Vinegar – not just for your Fish & Chips!

Egyptian Queen Cleopatra once wagered Marc Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in one sitting. How did she do it? She dropped a valuable pearl into a glass of vinegar, let it dissolve and then drank it… and she was still hungry!

Vinegar was originally made thousands of years ago by letting alcohol like wine or beer turn sour in open containers (ever accidentally left that wine uncorked?), but soon other methods were developed making use of the active 'mother', or vinegar bacteria.

Vinegar in its many forms is essentially acetic acid and water, but there are hundreds of different types all made from different recipes.

Malt vinegar uses malted barley to make vinegar, hence its brown colour and malt taste. It’s probably the most common vinegar available in the UK because it tastes bloomin fantastic on fish and chips!

Apple cider vinegar is made from the fermentation of apple cider which usually makes it more expensive than malt or white vinegar. Some people say it can help with acne, dandruff and even aid weight loss!

White vinegar is usually made from grain then distilled to remove any impurities and colour (Dri-Pak white vinegar is made in this way). It has many uses including pickling, cooking, baking and of course – natural cleaning!

There are many different types of vinegar, but generally white vinegar is recommended for laundry and cleaning purposes because it reduces the risk of staining fabrics and surfaces, as well as its low cost.

How does it work?

Cleopatra used the powerful properties of vinegar to get one up on Marc Antony, but how was such a simple substance able to dissolve a pearl?

Principally, the acidic properties of vinegar react with alkaline substances (like calcium carbonate pearls for instance!). To see this in action, pour alkaline Bicarbonate of Soda into your plug hole, followed by White Vinegar. The fizzing action is the two substances reacting with one another creating bubbles. (This just so happens to be a great way to clear plugholes by the way!)

White Vinegar works brilliantly at dissolving limescale, water deposits, and even some adhesives. It is a great natural way of killing many types of mould, works as a natural deodoriser and is even said to have antibacterial properties. So why not test just how powerful this natural, versatile liquid is? 

Win the War against Limescale!

There’s nothing like putting your feet up at the end of a long day with a lovely cup of… limescale?!

If you live in a hard water area you’ll know what a pain limescale can be. Not only does it ruin your tea, it leaves water marks everywhere, stops your shampoo from lathering properly, reduces the efficiency of appliances and can even contribute to them breaking down.

Luckily we’re here to arm you with clever tips and tricks to defeat that gunk!

Know your enemy

Here comes the science bit, concentrate!

Limescale is essentially alkaline mineral - calcium bicarbonate - suspended in water. It’s actually very good for us to drink this water because of the rich minerals in it, but it can play havoc with appliances that heat water like your washing machine, kettle, dishwasher, iron etc.

A lovely lump of limescale!

This is because the minerals are attracted to heating elements. When the soluble calcium bicarbonate minerals are heated they become calcium carbonate – a poorly soluble substance that therefore ‘sticks’ to the element. As more and more limescale builds up on the heating element, it requires more and more energy to heat the water and may eventually lead to the appliance breaking down.

So now you know what it is, how can you stop it ruining your stuff?

 

Prevention is better than cure

Water softeners use sodium to replace the calcium in the water - the same principle applies when we advise using Soda Crystals in each wash. Soda Crystals are also known as sodium carbonate, and work to soften the water in your washing machine, making laundry detergents work better and preventing limescale from sticking to heating elements. Soda Crystals also help to remove stains on clothing, as well as detergent build up in the machine. Use between 25g-50g in each wash and you will also find that you don’t need to use as much detergent too – pretty cool huh!

Different areas of the country have harder water and so require the full 50g, whereas areas with softer water won’t necessarily need as much. This map highlights the areas of hard water in England and Wales.

 

Fight fire with fire!

Because limescale is alkaline, acidic cleaners like White Vinegar and Citric Acid work best at removing it. Below are a few methods for removing limescale from surfaces and appliances.

Dishwashers

Draining Boards

Coffee Machines

Kettles

Shower Screens

Irons

So don't let limescale ruin your next cuppa - fight it head on with your army of traditional and natural products!

Part 2 - Spring Cleaning with the Experts!

 

Last month we shared Green Mop’s Racheal Hughes professional Spring Cleaning advice with you, and we promised you even more hints and tips from Splash Clean expert Colleen Skinner this month! Well wait no longer – here are Colleen’s top tips for a stress-free Spring Clean…

Expert Advice

Colleen owns professional cleaning company, Splash Clean in the Winchester and Alresford area, and she knows that being prepared to tackle the mountain of work is very important.

“The mere thought of spring cleaning can drain every last drop of energy out of some folk, take it easy and try to rope in a friend to help with the task and arm yourself with a good supply of tea!”

Clear that clutter

Clearing out the clutter is a must before any major cleaning can start.

“Start at the top of the house and work your way down. Place all the things that need to go to other parts of the house in boxes labeled ‘bedrooms’, ‘living room’, ‘charity shop’, etc and put any recycling and rubbish into black bags.”

“Be ruthless - if you have not used it for more than a year, re-home it via charity shop, freecycle or ebay. Try and get everything cleared out on the same day, and check the opening times of recycling centres & charity shops so you don’t end up with a daunting pile of bags & boxes at your front door!” Colleen advises.

Let the cleaning commence!

Dusting can be a great way of visually monitoring your progress – the dirtier your cloth gets, the cleaner your home gets!

Colleen explains “I start by using a long duster to dust from the ceiling down and then work my way around the room with a damp microfibre cloth dusting all surfaces, and sides of furniture. Then I use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down light switches, door frames, window frames, skirting boards etc.”

Cleaning products

 “I have always been very aware of the many chemicals we come into contact with on a daily basis, often without even thinking about it. I don’t like the idea of coating my home in products that come with warning labels! Traditional Dri-Pak products like Soda Crystals work equally well, if not better, and are far more economical, especially as the products can be used across the home for a variety of tasks. It also leaves you feeling rather virtuous and domesticated!”

Handy tips

Colleen uses natural Bicarbonate of Soda throughout the house: “Freshening carpets and getting rid of odours is so simple, just sprinkle the carpet with Bicarbonate of Soda, leave for 30 minutes and then vacuum. In bathrooms, Bicarbonate of Soda, followed by White Vinegar can be poured into plugholes to help clear any buildup. Dri-Pak Limescale removeris also fantastic on taps and fittings, it not only leaves them shining and streak free, but also smells limey and fresh!”