Latest news with #vinegar
The Sun
21-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm a cleaning expert, everyone is using this cheap viral product but there's three surfaces it should never touch
WHEN it comes to cleaning, everyone is looking for quick cheap hacks to lighten the load. Experts come up with amazing tips using ingredients you normally find in your cupboard or fridge to get the work done cheaper. 2 But one pro says a popular viral cleaning recommendation could be ruining your home. Joseph Passalacqua, CEO of Maid Sailors, has warned people to stop using white vinegar. Despite its growing popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, he says some surfaces can be permanently damaged by the acidic substance. And he said it could cost householders thousands to repair. Joseph said: "Natural stone surfaces like marble, granite, and quartzite should never come into contact with white vinegar. "The acidity eats away at the calcium carbonate in these materials, permanently etching the surface." The cleaning expert says stone surfaces are damaged by acidic solutions, restoration often requires professional intervention, which can cost hundreds or even thousands. He added: "Many homeowners think vinegar is safe because it's natural, but so is lemon juice, and both will destroy a marble countertop just as quickly as any harsh chemical. For stone surfaces, the expert recommends pH-neutral cleaners specifically formulated for the material. And while many cleaning videos suggest vinegar for stainless steel surfaces - like draining boards or hobs - Joseph says this is a big no. Inside filthiest house cleaned up by Kim Woodburn on How Clean Is Your House? The cleaning guru said: "Vinegar can cause pitting on the surface of stainless steel over time. "If you must use it, always dilute the solution with water to minimise damage." The expert pointed out that repeated use of vinegar on stainless steel dishwashers and oven tops can also lead to a dull finish and eventually permanent spots that cannot be buffed out. He said stainless steel should be cleaned with mild dish soap and water or dedicated stainless steel cleaners. The third category of household surfaced to keep vinegar away from is anything with electronic components, the expert says. He explained: "Spraying vinegar directly on screens or electronic interfaces can make touch screens less responsive and damage internal components. "Many people spray vinegar directly on their TV screens or computer monitors thinking it's safer than commercial cleaners, but they're actually risking permanent damage to expensive equipment." He recommends using specialised cleaners designed specifically for electronics as well as microfibre cloths. But where can you use vinegar safely? The cleaning expert explained that vinegar's popularity stems from its effectiveness on many other surfaces and its low cost compared to commercial cleaners. Joseph explained: "Vinegar works wonderfully on glass, ceramic tile with sealed grout and porcelain fixtures. It's also excellent for removing mineral deposits from showerheads. "Just keep it away from those three key surface types." "The rule of thumb is simple. If something is porous, sensitive, or high-end, verify that vinegar is safe before applying it. When in doubt, test in an inconspicuous area first or simply use something else."
Health Line
11-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Vinegar: The Multipurpose, Chemical-Free Household Cleaner You Should Know About
Vinegar is a powerful multipurpose cleaner that you probably already have sitting in the pantry. Learn more about its benefits as a household cleaner and common uses around the home. Multipurpose cleaners are convenient because they're usable on many different surfaces. But while effective, some of these cleaners aren't exactly healthy or environmentally friendly. Vinegar, on the other hand, is nontoxic and eco-friendly, making it the ultimate multipurpose cleaning solution. And the best part? It's super cheap. Keep reading to learn what types of vinegar to use, along with nine ways vinegar can be used to clean and disinfect your home. Benefits of vinegar as a household cleaner You probably have a bottle of vinegar sitting in your cupboard right now. But like so many, you might only use it as a salad dressing or a marinade for vegetables, meat, poultry, or fish. Made from acetic acid Vinegar isn't only useful for cooking — it also makes a great cleaner and disinfectant because it's made from acetic acid. Acetic acid is a colorless organic compound that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It's also an ingredient in some store-bought household cleaners. The acidic nature of vinegar is so powerful that it can dissolve mineral deposits, dirt, grease, and grime. It's also strong enough to kill bacteria. Different types of vinegar include: apple cider vinegar white distilled vinegar balsamic vinegar red or white wine vinegar Best type of vinegar to use White distilled vinegar is considered the best vinegar for cleaning because it doesn't contain a coloring agent. Therefore, it won't stain surfaces, which can occur when cleaning with a darker-colored vinegar. Plus, distilled white vinegar has about 5% acidity, which is also similar to the acidity level in many everyday multipurpose cleaners. About that vinegar smell The strong odor of white vinegar can be unpleasant, so you can use apple cider vinegar instead. It has the same cleaning properties as white distilled vinegar, but since it's made by fermenting apple juice, it also has a slightly sweet scent. Apple cider vinegar is darker in color, so dilute it in water before using it as a cleaning agent. If you're using vinegar as a cleaner, the scent may linger for about an hour or so. However, this might be a small price to pay for a cleaner that's nontoxic, natural, and environmentally friendly. You can mask the smell by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil, to a spray bottle containing a vinegar-water solution. Or, open a window and let some fresh air in to help remove the scent quicker. Here's a look at a few common uses for vinegar around the home. 1. Glass Consider using vinegar to make your own glass cleaner. Combine 1 part water with 2 parts vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on glass surfaces and wipe clean for a streak-free finish. 2. Countertops Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it can clean and disinfect countertops after food preparation. For tough stains, try adding a few drops of soap to 1 part water and 2 parts vinegar. Vinegar can also remove odors from countertops, but it shouldn't be used on granite or marble. Use a natural stone cleaner instead, as the acid in vinegar can diminish the luster of natural stone. Vinegar can also deter ants that may scour countertops at night in search of food scraps. 3. Faucets Combine 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt to remove calcium deposits on faucets and fixtures. This solution can also remove hard water stains from showerheads. To get rid of stubborn stains, try spraying fixtures and faucets with vinegar and then tying a bag around them overnight. Scrub and rinse the next morning. 4. Showers and tubs Thick soap scum and mildew can be challenging to remove. Spray undiluted white vinegar over tub and shower walls. Let the vinegar sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse away. Or, combine baking soda and vinegar to create a paste and scrub away tough grime. 5. Toilets Pour 2 to 3 cups of undiluted vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for up to 3 hours. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush. This helps eliminate rings around the bowl and deodorizes the toilet. 6. Floors Vinegar also makes a great floor cleaner, but only on certain types of floors. You shouldn't use it on hardwood floors because it can dissolve the finish and leave watermarks. The natural acid in vinegar can also damage natural stone floors. However, you can use vinegar on no-wax linoleum. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1/2 gallon of water. To clean ceramic tile, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. 7. Dishwasher To break through soap scum in a dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse compartment and let the dishwasher run for an entire cycle. 8. Appliances To eliminate odors in your microwave, place a bowl containing a 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water inside the microwave and heat for a couple of minutes. This solution can also loosen any stubborn stains. Vinegar is also great for cleaning the inside and outside of appliances, including stainless steel. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray down appliances. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the solution. Don't use abrasive pads, which can scratch the surface of appliances. 9. Laundry Distilled white vinegar is also a great choice for removing fabric odor and stains. Don't use dark vinegar, or you might stain your clothes. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.
Health Line
11-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Summer Cleaning Guide: Less Intense Than Spring, but Still a Must
Spring cleaning is trendier, but there are plenty of cleaning tasks for every season. Here are a few chores to check off your list for summer. A cleaning must-have For almost every category below, vinegar is a star player. It's a reliable household cleaner that we recommend keeping stocked in your pantry. A few things to keep in mind: Never mix vinegar with bleach. 5% is usually enough for general cleaning. If you use higher acidity percentages, dilute more. Vinegar is a natural cleaner, but it's acidic and can still be harsh on some surfaces (like natural stone). Make your grill cleaner and safer You may be gathering more to grill with friends and neighbors, or you may not want to run your oven indoors, adding extra heat to your home. Either way, deep clean your grill if it's been a while. You can clean the grates by soaking them in a 2:1 ratio of vinegar and baking soda overnight. But perhaps more importantly, your metal wire grill brush has to go. Pitch it. Safer alternatives are available and relatively cheap. Doctors — especially emergency doctors — are increasingly warning against metal grill brushes. The American College of Surgeons details an example case from 2023 that required emergency surgery. And a 2016 research review found that between 2002 and 2014, nearly 1,700 people got injured from those little bristles getting into their food and, therefore, their mouths, intestines, and, yes, bowels. Researchers also reported that these types of injuries tend to spike in summer months when grilling is more frequent. A pediatric emergency room doctor detailed an interesting but scary case that even affected a child's ear. The consensus: This type of injury may not be as common as others, but given it's totally preventable (and more common than you might think), it's a good idea to ditch the wire grill brush. Everything else to clean this summer Wipe down baseboards Summer activities have likely tracked in extra dirt and dust in these easily ignored crevices. Keep disinfecting high touch areas Think doorknobs, light switches, cabinet and fridge handles, remotes — in addition to countertops and tables (If you want to upgrade your disinfectant, try Force of Nature). Vacuum and dust more often More foot traffic in and out means more allergens and coming indoors, too. Upping your vacuum frequency can help, even if you tackle small sections here and there. Dust out-of-sight surfaces Think of spaces like like the top of your refrigerator, the tops of cabinets, inside cabinets you don't use often, higher pantry shelves, and around door frames. Oven deep clean You may be grilling outside more and using your oven less, so consider doing a deep clean before cooler months and holidays hit. Patio furniture If you have an air compressor, it's great for blasting out dust and dirt in the fabric since these items may be getting more use. Cobweb control Look up, and use a long vertical duster to grab any cobwebs and clear out areas where the ceiling meets the wall.
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Why does my shower drain keep clogging, and how can I clear it?
Q: The drain in one shower in our home keeps plugging up. We put baking soda and vinegar down the drain and water flows better, but in about a month, the drain is plugged up again. What should we do? A: Vinegar and baking soda can muscle through soap scum and the black gunk that collects inside drain pipes. But they can't blast through many of the other things that can clog drains, including wads of hair, twigs brought in from hiking trips, and even things like tree roots that have worked their way into a drain pipe far from the shower.
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Why you should be putting VINEGAR on your leftovers & it could actually make your food taste better too
USING leftovers for a meal the next day is a brilliant way to save on money. But there's a clever way people are making theirs last twice as long, using a staple you've probably already got in your kitchen cupboard - vinegar. 2 2 While white vinegar is commonly used for cleaning purposes, it also works really well for preserving food. "When added in small amounts to cooked dishes, sauces or marinades, it can help limit the growth of bacteria and fungi that cause food to spoil prematurely," the pros at kitchen and bathroom company Plumbworld explained. As well as white vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar as a preservative - with bottles of the liquid selling for as little as £2.07 in local stores. The reason vinegar works so well is because it contains acetic acid, which helps lower the pH level of food - creating an environment in which bacteria and mould struggles to survive. Most notably, this includes harmful microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and Salmonella. 'The acid in vinegar makes it harder for bacteria to multiply," the experts added. "It is a simple kitchen tool that can boost the safety of your leftovers without complicated steps." Each vinegar type has its own level of acidity - white and apple cider vinegars have about 5% acetic acid, which is "strong enough to offer mild preservation benefits without making your food taste too sharp". To try it yourself, add a teaspoon of vinegar to sauces and dressings before storing, while a splash is sufficient for cooked vegetables. "A splash of white vinegar added to leftover soup or pasta sauce before chilling can help extend freshness without noticeably affecting the flavour," they continued. I made a weeks worth of sandwiches for just 30p - my hack means I have my lunch sorted whenever I need it, people think it's revolting but it saves me money "With grains like rice or quinoa, mixing in a little vinegar-based dressing can discourage microbial growth while adding a subtle tang." Keep your leftovers in an airtight container too - as this helps limit oxygen, whilst the vinegar slows down bacteria growth. It's important to remember, however, that while vinegar helps slow down spoilage, it doesn't make food immortal. Leftovers should be eaten within three to four days, and should be put promptly into a fridge with a temperature of below 5 °C. Fridge or cupboard? The essential food storage guide Foods must be stored correctly to keep them fresh and prevent the spread of bacteria. Nutrition expert Birgit Brendel said bread will last longer when stored in the fridge or freezer. However, this can compromise the flavour. Storing in ceramic or pottery containers is an alternative that allows for air to flow easily and slow the growth of mould. Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety, revealed the best place to store fresh fruit and vegetables. He said salad foods should be stored in the fridge drawer, but away from anything grown in the soil such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot. Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as fridges can alter the natural ripening process and diminish their taste. He also advised against putting avocados and bananas in the fridge as this will cause them to blacken quicker. "It is also important not to rely on vinegar as a substitute for basic food safety — such as reheating thoroughly, cooling cooked food quickly, and never leaving leftovers out at room temperature for more than two hours," they added. "These practices work alongside vinegar's preserving power — not in place of it. "Vinegar is a helpful tool, but not a magic cure — good hygiene and proper refrigeration are still essential."
