Hi, Alejandra,
You weren’t the only one that had vinegar wafting through the halls of your home on Saturday mornings! Vinegar, white distilled vinegar in particular, has many wonderful uses and should be a staple in all households. It can take the place of many toxic household products, which is why it is rightfully deemed a miracle product.
Here is a brief science lesson for you! White distilled vinegar, also known as sour wine, is comprised of water (93-96 percent), acetic acid (4-7 percent), and traces of minerals and vitamins. Vinegar is a result of two closely controlled fermentation processes: alcoholic and acidic. In alcoholic fermentation, yeast converts natural sugars from fruits, vegetables, and grains (most common) into alcohol. Water is then blended with the alcohol where bacteria (Acetobacter) converts the alcohol into acid. If you’re interested in pH levels, the typical pH of white vinegar is 2-3.
Because vinegar is an acid, you must be cautious with the surfaces being cleaned. Be sure to avoid marble, stone, hardwood flooring, electronic screens, rubber, and low grade stainless steel (commonly found on appliances). Taking heed to this, here are a few familiar uses of distilled white vinegar:
- Cleaning the house - When diluted (1:1 ratio), you can use it to clean windows, title and grout (let it soak for an hour), carpet stains, upholstery, and showerheads, faucets, toilet bowls, and sinks to remove mineral deposits. *Do not use on marble or stone
- Cleaning the kitchen - At full strength, vinegar can be used to disinfect cutting boards, sterling silver, glassware (combine it with a little olive oil), unclog drains (¼ baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, be sure to cover the drain tightly), and high grade stainless steel.
- Laundry - At full strength, you can spray vinegar on stained white clothing before washing them (before the stain dries). To restore dingy whites and eliminate tough mildew, soak your load in non-bleach detergent with one cup of vinegar before putting the load into the washer. *Do not combine with chlorine bleach
- Appliance maintenance - Microwave a small bowl with a little vinegar for a few minutes to make cleaning the inside easier. Pour diluted vinegar into your coffee maker (once a month) and run fresh water before the next use.
Cleaning the house - When diluted (1:1 ratio), you can use it to clean windows, title and grout (let it soak for an hour), carpet stains, upholstery, and showerheads, faucets, toilet bowls, and sinks to remove mineral deposits. *Do not use on marble or stone
Cleaning the kitchen - At full strength, vinegar can be used to disinfect cutting boards, sterling silver, glassware (combine it with a little olive oil), unclog drains (¼ baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, be sure to cover the drain tightly), and high grade stainless steel.
Laundry - At full strength, you can spray vinegar on stained white clothing before washing them (before the stain dries). To restore dingy whites and eliminate tough mildew, soak your load in non-bleach detergent with one cup of vinegar before putting the load into the washer. *Do not combine with chlorine bleach
Appliance maintenance - Microwave a small bowl with a little vinegar for a few minutes to make cleaning the inside easier. Pour diluted vinegar into your coffee maker (once a month) and run fresh water before the next use.
Enjoy this miracle product as an environmentally-friendly substitute in your household cleaning and be sure to share its many uses with your friends!
Avoid idling near schoolchildren. Turn off your engine while waiting to pick up your child after school. Many anti-idling programs focus on schools so many may have resources available, such as a comfortable waiting location for caregivers.
Instead of using drive-thru windows, park your vehicle and walk into coffee shops, restaurants, banks and pharmacies.
If you’re waiting for someone in a parking lot in warm weather, park in the shade if available and open the windows to catch a cross breeze.
Reduce windshield defrost time in the winter months by securing a sunshade or towels on the outside of the windshield overnight.
Old habits can be hard to break. Place a decal or sticker on the edge of your windshield to remind yourself to not idle when you don’t need to.
If you’re looking to purchase a vehicle, opt for one that is hybrid or has stop-start technology. Both automatically turn off the engine when they are not moving. Fully electric vehicles are another great option, since they produce no tailpipe emissions.
If idling is necessary, try to keep it to no more than 5 minutes at a time.
Green Geek