When I was young & dreamed of being a writer, I never would have imagined I’d be dedicating an entire blog post to vinegar. First of all, blogging didn’t actually exist and secondly, all I cared about vinegar was that it partners well with salt, on things like chips, crisps & mashed avocado. But, as I’ve grown, I’ve learned so much. For example, vinegar is a wondrous cleaner, and a drop of lime oil is amazing added to mashed avocado.
If my nearly 4 year old knew what I was doing, she would say “Why is it called vinegar?” – because “why is it call xxx” is a phrase I hear on repeat these days. You may be older than 4., but I thought you might like to know that it means “sour wine”. It comes from Old French, which was in turn derived from Latin. Vinum = wine, and acer = sour. That pretty much tells you what it is, so is a more successful word origin hunt than I’m used to these days 🙂 . Vinegar contains acetic acid, and is made from fermenting plants into alcohol, then fermenting that again into vinegar.
As vinegar can be made from all sorts of fruits and grains, you get many types. I use malt vinegar on my chips, or most culinary things that call for vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is good for your hair, or for home made fruit fly traps – but I can’t bear the smell. But the one I use most and buy in bulk, is good ol’ white vinegar. This is also known as spirit vinegar, or distilled vinegar – which is a bit misleading, as it isn’t actually distilled. Why do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
Descaling. I mentioned in my first blog (https://nickygoesnatural.com/2019/02/15/my-very-first-blog-post/) that I was born & raised in South Africa. In my head, we had the best tap water in the world. It was clean & delicious. Growing up, we probably only ever had one kettle & that was always in perfect condition, and I had never even heard of limescale. (I have a remarkable talent for only remembering the good things). Then I moved to England. There was disturbing build up in the kettles, my Rooibos tea tasted gross, and when things were really bad, there was even a thin film on the top. And if bad tea wasn’t enough, my shower head had clogged up holes, the kitchen tap was growing something, and the bit by the drain in the bath looked like it was starting to rust! (Can ceramic even rust?) Turns out, we live in a place with “hard water”. All this evil was caused by a thing called limescale, and I had no idea how to defeat my new enemy! After years of searching & trying things, at last I found a weapon that worked. Vinegar!
How does it work? (how does it work work work…?) Actually, I don’t know how it works, but I can tell you how to do it. For things like tubs and sinks, simply put in the plug and pour in some vinegar. You can dilute it with water if you need to fill a large volume, so you don’t use a whole bottle. Leave it for an hour or two (or until you remember it again/need to wash your hands), then give it a wipe with a sponge or a quick scrub with an old toothbrush. It shouldn’t take much to dislodge it, then rinse it away. I noticed that with the patch in my bathtub, it actually removed itself slowly over time once I stopped using shop bought “chemical” cleaners. No special effort required.
For taps, soak a cloth in vinegar (or a vinegar water solution) and wrap it around the tap, trying your best to cover as much of the limescale as you can. Leave it to work its magic, then use the cloth to wipe it away. Ancient or excessive build up may need more than one application, but you’ll get there.
As for kettles, add a cup of vinegar and a cup of water to the kettle, and leave it for at least half an hour. Make sure you already have a hot cup of tea FIRST, and leave the kettle far from the plug, preferably with a note, just to be safe. (It won’t kill you, but it will taste seriously gross!) Before your next cup of tea is due, boil up your vinegar solution. Once it’s done, leave it to fizz… and fizz…and fizz. I have a short film of this that I will post to facebook, and link here. The fizzing is the limescale dissolving. It’s pretty cool. Once that’s settled, empty the kettle, giving it a bit of a swirl if you need to to catch the bits at the bottom. If there are any stubborn bits still stuck to the edges, wait until it’s a bit cooler and wipe them off with a soft cloth. They should just fall off with very little encouragement. Give it a bit of quick rinse and you’re good to go!
If your shower head is a bit blocked, unscrew it and give it a wash, then pop it into the kettle for a soak while you’re doing the kettle. Don’t forget to take it out before the “boil” stage, just in case ;-).
Vinegar is also great for the laundry room. One day, when I have an actual laundry room, I’ll store my vinegar there. In the mean time, I always have a bottle under the sink. Add a splash to the rinse load instead of fabric softener for soft clothes without the residue. (60-100ml if you want to be more precise). Fabric softeners may smell yummy, but they contain harsh chemicals that you don’t want next to your skin, it can cause irritation and even contribute to things like eczema. If you miss the smell then add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the vinegar. The Purify blend works well, or I add something like Serenity to sheets and bedding.
You can also use vinegar to clean your washing machine. Once a month, add a cup of vinegar to an empty washing machine, and run it on a hot cycle. Once it’s done, give it a good wipe with a damp cloth. If you have the time, it’s best to open the little door at the bottom & drain out the dirty water first. Extra points for cleaning the filter while you are there – I try do it at least once a quarter. I’ll also add that it’s best to wipe the seals after each wash. As we live in the real world, I don’t expect anyone to actually DO that, but once a week is a good goal. I’ll do a detailed post on cleaning a front loader in future, and come back to add a link. *disclaimer: some people say not to use vinegar in a washing machine as it damages the rubber seals. Personally I think the dilution is weak enough to not be a problem, especially if you wipe the seals after. I have never experienced a problem, but its up to you to make your own decision.
The same principle applies to cleaning a dishwasher. Put a dishwasher safe jug of vinegar in the top shelf of an otherwise empty dishwasher, and run it on a hot cycle. Bonus de-greasing, cleaning & freshness by adding a couple of drops of lemon oil at the bottom of the dishwasher. Sadly I do not have my own dishwasher to use this tip on, but I know it works.
Next must be windows! This is a more well known one, but was unknown to me for a very long time. I have to say I did go a few years without washing my windows, because I couldn’t psyche myself up to go through the hassle. But I found the answer! I used my all purpose cleaning spray (recipe here: https://nickygoesnatural.com/2019/03/08/pregnancy-paranoia-diy-cleaners/), sprayed the windows liberally and wiped with a microfiber cloth. I hate the feel of microfiber, but after seeing how amazing they work, I’ve come to accept (maybe even love?) them. Remember to work in circular motion, and from the top down, if you can. Get the kids involved. They love that kinda stuff. Also works a treat on mirrors and pretty much any glass. It works better on the outside of the oven door than the inside (I’m still working on that). And it’s great for the stove top lid, if you have one.
If you have an essential oil diffuser, vinegar is also great at cleaning that. I vaguely heard that somewhere, so once I decided to fill the thing with vinegar & let it run. Never do that. I thought I would burn my nostrils & panicked at the internal damage I may have caused. I then discovered that the correct method was to add a tablespoon (15ml) of vinegar, top it up with water, and let it run for 10 minutes. Try not to breathe in the fumes as you empty it! I have a more in depth diffuser cleaning post planned, so I’ll link back to that once it’s done.
Vinegar is a very good rinsing agent, and not just in the rinse cycle of a washing machine. It can help strip away soap residue, so you can use it after mopping the floor, washing dishes, or after cleaning with bicarb. It does not work well together with soap or bicarb, but they’re good for a one-two punch.
At some point in my “goes natural” journey I’ll probably explore the world of home made preserves, pickles or marinades. No doubt my good friend vinegar will come in handy then. I can’t see it happening any time soon, but rest assured when the time comes, I will document it and share my experience with you.
As mentioned in my previous post, there are a few things to avoid. Vinegar can etch away at natural stone, including marble and granite, so don’t use it on there. It can strip wax, so check before using it on wood. I have heard it is a great de-icer, but that is not a good idea, as it can damage the paint, and lead to rust.
As this is all about learning new things, if there is anything else that YOU do with vinegar, please share it with the rest of us. I’d love to know your favourite vinegar tips. ❤
Nicky Goes Natural 