Vinegar is a must-have item in your pantry. But this common kitchen ingredient is good for so much more than cooking.
From disinfecting your kitchen utensils to unclogging your drain, plain white vinegar can solve a variety of household problems.
These 10 amazing uses for vinegar around the house will have you running to the store to buy a gallon this afternoon.
Remove Odors
Vinegar is like a magnet for bad odors, so using the liquid to remove odors throughout your home is a great idea.
Simply dilute the vinegar with water (around 1 tablespoon of vinegar for every 2 cups of water) and spray the fabrics, upholstery, and carpets throughout your home to instantly freshen up the room.
Get Rid of Calcium Buildup
Calcium buildup can cause your shower to quickly lose water pressure. To remedy the problem, pour some vinegar into a large plastic bag and secure the bag around your shower head.
Let the shower-head soak in the vinegar for a few hours, then remove the bag and wipe the shower-head clean to easily remove hard water buildup.
Disinfect a Cutting Board
Your cutting board can get grimy fast. Easily remove bacteria by pouring vinegar directly onto the cutting board and wiping it with a clean sponge.
Clean Your Mirrors
Vinegar is great for cleaning glass surfaces without leaving streaks. Just pour the vinegar into a spray bottle with water. Then spray the mirror and wipe with a lint-free cloth.
Remove Mildew Smell from Clothing
If you accidentally left a load of clothes sitting in the washing machine for too long, vinegar can help.
Simply add a cup of vinegar to the load along with your regular detergent to instantly remove the mildew smell from the forgotten load of laundry.
Shine Stainless Steel
Stainless steel can be difficult to clean, but vinegar always does the trick. To clean your stainless steel appliances, spray full-strength vinegar on the stainless steel and buff the appliance with a lint-free cloth until it shines.
Clean Your Coffee Maker
Vinegar is also great for descaling your coffee maker. And it works for both traditional coffee makers and Keurig brewers.
Just run a pot of vinegar through the machine as though you’re brewing a pot of coffee to remove mold and bacteria from the coffee maker.
Clean Produce
Produce can come with a lot of germs and bacteria when you bring it home from the store.
To naturally disinfect your produce before you eat it, let it soak in a bath of vinegar and water. After a short soak, quickly rinse your fruits and vegetables with cold water and they’re ready to eat.
Unclog a Drain
Forget pouring harmful chemicals down the drain the next time your bathtub gets clogged.
Instead, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to soak for around 30 minutes, then rinse the drain with a gallon of boiling water.
Get Rid of Mildew
Mildew stains are difficult to tackle, but not with vinegar. Spray full-strength vinegar on a mildew stain and scrub the stain away.
What’s your best tip for using white vinegar in your home, or anywhere?