8 Ways to Clean with Vinegar

We're teaming up with our friends at The Laundress to bring you the most useful tips and products for spring cleaning.

Today: Gwen and Lindsey from The Laundress share their favorite ways to clean with vinegar. 

 

Vinegar is known for its powerful cleaning properties that fight stains, buildup, odors, and germs; it might just be the agent we turn to the most when we're on a cleaning spree. And while plain old vinegar works like a charm, it's also known for a sometimes off-putting smell -- which is why we blended one of our signature scents with it.

Here are our favorite ways to clean with vinegar -- what are yours? Let us know in the comments!

Remove odor from fabrics:

Pretreat: To remove odor from fabric, add 1⁄4 cup of scented vinegar to a basin of warm water and soak the item for 30 minutes. Then launder as normal.

Launder: Add 1 cup scented vinegar directly to the washing machine drum (for top loaders) or to the detergent dispenser (for front loaders) and run a wash cycle using no detergent or softener. Then wash again as normal.

Deoderize rooms & appliances:

Cooking/kitchen: Remove cooking odors by simmering a small pot of 1⁄2 cup vinegar and water or keep a small bowl of vinegar on the counter to absorb odor.

Refrigerator: Place 1 cup vinegar in the refrigerator for two days to remove odor. Refresh as needed.

Microwave: Use 1⁄4 cup vinegar and 1 cup water; bring to a boil and let sit.

Deal with machine odor:

Washing machine: Add 1⁄2 cup scented vinegar  mixed with 2 capfuls all-purpose bleach alternative to your machine dispenser and run an empty, long load with hot water. Don’t forget to clean out your fabric softener and bleach dispensers!

Dishwasher: Fill your dispenser with scented vinegar and add 2 capfuls all-purpose bleach alternative to the machine, then run an empty load with hot water.

Use as a rinse aid:

To prevent spotty glassware, add vinegar to the rinse aid dispenser in your dishwasher.

Clean your drain:

To clean, deodorize, and unclog drains, sprinkle 1⁄4 cup of all-purpose bleach alternative and pour 1 cup of boiling vinegar down the drain. Allow the solution to sit for 5 minutes, then run hot water down the drain. (For garbage disposals, halve the amounts.)

  

Remove and inhibit bacteria, mold, and yeast growth:

Cutting boards: Apply vinegar directly to cutting boards at the end of the evening and do not rinse.

Surfaces: To clean and deodorize surfaces, glassware, and household items, wet a lint-free cleaning cloth or sponge with scented vinegar. Then wipe away dirt, stains, germs, and streaks. (This will also keep ants and bugs away.)

Cleaning: To scrub tubs, tiles, toilets, and stained porcelain, mix the scented vinegar with all-purpose bleach alternative.

Toilets: Deodorize toilets with 1 cup vinegar; let sit for 30 minutes and then flush.

Clean blinds & walls:

To clean blinds and walls, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a pail and use a sponge or Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth to wipe down.

Mop Pergo "wood" floors:

Add 1⁄4 cup scented vinegar to 1 gallon of water to mop and clean Pergo floors. Avoid other floor cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and wax as these will leave a film behind.