You might have heard of the legendary powers of distilled white vinegar—but do you know just how many things it can clean around the house? From your shower drain to your clothes, here are 12 things you can clean with just a bottle of vinegar. Of course, always do a patch test before diving into full-on cleaning to avoid any regrets!
In the kitchen
The kitchen can get significantly greasy and grimy and needs a more intensive clean than most rooms in the house. Thankfully, a bottle of distilled white vinegar can clean up your fridge and microwave and even degrease your cooktops in minutes. All you need is to wipe down your dirty surfaces and they’ll be as good as new. Can’t remember the last time you cleaned your coffee machine? Just run some vinegar through the machine as if it were coffee to give it a nice cleanse. Your coffee will taste much fresher the next time around!
In the service yard
Of course, you can wipe down your washing machine and dryer with distilled white vinegar to keep them sparkling clean. But did you know that you can also use it to rinse your clothes and linens? Adding half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your rinse cycle can help brighten your clothes, remove mildew and unpleasant odours and even clean your washing machine in the process. Either add it to your rinse cycle manually or pour it into the drawer for fabric softener to let the washing machine do the work for you.
In the bathroom
With its high humidity and constant water exposure, the bathroom can be a nightmare to clean. A bit of distilled white vinegar can go great lengths to help you speed up the process without resorting to harsh chemical cleaners. Bathtubs and showers, for instance, can be wiped down with vinegar to remove build-up of grime, mildew and soap scum. But distilled white vinegar is also a fantastic solution for clogged showerheads. Fill a container and soak your clogged showerhead in it overnight, then rinse it off in the morning for better water pressure and cleaner showers.
Around the house
While distilled white vinegar is particularly popular for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, other nooks and crannies around the house can benefit from a thorough cleanse as well. Windows can be easily cleaned with a mix of vinegar and water, using a spray bottle for fuss-free application. Likewise, carpets with ominous stains will look as good as new after being treated with vinegar and baking soda. Just soak the stain and then sprinkle the baking soda, removing any residue with a vacuum cleaner.
What NOT to clean with vinegar
As we’ve established, distilled white vinegar is a versatile natural cleaner with many great properties. However, it is highly acidic and thus does not get along well with natural materials, such as stone and wood. If you have natural stone tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, be very careful with your use of vinegar! Sharp objects, such as knives, should also not be cleaned with it, as its acidic properties will dull a perfectly sharp blade.
Image courtesy of Caesarstone
