Why The French Love Vinegar (…And It Doesn’t Involve Cooking!)

The French love vinegar. Of course, they cook with it, but who knew that the French have an infinite number of uses that don’t even involve preparing delicious meals? 

When I moved to Paris in 2013, I had no clue about this cultural …how do you say?…trend.  I fondly remember the first time I went to buy ordinary white distilled vinegar at the French supermarché.  I walked around the store at least three times scanning every aisle and every shelf.  Finally, I found what I was looking for.  Oh no, not in the cooking section with the more culinarily astute balsamic, but next to the cleaning supplies of all places! 

The French love cleaning with le vinaigre so much, they’ve even written a book on it.  So what do they know that we don’t?

(Photo: modernmummymayhem.com)

Shines Like the Seine

One of my first jobs in Paris was as a server at a traditional French restaurant.  The first thing I’d do to start my shift? Take a bottle of vinegar and drop a few sprinkles on each plate and then buff clean with a normal kitchen towel. The French swear by this trick to make your dinnerware shine. And, if you want to give the silverware an extra sparkle? Place them in a bucket full of warm water and vinegar (two parts water to one part vinegar ratio works brilliantly), then rub dry with a cotton cloth. In both instances, the vinegar cuts any residual grease left over after washing. Etvoila! Your dinner table willshine as brilliantly as any café in Paris.

Related Story on Yahoo Makers: How to Properly Set a Table for Dinner

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Disinfect Naturellement

Christine Ryndak, an American expat in Paris, notes that vinegar is also the perfect disinfectant for your baby’s high chair.  She puts vinegar in a spray bottle and will sometimes add a drop or two of an essential oil (whatever scent you fancy).  Spray the solution directly on the surface of the highchair.  It’s eco-friendly, safe for your baby and will kill most bacteria including the flu virus.  “It’s the cheapest thing in the French supermarkets at only 30 centimes!” she says. Web site La Chenille Verte  recommends using a more-diluted mixture for any work surfaces, sinks, mirrors, and even toilets.  Keep it simple, avoid those caustic chemicals, and give this home trick a try.

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(Photo: notjustgreenfingers.files.wordpress.com)

Le Calcaire

Blogger David Leibovitz also noticed the white vinegar trend when he jumped the pond.  He claims that Parisians absolutely swear by cleaning their dishwashers and washing machines with vinegar.  It removes the dreaded French calcaire (ahem, calcium carbonate or limescale).  Indeed, this trick is also handy for American front-loading washing machines that tend to smell more than their top-loading counterparts.  Simply pour a cup of white distilled vinegar in an empty machine and run it through the whole cycle.  Repeat this monthly.

Helpful Hint: Not only does this work on washing machines, but try it on your dishwasher, too!

(Photo: comment-economiser.fr)

Au Revoir, Mold!

Laurence Marcland of Nice, France says she uses vinegar to clean mold off her walls.  She simply sponges white vinegar directly on the affected area to remove the unsightly fungus.  “It removes mold on walls and around windows that is caused by moisture seeping in the old buildings.”

(Photo: oneproblemless.com)

Stubborn Stains

And what about those stains at the bottom of your coffee cup after une petite café?  Scrub them gently with a paste made from equal parts white vinegar and baking soda (or regular table salt).  The baking soda or salt will add that extra bit of grit that will really get that stain up and moving.

(Credit: greenopedia.com)

Les Problèmes de Pipi

What’s the tip from my French veterinarian to effectively clean up my dog Hooper’s puppy potty stains (or as the French say, pipi)?  Clean up the accident first by blotting and then, you guessed it! Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water.  Spray liberally on the stain to let set for a few minutes and then blot or wipe clean.  The vinegar smell should dissipate when the spot is completely dry.

Helpful Hint: Be careful when using vinegar on carpet and waxed wood floors. Test first in an inconspicuous spot to make sure the solution won’t damage or discolor.

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