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Vinegar: The cleaner in your
kitchen cupboard
Vinegar is a 10,000 year old accident, according to the Vinegar Institute versatilevinegar.org.
The name vinegar comes from the French vinaigre which
means sour wine. Ever since the discovery was made of a past-its-prime wine, vinegar has
been used throughout history for everything from a preservative, condiment, and beverage
to medicinal treatment.
Vinegar's adaptability comes from its acidic makeup, produced by any fermented sugar.
Depending on the original sugar source, a different vinegar is formed.
Although over the centuries
herbed vinegars have been used for flavoring, today upwards of 29 varieties of vinegar can
be found on your grocer's shelf. The most common vinegar purchased by consumers is white
vinegar, 46% according to ACNielsen reports.
Vinegar also appears to have an indefinite shelf life. Although some changes may occur to
the coloration or clarity, vinegar remains safe for food or other use.
Although no vinegar based products have been registered with
official claim to being an equal alternative to chemical disinfectants, there have been
several studies published (including one by the EPA) to impart to the industry that
vinegar has strong anti-microbial properties.
While the official debate continues with
some less favorable studies in the mix, according to the Vinegar Institute, vinegar has
been used to "To reduce microorganisms in slaughterhouses and poultry plants... To
clean vehicles and equipment used in the construction industry... To wash and rinse walls
and ceilings in restaurants and food establishments," as well as other uses.
If you are considering using vinegar as a natural and
biodegradable alternative to chemical cleansers most experts suggest using white vinegar
at full strength. You can also use diluted vinegar in a spray bottle or boiled on the
stove as an air freshener. The vinegar scent itself will dissipate while removing other
strong smells, including cooking odors. such as from cooking.
Vinegar can be used to clean glass, mirror and chrome leaving a
shiny finish. Wiping with crumpled newspaper will prevent streaking.
Half a cup (up to two cups) of vinegar in the laundry will give you
bright colors, prevent color bleeds and act as a fabric softener.
In the kitchen use vinegar to disinfect cutting boards, shine cutlery
and clean ovens, microwaves, pots and even remove tea and coffee stains on china. Boiling
water with a mixture of vinegar and filling a teapot, or running vinegar through the
coffee machine or dishwasher will remove deposits. Rubbing vinegar on your fingers before
and after cutting onions will remove the odor from your hands.
Half a cup of vinegar in the bath water will give you soft skin (and a
clean bathtub!). A cup of vinegar and warm water makes a good conditioning rinse for hair.
And use apple cider vinegar as an astringent for acne prone skin.
Using vinegar instead of chemical cleansers is not only safer for the
environment, but safer for you. Chemical cleansers can encourage hardy strains of
resistant bacteria.
However, use caution if
family members have immunosuppressant disorders or other conditions, since natural
cleansers such as vinegar have not passed government tests that certify their
antibacterial effectiveness.
