{"id":19310,"date":"2011-11-29T09:15:41","date_gmt":"2011-11-29T14:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/?p=19310"},"modified":"2020-02-12T13:53:17","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T18:53:17","slug":"clean-with-vinegar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/clean-with-vinegar\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Ways to Clean with Vinegar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever tried to clean with vinegar? I’ve always been the kind of person that bought commercial cleaning products.<\/p>\n

If it promised quicker or easier cleaning, I was going to buy it.\u00a0 Because of this, the area under my kitchen sink is packed with all sorts of chemicals, all in brightly colored containers whose purpose is to entice me to buy them.<\/p>\n

One time I ran out of windex and needed to clean off a window. A quick google search showed me that I could clean my mirrors and windows with vinegar and water.<\/p>\n

I tried it and was shocked at how clean and shiny they were. My mirrors and windows had never been so clean. I was a believer!<\/p>\n

15 Ways to Clean with Vinegar<\/h2>\n

Use vinegar to clean windows and mirrors<\/b><\/h3>\n

As I already mentioned, this is my favorite way to clean with vinegar.\u00a0 Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and label.\u00a0 (If you’re like my Grandma, you’ll use newspaper to clean the window or mirror.)<\/p>\n

Add vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is the one that I use most often. I stopped using a commercial liquid fabric softener and have been using vinegar in its place.\u00a0 It gets rid of odors, softens fabrics, and helps to get rid of static.<\/p>\n

Clean your shower\u00a0with vinegar<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clean soap scum, mildew, and grime from the shower.<\/p>\n

Refresh stinky garbage disposals\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Make ice cubes with vinegar (full strength), and then run them through the garbage disposal. Remember to label the cubes in the freezer so someone doesn’t accidentally put one in their drink!<\/p>\n

Remove slime from carpet<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Did you know vinegar will get slime out of carpet<\/a>. Use a mixture of vinegar and water to cut through the slime and remove it. Get the full tutorial here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cut through the grime on appliances<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Use a cloth and full strength vinegar to wash off that disgusting grime that can build up on the top of appliances like the refrigerator and stove top.<\/p>\n

Get rid of germs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you’ve had a lot of sickness running rampant around your house (as can happen during these cooler months), use full strength vinegar to clean areas that receive a lot of touches, such as door knobs or toilets.<\/p>\n

Use a leftover baby wipe plastic box and store paper towels soaked in vinegar for easy access.<\/p>\n

Clean the microwave <\/strong><\/h3>\n

A mix of two parts water and one part vinegar, heated to a boil in the microwave, will not only loosen stuck on food, but will also help to clear out undesirable odors.<\/p>\n

You can also soak a sponge in vinegar and water mixture. Place the sponge in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. After the sponge has cooled slightly use the sponge to remove food from the inside of the microwave.<\/p>\n

(As with any time that you are bringing a liquid to a boil in the microwave, please be careful with this.)<\/p>\n

Safely clean toys<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A mix of vinegar and water is a great way to clean germy toys without harsh chemicals.<\/p>\n

Remove stickers and decals <\/strong><\/h3>\n

My children are finally old enough that this isn’t an issue around our house.\u00a0 However, it wasn’t too long ago that I would find rouge stickers in the strangest places.<\/p>\n

To remove stickers from furniture, spray on some vinegar and let them stick for a few minutes before trying to peel them off.\u00a0 Try again with the vinegar, if they can’t be peeled off after the first soaking.<\/p>\n

Shine the toilet bowl<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Instead of using harsh chemicals, try spraying vinegar into your toilet bowl and then clean with a brush, as you might normally.<\/p>\n

Clean mineral deposits in automatic coffee makers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you’re notice a build up in your coffee makers, run a cycle with vinegar to clear that out.\u00a0 Make sure to rinse well after that cycle. (Be sure to check your owner’s manual to check for cleaning notes.)<\/p>\n

Get rid of (or at least deter) ants <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Using vinegar might help deter ants.<\/p>\n

(Although, let me share a quick tip, as someone who has received the stink eye from an exterminator: If you are planning to call an exterminator because of a large ant problem, try to not disturb the ant trail, as it may make it difficult for the exterminator to find where they ants are coming from.)<\/p>\n

You can also use borax to get rid of ants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Clean shower head build up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take off shower heads and soak in vinegar overnight to remove build up.\u00a0 If you can’t take off the heads (or just don’t want to), soak a cloth in vinegar and wrap it around the shower head overnight.<\/p>\n

You can also fill a small plastic bag with this mixture and band it around the faucet. Let the shower head soak in the solution for a few hours then rinse off.<\/p>\n

Rinse Your Hair<\/h3>\n

Want super shiny hair? Use apple cider vinegar after you rinse your hair.<\/p>\n

Apple cider vinegar can help with shine and make frizzy hair smoother. I’ve also read that it can decrease the residue left by shampoo and conditioner and decrease dandruff.<\/p>\n

Mix eight ounces of water 2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a squirt or spray bottle. After shampooing your hair, spray your hair with the vinegar mixture.<\/p>\n

You can leave the spray in your hair or rinse it after a few minutes.<\/p>\n

Since there are, literally, thousands of uses for vinegar, what are some of your favorite uses that didn’t make this list?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You might also like:<\/p>\n