Vinegar is a natural, inexpensive alternative to harsh commercial cleaners and can be used as a mild disinfectant that cuts through grease, a great de-scaler, and can clean glass and floors really well. Reader Donna shares some of her tips and tricks for a chemical-free way to clean your home with vinegar.
Vinegar does have a strong scent, however, don’t be deterred by this as the odour does disappear within 30 seconds. I use vinegar in most of my DIY Cleaning Recipes.
Remember the smell of vinegar will disappear within minutes.
- I use vinegar in the rinse compartment of my washing machine, a great fabric softener and helps clean washing machine components every time I wash
- I spray the kitchen sink, tiles, benchtops, inside the microwave and inside and out of the fridge and dishwasher. All sparkling clean.
- I spray the outside of the toilet with the spray and use old face washers to wipe off and squirt with my vinegar filled drinking bottle, around the rim, wait 10mins, brush and flush
- I spray the bathroom vanities with vinegar and wipe them over with a microfibre cloth – sparkling. I also spray toothbrush heads at the same time once they have cleaned their teeth.
- I use approximately a cup in a bucket of hot water to wash tiled floors. After showering I grab the under bathroom sink spray and lightly spray the shower over and dry off. Once a week I give it a good clean, mixing one cup vinegar and one cup dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle, spray the whole shower, leave a few minutes and wipe over with a microfibre cloth and rinse
- I make my own “sugar soap”, actually it’s way better than sugar soap by mixing approximately one cup of vinegar and a good squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket, or if only half a bucket is required, then halve the measurement
- I mainly use glass cleaning microfibre cloths for mirrors etc but also use a mix of approximately quarter spray bottle vinegar, top-up a bit with water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid and top again with water, spray and wipe off with a paper towel or old face washers
- Best ever weed killer. In a spray bottle funnel in approximately one eighth cup salt and half fill with vinegar, shake and fill to top with vinegar. You can literally add one to two drops of dishwashing liquid to help adhere thoroughly. Some weeds die off within hours, the others go within days. Safe for you, animals and children.
24 comments
These are great tips, its a really good and non-toxic way to clean your home. I would be curious to know if the scent is strong on the vinega after cleaning.
Hi Laura, They are great tips, i agree. And not to mention chemical free but also so much cheaper than all those cleaning products that cost a fortune. The vinegar leaves a clean smell, not to strong unlike bleaches.
Vinegar is great for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens and it helps keep pipes clean to as it washes down the drain. I love the sugar soap hint and will use this in future. 🙂
Thanks Bec! It is great in the kitchen just a tip i personally wouldn’t on stone benches but any other should be fine.
Vinegar is a great low toxin way to clean, though when vaporised in a spray bottle, it is just as toxic as most cleaners so please be careful. Oh, and it is not chemical free, acetic acid ( vinegar) is a chemical too!
Vinegar is acidic and therefore corrosive. It is not suitable for many stone bench tops and stone floors such as marble and travertine.
Yes you must watch stone benches but great for glass, mirrors and bathrooms.
I love these tips! And it’s much cheaper than buying cleaning products too! You’ve got some very clever readers!! 🙂
Please stop perpetuating the ignorant myth that certain products are “chemical-free”. Vinegar is a “chemical” C2H4O2. Even pure water is a “chemical” H2O.
Laura, I personally find that the vinegar smell disappears considerably after it dries . 🙂
Yes your right, only takes a few minutes to disappear.
So many uses. #nochemicalsrequired
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Enjoy all your tips
Always good to hear new tips, whether you decide to use them or not. I love putting vinegar in with my wash as an alternative to fabric softener and the cost factor is definitely a bonus.
Thanks Amy!
You can also try using baking soda and freshly squeezed lemon juice as an alternative. Works miracles!
That’s right, great alternative!
Yes I’m a new vinegar holic also I have a spray bottle made up of half vinegar half water and use it to clean high chair with and kitchen bench through out day and every now again soak baby toys in sink of warm water and vinegar
Hello ,
Just wondering what is the best mixture in way of proportions for water , vinger and baking soda?
thanks
Vinegar i mean
Usually equals parts
Thank for all your ideas, just wondering what you could replace vinegar with for stone bench top cleaning? I have a kitchen and both bathrooms full of stone and am trying to make the switch to all natural cleaning products.
Thanks, Natasha
Instead of an ‘all purpose’ I have a few
spray bottles filled with
– water, few drops dishwashing liquid.
– water, few drops dishwashing liquid, 2 drops
Lemon juice.
Warm water softens any food around stove tops, benches.