Here are a series of useful formulas for cleaning and polishing with vinegar
For cleaning, it’s preferable to use wine vinegar, which is cheaper than cider vinegar. Vinegar cleans because it cuts through grease, breaks down gums, dissolves mineral deposits, purifies the air, and kills and delays the reappearance of bacteria.
Many popular recipes combine vinegar with other household products. Chemical companies replicate old-fashioned cleaners using synthetic substances that aren’t always environmentally safe, unlike more natural, organic compounds.
Among the compounds that have been most traditionally used in combination with vinegar are sodium bicarbonate, borax, chalk, pumice, oil, salt, washing soda, and wax.
Here are some useful recipes for cleaning and polishing with vinegar:
– Prepare a custom air freshener. Put one teaspoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and two cups of water into a vaporizer. When the foaming stops, cover and shake well. Spray the mixture into the air and you’ll notice an instant freshness.
– Clean furniture with vinegar and lemon oil. Use three parts vinegar to one part oil for a light polish and one part vinegar to three parts oil for a deeper polish. The combination of oil and vinegar works well for cleaning and polishing because the latter dissolves and removes dust, and the former enriches the wood.
Another great furniture polish is made by mixing a quarter cup of linseed oil, an eighth of a cup of vinegar, and an eighth of brandy. The powder disappears when the alcohol evaporates.
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Scratches on wood can be repaired with vinegar and iodine. Mix equal parts of each in a small dish and apply with a brush. If the wood is dark, add more iodine to the mixture; if it’s light, add more vinegar.
– Dusting is easier if you moisten the cloth with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and olive oil.
– Vinegar and borax will make your home’s fixtures and appliances shine. Mix one teaspoon of borax, one-quarter cup of vinegar, and two cups of hot water. Spray it on grease stains and dry with a cloth or sponge.
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– Simmer one-quarter cup of vinegar in a pot of water to clear the kitchen of lingering odors. Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to the water for a truly special air purifier.
– Half a cup of vinegar in dishwater removes grease and saves soap.
– Make a good metal cleaner with two tablespoons of cream of tartar and enough vinegar to make a paste. Rub it on the metal and let it dry. Rinse it with hot water and dry it with an old towel. It will shine brightly.
