How To Clean With Vinegar

Using Scented Vinegar to Clean Your Home

I absolutely love cleaning with our vinegar—it's a fantastic, guilt-free natural cleaner that you can pour down the loo without worrying about polluting our waterways. Its non-toxic formula makes it a great choice for my family home, and its unrivalled cleaning power has seen me through many a cleaning challenge.

Vinegar is a cleaning ingredient as old as time, one that I remember my grandmother being quite evangelical about. White distilled vinegar has stood the test of time as a cleaning cupboard essential due to its versatility and easy availability. It's definitely a staple in my cleaning cupboard.

When I was researching formulations for our own blend of Scented Vinegar, I was fascinated by the stories and handy tips from yesteryear. Talking to my mum and her friends about their tried-and-tested techniques for this cleaning classic revealed some very useful tips.

Important: Please never combine vinegar with bleach or other cleaning chemicals.

What Can You Clean with Vinegar?

The uses for vinegar are certainly varied, but here’s what I clean with this wonder ingredient:

• Washing machines
• Windows
• Kettles
• Silverware
• Brass
• Toilets

How to Clean a Toilet with Vinegar

Vinegar’s fantastic acidic properties make it ideal for softening limescale in the toilet bowl. Once softened, it can be easily lifted and cleansed away. If you’re conscious about flushing harmful chemicals down the loo, vinegar is a great option to keep your conscience clear.

1. Pour vinegar into the loo bowl, ensuring that you direct it around the sides.
2. Allow it to sit for three or four hours—or ideally overnight.
3. Scrub the bowl with a little more vinegar.
4. Flush to rinse.
5. If needed, wipe with some more vinegar and repeat until your loo gleams.

How to Clean Your Washing Machine with Vinegar

Cleaning your washing machine helps prevent limescale build-up (especially a problem in hard water areas like our beautiful Norfolk) and keeps the pipes in good working order. Vinegar is a great option for this due to its sanitising and acidic nature. To make the process a little more special, use our scented vinegar for added freshness.

1. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before you clean the machine with white vinegar. You don’t want to invalidate your warranty.
2. Ensure the drum is empty, add a cup of vinegar, and run it on a very hot (or preferably a boil) cycle.
3. Once the cycle is finished, allow the inside of the drum to air.

How to Clean Your Windows with Vinegar

This is a real vintage cleaning tip reminiscent of 1940s households. The shine and streak-free finish you achieve with vinegar—plus a labour-saving squeegee and a hefty dose of elbow grease—is spectacular.

1. Combine one part hot water to one part vinegar in a bowl. If your windows are particularly dirty, add a little dishwashing detergent. Or decant into a spray bottle if you prefer.
2. Remove any ornaments from your window sills, and tie back your curtains if necessary.
3. Using a sponge or a dishcloth, wash your windows by dipping it into the solution or spraying directly onto the glass.
4. Remove excess water with a squeegee, starting at the top and working your way downwards.
5. Give the glass a final wipe with a soft microfibre cloth, working in circular strokes.

How to Clean a Kettle with Vinegar

Kettles build up mineral deposits over time, which look unsightly and can affect the taste of your boiled water—not nice for your morning cuppa! We recommend using vinegar as it is food-safe, and with proper rinsing, it will clean your kettle effectively without leaving a chemical taste.

1. Combine one part warm water to one part vinegar.
2. Pour the solution into your kettle.
3. Boil the vinegar and water mixture, then switch off the kettle, unplug it, and allow it to cool.
4. Dip a microfibre cloth into the solution and clean the outside of the kettle.
5. Use a bottle brush or a scourer to clean the inside of the kettle.
6. Empty the kettle and rinse thoroughly.
7. Boil a couple of kettles of plain water to ensure no vinegar solution remains.

How to Clean Silver with Vinegar

Return lustre and shine by polishing your silverware with a vinegar solution—from jewellery to ornaments and dinnerware.

For silver jewellery:

1. Soak in a solution of ½ cup white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda (it will fizz when you combine them).
2. Three minutes can be enough to clean it adequately, so keep an eye on it.
3. Rinse under cold water afterwards and dry thoroughly.

For dinnerware:

1. Take a clean glass baking dish (ensure it’s large enough to soak your silverware).
2. Line the dish with foil, shiny side up.
3. Combine a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of sea salt, and add them to the dish.
4. Add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to the dish—it will start to fizz.
5. Carefully pour in one or two cups of boiling water.
6. Add your silverware to the dish and allow it to soak. Thirty seconds can be enough for lightly tarnished pieces, while heavily stained items may need a few minutes.
7. Remove the silverware with washing-up gloves or tongs (be careful not to burn yourself on the hot water).
8. Buff and dry with a microfibre cloth.

How to Clean Brass with Vinegar

Unlacquered brass is suitable for cleaning with vinegar to reduce smudges or stains. However, you must check that it’s definitely unlacquered before you start—if the brass tarnishes easily and doesn’t have a coating, it’s likely unlacquered.

1. Combine equal parts plain flour and household salt until a paste is formed.
2. Using a microfibre cloth, rub the paste onto the brass.
3. Allow it to sit for at least an hour.
4. Rinse off the paste with a damp cloth, slowly uncovering the newly cleaned brass.
5. Ensure all the paste is removed.
6. Dry with a soft cotton cloth.

Using vinegar to clean your home adds a little sparkle in the most natural way possible. It’s an eco-friendly homemaker’s favourite that will transform your cleaning routine.

Bella x