10 Smart Ways to Use White Vinegar In Your Home
Curious about the many uses of white vinegar?
Distilled white vinegar is so helpful to have around the house, plus it’s super inexpensive! I’m always surprised about how many things you can get accomplished with a bottle.
Here are my top 10 tips, ideas, and reasons why I 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. 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.
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.
Vinegar can really help with towel and clothing odors!
3. Clean the 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 lasting longer.
Soaking your summer berries in a vinegar and water solution will greatly extend the freshness of strawberries. It’s a popular tip that actually works very well for Hip2Save readers!
5. Make homemade all-purpose cleaner.
Clean naturally with this easy and effective DIY cleaning idea of mixing white vinegar, water, and essential oils. This cleaner is great on counters and basic everyday surfaces. Get the full directions at Hip2Save.
6. Steam away microwave mess.
Fill a microwave safe bowl with half water and half vinegar and heat for about four minutes. Carefully remove the bowl and clean with a rag. This will steam any food stains making the microwave easier to clean.
7. Disinfect a wood cutting board.
Vinegar can easily disinfect a wood cutting board simply by wiping it down with a rag dipped in white vinegar. If the cutting board has a sour smell, you can also put baking soda on the cutting board first, then rub with vinegar. After completely dry, I like to use mineral oil on wood cutting boards to keep them from cracking or drying out.
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.
9. Make homemade swimmer’s ear drops.
Did you know you can make Homemade Swimmer’s Ear Drops using vinegar and rubbing alcohol? This tip could come in handy during the summer and is SO much more affordable than purchasing at the store. You can find detailed directions as well as a video at Hip2Save.
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 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.
