 |
| © Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images |
By Joanne Finney, Good Housekeeping
Our experts at the GHI have long raved about the benefits of using distilled white vinegar as a household cleaner, but what's so great about it?
Lots! Not only is vinegar effective at getting surfaces clean, it's also cheap and widely available at most supermarkets. It's non-toxic, it lasts for a long time and is safer to have around the house than toxic cleaners like bleach and ammonia.
Here are some clever ways you can use vinegar to clean your home.
Clean windows
Instead of spending money on window cleaners – especially ones that include toxic or potentially toxic chemicals – why not make your own? Fill a spray bottle with one part white distilled vinegar and one part water. Spray onto the glass and then use a lint-free cloth to wipe the windows and then a chamois leather to buff them to a brilliant shine.Banish limescale from your bathroom
Using the same spray bottle, use it regularly in your bathroom to spritz tiles, basins and taps, rinsing them with water afterwards.To remove a build-up of limescale on taps, wrap a cloth soaked in the vinegar solution around the tap and leave overnight. Use an old toothbrush soaked in the solution to work away any remaining residue.
For showerheads, pour the vinegar solution into a plastic bag and fasten it over the showerhead using an elastic band so the holes are immersed in the liquid. After an hour, remove the bag and run the shower on hot to flush the showerhead through.
Read More: What Are the Benefits of a Walk in Shower?
Get rid of limescale build-up in your kettle
Remove limescale from your kettle by filling it with a mixture of half distilled white vinegar and half water and leave to soak overnight. In the morning, empty and rinse the kettle thoroughly, then boil up a fresh kettle-full of water and discard to avoid a vinegary tang to your cup of tea.Cleaning cloudy glassware
If you have glasses in the back of your cupboard that you' avoid using, revive them by soaking for five minutes in distilled white vinegar to remove the cloudy stains.Deep-clean your dishwasher
To deep clean your dishwasher, place a large glass measuring jug filled with two cups of distilled white vinegar on the top rack, then run the machine on empty with no cleaning tablet.Wash fruit and veg
Vinegar may help remove bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables. Mix three parts water to one part white vinegar, and dispense in a spray bottle. Then rinse with water.See more at Good Housekeeping
