Here at Housekeep we love finding the most effective ways to take household goods and appropriate them for cleaning purposes. This time we’re looking in the kitchen for a helping hand.
In any stocked kitchen you’re likely to find an array of vinegars. Great for packing a punch in salad dressing or for pickling vegetables, vinegar is also a cleaner’s best friend. Below we’ve collected some of our favourite ways to clean with vinegar.
N.B: For cleaning purposes it’s best to use light vinegars, such as white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, so we’d advise saving Jamie Oliver’s balsamic for the salad!
The Microwave
Over time, your microwave will inevitably get greasy and dirty and could even start to smell pretty funky if neglected for too long. Rather than hitting the high street in search of a solution, why not use ingredients already in the kitchen for a fuss-free fix?
In a microwavable bowl or cup, mix warm water and vinegar in a ratio of two to one. For a zesty scent, try slicing and squeezing a lemon into the bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave, and set for six to seven minutes. Once the microwave has pinged, allow a couple of minutes for the steam to settle. After this time has passed, open the microwave, remove the bowl and dispose of the contents as appropriate - they’ve worked their magic. Next, with a kitchen towel or clean cloth, wipe the inside of the microwave, watching those previously immovable stains disappear in no time.
Your kitchen will be left with a pleasant lemon aroma too - far more pleasant than the vinegary scent left behind if this step is skipped.
Limescale in the Kettle
In London the water is ‘harder’ than other parts of the country. This means that, sadly, limescale is more likely to be a problem in your kitchen than in regions with softer water. Fear not, with a simple vinegar and water solution you’re able to remove that scaley pest from your kettle in a flash.
To start, fill your kettle with a solution of water and vinegar in equal parts. You’re now going to leave this solution in there for around an hour, to let it work the limescale off. This leaves you more than enough time to degrease your microwave, perhaps, or even clean those scuffed leather boots you’ve been meaning to buff.
Once the vinegar has had its hour, boil the kettle with the solution inside, before pouring away. Be sure to wipe the inside of the kettle to remove any lingering limescale. To avoid residual vinegar you’ll now need to rinse the kettle a few times, until you’re sure that it’s clean. Once you’re happy the kettle is scale-free and shiny, it’s time to get a brew going.
Bathroom Cleaner
Vinegar and Baking Soda are the power-couple of DIY home cleaning. When combined they become an effective tool for scum removal in the bathroom. Baking soda provides abrasion, whilst the acidity of the vinegar makes it a potent cleaner. Use this paste on your shower screen or taps to remove scum and limescale that has built up. Once more, the addition of lemon juice will help neutralise any vinegary smells and will bring antibacterial properties.
All that’s needed to remove this solution is warm water before drying with a tea towel or a kitchen towel. This should leave your shower screen and chrome/stainless steel spick and span. Outside of the bathroom this same method can be used for other stainless steel, mirrors or windows, but avoid using on any stone or marble surfaces, as these can be damaged by vinegar’s acidity.
This combination of vinegar and baking soda is like the gift that keeps on giving - commonly used to remove stains on carpets and other surfaces, this method can even work on the most stubborn stains such as red wine!