How To Clean Naturally With Vinegar

It doesn’t taste very good, and the smell is even worse, but vinegar can be quite useful when it comes to cleaning. It’s a common item found in most household cupboards, so most of us already have some on hand.  Beyond uses for cooking like salad dressings, poached eggs or to tenderize meats, you’ll find that vinegar can be quite handy as a replacement for many common cleaners you’re using right now.

Vinegar is an effective product that’ll clean many messes on a variety of surfaces, without the use of harsh chemicals. It’s an inexpensive option that can clean, deodorize and disinfect just as well as traditional cleaners in many cases, but without any risk to the environment or your health. Vinegar is not a miracle substance that can clean everything perfectly, but it will produce outstanding results for a wide variety of uses.

It can be a great product to try when you don’t have anything else suitable, and it is one of the most simple and natural cleaners available. So weather you’re in a pinch because you don’t know what to use, or you just want to try something without dangerous ingredients, give vinegar a try before you run out to the store to buy something new.

What Is Vinegar Anyway?

Well, according to wikipedia, vinegar is essentially just a liquid substance that contains mostly acetic acid and water. The acid comes from fermenting ethanol with the use of acetic acid bacteria, and that is mixed with water to form the familiar vinegar substance.

In commonly used versions, the fermentation process will be relatively slow, and it will last for weeks or months. Once the process is complete, a nontoxic slime composed of acetic acid bacteria will accumulate.

Making Distilled White Vinegar

White vinegar specifically is usually malt based due to the lower cost of procuring the ingredients. Malt vinegar is made by using barley and a process that causes the grain to turn to maltose. An ale is then brewed from the maltose which is then allowed to turn to vinegar.

Malt vinegar has a light brown color. In order to make the white distilled variety we see on store shelves, they will take this malt vinegar and turn it into a colorless solution of about 5%-8% acid in water via the distillation process. The end result is the totally clear, and mildly pungent bottle of liquid we know as vinegar.

Regular White or Apple Cider Brown?

When cleaning with vinegar, you always want to make sure to use the white kind that has been distilled. More natural, unfiltered versions can be better for consumption, but for any type of cleaning, distilled white vinegar has proven to work the best. It has become popular as a household cleaner because it works to remove basic dirt, but it’s also effective for killing mold, mildew, bacteria and germs.

Benefits Of Cleaning With Vinegar

What Can Be Cleaned With Vinegar?

All kinds of stuff really. Because it is essentially just a mild acid, vinegar has many practical uses when cleaning your home. It can be used on floors, walls, furniture, your tub, windows and so much more. It is not fool-proof for any job imaginable, but it is a very effective natural cleaning solution that will produce good to excellent results for a variety of jobs.

Below we will list some of the common ways to use vinegar for cleaning. By following the recommended amounts and directions for use, you can have great results without buying anything fancy at the store, and without using any harsh chemicals.

Vinegar was used more widely some time ago, but over the years people have chosen more toxic cleaners to do the jobs that vinegar works well on. At this point we recognize it as more of a kitchen or food item and less of a tool for cleansing, deodorizing and disinfecting.

Try some of the techniques below, and you may be pleasantly surprised at how effective, simple and easy it can be to clean naturally with vinegar.

Clean Stuff In Your Laundry Room

White distilled vinegar should be a staple in any laundry room because it’s effective for a wide range of tasks. Use it to clean surfaces, or use it right on your clothing. Follow the tips and tricks below to naturally clean fabrics and appliances with vinegar.

1. Clean Your Washing Machine and The Hoses

Because water is never fully drained, and because we use washing machines so frequently, the inside and all of the other places water goes can get dirty, and more importantly, stinky over time. To clean and deodorize your washing machine at the same time, you could go out and buy a fancy product, or you could save money and effort by using vinegar instead.

How To Do It

1. To try this, simply turn your machine on, and set it to a heavy wash cycle.
2. Let your machine fill with water, and then add in one pint of distilled white vinegar.
3. Run the machine with no clothes for a full cycle.
4. This process will clean build-up and remove any musty odors all at once.

2. Decontaminate New Clothes

Do you hate that stiff, sometimes stinky new clothes condition? Do you worry about left over residues and manufacturing chemicals? You can wash new clothes in vinegar prior to wearing them for first time to fix the problem. You’ll eliminate much of the residues to make the clothes safer to wear, and non-irritating to sensitive skin.

How To Do It

1. To try this, just use distilled white vinegar as a laundry additive.
2. Prepare your load of laundry like normal, including detergent.
3. Add 1-2 cups of vinegar into the load, then wash like normal.
4. Clothing should be much softer in comparison.

3. Remove Perspiration Odors and Sweat Stains

Rejuvenate your favorite shirt, or make that gym shirt wearable again. We all sweat from time to time, and most of us don’t smell good when we do. Traditional detergents can have a hard time removing the stains and the smell, but adding a little vinegar into the mix will usually do the trick.

How To Do It

1. Put the effected clothing in a sink to soak overnight.
2. Make sure the water is completely covering it, but not much more than that.
3. Add in a half cup or less of vinegar and let it soak the whole night.
4. The next day, send it through the wash like normal, and you should be left with a much cleaner and more pleasant smelling shirt.
5. If you are concerned about the degree of staining, you could also add some vinegar to the load when you wash.
6. If this doesn’t do the trick, then try something just a bit more powerful.

4. Give Clothes a More Thorough Rinse

Are you concerned with lint and static when washing your clothes? Vinegar can act like a natural alternative to liquid fabric softener. When added to a load, it will soften fabrics, and it will also help to reduce static and the collection of lint on clothing. Adding a small amount of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle can decrease linting by rinsing more of it away, and it will also help to eliminate static.

How To Do It

1. Prepare your laundry like normal, and wash with a regular cycle.
2. During the rinse cycle, add in 1/2 cup of vinegar.
3. If your machine has a fabric softener reservoir then add to that instead.

5. Clean and Disinfect Laundry Room Surfaces

Counter tops and appliance surfaces get dirty over time, and a simple and natural cleaner is the best way to clean them. You don’t need anything powerful for regular wiping down of laundry room surfaces, so why not use a vinegar solution to save money, and keep things simple.

How To Do It

1. To try this, simply mix 1/4 cup of vinegar into 2 cups of warm water.
2. Use a spray bottle to dispense it, and lightly coat any surface.
3. Once coated with cleaner, use a good cleaning cloth to wipe an remove the dirt.
4. The addition of vinegar will help to loosen grime and eliminate germs naturally.

6. Soften and Disinfect Clothing

Great for any load you wash, but also ideal for diapers or people with sensitive skin. Regular old vinegar can replace the toxic fabric softener you are using now. These unnecessarily put chemicals on your clothes which are not great for you to breathe and can be harmful or irritating to your skin. It is a safe additive that is less irritating to skin and has no known side effects.

How To Do It

1. Add in just 1/4 cup to any load you wash to soften fabrics and kill germs.
2. Just wash clothes like normal, but add to the rinse cycle, or add to you machine where the fabric softener goes.

7. Remove Grass Stains or Fruit Juice Stains

This technique can be quite effective if you act fast enough. If you’re too late, or the stain is too tough, then try this more powerful method. These types of stains are tough, so many detergents alone will not do the trick. If you act quickly to pre-treat a grass stain, then vinegar can prevent it from sticking.

How To Do It

1. Dab some right onto the stain to try and work the color out.
2. Most should lift out right there, but some may need washing to completely disappear.
3. You can also soak clothing in a solution of vinegar and water to pre-treat a stain before laundering.

8. Freshen Stinky Clothes Without Washing Them

If you have a piece of clothing that doesn’t look dirty, but does smell like it needs to be washed, then this method might save you some time and/or embarrassment. Simply sprinkle or spray with a spray bottle and then press. This works great for suits and dress shirts.

How To Do It

1. To try it, simply mix a bit of vinegar into a spray bottle with water.
2. Spritz the shirt all over lightly.
3. After that, simply take your iron and press like normal.
4. Your shirt will look refreshed, and the vinegar will take away any musty smell that was there.

Clean Stuff In Your Kitchen

You can use distilled white vinegar to make dressings and marinades, but you can use it when you’re not cooking too. As a cleaning agent, vinegar can often produce results where other options fail, so keep some in your kitchen to make pickles, but then use it to get yourself out of a pickle the next time you have a tough stain to remove. There are many ways to benefit from the use of vinegar for cleaning naturally in your kitchen, but check out the list below to get an idea of what you can use it for.

1. Prevent Spotting on Glassware

Whether hand washing or using the dishwasher, glasses can often dry with unsightly spots on them. You can help prevent spotting by adding in some vinegar each time you wash any glass dishes.

How To Do It

1. To prevent this when washing them by hand, add a 1/2 cup of vinegar to your dishwater prior to washing.
2. To prevents spots on glasses washed in the dishwasher, all you need to do is stick a cup of white vinegar on the bottom rack before you start the cycle. It will mix in as the dishwasher runs to prevent any spotting form occurring.

2. Freshen Drains and the Pipes Below

Because vinegar is such a good deodorizer, it is especially useful for a job like this. If you want to take the yucky smell out of your drain and also clear blockage to keep it free flowing, then use the easy steps that follow.

How To Do It

1. First you will dump in a third cup of baking soda.
2. Follow that up with a cup of white vinegar, and then cover the drain opening completely with a plate or something similar.
3. Let it sit like this for an hour or more, and then flush with cold water.
4. You will wash away minor blockage and build up, and you will eliminate any stale odors.
5. This type of regular maintenance can keep your pipes flowing fast, and prevent stinky odors from forming over time.

3. Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Keep this appliance always clean by doing a simple maintenance routine on a regular basis. The vinegar will get in there to loosen and clean the grime, but it will also help to pull out smells at the same time. If you use it on a regular basis, your garbage disposal will never be stinky or dirty.

How To Do It

1. Once every week, grind up some ice cubes made from water and vinegar.
2. Use and 80/20 blend of mostly vinegar to form the cubes.
3. As you grind, it will clean the interior and deodorize the parts.
4. This process will help your garbage disposal function better and last longer, and will also keep it smelling better.

4. Clean and Disinfect Any Surface

Because it is safe for pretty much any surface in your kitchen, distilled white vinegar is great to use for general cleaning and disinfection. It does not contain anything dangerous unlike other common sprays, so you can feel safe using it to clean where you prepare food. Vinegar is a great natural solution to use with your microfiber cleaning supplies because it’ll be a little more powerful than just water alone, but it’ll still allow you to clean without chemicals.

How To Do It

1. Use a damp sponge or microfiber cloth and wipe down counters appliances, sinks and more.
2. You can apply the vinegar directly to a damp cloth or make up a spray bottle with vinegar diluted into water to spray the surfaces you want to clean directly.
3. When used this way, white distilled vinegar can help to remove dirt and germs more easily.

5. De-grease Surfaces

Cabinets, stove tops, counters and more can get greasy while you’re cooking. If you try to just wipe it up, then in most cases it’ll only smear and spread. You could use some sort of toxic grease cutter, or you could choose a simple solution of mild soap and vinegar to cut through the greasy build up so that it’s easy to wipe away.

How To Do It

1. Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar into 2 cups of hot water.
2. Add in just a little bit of soap and you are good to go.
3. Apply this solution with a good scrubbing cloth or scrub sponge and you’ll be able to cut through and remove the grime more easily.
4. If you have a real mess on your hands, or you have tried vinegar but it did not do the trick, then try Quick n Brite. It is a powerful and natural cleaner that is ideal for grease and oil build up.

6. Disinfect Sponges and Dish Rags

Because it’s not always easy to throw out a sponge until it completely deteriorates, it’s good to have a way to at least kill the germs. It’s difficult to clean anything with an old, germy sponge or rag, and who would want to eat off of a hand washed dish when the sponge used to clean it has been in constant use for months? You can take care of the germs and remove any musty smell by using some vinegar.

How To Do It

1. Soak your rags and sponges over night in a solution of 1/4 cup vinegar for every quart of water.
2. For best results, make sure the water is hot before you begin the soak.

7. Disinfect Cutting Boards

Depending on what you chop up, you’ll need to clean your cutting board thoroughly to avoid contamination, and to ensure cleanliness. Vinegar can be a good tool for this job. When you use it, you’ll remove any dirt or other contaminants and make the board safe for food preparation again

How To Do It

1. To disinfect a cutting board, simply take full strength vinegar and wipe down the board completely.
2. After it is thoroughly cleaned, just let it sit overnight to complete the job.

8. Polish Pots and Pans

The metal on your cookware can dull over time, but a simple technique can make them look more new again. You could use a harsh chemical substance to polish metal pots, but you could also go with a safe and natural alternative.

How To Do It

1. Take some baking soda and mix in some vinegar to form a paste.
2. Use this paste as your polish to remove tarnish and bring back the shine.
3. After polishing rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

9. Remove Stuck Food

The worst part about a good meal is cleaning up afterward. This is especially true when there is stuck-on, or stubborn food involved. We have all encountered crusty leftovers in the pan, and many of us will scrub and scrub trying to remove them. Using vinegar can make this job easy, and help you avoid time scrubbing.

How To Do It

1. A simple soak in half water, half vinegar will do all of the hard work for you.
2. Soak overnight if necessary, and when you go to wash the pan all of the food will wash off easily because the vinegar solution will have broken it down during the soak.
3. Once the food has loosened, simply hand wash or place in the dishwasher for thorough cleaning.

Clean Stuff In Your Bathroom

Vinegar is actually pretty good at removing soap scum and hard water stains, so it ends up being a viable option when cleaning stuff in your bathroom. You’ll be able to avoid the harsh odors and toxic chemicals commonly associated with traditional bathroom cleaning supplies, but also get the job done to your satisfaction. If you’re out of the regular stuff you normally use, or if you’re scratching your head wondering what to use for the job, give distilled white vinegar a shot the next time you clean your tub, sink, shower or floor.

1. Wash Sinks, Bathtubs, and Showers

For general cleaning of these surfaces, vinegar can work great as a natural option. It’ll remove most dirt and grime with ease, so you can use it for most of the normal surface cleaning tasks in your bathroom. For a natural cleaner that is a bit more powerful when it comes to scum and hard water, try Scum Off.

How To Do It

1. When using vinegar for a job like this mix up an 80/20 blend of mostly white vinegar and some water.
2. Spray it on the areas you wish to clean and then let it sit for about 10 minutes.
3. Once it has had time to sit, come back and scrub and then rinse clean.
4. It is safe for pretty much any bathroom surface and can clean most of the dirt you find there.

2. Clean Your Toilet

Cleaning toilets can be a tough job, so you’ll want to use straight vinegar, without any dilution. It may not work as well as the bright blue chemical goo that you normally use, but it can be effective in a pinch, or as an everyday natural alternative.

How To Do It

1. Pour about a half cup of vinegar straight into the bowl and let it sit for an hour or more.
2. After the vinegar sits, just flush the toilet and most standard dirt will wash away.
3. For more stubborn grime, spray directly with vinegar, and use a toilet brush to scrub the area clean.
4. For bad staining you’ll probably have to resort to something else like Quick n Brite, or a traditional toilet cleaning product. When left to sit on any organic staining, Quick N Brite will break it down naturally so it is easy to remove.

3. Clean and Polish Chrome or Stainless Steel

Disinfect and polish all of your bathroom fixtures using straight white vinegar. Not only will vinegar clean any dirt on the surface, it will also act as a natural polish to make chrome and other metal surfaces shine.

How To Do It

1. Apply it all over with a sponge and then buff clean with a polishing cloth or other good quality microfiber cloth.
2. You can apply the vinegar to the cloth or sponge, or you can spray it right on the surface.
3. This process will disinfect, clean water spots and leave your fixtures looking shiny and newer.

4. Disinfect Garbage Cans and Other Surfaces

To remove germs from the can between bag changes, use a warm water and vinegar solution. It’ll get rid of dirt and germs, but it’ll also help to neutralize odors at the same time. With regular cleanings, vinegar can keep your trash can looking and smelling good.

How To Do It

1. To try it, mix a solution of vinegar and water, or use full strength vinegar.
2. Spray it on, or apply it with a cloth, sponge or brush.
3. Wash down the whole interior and then let it dry for an hour or more.
4. You can use it on metal or plastic cans, and it will clean dirt as it neutralizes the germs.

5. Clean Shower Curtains

Remove spotting and soap scum and prevent mold growth by washing your shower curtain with vinegar. You can do a general washing in your washing machine, or you can spot clean while it hangs.

How To Do It

1. To clean a shower curtain in your washing machine, simply put it through the rinse cycle and add in some vinegar, about 1-2 cups.
2. You can also use a 50/50 solution as a maintenance spray.
3. Keep it in the shower and spray down curtains and walls to prevent mold and mildew growth between cleanings.

Clean Walls and Floors With Vinegar

It can be difficult to chose a cleaner and technique for washing walls and floors. You want to use something powerful enough to do the job, but gentle enough to avoid damage. Distilled white vinegar is a great option when cleaning any type of wall or floor surface because there is no risk of damage, and it is sure to do a decent job at cleaning.

1. Mopping Floors

Avoid stinky cleaners and harsh chemicals when you use vinegar to mop your floors. It will clean dirt naturally, and it won’t require extra effort on your part.

How To Do It

1. Use a PVA Mop and a solution of 1 cup of vinegar in a bucket of warm water, or use a microfiber mop and spray on a 50/50 – 80/20 solution of vinegar and water directly to the pad.
2. It will clean common dirt and stains, but also remove residues left by other harsh floor cleaners.
3. The PVA mop offers a higher volume of liquid style mopping technique, so it is good for tile linoleum and concrete.
4. A microfiber mop allows you to clean with very little liquid, so it can be better for hardwood and marble.
5. Either tool will work on all flooring surfaces, so it really comes down to preference as far as which one would be better for you.

2. Removing Stains From Carpeting

Vinegar will work for light stains on carpet and fabrics. You don’t need a special stain stick to get every spot out. For most stuff you can use vinegar and it’ll be much more safe in comparison. Get the stain out without any risk to your clothing or carpet.

For really tough staining, try Quick N Brite because it has proven to work well on just about everything, and it is safe to use on any type or color of carpeting.

How To Do It

1. When using vinegar for a stain on carpet mix a paste with 2 Tbsps. salt and half a cup of white vinegar.
2. Rub the paste into the stain and then let it dry completely.
3. Once dry, go over the area with a vacuum and suck up the dried paste along with the stain.

3. Clean Vinyl Surfaces

Many floors and walls are coated with vinyl in some way. It may be floor tiles, siding on the exterior, or wall decor on the inside. No matter what the exact surface is, you can safely and naturally clean it with vinegar.

How To Do It

1. Wipe them down with 2 Tbsp. liquid soap and 1/2 cup white vinegar.
2. After wiping, rinse thoroughly and let dry.

4. Clean Windows and Mirrors

Clean windows, mirrors and shower doors with this same technique. Ditch the blue stuff for a 50/50 vinegar water solution.

How To Do It

1. Mix together your solution. Use a max concentration of 50/50 water to vinegar, and reduce the amount of vinegar if you end up with streaks.
2. Simply spray down the area and then wipe clean using a squeegee or microfiber cloth.
3. For an even easier method, try just using a window cloth and there is no spray solution needed.

5. Wipe Down Dirty Walls

It can be painted drywall, tile, wood, metal or any other material. It’s safe to wipe away dirt, smudges and fingerprints on walls with a cleaner made from vinegar. You’ll want to combine it with a high quality microfiber cloth for best results, but when you do, you’ll be able to clean and disinfect any wall with ease.

1. Dilute vinegar into a spray bottle with water, or soak a cloth with vinegar and water.
2. Make sure to use a high quality microfiber cloth.
3. Wipe any dirty surface to loosen and lift the dirt.
4. The cloth an vinegar combo is gentle enough for any wall, but also very effective at removing the build-up.

Clean Wood Furniture With Vinegar

Wood furniture can get damaged by certain cleaning products, so it’s important to use something that is safe. Distilled white vinegar offers a good option for this surface because it’ll never harm the wood, or remove any finish. You can get the surface clean without any risk or harm, so there will be no scratching, staining, discoloration or any other problem.

1. Clean and Rejuvenate

Remove any dirt and body oils, but never cause any damage. Vinegar is a good option to naturally clean wood furniture, so give it a try instead of using expensive sprays that are made specific for the job. Take the haze out of wood furniture and clean and polish it at the same time.

How To Do It

1. Mix 1 Tbsp of vinegar into a quart of warm water to use as your cleanser.
2. Apply to any wood surface and then buff with a good cloth.
3. A polishing cloth can make the job easier and also allow for better results.

2. Remove Minor Scratches

You can actually make tiny scratches disappear if you try a natural solution that contains vinegar. It won’t work for deep marks or large areas, but more minor scratching it can certainly help.

How To Do It

1. To take out slight scratching or white rings, use a combination of olive oil and vinegar, or try just olive oil alone.
2. Simply work it into the the scratched area with a good cloth.
3. Use a sort of buffing action to work the area and remove most of the solution.
4. After that, just let dry.

Clean Stuff Outdoors With Vinegar

When cleaning stuff outside, most of us are less likely to think about using an Eco-Friendly option, but when you think about it, the outdoors may be the most important place to use one. If you want to avoid harsh chemicals washing away into your yard, then you may want to consider vinegar as a cleaning agent the next time you’re cleaning something outside your home.

1. Clean Used Paint Brushes

After painting it can be hard to clean the brushes and remove all of the leftover paint. If allowed to dry on, it will leave the brush useless so you won’t be able to use it for your next project. When cleaning brushes with vinegar, it will remove all of the paint, and also the odor.

How To Do It

1. To prepare, heat some vinegar on your stove top.
2. To clean, simply soak the dirty brushes in boiling straight vinegar.
3. One clean, take them out, rinse with plain water and allow to dry.

2. Wash Your Car

You can wash almost every surface of your vehicle safely and effectively with vinegar. It can be used inside and out to gently remove dirt without any risk.

How To Do It

1. Dissolve bumper stickers and other decals by applying straight white vinegar. It will take off the picture and also the sticky residue underneath.
2. To prevent windows from frosting up, use a 50/50 vinegar water solution and coat them with it. Wipe it off to clean your windows and also leave them protected from severe frosting conditions.
3. Use an all-purpose spray to clean interior surfaces. Just spray on and wipe clean.

These are just some of the great ways you can start cleaning naturally with vinegar. It’s not the most powerful cleaner out there, but it is quite effective for many tasks, and it’s about the cheapest and most simple solution available.

By mastering the techniques above, you’ll begin to discover other similar ways that you can use vinegar to clean other stuff. Instead of using harsh chemicals to clean your home, and before you reach for that stuff you’ve always used just because you’ve always used it, give white distilled vinegar a try. It is an all natural cleaning product that most of us have around the house already, but very few use for actual cleaning. When using it as a cleaning agent, you’ll find that vinegar works great for certain things, but less so for others.

Did you try this cleaning technique? If you had good or bad results when cleaning naturally with vinegar, please share your results in the comments section below.

Have a better way to clean naturally? Please share with the class. Add a comment below to share any other way that works well, and also reduces the use of harsh chemicals.

If you are interested in other Eco-friendly cleaning tools and techniques then check out all of our Good Stuff For Cleaning.

Tip Contents

• What is vinegar?
• Benefits of Cleaning With Vinegar
• Downside To Cleaning With Vinegar
• Supercharge Your Cleaning Solution
• Cleaning With Vinegar In The Laundry Room
• Cleaning With Vinegar In The Kitchen
• Cleaning With Vinegar In The Bathroom
• Clean Walls And Floors With Vinegar
• Clean Furniture With Vinegar
• Cleaning Stuff Outside With Vinegar