When we’re good to our environment, we’re good to ourselves. We don’t need all those chemicals in the cleaning products we buy (often at a mighty high price), and the environment doesn’t need them either. Because of its acidity, white distilled vinegar is super effective at killing most mold, bacteria, and germs—plus, it’s eco-friendly.
Here are some suggestions on how to use vinegar to clean your home:
- Shine chrome and remove lime buildup by making a paste of 2 tablespoons salt, and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
- For a natural scouring cleanser, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon liquid detergent, and just enough white vinegar to give it a thick and creamy texture.
- Make your own window cleaner with 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed in a gallon of water.
- Deodorize a garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white vinegar. Let it sit for five minutes—then run hot water down the disposal.
- Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Put it in the microwave, and let it boil. To clean baked-on foods and remove odors, simply wipe the microwave clean.
- Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar into a solution to clean the refrigerator inside and out.
- Mix equal parts of salt or baking soda with white vinegar to scrub away stains from coffee and tea-cups, and rinse clean.
- Polish brass and copper with a mixture of 2 tablespoons ketchup and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Rub it on with a clean cloth until the object is dry and shiny.
- Soak a sponge in white vinegar to wipe grease off of exhaust fans.
- Clean grout with full-strength white vinegar and a toothbrush.
- Kill germs by spraying full-strength white vinegar on doorknobs, and then wipe dry.
- Clean your barbecue grill by spraying white vinegar on it, and then scrubbing with wadded-up aluminum foil.
- Clean off stickers, decals, or sticky stuff with a cloth dipped in white vinegar.
