Kiddipedia
Vinegar is one of those things we’ve all got in our cupboard. We use it to flavour food all the time, but did you know just what a great cleaner it could be? It’s very versatile and there are many ways of using it. From removing stains to being your answer when you wonder how to clean make up brushes, here are our top ways to use vinegar around the house.
- Remove stains
If you’ve got really bad stains, vinegar can be your best friend. Depending on the stain there are a number of different approaches:
- Sweat – rub a mix of vinegar and salt directly onto the stain, hang out to dry and then wash as usual.
- Blood – let vinegar soak into the stain for around 15 minutes, rinse and then place on a washing cycle, but be quick!
- Coffee – mix a third vinegar with two-thirds water, soak the stain, dry and then launder.
- Set-in stains – soak with neat vinegar, then mix a paste made from equal parts of baking soda and vinegar. Rub the paste into the stain and then rinse. Stubborn stains might require leaving overnight before washing the paste away.
2. Remove odours
Vinegar is very good at removing all manner of smells:
- From carpets – mix equal quantities of vinegar and warm water onto a sprinkling of baking soda, then scrub. Keep the windows open and once the carpet is dry, the smell will be gone.
- From dishwashers – fill a mug with white vinegar, place it on its own in the dishwasher and run a cycle.
- From clothing – put your clothes in the washing machine and add two tablespoons of vinegar on top of your usual detergent to lift mildew smells.
3. Clean windows and floors
If you’re looking for a shiny floor or crystal clear window, vinegar can do wonders:
- For windows – make a solution of equal parts water and vinegar, and put it in a spray bottle. If you’ve got a particularly dirty window you can up the amount of vinegar; it can cut through even the grimiest of glass.
- For floors – add around 250ml for every four litres of warm water. Mix the solution and use your mop to spread it on mucky floors. Again, this is particularly good with stubborn marks but, as with any new cleaning method, make sure you test on a small area before you go all out.
4. Clean brushes
Here’s something a little different – neat ways of cleaning your brushes:
- For toothbrushes – stand your toothbrush, bristles first, in a glass filled with white vinegar. Soak for one or two hours, remove and rinse. Not only does it clean your toothbrush, it is also able to kill most bacteria and germs too.
- For make up brushes – in addition to toothbrushes, vinegar is good for make up brushes. If you want to learn how to clean make up brushes check Cleanipedia, a simple mix of apple cider vinegar, soap and warm water promises great results!
So there you have it; a bunch of useful tips for getting household items clean with vinegar. All that’s left is for you to try them out!
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