Can you cut 1 Tonne of carbon pollution out of your life?
Take the challengeTo substitute cleaning products, pesticides and other household items for a vinegar solution would immensely decrease your daily waste!
The basic mix is to fill a spray bottle with 1 cup of water and a 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar but there are also other mixes which will be mentioned below, for specific remedies.
Here are some ideas of how you could use vinegar for everyday household purposes:
1. Bathroom cleaner
Use the basic mix to remove soap scum and hard water stains. You can also use it to shine counters, floors, sinks, showers and mirrors.
Another use of vinegar in the bathroom is to clean the shower head. Soak the shower head in a bowl of vinegar overnight to remove lime buildup.
2. Toilet Cleaner
Spray with vinegar and scrub!
3. Clean walls:
Use a cloth dipped in straight vinegar to remove pen, pencil or crayon marks from the walls.
4. Glass cleaner
Use the basic mix, spray on windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces, then polish with cloth rags.
5. Insect repellent
Spray the basic mix where ants are coming into your home to deter their path.
6. Herbicide
Kill weeds by spraying full strength vinegar onto them.
7. Jewellery/ metal cleaner
To clean bronze, brass and copper, use a mixture of 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 cup of vinegar, rinse with warm water and polish with a cloth.
For silver soak in 1/4 white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of baking soda, then rinse and polish with a soft cloth.
For gold, simply cover with vinegar for one hour and then rinse.
8. Rust remover
To remove rust from small items, soak them in undiluted vinegar and then scrub with an old toothbrush or steel wool, then rinse thoroughly.
9. Stain remover
Pour vinegar on mustard, pen, pencil, or crayon marks and then scrub with an old toothbrush, then launder as usual.
10. Wood renewer
Mix equal parts vinegar and oil, and rub in the direction of the grain to remove water rings and scratches.
11. Flower food
To further the life of cut flowers, add a tablespoon of both vinegar and sugar to their water vase.
Try these out and let us know how you go! Make sure you buy the vinegar in a glass bottle and reuse the bottle for another purpose!
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