The accidental discovery in ancient times that grape juice, left undisturbed, turned into wine was clearly a cause for celebration. The subsequent and inevitable discovery that wine, left undisturbed, eventually turns into vinegar might not have been heralded with as much enthusiasm.
However, ancients quickly uncovered the tremendous versatility of vinegar. They might not have known that it was because vinegar slows the action of bacteria on food, but vinegar was found to be an excellent preservative. By virtue of that quality, its capacity for cleaning became widely known.
Many references to the use of vinegar as a beverage and as a remedy for infections and wounds can be found in the New and Old Testaments, as well as the Talmud. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, extolled vinegar's therapeutic properties and prescribed drinking it for many ailments.
Vinegar was used during the Black Plague, to prevent catching the disease, and in the 17th Century it was used as a deodoriser. Citizens would carry sponges soaked in vinegar and hold them to their noses to reduce the smell of sewerage while walking the city streets.
In modern times vinegar continues to play a valuable role. In WW1, vinegar was used to treat wounds on the battlefield and to this day is still recommended for the treatment of bites, rashes and other minor ailments.
For centuries households have used white vinegar for cleaning and have passed on their cleaning tips through their families. However, in our time, the efficacy of vinegar as a cleaner is not as widely known. The many cleaning applications of vinegar are shared on blogs and in quirky housekeeping encyclopaedias, but it's popular usage as a cleaner has fallen away.
"today vinegar still has enormous benefits for our health and the maintenance of our environment"
However, vinegar as a cleaner still compares well with modern household cleaning products and as a natural by-product of foods such as grains and fruit, has a much gentler impact on our environment than aggressive chemical cleaners. In that way, today vinegar still has enormous benefits for our health and the maintenance of our environment.
The various types of vinegar
There are a variety of vinegars, including white vinegar, malt vinegar, rice vinegar, wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and cane vinegar. These are made from various sources, most commonly grain, wine, rice or alcohol.
White vinegar, which is mainly used for culinary and cleaning purposes, is made from grain and is purely a solution of acetic acid in water.
Uses of vinegar
Vinegar is mildly acidic and effectively attacks soap scum, lime scale and mould.
It is non-toxic, lasts for a long time without losing strength and is much safer to have under your sink than bleach, ammonia, or other toxic cleaning products.
The acid kills bacteria and viruses, by chemically changing the proteins and fats that make up these nasties and destroying their cell structures.
One study showed that vinegar kills 99 percent of surface bacteria, 80 percent of germs, and 82 percent of moulds.
Vinegar is environmentally friendly. It's biodegradable and won't harm the environment in any way.
Want to get cleaning with vinegar?
Our Frosch Vinegar All Purpose Cleaner is one of our most popular products, with a wide variety of applications. As with all our products, we keep our environmental impact to a minimum and our bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic.
Order online and have your vinegar cleaner shipped directly to you. Buy now.