5 Ways to Use Vinegar to Clean

In recent years, more and more people are discovering the cost-effective benefits of using household items in place of expensive cleaning products. Save a little green while you clean, with just one item that most people have in their kitchen. Vinegar contains acetic acid which is used to kill off fungus, viruses and bacteria, and unwanted plants and mold. Using vinegar for all your cleaning needs throughout your home is a safe and effective way to save money and sanitize your belongings. The following are some helpful tips for getting the most out of this nifty household item.

5 of the Best Ways to Use Vinegar to Clean

Disinfecting Office Your Office Space

Vinegar is a great alternative to some of the harsh chemicals that are safe on computers and equipment. Start by turning off all your office equipment. Then mix equal parts of vinegar and water and dampen a cloth with the solution to wipe down all your office materials. Don’t forget the mouse and keyboard, and use a Q-Tip for those hard to reach places.

Sanitizing Your Kitchen and Appliances

Remember that leftover pasta that’s left a stench in your fridge since last Wednesday? What about the Tupperware rings from months of refrigerated storage? Or how about your microwave that has a droplet of food from every meal you’ve eaten this month stuck to the inside of it? Wipe away the leftovers with a mixture of vinegar and water.

To clean your refrigerator, combine equal parts of vinegar and water, then use a cloth to scrub away the mess. In your microwave, try heating one ½ cup of vinegar and a ½ cup of water in a microwave safe bowl for five minutes. Remove the hot bowl from the appliance, and use a rag to wipe away the softened food remnants. This will leave your fridge and microwave smelling fresh, and sparkling clean.

Removing White Rings from Furniture

If coasters aren’t your thing, it’s likely that you’ve developed water stains, or white rings, on that wooden coffee table of yours. To remove marks left by glasses on your furniture, mix one-part vinegar with one-part olive oil, and apply it to the damaged surface.

Disinfecting Bathroom Surfaces

Science shows that your bathroom is the dirtiest place in your home. Experts say that it’s a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria and mold. Kill off all those germs and bacteria with just vinegar and a cloth. Sanitize your bathroom surfaces such as the sink and bathtub with a diligent wipe down. Remove toilet bowl rings by pouring a full cup of vinegar in the toilet and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, clean it well with a toilet brush, and flush a couple of times to rinse.

Stop Static Cling

When washing your clothes, add ½ cup of vinegar to your wash cycle. The acetic acid reduces static and prevents dryer lint from clinging to your clothes.

Save a little green while you clean, and tidy up that collection of products under your sink by replacing household cleaners with vinegar.