I have a love-hate relationship with vinegar. I hate how it smells and hate how it smells. And yet, I love to clean with it because of its versatility. Today I’m sharing my favorite cleaning tips with vinegar because this pungent liquid packs a lot of punch.

Did you know one gallon of vinegar can basically replace up to 50 different types of cleaners without any of the harsh chemicals? That means you can save a lot of money by switching to vinegar. Since you’ll be replacing a bunch of chemical-filled products you’ll be creating a healthier home too.

Along the way, I recommend a few other products that help the vinegar work better but all are inexpensive as well. Now, let’s put on that apron and get cleaning.

12 Cleaning Tips with Vinegar

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. )

1. Stainless steel appliance cleaner 

I take a clean rag, pour some vinegar on it, and buff my appliances sparkling clean. Try it. It’s pure sparkling magic.

2. Fabric softener

If your towels are starting to feel dingy and a little hard, run a load of laundry with half of a cup of vinegar to fluff them back up again. (I also use wool dryer balls instead of regular chemical-filled dryer sheets.) Make sure to also check out my seriously simple laundry hacks to make life a little simpler.

3. Microwave cleaner.

Pick up an Angry Mama, fill it with water, two tablespoons of vinegar, and lemon essential oil, and pop it in the microwave for 7 minutes. Simply wipe down your microwave when it’s done!

If you don’t want to buy an angry mama, you can just use a small glass bowl instead but she puts a smile on my face every time I use her. Plus, whether you love him or hate him, I hear these Angry Trump microwave cleaners are a big hit too. 😉

4. Deep clean the fridge.

Create a mixture of half water, half vinegar, and a few drops of lemon essential oil to wash down your fridge. It’ll smell fresh and clean too.

5. Remove trash can smells.

Spray your trash can with water, vinegar, and lemon essential oil for a fresh clean scent. It’ll also kill those smells created by lingering bacteria.

6. Clean garbage disposal.

Use vinegar and a half of a lemon to clean and deodorize your garbage disposal. I don’t know about you but we throw a lot of crap down there and I love to get rid of it!

Simply freeze a slice of lemon with equal parts water and vinegar. Freeze. Then just toss it down the sink and run your garbage disposal for some lemon freshness.

Don’t forget to check out 8 Ways to go green in your home today

7. Clean carpet stains.

Mix two tablespoons vinegar with 1/4 cup salt or baking soda into a paste. Rub it into the stain and let dry completely. Vacuum the residue the next day.

This has been a godsend for the times my cat pukes on the rug. Plus, I don’t have to scrub it! Just a quick vacuum will do.

8. Make your kitchen faucet sparkle.

Make a paste of one teaspoon vinegar and two tablespoons of salt. Apply it to your sink faucet and handles and rub until sparkling clean.

9. Kill weeds.

(Killing weeds counts as cleaning, right?)

Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and simply spray on stubborn weeds or those cracks in walkways! For heartier weeds, use boiling water instead. Not only does this work pretty well, but it’s kid and pet safe, too!

10. Clean fruits and vegetables.

You could buy that vegetable cleaner from Trader Joe’s OR you could make your own. Fill your kitchen sink with warm water and half of a cup of white vinegar. Stir the fruits or vegetables and allow them to sit for a few minutes. Rinse with water before eating and dry before storing. The vinegar also makes them last longer!

11. Shiny hair rinse.

I use this rinse all the time to remove the product gunk from my hair. Use a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (I only use Bragg’s!) mixed with water and pour it on your hair after shampooing or you can make this concoction that will also lighten your hair a little too.

12. Clean your dishwasher.

When’s the last time you cleaned the dishwasher, right? Even though it cleans your dishes, it needs to be cleaned out itself!

First, remove any leftover food in the dishwasher. Then, pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of it once a month and run it on a full, hot cycle.

Which of these cleaning tips with vinegar are you going to try this week? I think the hair and microwave cleaners are my favorite.

Happy cleaning!

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