Vinegar baggie is an easy and effective cleaning method that most people are likely to have come across. This popular hack is widely used and especially helpful when cleaning the bathroom on a regular basis. For those who have not been informed of this, allow me to tell you. This method of cleaning faucets does not involve any physical effort and only has to be left for a whole night. Regardless of whether it is a kitchen or bathroom faucet, this method is an effective and economical one.
Therefore, what is the best way to clean it? Here is a detailed guide on how to clean the faucets with vinegar and make them look as shiny as new.
Why Use Vinegar to Clean Faucets?
Adding flavor to your delicious recipe is not the only thing vinegar can do. It is very effective and that’s why it is used in many products and also a good natural cleaner. Use white vinegar to make your faucets as clean as possible and give them that sparkling look that you desire. It contains acetic acid as the active ingredient and that is why it is so effective as a disinfectant.
It also has an unexpected outcome when used for degreasing or deodorizing, so you can be confident that there will be no traces of salmonella or E. coli left behind. It can also help to remove stains and the accumulation of grease in your kitchen or bathroom. Great, isn’t it?
Before Clean-Up
It is easy to notice hard water build up especially on faucets and this is even more apparent when it comes to bathroom sinks. Enough is enough; it is time to start cleaning the dirt.
First of all, you need to remove the handle part of the faucet by unscrewing the nut at the end of it. In the kitchen and the bathroom sinks, it is common to find a small or big filter that can be easily removed at the end. Remove any rubber gaskets and ensure that you keep all the parts safely since you may need them in the future. In this unit, ensure that you pay close attention to the order of assembly.
Cleaning the Filter
Now, it is time to start cleaning the inside of the faucet with the help of any used toothbrush for better cleaning. This step will assist you in ensuring that there are no specks of dirt left on the surface. Now let me show you how I can quickly get rid of rust and calcium stains with the help of vinegar.
It is common knowledge that calcium is an alkaline earth metal and has two valence electrons in the last shells and therefore, it is highly reactive with acidic substances. Vinegar is fairly acidic and thus, will readily bring about a reaction.
Now let me tell you one more thing regarding the chemistry in the kitchen, the chemical reaction also needs energy input and thus if the vinegar is heated then the output will be more efficient. Of course, I am talking about white vinegar, which is a type of vinegar.
Take it and pour hot water into it to the required level that will immerse the faucet filter completely. It should be warm but not too warm that one cannot put their finger in it, but it should also not be extremely hot like boiling water. Now, all that remains is to place the faucet filter in hot vinegar.
You can now see the magic! Lots and lots of bubbles. It implies that the cleaning process is ongoing. This is where you let it boil for a while, and for me it took half an hour. I simply continued with my other chores at home and left the filter to soak.
To complete the process, it is advisable to rinse it thoroughly and use a toothbrush to clean it lightly. There will be a new filter that will look like it is entirely different from the previous one. The water will flow smoothly again without any hindrances or blockage in the system.
The Overnight Trick!
Now, after brushing the filter, there is one more step that will show you the complete progress. First, get a plastic bag and fill it with distilled vinegar and then place it over the head of the faucet. Then you have to tie it up using a rubber band or any other material that you can get and leave it to soak for a night. The following morning, dispose of the bag and brush away any remaining particles. It is also necessary to allow some water to flow through and clean the surface as well.
Your faucet jets will be free from any mildew or mold and the lime buildup that can be seen sometimes especially with kitchen faucets will also be a thing of the past. Now you do not have to worry about spreading those smelly things all over your beautiful kitchen. Use this simple trick!
Warning
There are certain rules that one should not touch vinegar with bare hands. Ensure that you acquire quality rubber gloves for the process. You can buy one from the supermarket. The kitchen gloves that you have will also be very useful. Lemon juice and vinegar can cause some discomfort to sensitive skin therefore it is advisable to avoid them while working with vinegar.
However, you should know that if the parts of your faucet are made of nickel or iron, this method may not help in the best way. This material has a tendency to disintegrate when exposed to vinegar. If you have no idea of the material that is being used, then the following test can be conducted.
Take one part of vinegar and four parts of water and mix it in a bowl. This solution should be used sparingly and applied directly on the area using a cotton bud. However, if the metal comes off with hard water build up then this trick should not be done. In any other case, it is safe to continue with the method as you have planned for.
Conclusion
No one wants to have scary bacteria all over their sink, so it would be best to consider doing some deep cleaning. Know the right way to clean your bathroom faucets with vinegar. Consider all the warnings that have been received. Trust me, you will thank me later for having saved you a lot of time and energy. Why not give it a shot and get that shiny sink in no time at all? Good Luck!
