10 Household Cleaning Uses for Vinegar

Vinegar is not just for your chips. Distilled (white) vinegar is a powerful weapon in your cleaning solution armoury. Vinegar's natural properties allow you to clean without using harsh chemicals that are bad for you and the environment.

Here are 10 uses for vinegar around the home:

Drains

To avoid blocked drains, treat them every three months with white vinegar. The acid will help to remove any greasy residue in the pipes.

• Pour half a bottle of white vinegar into your drain.

• Let it sit for 10 minutes.

• Pour a pot of boiling water down your drain.

Ballpoint Pen Marks

To remove your children's scribbles from wooden furniture:

• Pour full-strength white vinegar onto a cloth or sponge.

• Dab the vinegar onto the ballpoint mark.

• Repeat until the marks are gone.

Laundry

To kill germs and soften clothes without chemicals:

• One cup of white vinegar will kill the bacteria in your wash load. This is especially ideal for wash loads containing cloth nappies.

• Half a cup of white vinegar in your wash can help prevent fading in your coloured clothes.

• Half a cup of white vinegar can be added to the last rinse of your machine's cycle as a fabric softener.

Toilet

The antibacterial properties of white vinegar make it an excellent natural cleaner for your loo.

• Pour at least one cup of diluted white vinegar into the bowl.

• Let it sit several hours or overnight.

• Scrub well with a toilet brush, and then flush.

Carpet Stains

Vinegar can dissolve stubborn stains on your carpet. Some carpets are more delicate than others, so test the solution on a small, hidden section first.

• Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with ¼ cup of salt or baking soda to create a paste.

• Rub into the stain and leave to dry overnight.

• Vacuum carpet to remove residue.

Water Rings on Furniture

For the marks left by those who never remember to use a coaster:

• Mix equal amounts of olive oil and white vinegar.

• Work the mixture along the grain using a soft cloth.

• Using a clean, soft cloth, shine up the wood.

Destroy Weeds

To get rid of the weeds in the cracks of your drive or walkway:

• Pour white vinegar on the weeds, making sure it reaches the roots.

• Repeat as necessary.

Windows

For a cheap alternative to window cleaner:

• In a spray bottle, mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water.

• Spray onto the window's surface.

• Rub onto the window with a lint-free cloth.

• Wipe the window with a microfibre cloth.

Liven up your Leather Furniture

This mixture will restore the lustre to your leather furniture. As with the carpet solution, test first on a hidden area of your furniture.

• Use a recycled spray bottle to mix the solution of equal parts of boiled linseed oil and white vinegar.

• Shake mixture well, then spray evenly on your leather using a soft cloth.

• Wait a couple of minutes and then wipe off with a clean cloth.  

Microwave

Give your microwave a steam clean using the following solution:

• Fill a glass bowl with a solution of 1 cup of water and a ¼ cup of white vinegar.

• Heat the mixture on the highest setting for five minutes.

• Use the cooled solution and a cloth to wipe away the stubborn stains.