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The Many Uses of Vinegar

To me, clean smells like vinegar. I don’t routinely use vinegar in the homes of my clients, because it is a very love-it or hate-it type of smell that many find offensive. In my personal home though, vinegar is our cleaner of choice for just about everything! Vinegar cuts grease, disinfects, deodorizes, and leaves no scent behind once it has dried.

  • Use a mixture of 1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1/2 water in a spray bottle to clean counters, sinks, toilets, walls, cutting boards, windows, mirrors, and more! Avoid using vinegar on granite, marble, and other natural stone, or on gold colored taps.
  • Remove pet odors – if your pet has an accident, blot up as much as you can, and then saturate the area with white vinegar. Let dwell for several minutes, and then blot well and rinse with warm water. The vinegar will remove the smell, and discourage your pet from resoiling the same area.
  • Remove soap build up and odors from your dishwasher by filling a juice glass with vinegar and placing it right-side up in the top rack. Run the dishwasher empty (except for the juice glass) once per month.
  • Clean and deodorize the microwave: pour 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a small bowl, and microwave on high until it boils. The steam will loosen stuck on food so it will simply wipe away, and the vinegar will get rid of the burnt-popcorn smell that haunts your microwave.
  • Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and reduces static cling – use as you would a traditional liquid fabric softener.
  • Unclog and deodorize drains – pour a 1/2 cup or so of baking soda down the clogged drain, followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar, and let sit for 30 minutes. Flush with hot water.
  • Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers by running a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water through a brew cycle. Follow with a cycle of plain water to rinse.
  • A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains in china cups.
  • Vinegar will remove hard water stains from faucets with ease. Simply soak a cloth in vinegar and leave it to sit on the stain.
  • Unclog a shower head by filling a plastic baggie with vinegar and securing around the shower head with a rubber band. Let soak for several hours, then remove the baggie and wipe.
  • Discourage ants from entering your home by spraying undiluted vinegar along window and door frames, and other known points of entry.
  • Prevent frost build up on your car windshield in the winter – simply spray the window with 3 parts vinegar to one part water once per week.