14 Things you can clean with Acetic Acid (White Vinegar)!

It's great how many things can be cleaned with vinegar (acetic acid), from sinks and stainless steel to hobs, showers and many many more...

The things that you can clean with vinegar at home are surprising. It's white vinegar that will help keep everything hygienically clean - the key is to dilute it with water and other natural extracts or essential oils to give it a beautiful fragrance.

“Vinegar is made from acetic acid,” Mark, a lab technician at HD Chemicals LTD, relates. “Acetic acid is a natural disinfectant for so many germs, including salmonella and E. coli. It will be perfect for some kitchen surfaces and household appliances, as well as in the bathroom. It is a miracle cabinet storage product to avoid the use of store-bought abrasive cleaners. It's very important that undiluted vinegar can damage natural stone and wood, so always check - or really dilute well - before using acetic acid for cleaning. An interesting fact is that pure acetic acid 99.85% freezes at a temperature of +17 degrees Celsius and hence it is called glacial acid. "

CLEANING WITH VINEGAR

If you are using store-bought household cleaners, you probably already clean them with vinegar because it is made from acetic acid, which is an ingredient in some cleaning products. Vinegar is very effective in cleaning thanks to its acid, which breaks down grease, dirt and grime easily. However, remember that it can damage some surfaces, so always check - or test on a small piece of surface - before using vinegar, especially pure vinegar, for cleaning.

1. CLEAN WINDOWS WITH VINEGAR (White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water)

Windows can look dirty really fast, but all they need is a homemade vinegar and water solution to keep them clean in no time.

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water and add a little liquid soap to remove any streaks. The best time of day to clean is in the afternoon as the sun does not shine directly on the windows.

Using a sponge, wash the window with the solution and wipe off any dirt, making sure that the solution does not touch the window frames. Then moisten the gum and, starting from the top corner, pull it in a straight downward motion. Go back upstairs and repeat, slightly overlapping the first stroke. Wipe the rubber edge of the squeegee with a sponge or cloth after each pull. Finally, pull the doormat through the bottom of the window and dry the sill with a sponge or cloth.

2. CLEAN MICROWAVE WITH VINEGAR

Are you looking for tips for cleaning your kitchen? Many of us forget to clean our microwave well every now and then, and if we don't, it can get a little smelly in no time. Re-combine equal parts of water and vinegar (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water) - this time in a large microwaveable bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and let it rest for about five minutes. The resulting steam will loosen any food debris that can simply be wiped off.

3. CLEAN FLOORS WITH VINEGAR

Floor cleaning products can be expensive and have a strong odour. Instead, take equal parts of the vinegar and water solution and wipe it down (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water). Not only does it remove grease and dirt, but the diluted solution prevents vinegar acid from damaging your floor. To clean the kitchen, fill a spray bottle with about 50% vinegar (500ml), 30% water (300ml) and 20% lemon juice (200ml). Then add eucalyptus oil (for the fragrance) and tea tree oil (as it has an antibacterial effect).

4. CLEANING THE OVEN WITH VINEGAR

Ovens can get so greasy and sticky, especially when you cook for your family every day. Vinegar is great for this as its acidity breaks down fat in no time. Simply spray the hob with a mixture of vinegar and water (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water), let it sit for about 10 minutes and then scrub with soapy water using a scouring sponge.

5. CLEAN THE KITCHEN SIN WITH VINEGAR

The 1: 1 dilution (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water) vinegar and water solution is also ideal for the kitchen sink. Just spray it on all areas of the sink and then rinse with soap and water.

6. CLEAN KETTLE

To get rid of this terrible lime scale from the kettle or coffee machine, pour a solution of water and vinegar (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water) directly into the device or water tank. Boil the kettle or run it through the coffee machine, then a few leaks onto the water itself to rinse off the taste and smell.

A word of warning: before cleaning the coffee machine with vinegar, check the manufacturer's instructions - it may advise you against it, in which case be careful.

7. CLEAN FOOD PROCESSORS AND BLENDERS

Do you want to clean your blender? Mix the diluted vinegar and water solution (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water) in a food processor or blender, then wash as usual.

A word of warning: before cleaning your food processor or blender with vinegar, check the manufacturer's instructions - it may advise against you, in which case be careful.

8. CLEAN PLASTIC CUTTING BOARDS WITH VINEGAR

This is a very important area where you really need to maintain the highest level of hygiene to prevent cross-contamination of raw meat. When you are done preparing your evening meal, disinfect it in a solution of water and vinegar (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water) and then wash it in hot soapy water.

9. CLEAN WINE GLASSES WITH VINEGAR

It is very annoying when the glass becomes completely cloudy. This is often caused by hard water, so to remedy it, soak them in a sink with undiluted white vinegar 20%  for a few minutes and then wash as usual.

10. CLEANING THE DISHWASHER WITH VINEGAR

A great way to clean dishwasher is to pour a cup of vinegar (100ml White Vinegar 20% + 100ml water) over the base of the dishwasher inside the main compartment, then run an empty cycle with no dishes or detergent to remove any mineral deposits. However, we advise you to do it every six months - vinegar used regularly will damage the rubber parts of the dishwasher.

11. CLEANING THE REFRIGERATOR AND THE FREEZER WITH VINEGAR

Organize well with food that is approaching its use-by date, and thoroughly clean the refrigerator and freezer with a dilute solution of water and vinegar (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water).

12. CLEANING THE SHOWER HEAD WITH VINEGAR (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water)

Vinegar can also be used as a bathroom cleaner. Pour some white vinegar into a plastic bag and secure it around the shower head with an elastic band. Leave it overnight and wake up to a sparkling shower!

13. CLEANING THE BATH WITH VINEGAR (500ml White Vinegar 20% + 500ml water)

To clean a bathtub with vinegar, simply mix it with warm water and start scrubbing the surface of the problem area. If the stain continues, mix the vinegar and baking soda(Sodium Bicarbonate) and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing vigorously.

14. CLEANING THE TOILET WITH VINEGAR

Nobody likes to clean the toilet, but for great results pour 500ml of 20% undiluted acetic acid into a toilet and leave it overnight. The next day, sprinkle with baking soda. Finally, flush the toilet and it's ready.

WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE CLEANED WITH VINEGAR?

Never use vinegar to clean natural stone, especially granite and marble. This means that you need to take extra care with kitchen countertops and stone floor tiles. Also, be careful with the wood, whether it's for countertops or the floor - undiluted vinegar can damage them all.

Where to buy acetic acid in the UK?

As you already know from this article, vinegar is dilute acetic acid, which in its pure form is called Acetic Glacial Acid 99.85%. You can buy vinegar at most supermarkets or cleaning stores. However, remember that it is 5% or 10% vinegar. In our online store you can buy acetic acid in various concentrations and then dilute it to the desired concentration, if needed.

For home use, we recommend acetic acid with a concentration of 20%. It is definitely stronger than the one purchased in a store, but it is safe for home use. Stronger concentrations like 50% acetic acid, 80% acetic acid, or the above-mentioned 99.85% pure acetic glacial acid are more used in industry or are food additives.

HD Chemicals LTD has been a supplier of acetic acid for the UK market for many years. We are a proven and trustworthy vinegar supplier.

We hope you found this article interesting and suggested some interesting ideas on how to clean your home using natural cleaning agents.