Most of us don’t have a lot of time to dust. Therefore when we do get around to dusting, we want our items to stay dust-free as long as possible. If you take a few extra minutes to clean as you are dusting and use some vinegar while you are doing it, you can get those items really clean and keep dust off of them longer, giving you a lot more time between dustings. Here are some household items that will benefit from a vinegar cleaning and will stay dust free longer, and of course how to clean them properly.
Ceiling Fans
My ceiling fans drove me crazy it would seem that just days after I cleaned them they were dusty on the top again. This is very frustrating because when I clean the ceiling fan in my family room I either have to stand on a ladder while cleaning them or I have to remove them all (while standing on a ladder) to get them clean. This is difficult and dangerous so I want to get them as clean as possible when I clean them and I want to keep them clean as long as possible.
Also, the ceiling fans in the kitchen tend to get a light grease film on them from cooking–this makes the dust stick to them and this grease is difficult to remove. To get rid of the grease, I use a dishwashing soap that has grease-breaking properties to it, such as Dawn.
To help blinds to avoid dust collecting. Pour some full strength vinegar on a paper towel or non abrasive rag and wipe the blades with the paper towel or rag on both sides. Add more vinegar to the paper towel as you go; you might need multiple paper towels.
Plastic Shower Curtains and Vinyl Shower Curtains & Plastic Tablecloths
Plastic and vinyl shower curtains can collect both dust and mildew over time. Washing them with vinegar can help keep both the dust and the mildew at bay. You can toss them into the washing machine on gentle cycle. After the washer fills up with water add 1 cup of vinegar to the washer. Remove from washer and hang to dry.
Clean Up Sawdust After A Home Improvement Project
There is more than one kind of dust! While cleaning up a sawdust mess, first put on a pair of rubber gloves. Fill a bucket with warm water and add a cup of vinegar; then take a sturdy rag and place it in the water, wring, then wipe up the saw dust with it. Rinse it in the bucket and repeat until the saw dust is all cleaned up. The vinegar will help pick up the saw dust better and get the area cleaner.
Mini Blinds
Create a mixture of equal parts vinegar and warm water. Put an old white sock on each hand. If you are sensitive put on a pair of rubber gloves on your hands and then place the socks over the rubber gloves. Dip your sock-covered hands in the vinegar and water mixture. Then start at the top of the blinds with one hand on each side and gently run your fingers down the blinds to remove dust and other dirt. Repeat on each blind if needed. On sideways blinds do a couple lf slats at a time, steadying the blinds with your body; take your socked hands and if you can reach start at the opposite side of the blinds and wipe your socked hands across the blinds towards you, it should sort of feel like you are playing a harp. Make sure to start at the top doing a couple of slats at a time working your way down.
Glass shelves and Fireplace Glass
This will help to remove dust as well as repel it. It will also help to remove stains caused by the fires in the fireplaces. You will need a large spray bottle for this. Fill this up with 1 gallon of warm water then add ½ cup vinegar and 1 tablespoon of ammonia. Spray this mixture on your glass and wipe with a rag or a paper towel.
Clean Computer Mouse
A computer mouse can collect lots of dust and even some debris; this can affect its overall effectiveness. To get it nice and clean and help it to keep dust at bay, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a small bowl. Disconnect your mouse from your computer. Then gently dip a rag in the mixture. The rag should be damp, not soaking wet. Wipe down your mouse all over it. If you are able to remove the ball easily, remove the ball and wipe it down with the mixture. Wipe with a dry dust-free cloth. Make sure the ball is thoroughly dry before putting it back in. Wipe the entire mouse with a dust-free cloth. Make sure it is thoroughly dry before connecting it back on the computer. Also give you mouse pad a quick wipe with the damp vinegar and water coated rag. Wipe immediately with a dust-free cloth.
Vinegar is wonderful for removing grease, built up oils, and is wonderful for keeping dust at bay. Use these tips to keep your home clean and to keep dust from settling on these surfaces and items. Vinegar is also a very cheap cleaner and is environmentally friendly so not only will your home be clean you won’t be spending a lot of money or harming the environment.
