10 Smart Ways to Use White Vinegar In Your Home
White vinegar can do all the things! 🙌
Distilled white vinegar is so helpful to have around the house for cleaning, plus it’s super inexpensive! I’m always surprised about how many things you can get accomplished with a bottle.
Here are our top 10 tips, ideas, and reasons why we LOVE white vinegar:
1. Descale your Keurig coffee maker.
You can clean and descale your Keurig easily by filling the reservoir with 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar and then brewing it without any k-cups. (Keurig recommends descaling your brewer at least every 3 to 6 months depending on your water.) Keep hitting the brew button until you’ve cycled through all the vinegar/water solution and discard it. Then do the same thing using just water in the reservoir.
Note: Vinegar can work to clean other types of coffee makers as well, not just Keurig. Here are the differences between a Keurig vs. Nespresso.
2. Refresh smelly bath towels.
If your towels ever get a not-so-fresh sour smell, toss them in the washer and fill the fabric softener dispenser with white vinegar. Your washer will dispense it during the final rinse, and they will come out fluffy and smelling fresh. This also applies to clothes, like gym clothes with moisture wick material.
Psst… these are our team’s favorite bath towels ever – and they last!
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3. Clean your dishwasher.
Have a yucky-smelling dishwasher? Place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the upper rack of the machine. Run the washer on a HOT cycle. This will help get rid of any odors and grease inside your dishwasher.
4. Keep berries fresher for longer.
Soaking your summer berries in a vinegar and water solution will greatly extend their freshness. It’s a popular tip that actually works very well! You can read more here on how to do it and we answered one very common question you’ll want to know the answer to. 😉
5. Make a homemade all-purpose cleaner.
Clean naturally with this easy and effective DIY cleaning idea of mixing white vinegar, water, and essential oils. Just grab an empty spray bottle (or buy one on Amazon) and pour equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. It’s perfect for kitchen counters and everyday cleaning.
You can really spruce up your homemade cleaner by adding in some essential oils. Essential oils are a great way to disinfect naturally and they smell amazing! For my favorite spray, I’ll add just a few drops of both Tea Tree Oil to disinfect and Lemongrass Oil – both of these scents together smell super clean and refreshing. Ahhhh!!!
6. Steam away the microwave mess.
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with half water and half vinegar and heat for about 4 minutes. Carefully remove the bowl and clean the inside of your microwave with a rag. This will steam any food stains making the microwave easier to clean.
7. Disinfect your wood cutting boards.
Vinegar can easily disinfect a wood cutting board simply by wiping it down with a rag dipped in vinegar. If the cutting board has a sour smell, you can also put baking soda on the cutting board first, then rub it with vinegar. After completely dry, I like to use mineral oil on wood cutting boards to keep them from cracking or drying out.
Hip Tip: Speaking of cutting boards… food prep for me just got a whole lot easier with this popular and inexpensive cutting board I just scored on Amazon!
8. Clean and deodorize the fridge.
If your fridge could use a deep cleaning, vinegar does a great job at cleaning and neutralizing food odors. Just spray the inside using a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar. Voila!
9. Make homemade swimmer’s ear drops.
This tip sure could come in handy with summer quickly approaching, and if you’re a frequent swimmer, then these drops will help dry out your ear canal which prevents bacterial growth. Plus, it’s so much more affordable than purchasing drops at the store – I’m talking just 12 cents to make a 1-ounce bottle compared to the almost $4+ medications you’ll find over-the-counter in the store!
To make your own ear drops, you’ll need half rubbing alcohol and half vinegar. I know rubbing alcohol may be hard to find in the stores right now, however, you don’t need much, so check to see if you already have some laying around! Combine both ingredients into a dropper bottle and you’re ready to swim the day away!
IMPORTANT: If your child has ear tubes, please consult with your Ear Nose and Throat Doctor before placing these drops in their ears.
10. Clean & deodorize pet stains naturally.
If pet stains and odors are an issue in your house, first blot the area, then sprinkle baking soda over the soiled part of the carpet. Pour a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray over the baking soda. Let sit for a few minutes, and then blot and rub gently until dry.
No more wasted plastic – these food wraps are everything! 🙌
Love my white vinegar! Hot water, white vinegar 50/50 with lemon essential oil and a tablespoon of alcohol is a fabulous cleaner for floors and kitchen counters. Inexpensive, easy, and cleans as well as any other products. My go-to for sure!
Thanks so much for sharing!
We only use alcohol, vinegar and water solution to clean and disinfect. We mix 1/3 of each and use in a spray bottle. We also make wipes with it. We buy Costco baby wipes, open the end of the package make a solution of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 alcohol and a little water. Pour over ends while fanning the wipes apart. We then store in a plastic wipes box. If you don’t like the smell of the vinegar, use any essential oil you like.
Don’t throw out your vinegar & water after you are done descaling the coffee maker. Let it cool (strain it through cheesecloth if you see sediment) and pour it into a spray bottle. It’s perfect for cleaning windows/mirrors. Use any essential oil to mask the vinegar smell.