The Miracle of Vinegar. Emma Marsden

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      SOMETHING SMELL FISHY?

      If you’ve cooked fish and it’s left a bad smell in the pan, half fill it with hot water plus a couple of tablespoons of clear vinegar, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. You might want to open a window to avoid being overpowered by the smell of vinegar!

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      REFRESH YOUR MICROWAVE

      Put a good slug of clear vinegar into a bowl of very hot water and heat in the microwave on High for around five minutes. The acidic steam will pass through the vents and loosen any food particles clinging to the sides. It’ll now be easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.

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      A GRILLE’S BEST FRIEND

      The metal grilles in a cooker hood get greasy very quickly, particularly if you’re a fan of the frying pan. Most grilles nowadays are designed to go into the dishwasher, but if yours isn’t one of those, give it a good soak overnight in a sink full of hot water with a cup each of clear vinegar and washing soda crystals. If your grilles won’t easily fit into the sink, the bath is a good alternative (but first line the bottom with a large towel to avoid scratches to the surface). Afterwards, rinse the grille well and towel dry before putting it back into the hood.

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      STEEL THE SHOW

      If your stainless-steel sink has lost its shine or is covered with rusty stains, squirt a bit of washing-up liquid over the surface then scrub with a dampened pot scourer. Rinse and wipe down with a cloth dipped in clear vinegar then buff dry with either scrunched-up kitchen paper or newspaper. You’ll need sunglasses to admire the shine.

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      CUPBOARD LOVE

      Wooden kitchen cupboard doors have a tendency to become sticky and then look unsightly and feel nasty. Stop this happening by regularly wiping them down with a cloth soaked in a warm solution of washing-up liquid with a capful of vinegar – take care not to overwet the wood, though. Rinse with another clean cloth wrung out with plain water, then buff dry.

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      BACK TO THE CHOPPING BOARD

      A chopping board can become notoriously smelly, particularly if you like cooking with onions and garlic. To freshen it up, rub the surface with any type of vinegar mixed with a little mustard powder, leave overnight, then scrub under a hot tap, rinse, and leave it to dry on its side.

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      TOP BRASS

      Vinegar and salt work very well on brass that’s badly in need of cleaning. Pour any type of vinegar onto a damp cloth, sprinkle with salt and get rubbing the tarnished brass (tip: if you have any cuts to your fingers, wear rubber gloves). The metal will instantly take on a lovely shine. Rinse under the tap and buff dry with a soft cotton cloth to finish.

BATHROOM

      SHOWER WITH COMPLIMENTS

      Take a look at your shower screen, which was once clear and sparkling. Is it now opaque and covered with drip marks, soap scum and grotty bits of limescale? Bring it back to its pristine past: mix some bicarbonate of soda and clear vinegar to a smooth paste and then, using a nylon scourer, apply a layer of the mixture to the shower screen (as well as to any ceramic tiles); you’ll need to exercise a little elbow grease, too, which won’t do any harm to the screen. Leave for a few minutes then rinse off and buff dry to a gleaming shine using a microfibre cloth for glass/mirrors (the smooth, slinky type that’s similar to what you have in your glasses case for specs-cleaning) or, if you don’t have one of those, a few sheets of scrunched-up kitchen paper will do just as well.

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      BRILLIANT BATH AND BASIN

      Here’s a very effective, mildly abrasive but definitely non-scratchy cleaner for your bath and washbasins. In a bowl, mix together a loose paste of washing-up liquid, bicarbonate of soda and clear vinegar. Apply the mixture to the surface with a damp cloth, rubbing gently to clean away the dirt, then rinse down.

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      PUT THE SPARKLE BACK INTO YOUR SHOWERHEAD

      Is your chrome showerhead caked with limescale and the water flow really poor? Unscrew it and steep it overnight in a bowl filled with equal quantities of clear vinegar and water. By morning the scale will have miraculously softened and can be peeled off easily. Use a nylon scourer to remove any last stubborn bits. Note: don’t use this on special metal finishes, as the acid in the vinegar can easily damage the surface.

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      TAKE THE GROT OUT OF YOUR GROUT

      Grouting lines between tiles are absorbent and so latch onto scum and mildew – not a great look! Scrub these areas clean with a damp toothbrush dipped in a paste made of bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of vinegar and bleach, then rinse and buff dry.

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      KEEP LIMESCALE IN THE LOO AT BAY

      It’s one thing having limescale in your loo, but when it turns brown it’s a step too far. Salts and iron in water cause this, so you need to treat the limescale itself. One good way is to dissolve 250g citric acid powder (available from the chemist or a DIY shop) in a 5-litre bucket of hot water and pour slowly into the bowl. It’ll start to fizz as it dissolves the limescale, so swish it around with a loo brush to help. When the fizzing stops, flush. Repeat if necessary. Keep the scale at bay by pouring a bottle of clear vinegar into the bowl about once a month; leave overnight before flushing away.

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      DECLOG THE BATH WASTE

      Are you a fan of bath oil? If so, you could be in danger of clogging up the plughole as the oil attracts and collects hair, which eventually bungs up pipes and drains. If you notice that your bath is emptying more slowly than usual, pour a cup each of washing soda crystals and salt down the plughole, then add a cup of clear vinegar followed by a kettle of boiling water. Simultaneously have a go with the plunger – you might be horrified at what could emerge… but far better out than in. Rubber gloves are always a good idea if you’re a bit squeamish.

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      A WEE PROBLEM SOLVED

      As the mum of two males, I know that if you have small (or even big) boys living with you, you can be sure that some pee will land on the wall behind the cistern, leading to nasty niffs. To zap it immediately, wash with a 50:50 solution of vinegar and warm water. In the long run, it’s best to ensure boys are aiming properly (why can’t they just sit on the loo like the rest of us?). Supervise your small men, and make sure they press down every time… and actually look at what they’re doing! Also, get them into the habit of wiping the rim of the pan afterwards – it’ll soon become automatic.

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