Let’s be honest! The chances are you probably have at least one type of vinegar in your kitchen cabinets right now. Either is plain or distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or balsamic, many people use this essential ingredient.
But, some types of vinegar have a second talent: cleaning! You probably know some of the vinegar uses in household, but trust me, there are more! Actually, the science behind makes vinegar one of the best cleaning agent you can find on the market. I must admit that if any substance could become a superhero, it would probably be Vinegar. There is no other liquid on the market that can be used in food, around the house, gardening, disinfectant … and so on.
1. Clean Greasy Dishes
Vinegar can help you cut through grease. Mix 2 tbsp. of white vinegar in a sink full of hot water and liquid dish soap to cut through that grease.
2. Clean The Microwave
The steam from a boiling bowl of vinegar will loosen the caked-on gunk in your microwave. Then, simply wipe it clean with a clean sponge or cloth.
3. Clean Glassware
Sometimes stemware and glasses can become cloudy after being put in the dishwasher or when air drying. To prevent this, wrap your glasses in vinegar-soaked paper towels. The cloudy deposits will rinse right off.
4. Remove Water Stains
Get rid of water marks on your wooden furniture by rubbing the area, with the grain, with a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and vegetable oil.
5. Clean Drain and Garbage Disposal
Clean out your drain and garbage disposal by pouring a 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down your drain. The foam will eat up the gunk, as well as deodorize.
6. Defrost Car Windows
Wipe your car windows with a solution of three parts vinegar and one part water to prevent them from frosting over in the winter.
7. Clean the Dishwasher and Coffee Pot
There’s nothing worse than pulling clean dishes out of a stinky-smelling dishwasher or questioning the freshness of your morning coffee. To clean, simply pour 1 cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher and run a full cycle, and/or into your coffee maker and turn it on.
8. Clean the Fridge
It’s scream-worthy when you open your fridge only to find that you forgot about that cucumber you put in the crisper a few weeks ago or that your ketchup bottle inexplicably leaked.
In order to keep it clean, wipe down your refrigerator with equal parts white vinegar and water, remembering to give the side walls a good cleaning as well.
9. Clean the Bathtub
For an easy way to clean your bathtub — even with soap scum build-up — without having to use too much elbow grease, simply mix ½ cup white vinegar, heated in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, with ¼ cup of Dawn liquid dish soap.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray into your tub and on shower walls and fixtures. Let sit for 30 minutes, and then wipe clean with a sponge.
10. Clean the Showerhead
Sometimes during a shower, we feel that the pressure is slowing or look up at the showerhead and see cruddy, green, or white residue. To combat this, soak the showerhead in a solution of ½ cup vinegar to 1 quart of water.
Bonus tip: Put the solution in a plastic bag, and tie around the showerhead to soak.
11. Clean the Washing Machine
High-efficiency, front-loading washing machines are great for saving water but tend to develop a musty smell. Let vinegar come to the rescue by wiping down the rubber seal around the door with equal parts vinegar and water.
Also, make sure to remove any debris from the crevices around the rubber.
12. Clean Hardwood Floors
To create the solution, mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water. Next, dip your mop in the solution and ring out, leaving a bit damp. Mop in the direction of the floorboards, making sure to rinse the mop frequently, and freshen the solution if it begins to appear dirty.
13. Whiten White Clothing
White clothing can gradually become dirtier and darker over time. To prevent this from happening, add 1-2 cups of vinegar to the wash for regular whitening of whites. If you really want to whiten dirty clothes, then soak individual items in 5 cups of water and 2 cups of vinegar overnight before you wash.
14. Remove Stains
Spray vinegar on your fresh stains and then let it soak for a few minutes. Throw the clothing into the wash, and watch your stains come right off. For older stains, continue spraying the vinegar and blot with a white cloth. Once it’s lightened, put it into the wash.
15. Window Cleaner
Using equal parts vinegar and water apply to windows with a sponge and wipe clean with a wet squeegee.
16. Faucets
Remove stubborn mineral deposits and disinfect faucets with vinegar using this hack. Saturate several paper towels in vinegar and wrap them around your faucet like a burrito. Set for 24 hours. Scrub any remaining stains away with an old toothbrush.
17. Toilet
This is the easiest way to clean a toilet other than hiring help. Pour 1 Cup of vinegar into the bowl and allow it to set overnight. When you wake up, drink some coffee, then go swish it with a toilet brush and flush. For challenging toilet stains, empty the water from the toilet bowl before putting the vinegar in.
18. Toilet Tank Cleaner
Pour some vinegar in that tank to help loosen up hard water deposits and get rid of rust as well.
19. Clean Your Carpet
In a large spray bottle mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray the mixture directly on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then sprinkle baking soda onto the vinegar and scrub with a cleaning brush. Finally, rinse and vacuum!
20. Get Rid of Mold From Walls
Combine 2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. Mix it well until borax is dissolved and your natural mold remover is ready. Pour into a spray bottle and liberally apply to the affected area. Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean. Spray again and let sit 10 minutes before wiping dry.
