How to Use Vinegar for Household Cleaning

In addition to having numerous cooking uses, 100-percent pure, distilled white vinegar can also be used as an effective non-toxic, all-natural cleaning solution throughout your home. Vinegar has a wide range of uses, such as removing odors from rooms, cleaning fixtures in your bathrooms and kitchen, removing stains and spills from carpets, cleaning windows, and much more. Continue reading this article to learn about the many ways in which you can use vinegar for household cleaning.

EditSteps

EditRemoving Odors

Place an open bowl of vinegar in any room with bad odors at nighttime. Remove the bowl from the room the following morning after the smell has dissipated.

Remove odors from sinks and garbage disposals. Pour at least 1 cup (236.58 milliliters) of white vinegar into the sink or garbage disposal, then rinse with fresh water after at least 1 hour has passed.

Clean jars and containers with unpleasant odors such as garlic or fish in a mixture of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water, then rinse the jars with fresh water.

Remove unpleasant odors from your dog.
- Mix together 1 cup (236.58 milliliters) of vinegar and 2 gallons (7.57 liters) of water in a large bucket.
- Rinse your dog completely with fresh water, then pour the water and vinegar mixture on your dog.
- Dry your dog off with a towel without rinsing the vinegar solution from your dog's coat.

EditRemoving Stains and Spills

Remove and clean carpet spills.
- Use a sponge or an absorbing cloth to soak up the liquid from the carpet spill.
- Spray a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent vinegar mixture over the affected carpet area.
- Let the vinegar and water mixture soak into the carpet for at least 2 minutes, then blot the affected area with a fresh towel or sponge to remove the mixture from the carpet.

Remove stains from carpet.
- Mix together 1 tsp. (4.92 milliliters) of vinegar, 1 tsp. (4.92 milliliters) of liquid dishwashing soap, and 1 cup (236.58 milliliters) of warm water.
- Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle, then spray the mixture over the stain to cover it completely.
- Allow the mixture to soak into the carpet for 2 minutes, then blot the wet area using a sponge or towel.

Remove toilet bowl stains.
- Spray vinegar on the inside of the toilet bowl, then use a toilet brush to scrub away the stains.

Remove stains from clothing. Tough stains such as ketchup, chocolate, wine, and jelly can be removed with vinegar.
- Rub vinegar directly on the stain with a soft cloth, then wash your clothes in the washing machine as usual.

EditCleaning Surfaces

Clean windows with vinegar.
- Spray a glass window with a 50 percent water, 50 percent vinegar solution, then wipe down with a soft cloth.

Clean and shine floors. Vinegar is safe to use on no-wax flooring.
- Add 1 cup (236.58 milliliters) of vinegar to every 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of water, then use the mixture to clean and shine floors.

Use vinegar as an all-purpose surface cleaner in the kitchen. Vinegar can effectively clean kitchen counter tops, stove tops, and the tops of refrigerators and other appliances.
- Spray undiluted vinegar over the surface of appliances and counters in your kitchen, then wipe away using paper towels or a soft, clean rag.

EditRemoving Soap Residue

Remove soap scum from bathroom and kitchen faucets.
- Mix together 1 part salt with 4 parts vinegar, then moisten a rag with the solution.
- Use the rag to rub away built-up soap scum from bathroom and kitchen faucets.

Remove soap scum from shower doors.
- Spray undiluted vinegar on shower doors, then wipe the doors dry with a soft rag or paper towels.

Remove leftover soap residue from the inside of your washing machine.
- Add 1 cup (236.58 milliliters) of vinegar to an empty laundry cycle without clothing, then run as usual.

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EditTips

Buy 100 percent pure white vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is the strongest form of vinegar you can use to effectively clean your home.

Use 2 different spray bottles for your vinegar. Some household cleaning chores will require you to use 100 percent undiluted white vinegar; whereas other chores will require you to dilute the vinegar with water. Fill 1 spray bottle completely with white vinegar and fill the other bottle with a 50 percent water and 50 percent vinegar solution and label them accordingly.

Prevent mildew from growing in your shower by spraying your shower curtain and shower walls with distilled vinegar.

Prevent ants from invading the inside of your home by spraying vinegar along counter tops, window sills, doorways, and other entryways ants can use to access the inside of your home.

To remove sticker residue from furniture and other items, spray the affected area with vinegar, then remove the sticker residue after 10 minutes have passed.