How-To Tuesday: Remove "Hard Water" Stains

Listen up everyone...I think this is the best advice I've learned yet and the fact that I figured it out several months ago and am still excited means it's absolutely amazing. (for those of you that already knew this information..please don't burst my bubble). Since moving to our newest place of residence almost two years ago, I began to notice that my dishes (mainly my glass cups) started to look a bit cloudy, as if there was some sort of residue on them. I became even embarrassed when people would come over, and would promise them while bringing over what looked to be a milky cup of water, that the glass was clean. Well, one of my dearest friends from CA was at home when her mom began to notice the same thing. She told her to get in contact with me to figure out how to get rid of it. Between the two of us we search the internet to figure out how to rid this filthy film! Want to know the solution?????



VINEGAR! When in doubt, vinegar is always the answer....hah...well maybe not always, but it sure does amazing things.

To solve our filmy residue, we poured about a cup of vinegar into the base of the dishwasher and ran on a normal cycle. To my surprise, the dishes came out sparkling clean! I now pour vinegar in the bottom about every 2-3 washes.  I have been raving about this for months now, which I'm sure my friends and family are sick of, but seriously...isn't that amazing?

And here's the kicker - I had thought it was from our hard water out here in Arizona, but really, some companies are putting in additional *yucky* ingredients in to the washing detergent (mainly the cheapy kinds that I buy) that tends to leave this residue.....MEANING --- WE'VE BEEN DRINKING/EATING IT TOO! Ugh. But not any more..thanks to my good ol pal Vinegar. 

Here are a few additional *miracles* vinegar can do. (found on the side of the vinegar box that I bought from Sam's Club)

*Ants: Ant invasions can be deterred by washing counter tops, cabinets and floors with distilled vinegar
*Grease: Filmy dirt and greasy residue can be removed from stove and refrigerator by wiping with vinegar
*Grass or Weeds: Kill unwanted grass on sidewalks and driveways by pouring on vinegar
*Chrome: To polish chrome and stainless steel, moisten a cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean
*Shower Curtain: Rub a cloth dampened with vinegar to remove soapy, steamed-in film and mildew from your plastic shower curtain. Then rinse clean.
*Irons: Remove burn stains from your electric iron by mixing one part salt with one part vinegar in a heated small aluminum pan. Use this mix to polish the iron as you would silver.
*Vegetables: Liven up slightly wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water and vinegar
*Flowers: Add two tbsp. of vinegar plus three tbsp. of sugar to a quart of warm water to keep fresh cut flowers blooming longer
*Cabbage: Add vinegar to the cooking water of boiling cabbage to prevent the odor from permeating the house
*Rice: A tsp of vinegar added to the water of boiling rice makes it white and fluffy
*Cheese: Keep cheese moist and fresh by wrapping it in a cloth that has been dampened with vinegar and sealed in an air-tight wrap or container

There were many more helpful facts about vinegar, but these were my favorite!
You're totally amazed aren't you?