The Magic of White Vinegar

[itself]

I swear, vinegar is good for so many uses. Cleaning floors, windows. I had some dish clothes that got kind of moldy smelling, put two cup of white vinegar in the washing machine washed, and then washed with soap, now they smell terrific!

[OakLeaf]

ewwww, I can't stand the stink of vinegar.

When I need an acid cleaner I use crystalline food grade citric acid. Odorless - and you can mix it as strong or weak as you need.

[zoom-zoom]

We have INSANELY hard water that makes a mess of our sinks and faucets. We use a ton of vinegar. It's way cheaper than CLR.

[rubysoho]

We have INSANELY hard water that makes a mess of our sinks and faucets. We use a ton of vinegar. It's way cheaper than CLR.

Better for the environment too!j

[Orange utopia]

I put white vinegar in every load of laundry in place of fabric softener. It works great and leaves no odor. My kids all have very sensitive skin and even fragrance free fabric softeners cause them problems.

[redrhodie]

I have a favorite coffee mug at work that got really stained from green tea. I filled it with hot water and maybe a T of white vinegar, and it came perfectly clean in a few minutes.

[soprano]

I've been using white vinegar in place of fabric softener for years. Works best if most of the laundry is natural fibers; synthetics come out with a little static. A nice bonus is that the machine stays really clean as well.

[PamNY]

Do you put vinegar in with the soap when you use it in the washer?

[OakLeaf]

Better for the environment too!

Care to share your sources? CLR is food grade and recommended for cleaning coffee makers and glasses - obviously fewer ingredients are better, and the foaming and gelling agents are unnecessary, but they're relatively benign.

I hadn't known until I looked it up just now that white vinegar is usually made from barley, not from corn (the primary source of acetic acid) - that makes even non-organically grown vinegar somewhat better for the environment than citric acid. Am I a Bad Person because I hate the smell too much to switch? ;)



ETA - A couple of years ago I asked here about using acids in the washing machine, and I believe it was Irulan, our resident fabric expert, who recommended against it - said it could corrode the internal workings. I guess it would be okay if you did a titration first to find out exactly how much acid to use just to neutralize the bases in your water - but even then you'd want to put it directly in with the clothes after the tub was filled for the last rinse, not in the dispenser where it would (1) sit during washing and (2) pass undiluted through the hoses and valves.

[Blueberry]

Baking Soda is another one that we use a LOT of for cleaning. Works as well as most of the other abrasive cleaners - but I have heard better for the environment.

Vinegar - I use it, DH uses it more - I usually protest the smell, but have learned to live with it.

Got good sources for Citric Acid? I use it to clean my Zojirushi water dispenser (which is in dire need of cleaning again despite my insistence on filtered water use).

[PamNY]

ETA - A couple of years ago I asked here about using acids in the washing machine, and I believe it was Irulan, our resident fabric expert, who recommended against it - said it could corrode the internal workings. I guess it would be okay if you did a titration first to find out exactly how much acid to use just to neutralize the bases in your water - but even then you'd want to put it directly in with the clothes after the tub was filled for the last rinse, not in the dispenser where it would (1) sit during washing and (2) pass undiluted through the hoses and valves.

That sounds reasonable. I don't think I'd chance it. I have a front loader, so couldn't just dump it in.

Lots of people love vinegar, but I never feel it cleans very well. Perhaps I'm dirtier to begin with.

[OakLeaf]

Any place that sells beer or winemaking supplies will have citric acid around $4-5 a pound.

Natural food stores that carry herbs and spices in bulk sometimes have it, too. But a lot of natural food stores also have citric acid in little bottles at a much higher price.

[soprano]

ETA - A couple of years ago I asked here about using acids in the washing machine, and I believe it was Irulan, our resident fabric expert, who recommended against it - said it could corrode the internal workings. I guess it would be okay if you did a titration first to find out exactly how much acid to use just to neutralize the bases in your water

Our tap water is so ridiculously alkaline (pH 8.6) that I don't really think that is a valid concern. One half cup of vinegar isn't going to contain nearly enough hydrogen ions to mitigate however many gallons of tap water that go through the wash. My former machine, however, was horribly clogged from years of too much fabric softener (thanks, former residents of my house!) and tried to flood the kitchen with regularity.

[zoom-zoom]

We also really like boric acid for all sorts of applications. It gets added to all of our laundry loads, instead of powdered water softener. We really regret not getting a water softener when we first bought the house, but salt is $$. Then again, so are Borax, distilled water for the coffee, frequent new filters for the humidifier...

[jessmarimba]

I've used vinegar to clean up after the cats for years...couldn't use anything else with the blind one when she had accidents.

But I kind of like the smell of vinegar. It reminds me of dying easter eggs as a child.

[GLC1968]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!

[emily_in_nc]

But I kind of like the smell of vinegar. It reminds me of dying easter eggs as a child.

I agree! That's what I always get flashbacks to when I use it. :D

[Owlie]

Me too! I don't like it, but it does remind me of Easter egg dyeing. :)

We used it for cleaning the wood floors of our apartment. Not that it did a whole lot of good (the floors were in desperate need of refinishing). My mom suggested boiling a pot with vinegar to get burned on milk and potato off it. It took a few cycles of boiling and scrubbing, but it worked better than just soaking it.
It's also good for fixing dyes to wool--I'm thinking specifically of food coloring, no mordant needed. I've done it with Kool-aid, but not with vinegar+food coloring. I think I need to try it, just to make sure. ;)
(Okay, so not too many people here will understand my yarn fixation, but I'm sure some will.)

[shootingstar]

didn't know it was a form of weedkiller.

Another useful household thing but for different stuff is baking soda. makes certain things shine by removing some grease off some pots, etc. I use it to brighten up my silver jewellery.

[SadieKate]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!What? Just pour it on full strength? What about the grass or other vegetation?

And will you come help me with a midnight raid on a neighbors' yard?

[GLC1968]

What? Just pour it on full strength? What about the grass or other vegetation?

And will you come help me with a midnight raid on a neighbors' yard?

Sure! *insert evil laugh*

But yeah, it will probably kill grass, too. I poured about a half cup (full strength) over these two MASSIVE dandelions that were on the edge of our rose bush area. I poured it slowly so that it soaked in only where the weeds were (and didn't seep into the rose bushes). I've really only used it on the weeds in our gravel driveway or the path - not the lawn itself. You know, maybe I'll try it on the lawn this week anyway. It's not like I love our lawn all that much that a brown spot or two would bother me... I'll report back!

[Blueberry]

(Okay, so not too many people here will understand my yarn fixation, but I'm sure some will.)

Yep - on Ravelry?

[OakLeaf]

We use it on the weeds that come up between our paving stones. I worried a little about the pavers at first, but it doesn't seem to have hurt them. I don't mind the smell when it's in the backyard. :)

[Owlie]

Yep - on Ravelry?

Yes I am! (I'm sure you can guess my username.)

[grey]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!

NOOOOOO! You don't KILL dandelions, you EAT THEM! :eek:

"Dandelion is a spring tonic - somewhat laxative, mildly diuretic, and improves the function of the liver, promoting secretion of bile. As such, dandelion is an excellent blood-cleanser, helping rid the system of accumulated toxins and improving bad skin.
Fresh buds and flowers are a cleansing yet fortifying, trailside snack. The fresh greens are an excellent salad ingredient..." (I use them in place of arugula)

I make a tincture of dandelion roots & arial parts every spring... it's my secret hangover cure. A teaspoon in water and... bye bye hangover!

Roasted roots apparently make a decent coffee substitute. I haven't tried this, so I don't know. You can also make dandelion wine, and dandelion jelly, from the flowers.

We should be killing grass, not dandelions :p Besides... what kid doesn't love blowing those awesome seeds everywhere?
Edit: I guess I should be happy you are all using vinegar to kill "weeds" and not Roundup.
Edit 2: If you really want to get rid of dandelions, you have to dig them up. The whole thing - even a piece of root will let the plant regenerate.
You should eat what grows outside your door - in my case it's dandelions, plantain, lamb's quarters, and comfrey.


BACK ON TOPIC (sorry, just had to get that out!): I use vinegar, baking soda, salt & lemon for almost everything. For grout I mix baking soda & salt for a stronger scrub, lemon and baking soda clean & whiten my porcelain sink, and vinegar makes the baking soda fun and fuzzy.

Baking soda & lemon juice made into a paste will also get the funkies out of travel mugs (hubby forgets to bring them back home for DAYS sometimes) or water bottles.

Vinegar in a spray bottle + sunshine gets odors out of fabrics.

[GLC1968]

NOOOOOO! You don't KILL dandelions, you EAT THEM! :eek:


My dear, you are preaching to the choir! ;) We eat dandelions too, but even if you eat them, they WILL take over everything else and I'd hate to miss out on all the other things we've planted because dandelions get out of control. Trust me, there are plenty left. NO ONE could eat all the dandelions on our property.

Even edible plants can be a problem.

I'm sure you've got Kudzu growing somewhere near you, right? Even though it's edible and nutritious, it's out of control all over the south. Some of it must be killed or it will take over everything!

Where I live, blackberries are an invasive species and must be held back or they destroy trees, other growing things and sometimes even barns and sheds! Yep, delicious blackberries can be destructive. Thankfully, our goats LOVE blackberry brambles so we don't have to resort to noxious chemicals.

Oh, and we don't kill grass at our place - we use it to feed our goats and chickens. Grass is a wonderous commodity when it's not confined to suburban lawns, so please...don't kill grass. ;)

[jessmarimba]

I don't think grass will grow in my yard...at least the dandelions make it look green! Plus they spread from my yard all over my neighbors yard, which is my silent revenge for their complaints about my lack of yard work when I was in the hospital last year.

I just don't like the dandelions where they are growing through the sidewalk and patio around my house. Though milkweed is the worst offender there, and since the roots are below the concrete I can't even pull them up. Vinegar works fairly well on milkweed too though.

[grey]

My dear, you are preaching to the choir! ;)

Oh *whew* :o

Kudzu hasn't made it this far north yet. I'm just south of Chattanooga. But yes - it's a problem to the south! Blackberries are also a bit invasive here, especially along roadsides for some reason (they make a decent snack on a ride, if you know they haven't been sprayed).

[tulip]

Oh *whew* :o

Kudzu hasn't made it this far north yet. I'm just south of Chattanooga. But yes - it's a problem to the south! Blackberries are also a bit invasive here, especially along roadsides for some reason (they make a decent snack on a ride, if you know they haven't been sprayed).

Must be the elevation, because kudzu is certainly north of you. All over NC and in Virginia, too.

I plant milkweed, also known as Butterfly Weed. It has a beautiful bloom and is the food source for Monarch butterflies and caterpillars. I just transplanted a whole bunch of seedlings that sprouted below a plant that I bought last year. I hope to cover my whole side yard with milkweed.

[itself]

What dilutiion do you use to kill weeds?

Also, I read on our bottle of CLR to test it as it can hurt porcelain, etc, so I have never used it. We have really bad calcium circles in our toilets, but I am afraid to use it. If you use CLR, please advise!

[FunSize]

I have a nice little front yard perfect for a lawn but its all clover. There are some patches on really fast growing, ugly grass. Well, at least clover is green.

I use vinegar to clean the odor out of my top loading washing machine. When i moved into the house it reeked. I told my roommates that my clothes smelled after using it and i couldn't stand it. They all said I was crazy. It was the liquid softener that had built up and... basically festered. disgusting.

I also use vinegar to clean my coffee machine. But yes, my entire house then smells of boiling hot vinegar.

I remember my mom making me clean all our storm windows with vinegar. Fun. Thanks mom.

[Biciclista]

What? Just pour it on full strength? What about the grass or other vegetation?

And will you come help me with a midnight raid on a neighbors' yard?

do you live next door to me?? :eek:

I've discovered that you can only eat so many dandelions. Also, they are not as bad as blackberries, which are not as bad as English Holly and English Ivy...

I'm going to try to take a musty smell out of an antique dresser i just bought by painting the inside unfinished wood with vinegar... wish me luck.

[GLC1968]

I've discovered that you can only eat so many dandelions. Also, they are not as bad as blackberries, which are not as bad as English Holly and English Ivy...


So true!

And every time we see english ivy on our bike rides, my husband suggests we buy it to cover this one area of our yard! I keep telling him it's no longer sold in Oregon, but he won't listen to me. ;)

[Biciclista]

So true!

And every time we see english ivy on our bike rides, my husband suggests we buy it to cover this one area of our yard! I keep telling him it's no longer sold in Oregon, but he won't listen to me. ;)

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: you have to convince him of how evil it is.

[soprano]

I remember my mom making me clean all our storm windows with vinegar. Fun. Thanks mom.

Ah, the smell of vinegar on a hot summer day! My grandmother used to have me clean her windows with newspaper and vinegar. As an adult I buy Windex, and just feel wasteful :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

The weed that won't die ... is DEAD. :D :D :D :D

Thank you for reminding me about vinegar! I now have a pail full in my garage. Weeds go in and they don't come out.