Vinegar is a well-known and commonly used ingredient in a wide variety of homemade cleaning solutions in the West. But what about Japan? Japanese ’su’ (酢) comes in many varieties, and is a popular component of healthy cooking and drinks these days. It can also be used for cleaning.
One convenient way to use ’su’ is to make vinegar spray. Simply take 100cc of Japanese vinegar (the everyday kind sold in the supermarket is fine), dilute with 200cc of water, and pour into a spray bottle. (Plastic spray bottles can be found cheaply at Y100 shops, but a glass spray bottle is better for storage.) For those bothered by the strong vinegary smell, adding a little fresh peppermint to the bottle can “freshen up” your cleaning spray.
Vinegar spray can be used in a number of household cleaning tasks, including wiping away mold, dusting home appliances, cleaning the refrigerator and the inside of microwaves, wiping away grime on wood furniture, and for removing carpet stains. Enjoy your frugal cleaning!
© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.