How to Clean Your Kitchen with Vinegar

Soap scum, hard water residue, food stains and more are problematic in kitchens. While you could scrub for days using many types of store-bought cleaners, vinegar is a cheap, highly effective solution that can simplify the cleaning process. How do you clean your kitchen with vinegar?

Types of Vinegar Used for Cleaning

Several types of vinegar can be used to clean your home. While each of these types has a combination of water and acetic acid, the strength of the acetic acid varies.

White Vinegar

White vinegar, which is also called spirit vinegar, is made with a double fermentation process. It has 5% to 25% acetic acid.

Distilled White Vinegar

This is the weakest form of white vinegar that can be used for cleaning purposes. It has 5% to 8% acetic acid. While it is weaker than the other types listed here, distilled white vinegar is recommended for most types of cleaning projects.

Cleaning Vinegar

Cleaning vinegar has 6% acetic acid. While it seems that it is only slightly more powerful than the weakest forms of white vinegar and distilled white vinegar, it delivers 20% more cleaning power.

Clean Your Kitchen with Vinegar

Vinegar can effectively combat bacteria, mildew, hard water stains, grease and other grime. It can be used to clean many areas of your kitchen.

Stainless Steel Appliances

To clean stainless steel appliances, spray undiluted vinegar on the surface. Use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe the surface. Rub with the grain of the steel. Use a second clean cloth moistened with water to wipe the surface again. To restore the shine of your appliances, dab a few drops of olive oil on a dry towel. Buff the surface following the grain.

Kitchen Countertops

Vinegar can cause natural stone to etch, so it should not be used on granite and other similar types of countertops.

For other surfaces, combine a few drops of liquid dish soap with diluted vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the countertops, and wipe them down. Then, wipe the countertops with a clean, damp cloth to remove any soapy residue.

Coffee Maker

Over time, hard water residue and mildew can develop inside your coffee maker. To remove the grime, run several cycles of diluted vinegar through the machine. Follow this with several cycles of fresh water to remove the vinegar.

Kitchen Floor

While white vinegar should not be used on natural stone, it is safe to use on most other types of kitchen floors. Dilute the vinegar with warm water using a one-to-one ratio. To improve the smell, you could also add several drops of lemon juice. Mop as usual.

Microwave

Microwaving vinegar creates a cleaning steam that can cut through stuck-on grime.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. Heat the bowl in the microwave for roughly five minutes. Then, remove the bowl, and wipe down the microwave while it is still moist from the steam. Repeat the process as necessary until the grime is gone.

Dishwasher

If your dishwasher is coated with mineral residue, white vinegar works well to remove the scaling. Place a bowl or saucer filled with vinegar upright in the top rack of the dishwasher. Do not load other dishes in the machine. Run a normal cycle to cut through the mineral deposits.

Stovetops

Stovetops get dirty fast, and tackling cooked-on food remnants and grease is tough. However, diluted vinegar will do the trick. Mix a one-to-one solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the stove, and let the solution sit on the stove for several minutes. Then, use a soapy cloth or sponge to scrub the stove.

Plastic Cutting Boards

While you should not use vinegar to clean a wood cutting board, it is an effective way to clean a plastic cutting board.

Simply pour pure vinegar into a spray bottle. Cover the cutting board thoroughly with the vinegar. After allowing the vinegar to sit on the surface for a few minutes, wipe the cutting board clean. Then, rinse off the vinegar.

Before Cleaning with Vinegar

Vinegar contains acetic acid, which can effectively combat bacteria, mildew, hard water stains, grease and other grime. It can be used to clean many areas of your kitchen, but it is not safe to use on all materials.

For example, while it can be used to clean the interior of your dishwasher, it can warp the rubber seal. Vinegar can also damage natural stone, wood and other surfaces. Before cleaning with vinegar, read the manufacturer’s instructions. In addition, test a discreet area first to ensure the vinegar won’t cause damage

Cleaning your kitchen thoroughly is a big job, and this is only one of many rooms in your home that can quickly get dirty. Rather than trying to keep up with your home’s cleaning needs on your own, you can avoid the stress and exhaustion with house cleaning services from TidyHere. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to schedule your first appointment.