Cleaning with Vinegar

April 05th, 2012
By Brandon Boyewsky

Cleaning with vinegar has been re-gaining popularity over the last decade as people in the ‘green movement’ have increasingly sought to use more eco-friendly methods and products. Using white distilled vinegar as a cleaning product not only avoids using harsh chemicals and is environmentally friendly, but it also has high levels of acidity, which makes it effective for safely killing most mold, bacteria, and germs.

The rationale behind using a more eco-friendly cleaner also extends to the health and safety of spouses, children, and even pets. The chemicals we often use for cleaning purposes can do much more than simply disinfect; If used consistently, their properties can become part of our home environment. According to the EPA,indoor air is 2 to 5 times more contaminated than outdoor air. This is because these chemicals to clean and disinfect can harm us when they come in contact with our skin and when we breathe them in. They have been known to cause health problems like skin and eye irritation, been linked to asthma, and have even been linked to reproductive harm. In fact, many scientists now believe that chemical exposure, even at very low levels, can have many adverse impacts on the reproductive system.

We know very little about the long-term health impacts of chronic exposure to chemicals in household cleaning products. In fact, thousands of chemicals are marketed everyday as household cleaners, with little information on the potential health and safety consequences, and little oversight by the government. Even more troubling, there are no legal requirements for ingredient labeling on household cleaning products.

There are many reasons that cleaning with vinegar makes sense, and here are a few ways to put vinegar to use:


Cleaning shower curtains:
Keep vinegar in a spray bottle near the shower and squirt the shower curtains once or twice a week. There is no need to rinse. If mildew leaves a stain that needs a little extra power to destroy, try a mixture of borax with enough vinegar to create a paste, then scrub the affected area.


Restoring Silver: Immerse silverware and silver bracelets, rings, and other jewelry items for up to 3 hours in a mixture of 100 ml of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Then rinse with cold water and dry using a cloth for the best results.

Destroy mold: Stains on fabric left by mold are especially annoying, due to the difficulty in removing their trace. Cleaning with vinegar is a good way to safely remove mold without worrying about extra ventilation. Cleaning rugs with white vinegar is also a good way to prevent mold from appearing in the first place.

Cleaning blinds: Mix a solution made up of equal parts vinegar and hot water and wipe bar on both sides with a cloth. Keep a bucket of clean water handy to wash away grime from your cloth as you’re cleaning.


Cleaning Toilets
: Cleaning with vinegar is very easy in this area; Just pour 1 cup into the toilet and allow it to percolate for 30 minutes. Then add about a half a cup of baking soda, scour with a toilet brush, and rinse.


Deodorize and clean drains
: A vinegar and baking soda combination is a startlingly effective way to deal with clogged and smelly drain pipes.


Polishing brass and copper
: It is also possible to restore brass, bronze and copper items by creating a paste made of equal parts white vinegar, salt, and baking soda. Once the concoction has been applied and stops hissing, use a clean, soft cloth or paper towel and rub the items until they shine. Rinse and dry afterward.

Cleaning with vinegar is an excellent way to address the cleanliness of your home, become more environmentally friendly, and protect your family’s health and safety. However, if you do not wish to partake in all this green-cleaning on your own, Contact Sweep Home today and leave the cleaning to us!

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