Vinegar: The Multipurpose, Chemical-Free Household Cleaner You Should Know About

BENEFITS OF VINEGAR AS A HOUSEHOLD CLEANER

• You probably have a bottle of vinegar sitting in your cupboard right now.
• But like so many, you might only use vinegar as a salad dressing or as a marinade for vegetables, meat, poultry, or fish.

MADE FROM ACETIC ACID

• Vinegar isn’t only useful for cooking, though. It also makes a great cleaner and disinfectant because it’s made from acetic acid.
• Acetic acid is a colorless organic compound that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell.
• It’s also an ingredient in some store-bought household cleaners.
• The acidic nature of vinegar is so powerful it can dissolve mineral deposits, dirt, grease, and grime.
• It’s also strong enough to kill bacteria.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VINEGAR INCLUDE:

• Apple cider vinegar
• White distilled vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Red or white wine vinegar

BEST TYPE OF VINEGAR TO USE

• White distilled vinegar is the best vinegar for cleaning because it doesn’t contain a coloring agent.
• Therefore, it won’t stain surfaces. Staining can happen when cleaning with a darker-colored vinegar.
• Plus, distilled white vinegar has about 5 percent acidity, which is also similar to the acidity level in many everyday multipurpose cleaners.

ABOUT THAT VINEGAR SMELL

• The strong odor of white vinegar can be unpleasant, in which case you can use apple cider vinegar instead.

• It has the same cleaning properties as white distilled vinegar, but since it’s made by fermenting apple juice, it also has a slightly sweet scent.

• Apple cider vinegar is darker in color, so dilute it in water before using it as a cleaning agent.

• If you’re using vinegar as a cleaner, the scent may linger for about an hour or so.

• However, this might be a small price to pay for a cleaner that’s nontoxic, natural, and environmentally friendly.

• You can mask the smell by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil, to a spray bottle containing a vinegar-water solution.

• Or, open a window and let some fresh air in to help remove the scent quicker.

HERE'S A LOOK AT A FEW COMMON USES FOR VINEGAR AROUND THE HOME

GLASS

• Use vinegar to make your own glass cleaner. Combine one part water with two parts vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Spray the solution on glass surfaces and wipe clean for a streak-free finish.

COUNTERTOPS

• Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it can clean and disinfect countertops after food preparation.

• For tough stains, add a few drops of Dawn soap to one part water and two parts vinegar.

• Vinegar can also remove odors from countertops, but it shouldn’t be used on granite or marble.

• Use a natural stone cleaner instead. The acid in vinegar can diminish the luster of natural stone.

• Vinegar can also deter ants that may scour countertops at night in search of food scraps.

FAUCETS

• Combine 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt to remove calcium deposits on faucets and fixtures. This solution can also remove hard water stains from showerheads.

• To get rid of stubborn stains, spray fixtures, and faucets with vinegar and then tie a bag around it overnight.

• Scrub and rinse the next morning.

SHOWERS AND TUBS

• Thick soap scum and mildew can be challenging to remove.
• Spray undiluted white vinegar over tub and shower walls.
• Let the vinegar sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse away.
• Or, combine baking soda and vinegar to create a paste and scrub away tough grime.

TOILETS

• Pour 2 to 3 cups of undiluted vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for up to 3 hours.
• Scrub with a toilet brush and flush. This helps eliminate rings around the bowl and deodorizes the toilet.

FLOORS

• Vinegar also makes a great floor cleaner, but only on certain types of floors.

• You shouldn’t use vinegar on hardwood floors because it can dissolve the finish and leave watermarks.

• The natural acid in vinegar can also damage natural stone floors.

• You can, however, use vinegar on no-wax linoleum.

• Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1/2 gallon of water. To clean ceramic tile, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

DISHWASHER

• To break through soap scum in a dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse compartment and let the dishwasher run for an entire cycle.

APPLIANCES

• To eliminate odors in your microwave, place a bowl containing a 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water inside the microwave and heat for a couple of minutes. This solution can also loosen any stubborn stains.

• Vinegar is also great for cleaning the inside and outside of appliances, including stainless steel.

• Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray down appliances.

• Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the solution. Don’t use abrasive pads, which can scratch the surface of appliances.

LAUNDRY

• Distilled white vinegar is also a great choice for removing fabric odor and stains.
• Don’t use dark vinegar or you might stain your clothes. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.

CAN VINEGAR IMPROVE DIGESTIVE HEALTH?

• But while vinegar is a great household cleaner, can it help your internal digestive system?

• Vinegar — or more specifically apple cider vinegar — has been touted as a natural remedy for digestive issues, although there aren’t any rigorous studies or science to back up these claims.

NOTE:

"apple cider vinegar — has been touted as a natural remedy for digestive issues, although there aren’t any rigorous studies or science to back up these claims."

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Valencia Higuera — Updated on March 20, 2020