The majority of people think that vinegar is only for adding to food. A good housekeeper will know otherwise though as it’s a miracle item which can be used around the home to create a sparklingly clean environment with very little effort, without the use of chemicals and at very little cost. The thought of the smell permeating through every room may feel off-putting, but armed with knowledge and skill of which vinegar to use and how much, this isn’t the case and as it costs very little to purchase, it’s often on the shopping list of cleaning items required by a housekeeper in London for example.

Floors

Vinegar is great for both carpeted rooms as well as hard floors. To remove a stain from a carpet, mix 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent with 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Add a pint of warm water and then clean the stain. It’s great for non-oily marks, they disappear within seconds.

On non-waxed floors, vinegar is a great general washing aid. Combine half a pint of vinegar with 5 pints of warm water and mop as usual. Stains will dissolve and the floor will shine. To add a wonderful aroma to the room, pop 4-5 drops of lavender oil into the cleaning water.

Windows

Using vinegar is an age-old secret to achieving clean windows without streaks. Equal parts of vinegar and water will wipe away the grime without the need for chemicals and the last stage then is to simply rub with a dry, soft cloth.

Walls

Marks and splashes on painted walls can be hard to remove but vinegar is often the solution. Half a pint of white vinegar, a tablespoon of baking powder and a pint of warm water will produce an environmentally friendly and effective cleaner. For wooden surfaces such as skirting boards, equal measures of vinegar and olive oil will take out unsightly eyesores such as scuff marks.

In the kitchen

There’s an array of uses for vinegar as a cleaning product in the kitchen. These include:

• Keeping the sink drain smelling great; pour half a pint of vinegar down the sink and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing.
• Cleaning the microwave; bring 125ml of vinegar and the juice of half a lemon mixed with a pint of water to the boil in the microwave and then leave it inside for 10 minutes. The steam, lemon juice and vinegar will loosen the food debris and then just a damp cloth is required.
• Stainless steel surfaces and splashbacks; apply vinegar neat to the area which needs cleaning and gently rub until the stain has disappeared.
• Sparkling glasses and dishes; add a pint of white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher along with the soap. Everything will have an extra shine and glasses won’t suffer any dullness or streaks.
• Remove smells from the refrigerator; place a glass full of apple cider vinegar in the back of the fridge. Any strong smells such as garlic or spiced meat will disappear within a day.

The Bathroom

Vinegar has just as many uses in the bathroom. Mixed with baking powder it will remove the ring around the inside of a bath and it is a miracle cleaning agent for the showerhead. Soak a small towelling cloth in vinegar, wrap tightly around the showerhead and leave for a couple of hours. It will remove marks, unclog the nozzles and break up difficult to remove limescale.

The tradition of using vinegar along with other gentle, natural products is one used in generations gone by. It’s now enjoying a revival though as housekeepers who want great cleaning results utilise recipes which don’t have adverse effects on those living in the home. Professional housekeepers like the ones from SupaCare have a range of skills and knowing how to create a safe and harmonious home by using often overlooked products is just one of them.