How to Clean with Vinegar

I was doing a year-end review of my site and noticed I have a lot of cleaning tips articles. I also noticed that I do a lot of cleaning with vinegar. I love it and it’s all natural and can clean just about anything! There are still going to be occasions where the professional carpet cleaning services of someone like ServiceMaster of Lake Shore will be needed. So, I thought I’d put together a master guide for how to clean with vinegar including floors, every room in the house, and even your car.

Cleaning Your Floor with Vinegar

First let’s start with some DIY Cleaners with vinegar including a floor cleaner and carpet cleaner. These two recipes are great because they are pet safe and work great for removing tough pet stains.

DIY Floor Cleaner

You Will Need:

• Spray Bottle
• Water
• Vinegar
• Essential Oils (optional)
• Paper Towels

Instructions:

Fill a spray bottle with 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oils. Spray the soiled area and wipe clean with paper towels.

Carpet Cleaner

You Will Need:

• White Vinegar
• Spray Bottle
• Paper Towels
• Baking soda
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions:

If the stain is still wet blot the spot as dry as possible with a paper towel. Next, put white vinegar in a spray bottle and completely saturate the stain. If the spot is new, leave the vinegar on for a few minutes and then blot it with a clean paper towel. If the stain is old, let the vinegar set on the stain for an hour or two.

Once you have blotted the stain with a paper towel, allow it to dry. Once it is dry, sprinkle baking soda on the stain and vacuum it. The baking soda will get rid of the smell!

How to Spot Clean an Area Rug

I have detail instructions on how to clean an area rug, but if you just need to do some spot cleaning here is how you do it. Always read the tags and consult care instructions before cleaning. For any cleaning products, test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t damage your rug. I find it best to thoroughly vacuum and then spot clean. To spot clean, I have found that a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and a quart of water works well as a cleaner. Use a toothbrush to gently and lightly apply and then blot it dry with a clean cloth or towel. Use the pressure of your hand when blotting but don’t scrub it dry. An alternative to soapy water is to spray the stain with a solution of 50/50 water and vinegar. Again, blot to dry.

Cleaning the Bathroom with Vinegar

One of my contributors, T, wrote a great article titled Clever All Natural Spring Cleaning Tips. In it, she mentions how to clean your bathroom with vinegar. You can use vinegar to disinfect bathroom fixtures, remove soap scum on shower curtains, scrub grout, and clean your toilet. To clean your shower and tub, make a mixture of 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar and then spray the doors. Let set for-5 minutes then wipe clean.

Cleaning the Kitchen with Vinegar

I wrote an article on Kitchen Cleaning Tips with vinegar. I share how to use vinegar as a deodorizer, how to clean your kitchen appliances including the inside of your dishwasher, and how to clean (and what not to clean with vinegar) kitchen surfaces and countertops.

One of my favorite tips was how to clean your utensils. Vinegar can be used for both eating and cooking utensils. To clean your flatware, soak them in vinegar to return their natural luster and shine. To clean cooking utensils, soak an old toothbrush in vinegar and scrub can openers, cheese graters, and more. Rinse them with water and dry them completely.

Cleaning in the Laundry Room with Vinegar

Vinegar can be used to whiten towels, brighten dish towels, and clean your washing machine! These three laundry tips for cleaning with vinegar are simple and take little time. Spray vinegar on the soiled area of your white towels. Wash your towels in a normal cycle with detergent.

To clean soiled dish towels, boil a large pot of water and add one cup of vinegar. Drop in your dishcloths using a wooden spoon to ensure they are covered. Turn off the burner and allow the towels to soak overnight. The next day, wash and dry the towels on a regular cycle.

To clean your washing machine, Mix a quarter cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of water together in a small bowl until combined. Pour your mixture in your dispenser and then pour one cup of vinegar directly into the drum. Run one cycle at the hottest temperature.

Cleaning the Inside of a Bottle

As a trash to treasure hunter, tips like this one is a must to know! My contributor, T found this amazing old 5-gallon jug on one of her hunts and wanted to repurpose it. It had been sitting outdoors for 30 years! Needless to say, the inside needed a good cleaning.

She started by filling the bottle with vinegar and water and let it soak for 2 weeks. That worked to remove the dirt, but the caked-on grime inside just wouldn’t budge. That’s when she added one cup of dry rice, one cup of vinegar and filled half the bottle with water. Her husband then shook the bottle for about 15 minutes to allow the rice to “scrub” the sides of the bottle. The water/rice/vinegar combination worked and scrubbed the inside successfully. After a final rinse with clean water, she air dried the bottle for about a week. You have to see her before and after!

Cleaning your Car with Vinegar

Lastly, let’s move outside to clean your car with vinegar. You can use it to not only clean windows and your windshield, headlights and mirrors, but also to clean your upholstery. Using a cotton swab, you can use vinegar to clean hard to reach crevices on your dashboard and cup holders. Clean your windshield wipers with vinegar as well. Cup your windshield wiper with a clean cloth and spray vinegar onto the windshield wiper or spray directly on the blade. Gently clean the blades working up and down.

In case you missed it, check out my article on Clever Uses for Vinegar in the Garden!

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