HOW TO: CLEAN WITH VINEGAR

McClatchy Newspapers

Published Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Vinegar Institute offers uses and tips, drawn from sources such as consumer suggestions, articles and other publications. These are passed-along cleaning solutions and have not been scientifically tested or documented by the institute or its members, which are vinegar producers from around the world.

● Deodorize kitchen drain: Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes, then flush with cold water.

● Streakless windows and clean refrigerators: Wash with a mixture of equal parts of distilled white vinegar and warm water. Dry with soft cloth.

● Remove refrigerator smells: Place 1 cup apple cider vinegar in a glass in refrigerator.

● Wash no-wax floors: To wash no-wax floors, add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water.

● Remove carpet stains: A mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water removes non-oily stains. Apply with soft brush or towel, rub gently. Rinse with towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat until stain is gone. Dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer.

● Clean, disinfect wood cutting boards: Wipe with full-strength distilled white vinegar.

● Clean woodwork: Wash painted walls, woodwork and Venetian blinds with a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup white distilled or cider vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda in 1 gallon of warm water. Wipe this solution over walls or blinds with a sponge or cloth and rinse with clear water.

● Remove water rings: Remove by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts of distilled white vinegar and olive oil. Rub with the grain and polish for best results.

● Clean automatic coffee maker: To dissolve mineral deposits, fill reservoir with distilled white vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water.

● Clean the microwave: Boil a solution of ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered-on food and deodorize.

● Remove bathtub film: Wipe with distilled white vinegar and then with baking soda. Rinse clean with water.

● Unclog showerhead: Remove corrosion from showerheads or faucets by soaking them in white distilled vinegar overnight. (Saturate terry cloth towel in vinegar and wrap around the showerhead.)