FOOD NEWS
16 Vinegar Hacks For A Cleaner Kitchen
BY ELETTRA PAULETTO
Mix Up A Cleaner
Combine vinegar with other ingredients to make an all-purpose cleaner. First, mix ½ cup of vinegar for each ½ cup of water, and mix in 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. To reduce the vinegar's sour smell, mix ingredients like lavender flowers with the solution and let the mixture infuse for a couple of weeks.
Clean Coffee Maker
Coffee makers have closed spaces that can collect moisture and build up mold and bacteria. To clean them, pour distilled white vinegar into the water container.
Let it sit for at least 30 minutes and switch on the machine so the vinegar passes through it, cleaning all its components. Rinse with water once or twice before brewing coffee.
Clean Wine Glasses
If wine glasses are smudged with soapy streaks from the last wash, fill a container with hot water and add some white vinegar so that it pulls off all residues.
Plunge the glasses into the solution, rinse them with hot water, and wipe them dry with a soft cloth for crystal-clear glasses. For cleaner results, you can also add baking soda.
Spray Your Fruit
Passing any produce under running water may not always be enough to clean pesticides, dirt, or bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli off them.
Instead, create a diluted vinegar soak for porous fruits like berries or spray for dense fruits like apples. Air-dry them before storing them and rinse them right before eating.
De-Rust Cast Iron
Cast iron is notoriously prone to rusting if it's improperly stored, but all you have to do is soak it in a vinegar and water solution to dislodge the rust.
However, don't pour so much vinegar that the healthy iron also erodes, and don't soak the pan for more than an hour or so. Finally, scrub, rinse, dry, and re-season it.