Clean rusty tools and metals
Remove even the most stubborn rust from tools with a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar. “Vinegar is a great metal cleaner,” says Melissa Maker, founder of Toronto-based cleaning service Clean My Space. Soak tools in the vinegar bath for a few hours, or a few days for heavily rusted items. The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with rust, helping it dissolve. Watch it in action here. You can also use vinegar to clean metal items like scissors, kitchen shears, and knives, Maker says.
Scour the bathroom
Vinegar works to clean many areas of the bathroom. For dingy glass shower doors, “mix equal parts dish soap and white vinegar and apply to glass surface to break down soap scum,” Maker says. You can also use it on tiled floor, mixed with water, to remove dirt and leave a shine. If you have calcium or lime deposits, a stronger vinegar (6-10 percent, Maker says), will get rid of the stains.
Wipe blinds
Clean blinds easily with vinegar and an old sock or glove. Mix one part water and one part vinegar, dip your hand (covered by the sock or glove) into the solution, and wipe down each slat.
Unclog a drain
Instead of using harsh chemicals to unclog a drain, try this green DIY solution from LiquidPlumr.com. First, pour boiling water down the drain, then follow with a cup of baking soda. Then, pour a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar into the drain. Cover with a drain plug and wait a few minutes, then flush again with boiling water.
Clean your coffee maker
Drip coffee makers may not get the proper cleaning they need to prevent the growth of yeast, mold, and other bacteria. According to a 2011 NSF study, the coffee maker reservoir is the fifth germiest place in the home. A vinegar cleanse will sanitize and remove calcium buildup from water in your machine. Fill it with an equal mix of water and vinegar, and brew with a filter until half empty. Turn off and let sit for 30 minutes, then finish brewing. End the process by brewing twice with regular water. Mr. Coffee recommends cleaning the machine once a month.
Renew old paintbrushes
No need to toss paintbrushes because the bristles are clumped with dried paint. Place brushes in a pot with vinegar, bring to a boil, kill the heat, and let cool for a few minutes. Once cool enough to handle, comb through the bristles to remove the paint easily. Rinse with water. Reshape and let dry for paint brushes that are good as new.
Soften fabric and remove static
Known as a great stain remover, vinegar does double duty by also softening your fabrics and reducing static. Maker uses it in every load of laundry. After adding detergent, she fills the fabric softener compartment with vinegar, which helps remove soap residue in the washer and can break down hard water deposits. “It’s good at softening fabrics because it loosens up the fibers, gets detergents out, and is very gentle. It also gently whitens clothing and deodorizes,” she says. The deodorizing properties work well for smelly towels or gym clothes too, Maker says. Use a vinegar-only load for tough odors.
Remove sticker residue
Tape and stickers can leave an annoying residue that can be tough to remove. Vinegar breaks down the glue for fast removal. Spritz the spot with vinegar and let sit for a few minutes, then easily wipe away. If your crafting scissors get sticky, Maker’s water and vinegar bath for metals works well too.
Deodorize a smelly garbage can
In this cool tip from HouseholdHacker, freshen up a stinky garbage can by soaking a slice of bread with vinegar. Place the slice on a paper towel in the bottom of the empty can. Leave overnight and remove in the morning to eliminate the odor. Find other vinegar uses from HouseholdHacker here.
Also from Grandparents.com:
8 Must-Have Timesaving Gadgets
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circ*mstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Related
Before You Go
