18 Really Clever Ways You Can Use Vinegar Around Your Home! (#14 Is Our Fave!)

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Do you know what is in the cleaning products you use to clean your home? Most of us don’t. Some of us are not even aware that some of these products can become toxic when they are combined, either on purpose or accidentally. And it seems the stronger and more effective they are, the more powerful the ingredients are. Stubborn stains don’t just come clean on their own.

The good news is that one of the most effective cleaners that you can use around your home is right in your cupboard — vinegar! This versatile product can be used just as easily in your salad as it can be to remove water stains from around your kitchen faucet.

Not only does it act as a cleaner, it can help to resolve some common household problems, such as a clogged drain. It costs pennies per use, is a natural and completely non-toxic product, and it can tackle so many problem areas around your house. When you see what it can do, you may replace all of your cleaning products with a single bottle of vinegar!

1. Glass

You can save a lot of money when you switch out glass cleaner for water and vinegar. Combine equal parts white vinegar and water, and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can include a few drops of blue food coloring so you know it is your glass cleaner. (For a completely streak-free experience, save your paper towels, and wipe dry with a few sheets of newspaper.)

2. The mouse for your computer

You can clean every part of your mouse with full strength vinegar on a clean cloth. If your mouse uses a ball, you can remove it by twisting the cover on the back.

3. Eliminate the smell of smoke

It doesn’t matter if it is cigarette smoke or the aroma of a new recipe gone bad that you are trying to mask, a small dish filled three-quarters of the way with straight cider or white vinegar will do the trick. If the odor is very strong, you may need to position a few bowls around the room.

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4. Your keyboard

Just a few swipes of full strength vinegar on a clean cloth will get your computer keyboard as clean as a whistle. Shut off your computer before you start, and use a cotton swab if you have trouble getting into small places.

5. Piano keys

If you have a piano at home, you can get any fingerprints off the keys with a mixture of two cups of water and a half cup of white vinegar. Use a clean cloth that has been squeezed almost dry and wipe away.

6. Window blinds

Equal parts hot water and white vinegar to get your window blinds sparkling clean. You can either use a spare pair of gloves or put those mismatched socks to good use and run your hands across each blind quickly and easily.

7. Unclog your drain

You should be able to avoid a costly service call from your plumber by sending a combination of one cup of vinegar with a half cup of baking soda down your drain. It will start to foam, and once the foam is gone, follow it with some hot water. After five minutes, run cold water down the drain.

8. The dishwasher

You would think that an appliance that cleans your dishes wouldn’t need to be cleaned itself, but it does need it to eliminate soap buildup. Add straight vinegar into the soap dispenser and let it run on the quickest wash cycle.

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9. Clean your microwave

Getting your microwave clean is a two-step process: First, fill a glass bowl with a cup of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar. Set it inside the microwave and turn it on high for five minutes. After it is cool enough, use a cloth dipped into the mixture to wipe the inside of the microwave.

10. Get rid of weeds

You won’t have to worry about animals taking in any toxic chemicals when trying to get rid of the weeds in your yard. Just pour straight vinegar on them, and they will wither away.

11. Frost-proof your car windows

Mix one part water to three parts white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray your windshield every couple of weeks to keep your windows from frosting up.

12. Unstick a screw that won’t budge

You’ll be surprised to see how quickly a screw can be released when you pour straight vinegar over it.

13. Clean out your coffee maker

When your coffeemaker starts to slow down, it means that the chemicals in the water have built up and need to be removed. Use your coffee pot to create a mixture of one cup of water and two cups of white vinegar. Use a filter and pour the water in as if you were making coffee. Let it run through the full cycle. Take out the used filter and put in another one; run the coffeemaker with plain water two or three times.

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14. Get rid of fruit flies

You don’t have to endure those annoying fruit flies any longer. Take an old jar, punch some holes in the lid, fill it half way with apple cider vinegar and screw the lid back on. Keep it handy for whenever you find fruit flies lingering around.

15. Shine your silverware

Mix together a half cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda in a small tub. Add your silverware as well as any silver jewelry and let them sit for up to three hours. Rinse items with cold water and dry with a clean, soft cloth.

16. Get gum and wax out of clothing or hair

Put a small amount of vinegar in a bowl. Warm up the mixture in the microwave, and pour over the area where the gum or wax is stuck.

17. Clean your child’s bath toys

After bath time, your child may be clean, but his or her toys may be the recipient of a little extra dirt and grime. Pour a half cup of vinegar into a large bucket and let the toys soak for about 10 minutes. Wipe any dirt off with a cloth and let them dry completely.

18. Refresh your showerhead

Take a plastic bag and fill it with white vinegar. Place the bag over the showerhead, and hold it in place with a rubber band. Let it sit overnight, then scrub with a toothbrush to get any hard water deposits off the showerhead.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.healthguidance.org

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