That bottle of apple cider vinegar in your pantry does more than just make a great salad dressing and help with weight loss. It’s a surprisingly effective and affordable cleaner for numerous spots around your home. Its natural acidity cuts through grease and grime, making it a handy alternative to harsh chemicals.
Here is a guide that will walk you through six practical ways to use apple cider vinegar for cleaning, from tackling stubborn pet stains to making your glassware sparkle. Prepare to see this humble pantry staple in a new light.
1. Refresh Your Microwave
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Microwaves have a knack for collecting splatters and stuck-on food. Instead of scrubbing relentlessly, you can use steam to do the heavy lifting. The acidic vapor from heated apple cider vinegar helps loosen all that baked-on gunk, making it simple to wipe away without intense effort.
To clean your microwave, combine a half-cup of apple cider vinegar and a half-cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl inside and heat it on high for a few minutes until the mixture boils and the window steams up. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the steam to work. Then, carefully remove the bowl and wipe the interior clean with a sponge or cloth.
2. Brighten Your Laundry
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Adding a fabric softener to your laundry can leave a residue on clothes and reduce the absorbency of towels. Apple cider vinegar offers a natural alternative that softens fabrics, helps remove soap buildup, and can even brighten your whites and colors. Its acetic acid gently dissolves the mineral deposits from hard water, leaving your clothes feeling softer.
For a softer, fresher load of laundry, add a half-cup of apple cider vinegar to your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser during the final rinse cycle. The vinegar smell will dissipate completely as the clothes dry, so there’s no need to worry about a lingering scent.
3. Deodorize the Garbage Disposal
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A garbage disposal can quickly become a source of unpleasant kitchen odors. Food particles get trapped and build up, creating a less-than-fresh smell. The combination of apple cider vinegar’s deodorizing properties and baking soda’s gentle abrasive action creates a fizzing reaction that cleans the disposal’s blades and washes away smelly residue.
Pour a half-cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of apple cider vinegar. Let the mixture foam and work for about ten to fifteen minutes. Finish by flushing the disposal with hot water for a minute to clear everything out. For an extra fresh scent, you can grind up a few citrus peels afterward.
4. Make Glass and Mirrors Shine
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Commercial glass cleaners can contain ammonia and other strong chemicals. For a streak-free shine using a more natural solution, diluted apple cider vinegar is an excellent choice. The acid in the vinegar works to break down water spots and film that can cloud glass surfaces, leaving behind a clear, polished finish.
Create your own glass cleaner by mixing equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution directly onto mirrors, windows, or glass tabletops. Wipe it away with a clean, lint-free cloth or a squeegee for a perfectly clear surface without any streaks.
5. Clean the Toilet Bowl
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Cleaning the toilet is nobody’s favorite chore, but apple cider vinegar can make it easier and more effective. Its acidic nature helps to disinfect and break down rings and mineral stains that can form in the bowl. Letting it sit gives the acid time to work on the buildup, reducing the amount of scrubbing needed.
Pour a cup or two of apple cider vinegar directly into the toilet bowl and let it sit for several hours, or even overnight, for tougher stains. Afterward, sprinkle some baking soda into the bowl, scrub with a toilet brush, and flush. The result is a cleaner, deodorized toilet.
6. Address Pet Accidents on Rugs
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Even the best-trained pets can have an occasional accident. When this happens on a rug or carpet, the priority is to clean the stain and neutralize the odor to prevent your pet from returning to the same spot. Apple cider vinegar is effective at neutralizing the ammonia in pet urine, which helps to eliminate the smell rather than just masking it.
First, blot up as much of the liquid as you can with a clean towel. Then, mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and spray the solution onto the affected area. Let it sit for a few minutes before gently blotting it again with a clean cloth. It is always a good idea to test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area of your rug first to check for colorfastness.
A Green Way to Clean
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Not everything should be cleaned with vinegar (after all, it’s not a disinfectant), but apple cider vinegar wears a lot of hats, and frankly, it pulls them all off. After you’ve tried it in these six spots, set aside a small spray bottle and mix up your own all-purpose solution for quick messes; on counters, in the fridge, or anywhere else life throws a sticky curveball.
If you notice your cleaning products creeping into every cabinet, ask yourself if apple cider vinegar could tag in instead. With a little curiosity and a jug of this pantry staple, you just might whittle down your cleaning shelf and your stress at the same time.