Eco-Home Vinegar Cleaning Recipes

Posted on by Alexis Brunner

Vinegar is cost-effective and eco-friendly

Vinegar is a very versatile product to have around the home. I don’t think I could go without having it in my house. When it comes to culinary uses, I tend to favor apple cider vinegar for its probiotic benefits or red wine vinegar. But white distilled vinegar is used all around my house. Of course, the smell of vinegar can be strong, but the scent will dissipate as it dries and it’s a heck of a lot better than using and smelling bleach. White distilled vinegar is readily available, very affordable, and safe.

Vinegar has a pH of around 2.5 and is effective at dissolving grime and mineral deposits. I prefer to use full-strength vinegar, so I keep a spray bottle filled with pure white vinegar in my kitchen ready to go anytime I need it, but you can also do a 50/50 or 75/25 vinegar to distilled water mixture. I have been using vinegar around my house for 15+ years. Before my last child was born, I was a certified dental assistant, so I am in the habit of the double wipe method which is what we were taught in school. But instead of using the very strong dental office disinfectant wipes, I use plain soap and water to wipe down all my countertops and surfaces and then I go in again with the vinegar spray. I’m also very conscious of cross-contamination and I naturally take precautions to avoid cross-contamination. Some people call it germaphobic, but I call it common sense. If you are really concerned about something then another method is to clean the area with vinegar and then spray 3% hydrogen peroxide and allow it to air dry. Rubbing alcohol is great too provided it won’t be coming in contact with food. Now back to what I love about vinegar!

If you don’t love the “fresh” scent of vinegar as much as I do, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your vinegar mix! Lemon and orange essential oils are particularly great for cutting grease and sticky residue.

All-Purpose Cleaner – Great for most surfaces (see below for surfaces to avoid)

Add it to your spray bottle, and label it so you don’t forget what it is. Feel free to size up the recipe. You can also do straight white vinegar without adding water to it if you prefer.

Disinfectant Spray – Great for bathrooms, door knobs, windows, mirrors etc.

  • 1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol
  • 1/2 cup Vinegar, white distilled

Add it to your spray bottle, and label it.

Other Vinegar Uses:

  • Vinegar can be used to clean most surfaces, but avoid use on natural stone such as marble, quartz, and granite, as well as waxed floors, electronics, rubber gaskets, and hoses.
  • Clean your wood cutting boards – Spray undiluted white vinegar on and let it sit for up to 5 minutes ( no more) and wipe off with a clean damp cloth.
  • Clean your drains – Pour 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda down your sink drains followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Once the foaming and bubbling have stopped run hot water down the drain.
  • Spray your kitchen sink with vinegar once you’re done cleaning up.
  • Wash/Mop your floors – Add 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 gallon of hot water.
  • Deodorize your kitchen after cooking – Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to a small pot of water and bring to a simmer on your stovetop. The vinegar will help to neutralize some of those lingering odors leftover from cooking. Add a piece of lemon to it for some extra scent.
  • Deodorize your carpets – Add a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to a spray bottle and spritz onto your carpets.
  • Clean your carpets – Add a 50/50 mixture of vinegar to your carpet cleaning machine along with a couple of drops of soap.
  • Remove soap scum from your bathtub – Spray around your bathtub to help remove soap scum and hard water deposits. If you need some extra scrubbing power sprinkle a baking soda and salt mixture around your tub and scrub/wipe clean.
  • Laundry Odors – Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine to help eliminate stubborn odors. Vinegar helps to remove product buildup that can trap odor. (Avoid using vinegar with wool or silk).
  • Fabric softener – Vinegar has natural fabric-softening properties. Like above, just add it to your rinse cycle or fabric softener department of your washing machine. This will help to soften laundry and reduce static and lint.
  • Remove wood stains (such as cup rings) – Mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil. Using a microfiber cloth rub it into the stained area.
  • Flower Reviver – Add 2 Tbsp of vinegar and 2 Tbsp of sugar to fresh-cut flowers to extend their beauty.
  • Silverware Tarnish/Jewelry Tarnish – Soak your items in 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 Tbsp baking soda.
  • Hair Rinse – 1-2 Tbsp of vinegar mixed with 1 cup of water once a week makes a great hair rinse for resetting the pH of your scalp and for removing the build-up of products and hard water mineral build-up in your hair. Rinse your hair with fresh water afterward. It will also leave your hair extra shiny.

Peroxide

You can also use peroxide to clean. Use vinegar and peroxide one after another when cleaning things like cutting boards where you were cutting up raw meat. Use the vinegar first and leave it on for 5-30 seconds before rinsing and then spray on the 3% hydrogen peroxide and let air dry. I often lay a piece of parchment paper on my cutting board or countertop when cutting raw meat to make cleanup extra easy.

NOTES:

NEVER mix vinegar and chlorine bleach together. When mixed together they create harmful and dangerous fumes.