Cleaning your home with vinegar has many benefits. First of all, it’s natural so that means it’s safe for your home and your family. It’s also incredibly inexpensive!
A large bottle of distilled white vinegar costs just a few dollars and will go a long way in cleaning your home. Vinegar also has disinfecting properties, so it not only cleans, but it rids your home of certain types of germs. Here are 17 ways you can clean with vinegar in your home:
How to Clean with Vinegar
We’ve gathered 17, yes 17 different ways to clean your home with vinegar. We’re going to go step by step through your whole house and give you some great ideas on how to use vinegar for cleaning.
Clean with Vinegar In The Bathroom
1. Remove Hard Water Buildup
Using bathroom cleaners won’t work on hard water stains in the bathroom, but a simple soak in vinegar does the trick. Click here to get the full instructions plus more before and after photos.
2. Remove Soap Scum
To remove soap scum from your shower, mix 1 part vinegar and 1 part dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray, scrub, and rinse.
3. Clean and unclog drains
If your drains are stinky or running a little slow, use this combination of baking soda and vinegar to unclog and freshen them. Pour ½ cup baking soda into the drain followed immediately by one cup vinegar. Let sit for a few minutes, then rinse drain with hot water
4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
If you have hard water, you know how hard it is to remove the brown stains that may linger at the bottom of your toilet bowl. Spray undiluted white vinegar into the bowl and let sit for several hours. Brush with toilet brush and flush.
5. General Bathroom Cleaner
For a general bathroom cleaner and disinfectant, mix equal parts water and vinegar.
6. Mildew Prevention
To prevent mildew from creeping up on your shower curtain liner, spray daily with undiluted white vinegar.
Clean with Vinegar In The Kitchen
Cleaning your kitchen with vinegar is a great way to keep it tidy and germ free! I clean my whole kitchen with vinegar each and every day, since it is one of the highest traffic areas in my home.
7. Coffee Maker Cleaner
To clear our mineral deposits on your coffeemaker, fill water chamber with equal parts water and vinegar and run it through. Then run through twice with just water to rinse the vinegar.
We have detailed instructions on how to clean your Keurig with vinegar right here!
8. Rinse aid in dishwasher
Save money on dishwasher rinsing agents, but using vinegar instead. Vinegar will remove the hard water build up on your glasses and leave them sparkling!
9. Microwave
Pour ¼ vinegar and one cup water into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for about 3 minutes or until the solution begins to steam. Any food residue is now loosened up and easy to wipe off.
10. Disinfect a cutting board
Don’t rely on just soap and water to clean your wooden cutting board. Use vinegar to disinfect it. Soak a towel in vinegar and let it sit on the cutting board. Rinse thoroughly with water then dry with a clean towel.
11. Degreaser
To cut through grease in the kitchen, make a degreaser spray by mixing 2 cups vinegar with 1/2 cup lemon juice.
Clean with Vinegar in General
The kitchen and bathroom are some of the highest traffic areas in your home, and some of the areas you spend the most time cleaning.
Let’s look at some more ways to clean with vinegar.
12. Glass Cleaner
For a cheap, easy way to clean your windows and mirrors mix ¼ cup rubbing alcohol and ⅓ cup vinegar.
13. Scissors
Clean grimy or sticky scissor blades by dipping a toothbrush in undiluted vinegar and scrubbing. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
14. Carpet Cleaner
Mix a solution of 1 part dish soap and 2 parts vinegar. Spray on stain and let sit. Scrub with a scrub brush or clean towel to remove stain.
15. Sticker Remover
Soak sticker in undiluted vinegar. Let sit for several minutes, then scrape sticker residue off.
16. Crayon Remover
To remove crayon marks from walls, simple dip a toothbrush in straight white vinegar and scrub the marks away.
17. Candle wax remover
Remove the bulk of the wax by melting it with a hair dryer and blotting up the wax. To get the remnants, mix equal parts vinegar and water and scrub.
Questions About Cleaning with Vinegar
I’ve been using vinegar as my primary cleaner for as long as I can remember. If you’re new to cleaning with vinegar, here are some of the most common things people usually wonder about.
Is white vinegar good for cleaning?
White vinegar is great for cleaning, since it is not full of harsh chemicals and does not have a strong odor. To clean with vinegar, use a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar to distilled water.
You will be surprised how much it does NOT smell! If the slight vinegar odor does bother you, consider adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Does vinegar sanitize?
Yes! Vinegar is an acid, and is is a great sanitizer and disinfectant because acids kill all those gross things like viruses and bacteria we normally worry about. Be sure to let your vinegar cleaning mixture sit on the surface you are disinfecting for 30 minutes.
Do you have to rinse after cleaning with vinegar?
It depends on what you are cleaning. If you are cleaning with surfaces you do not have to rinse after cleaning with vinegar. If you are cleaning a coffee machine you want to run plain water through it a few times after cleaning with vinegar so that your coffee does not taste like vinegar.
Is white wine vinegar the same as white vinegar for cleaning?
White wine vinegar is a more refined vinegar that tastes better than white vinegar, and is often used for cooking. It is also more expensive than white vinegar. That being said, it can be used for cleaning just like white vinegar.
Now it’s time to start cleaning and disinfecting all while saving money using vinegar to clean your home. Where will you start?
