusted on your baking pans and cooking pots. Simply add equal parts vinegar and water and set this mixture to boil for around 5 minutes.
– Garbage cans that stink the high-heavens? After washing them out, place a bowl of white vinegar at the bottom of the can and leave it overnight, a chunk of bread soaked in vinegar is the classic remedy. This will work on fishy coolers and funky refrigerators too. Â
– Do you have a boisterous cat that likes to mess-up the furniture or sleep in a particular area, where you’d rather they didn’t? Use a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and make no cat zones where ever you want. Cats hate the smell of vinegar and will steer clear of the areas you spray.
– Looking for a way to slash the costs of your all-purpose cleaning agents: a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water and a tablespoon of regular dish soap makes an effective all-purpose cleaner for windows, surfaces and even sunglasses. Â
– Drains backing up? Water won’t go down? Forget the powerful acids and drain busters and make a classic chemical reaction. Baking soda followed by vinegar is a great way to bust up grease clogs, hairballs and other obstructions.
– Improve the longevity of your cut flowers by adding ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar to the flower water.
– Sticky residue on walls, surfaces and new items spray with un-diluted white vinegar and leave for 5 minutes. Wipe off!
– Fruit flies buzzing around in the summer. Place some vinegar in a bowl and cover with clear wrap. Poke some holes in the wrap and set it nearby. The flies will be attracted to the smell and trapped behind the clear wrap.
Of course this is only a small list of useful ideas that come from applying vinegar into your cleaning regimen. In addition to its versatility, vinegar is non-toxic, eco-friendly and powerful.
Your local Spotless Inc can help with your next cleaning project. Talk to any one of our experts, call now!
