Here are 26 amazing vinegar cleaning hacks that are going to save you time, money, and your sanity without breaking the bank, all while avoiding harmful chemicals.
Vinegar is one of my favorite go to cleaning products. It may not smell good, but I am always blown away by what a great job it does at cleaning. It's easy to find and seems to work just as as good as expensive cleaners, without the price tag.
Some of these great hacks have now become a part of my regular cleaning routine. Please note, all of the uses of vinegar we have listed refer to white distilled vinegar and not apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains tannins that can stain, whereas white does not.
Vinegar is a fantastic disinfectant (because of the acetic acid), it can deodorize, plus it cuts through grease. You can use it to get rid of hard water, wax on clothes, even weeds!
Don't worry, even if you don't like the smell of vinegar, you can still use these tricks. Normally the smell doesn't linger once you are finished cleaning.
The Ultimate List of Vinegar Cleaning Hacks
Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
If you are looking for an all purpose cleaner this lemon vinegar solution is the one for you. I love to let vinegar and lemons soak for two to three weeks. Then you can mix the vinegar solution with warm water and start cleaning. Don't worry, the citrus smell takes away the vinegary odor so the area smells nice too.
Jewelry Cleaner
Vinegar works wonders for jewelry. I just let my rings soak in this homemade jewelry cleaner for about 10 minutes and then wash them off. They look so new and sparkly when I am finished.
Clarifying Hair
Some people swear by using vinegar as their shampoo every day. I like to use it once every couple of months as a clarifying treatment. My hair looks much shinier, and I can really tell a difference. I recommend using equal parts water and white vinegar, then pouring it over your head. I only let it sit for a minute or two before washing it out. It removes out all the buildup that clings to your hair.
Fabric Softener
Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. It will make your clothes so much softer and you won’t need to use the dryer sheets. If you are concerned about the smell in your clothes, you can try this simple DIY fabric softener that uses essential oils. I figured this hack out when I wanted to use more natural products to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals we were exposing ourselves to.
Floor Cleaner
Vinegar can be a fantastic floor cleaner, especially on tile floors and vinyl. Not only does it disinfect, but it also helps to loosen up grease and grime. This homemade floor cleaner does a great job and super simple to make. I would avoid using this mixture on hardwoods. See how we care for our hardwood floors instead of using white distilled vinegar.
Clean A Diffuser
Have you noticed your diffuser isn't working as well as it once was? See how to clean a diffuser. It's a quick fix and you'll only need a few common household supplies.
Get Rid Of Odors
If you have a room with bad odors, vinegar makes a great deodorizer. Pour a cup of white vinegar in a small bowl. Let it sit for a couple of hours and poof! The smell is gone. You can also use a drop or two of lemon juice to make the area smell even better.
Clean Shower Doors
I hate dirty shower doors, but I hate scrubbing things even more! I was so excited when I discovered this no-scrub way to clean your shower door with vinegar. It takes some time but is an easy way to remove the mineral deposits and soap scum with zero scrubbing.
Sweaty Clothes
Tired of clothes that smell like sweat even after washing them? Try this simple tip to get the sweat smell out of clothes. It works great on my teenager's sweaty workout clothes!
Get Out Wax
If you ever end up with wax on your clothes vinegar, dish soap, and hot water can get it out. I couldn’t believe it, plus it only takes 1/2 cup of vinegar. You can see how to get wax out of your clothes here.
Clean A Shower Curtain
If you have mold or mildew on a shower curtain this easy cleaning hack is the perfect solution. Check out how to clean a vinyl shower curtain with vinegar and laundry detergent. The best part is you can do it in a washing machine so you don't make a big mess!
Clean Front Load Machine
My sister was dealing with a smelly washing machine that left her clothes smelling funky too. I was so excited when I learned this easy tip on how to clean a front load washer. I was amazed at the difference it made. Vinegar really helped get rid of the mold and mildew to get it smelling great again.
DIY Weed Killer
Ok, it may not be one of the best cleaning hacks because it doesn't really clean, but vinegar works great as a DIY weed killer. You'll need 2 cups of vinegar for the recipe. Make sure you don’t get it on a plant or grass that you don’t want to kill. It will easily kill off the grass. I like to use it for the driveway and sidewalk cracks.
Clean Toilet
We have really hard water where I live, luckily I have realized that vinegar is a lifesaver when it comes to dealing with hard water. You can easily remove hard water stains from the toilet bowl. Don't forget your rubber gloves! I mean who wants to clean the toilet without those.
Glass Cleaner
Instead of using Windex you can make your own homemade glass cleaner. Add to a spray bottle, apply it on the windows and wipe them off with a microfiber cloth. Your windows are sparkly and clean.
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Remove Hard Water
Similar to removing stains from the toilet is a trick to remove hard water stains from glasses. I love this easy vinegar cleaning hack and use it frequently. To remove coffee stains, use this 2 ingredient cleaning solution.
Wash Produce
The house isn't the only thing that needs cleaning. You also should clean your produce. It only takes a few minutes and gets off any dirt or grime from your fruits and veggies.
Clean Smelly Water Bottles
Left something in your water bottle and can't figure out what to do? Check out how to clean smelly water bottles. The vinegar helps get rid of any of the smell in the water bottle. It's easy and will save you money.
Clean Shower Head
If you have hard water on your faucet or shower head, you can easily remove hard water from the shower head or faucet with vinegar. It is easy and you will get much better water pressure once you are finished.
Remove Mildew
Maybe it's because I have a swimmer, but this tip to remove mildew smell from clothes is one of my favorite hacks. I am constantly using this mixture on towels and clothes that set for too long in the locker room. You'll need full-strength vinegar, smelly clothes, and run them through a wash cycle.
Get Rid of Carpet Stains
Blot the stain first using a paper towel. Mix up a solution using 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water, and a few drops of grease-fighting dish soap in a bottle. Spray the stain so it's damp but not soaked. Let it sit for a few minutes. Blot again with a clean towel. Continue blotting until the stain looks like it is gone. Use a cup of water in a different spray bottle to remove the rest of the vinegar residue and smell.
Remove Limescale From Faucets
All you'll need to get rid of that nasty limescale is a plastic bag, lint-free cloth, a clip (or rubber band), and straight vinegar. This DIY cleaner works wonders with very little scrubbing.
Clean A Keurig Coffee Maker
Keurigs are awesome for making a great cup of coffee quick. Unfortunately, they often need to be cleaned. This is a great way to save some money too. The name brand descaler for coffee makers can be expensive! See how I clean my Keurig.
Clean A Clogged Drain
Clogged drain? Try vinegar and baking soda as a DIY drain cleaner. It's easy and you most likely have everything you need at home. No special trip to the store and you don't have to worry with using harmful chemicals.
Clean Your Windows
I love shiny & clean windows. One trick I have learned is to clean your windows from the outside. This easy vinegar cleaning hack will get your windows spotless looking in no time.
Clean The Washing Machine
Although you don't need to clean a top load machine as often, you still do need to occasionally clean the washing machine. Vinegar will help get rid of the bad smell that gets trapped in the gaskets. Once you are finished just wipe down the door and the seal with a clean cloth. We use this simple trick on a monthly basis.
Clean The Microwave
If I don't regularly clean the microwave it becomes a nasty mess. Food stuck all over the walls. Clean the microwave using this simple mixture. I have found this is one of the easiest ways because you don't to do alot of scrubbing. Plus, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make it smell extra nice.
You will find that with a little bit of vinegar you can clean a lot of things! It's one of the best ways we have found to cut down on buying cleaning supplies and avoiding some of the harsh chemicals.
I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite vinegar cleaning hacks. There are so many great ways to use vinegar around the house. Which are your favorite?
Adil says
Really admirable post of vinegar cleaning hacks. I never thought that vinegar can be used to clean so many things at home. I am surely going to try these practical vinegar cleaning hacks next time. Thank you for sharing great post.
Lyndia Mitchell says
I have recently used it for two other things. Remove rust from garden tools, an old set of horse shoes and the bolts on the trailer hitch. Soaked some in a bucket and used a paper towel soaked in vinegar on the pieces too large. The other was to remove the brassy finish from door hinges. After soaking them the brassy finish came off and they now are a nice silver color.
Julie says
Thanks for sharing! I have used lemon juice to remove rust stains but never vinegar. I will have to try vinegar next time. Thanks!