The Facts

• Most vinegar cleaning recipes make use of white distilled vinegar, which is not actually white in color but a clear liquid. The making of white vinegar involves natural distilled fermentation of natural sugars into alcohol, eventually turning to acid. According to the Vinegar Institute, any fruit or material containing sugar can produce it, explaining the fact that so many types of vinegar exist today. Most popularly used for food, vinegar also has powerful cleaning properties thanks to its acidic levels, which can protect against germs.
  
  

Function

• According to the Vinegar Institute, a mixture of white vinegar and water makes an effective spray for glass when wiped off with a soft cloth. A mixture of equal parts vinegar to salt with water can clean copper when wiped away afterward, and pouring neat vinegar down the drain helps keep it fresh. Other uses of vinegar include removing stains from the carpet, cleaning microwaves, killing weeds in the garden and washing no-wax floors.
  
  

Significance

• A number of government agencies recommend the use of natural cleaners, such as white vinegar, thanks to their environmental credentials. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to chemical cleaning products poses a risk to our health, particularly eye and skin irritation. Laboratory studies have shown some common cleaning ingredients to have adverse reproductive effects, which are also seen in wildlife exposed to polluted water. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar helps to avoid these risks.
  
  

Benefits

• The Environmental Protection Agency claims that buying "green" (natural) cleaning products such as white vinegar helps to minimize exposure to potentially harmful cleaning ingredients, which can negatively impact our health and the environment. Normal use of traditional cleaning products releases chemicals into the environment through evaporation and rinsing down the drain. Using vinegar instead will not cause air and water pollution, and disposing of leftover ingredients will not cause harm to the environment. Buying vinegar in bulk costs less than the equivalent amount of traditional household cleaner, and vinegar cleans and kills germs just as effectively.
  
  

Warning

• Do not mix white vinegar cleaning recipes with other cleaning products. Ingredients such as chlorine bleach may react badly with natural cleaning recipes. Avoid use of white distilled vinegar on marble, as it may damage the surface.