Cleaning with Vinegar

The kitchen is arguably the hardest room to keep clean. Lots of cooking means lots of greases, spills, stains, etc. I love to cook. I hate to clean. The effort needed in cleaning after cooking is tremendous at times but I've found a way out. Enough of those expensive washing detergents and say hello to vinegar.

• Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.


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  Prevent mildew buildup inside your refrigerator or on its rubber seals by wiping occa­sionally with a sponge dampened with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar. No need to rinse.


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  Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted white distilled vinegar for the final rinse.


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  To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.


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  Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.


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  To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.


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  For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.


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  Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.


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  Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.


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  For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.


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  Remove odors from a lunch box by placing inside a slice of bread that has been soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave overnight
  


• Clean your grill by spritzing white distilled vinegar over wadded up aluminum foil and scrubbing the grill vigorously with it.

There is an endless application for cleaning with vinegar. Vinegar can even be used to shine pennies, remove odors, or even disinfect toys. Forget those mess in the kitchen with vinegar. It is now time truly enjoy cooking and eating.