Have you ever thought of the ordinary white vinegar as a powerful cleaning agent? It is not only efficient, but also really cheap and natural, meaning there are no toxins usually contained in chemical-based cleaners. There are records that white vinegar has been used for cleaning and many other purposes besides cooking since ancient times.

White vinegar is often referred as a distilled vinegar -- a misnomer, because it does not come as a product of the distillation of vinegar, but as a result of the fermentation of distilled alcohol to give acetic acid, which is later diluted. This product is not only used for medicinal, laboratory, and cleaning purposes, but also in cooking, baking, meat preservation, and pickling.

White vinegar is a powerful disinfectant, and there is a number of studies proving its efficacy against microorganisms and dirt- it is 90% effective against mold and 99.9 % effective against bacteria.

You have most probably noticed that large companies now brand white vinegar specifically as cleaning vinegar. Heinz offers a product that is 6% acidic, which is slightly stronger than the standard product which is 5% acidic. Be sure to check the labels for any unwanted substances -- you never know!

We have listed 25 most important uses of white vinegar, which is just a tiny part of the abundance of purposes it can be used for.

Thanks to the media and the nature-friendly campaigns, many people have changed their cleaning habits and now avoid harsh chemicals. Probably the best thing you have learned is that white vinegar is a wonderful cleaning agent -- and it is all natural! Heinz now has a new cleaning vinegar, available in any bigger store.

Do not forget that white vinegar is a natural product you can use to get rid of bacteria and germs, thanks to its acidity. White vinegar is environment friendly and cheap, and Heinz cleaning vinegar is 6% acidic, which makes it even more effective than the regular vinegar which is only 5% acidic.

In addition to this, we suggest you to try the top 25 cleaning tips, where white vinegar is the main cleaning agent:

1. Countertop -- use a rag and vinegar only.

2.  Drain / Garbage disposal -- first pour 1 cup of baking soda, and then 1 cup of hot vinegar. Leave it for 5 minutes, and run hot water down the drain. (Attention: Some garbage disposals have bad reaction to this method, so be sure to carefully read the instructions first.)

3. Microwaves -- mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a microwave-safe container. Boil the mixture in the microwave, then whipe the dirt off.

4. Fridge -- mix equal parts of water and vinegar and clean your fridge.

5. Dishwasher -- pour a cup of white vinegar in an empty machine and run it through cycle.

6. Plastic food containers -- Dampen a towel with vinegar and remove any stains and smells.

7. Lunch box -- soak a piece of bread in vinegar and leave it overnight in your lunch box.

8. Mini Blinds -- Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and dip gloved hands in the solution, then run your fingers across each blind, on both sides.

10. Tarnished Metal -- mix equal parts of vinegar and table salt, and use the paste.

11. Grease -- use a sponge soaked in vinegar and whipe clean.

12. Grill -- Make a solution of half water and half vinegar and spray it on the cooking surface

13. Sponges -- put the sponge in a plastic container and add enough water to cover it. Add 1/4 cup of vinegar and leave it overnight.

14. Grout -- Apply pure vinegar and leave it for a few minutes, then scrub it using an old toothbrush.

15. Germs -- spray some full-strength vinegar and wipe clean.

16. Mildew and soap scum -- spray undiluted vinegar and rinse.

17. Toilets -- Pour a cup of more of vinegar and leave it overnight. In the morning scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.

The rest of the tips and the full  article is here: http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2012/09/25-tips-for-naturally-cleaning-with.html