8 Smart Ways to Use Vinegar When Cleaning Your House

Make a Window Cleaner

There's no need to buy commercial window cleaners. To make your own, simply fill a clean spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and distilled water. Label the bottle and begin cleaning.

Tackle Bathroom Grime

A common problem in bathrooms is soap scum left on shower walls and doors. To remove soap scum from ceramic tile or fiberglass enclosures, fill a spray bottle with two parts distilled white vinegar, one part dishwashing liquid, and two parts water. Spray onto dirty surfaces and allow to sit for five minutes to begin cutting through the grime and then scrub with a nylon-bristled brush or wipe away with a microfiber cloth. The same solution can be used to clean sinks and countertops.

For water spots on glass shower doors, pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 30 to 45 seconds. Pour the warm vinegar into a spray bottle, then add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Spray it onto the doors and allow it to work for five minutes before sponging away. Rinse the doors and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Fix a Sputtering Showerhead

If your showerhead is giving you just a trickle of water, vinegar can cut through the mineral deposits that are clogging the water jets. It works well for both removable and non-removable showerheads.

Clean a Toilet

Toilet bowl cleaners can be expensive but you can make your own with just a few ingredients. The key to a sparkling clean toilet is using the powder along with distilled white vinegar.

Improve Your Laundry Routine

You'll want to keep a bottle of distilled white vinegar in your laundry room because it can dramatically improve your laundry routine. Vinegar helps remove mildew odors, cuts through detergent residue that leaves clothes feeling scratchy, and removes deposits from your washer and iron.

Cook and Clean With Vinegar in the Kitchen

Every cook knows the culinary power of vinegar but it can also be used to clean many surfaces in the kitchen.

• Remove stains and odors from the microwave.
• Keep stainless steel appliances and surfaces streak-free.
• Descale coffee makers and tea kettles.
• Clean a greasy stovetop or kitchen hood.
• Get rid of stickiness on silicone bakeware.
• Clean a smelly dishwasher.

Unclog Sinks

To unclog slow-running bathroom sink or kitchen drains, pour at least one quart of boiling water down the drain. In a medium bowl, combine one cup of hot water, one cup of baking soda, and one cup of vinegar (Warning: there will be fizzing!). Pour the vinegar mixture down the drain and let it work for at least 10 minutes. Finish by flushing the drain with another quart of boiling water.

Kill Weeds Naturally

Once your house is sparkling clean, take a look at your driveway and walkways. If weeds are poking through the cracks, give them a quick spray with vinegar (stronger cleaning vinegar works best). The acetic acid acts as a weed killer without adding harsh chemicals to the landscape.