I have really hard water, and it can make life difficult in the cleaning department. I get hard water plugging up my kitchen faucet, leaving deposits in my tea kettle, and on the walls of my shower. It’s not fun.
I could use all kinds of harsh chemicals to deal with it… but I don’t. Because, like a lot of good cleaning solutions, the simplest one is often the best.
It’s white vinegar to the rescue.
This morning when I turned on the kitchen sink… I noticed the water was spraying a bit awry. It happens when the little holes get all plugged up with hard water deposits.
So, I filled a little container with white vinegar and let it soak for a few minutes.
Then I pulled it out of the water, wiped it once with a sponge and that was it. No scrubbing required.
Then because I had white vinegar in the container, I used it to soaked the tray of my water dispenser from the refrigerator, and the base of my faucet in the bathroom… waste not.
When my tea kettle gets bad, I just pour in some white vinegar and swirl it around. Then I let it sit overnight. The next morning I give it a rinse and it is back to being black.
I use diluted white vinegar in a spray bottle for spot cleaning carpets… and undiluted vinegar for spraying the walls of my shower and as a rinse after scrubbing my tile with baking soda.
It is pretty much my indispensable cleaning friend. I buy white vinegar in bulk, because there aren’t many things handier for cleaning (or making great salad dressings.)
Did I mention that it is very cheap? Especially when you buy it in bulk at a store like Costco.
You might also enjoy reading Pioneer Woman’s account of how white vinegar saved her hair.
I just told my husband that I am frustrated by our shower head and faucets. They spray water in all directions and make a neat freak like me irritated! I can’t wait to go try this. Thanks for the post!
Vinegar is such a versatile “ingredient” isn’t it? We also use a little in the washing machine instead of fabric softener as doesn’t build up like fabric softener can and also helps keep the machine smelling clean
I add a cup of white vinegar to my laundry and it not only ends any *ahem* scent problems you may have (hubby’s work-out clothes anyone?), it also softens and rids of static cling without the build up you get with fabric softener. I can’t wait to try it in my shower – already did the shower heads, don’t know why I didn’t spray it on the walls, too.
I love white vinegar for all purpose cleaner. I rarely use anything else to clean my bathroom, kitchen, floors, windows and use in the laundry as well. I haven’t used laundry dryer sheets in over a year and whenever I touch people’s cloth’s who use dryer sheets I can feel a nasty film on their cloths. This is a miracle cleaner!
I’m going to try this but I have my doubts….Our water is really, really hard and vinegar hasn’t worked in the past. Maybe I did something wrong though….
ahh yes. for the longest time i thought the white film on my shower wall was soap residue. rhankfully, vinegar is king! thank you for the tip.
I’ll have to try this on our showerhead (i just need to figure out how to soak it, hmm…). We should be friends; I can see you also have a love affair with baking soda & vinegar. It’s okay; I can share them with you ;)
I also have to battle hard water. I’ve read that if you use powder detergent vs liquid it helps act as a softner. I also use white vinegar in every load I do. It’s a natural fabric softner, saves money, is eco-friendly and helps keep my washing machine clean!
Philadelphia Laundry Care