Happy spring cleaning! I have severe asthma caused by allergies; strong-smelling cleaning products and fragrances really bother me so I have to be careful about what I use to clean my home. Vinegar has been used to clean for centuries and really gets the job done! It’s toxic-free and all-natural. I mean, we use vinegar in cooking and baking! It’s great in dressings and acts as a preservative.
I’m still at home social-distancing so keeping my living spaces clean has really been a priority for me. Spring is just around the corner but the weather is a bit too cold yet. So I’m spending these final cooler days doing a deep clean. Yay, spring cleaning!
This post contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase via one of the links, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only link to products that I know and love. Thank you for supporting my blog!
I’ve curated a list of fifty things you can clean today with simple vinegar and water. I use a ratio of 1:1 with distilled white vinegar and distilled water stored in a glass spray bottle*. You can make your own orange peel vinegar spray for a scented all-purpose spray!
This list is as much to give you ideas as to inform you about what things you can safely clean with vinegar. Most materials like plastic, glass, and metal are great to clean with vinegar!
What to clean with vinegar
- Mirrors
- Yes, really! Spray with half vinegar, half water mixture and dry with a rag or microfiber towel. I use Bambooee reusable towels*. I purchased 1 roll about 2 years ago and they work great! I’ve only used about 4-5 sheets and continue to rewash them. They work best on mirrors and glass surfaces since they do not leave little fuzzies and are streak-free!
- Bathroom sink
- Toilet surface
- Toilet bowl
- Pour a cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and let sit for up to thirty minutes before flushing.
- Sink and shower drains
- Bring a kettle of water to boil. Let cool a bit and then pour hot water down a drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar down the drain.
- Shower/tub
- You can clean the surface with vinegar/water spray unless it’s tile. Avoid using vinegar on tile and grout.
- Showerhead
- You can even remove your showerhead and let it soak in a mixture of water and vinegar. I usually just spray the showerhead and let soak it for 10-15 minutes before I take a shower.
- Safety razor
- Soak your safety razor in a cup of warm water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Let sit for up to an hour. Do not leave longer. Afterward, scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse with water.
Related: How to use and maintain a safety razor // zero waste shaving
- Makeup brushes
- Soak your makeup brushes in the cup of warm water with a tablespoon of vinegar.
- Your hair!
- Clarify your hair by rinsing it with a tablespoon of vinegar and a cup of water. It will get rid of build-up in your hair, condition it, and make it shiny!
- Hairbrush
- Remove as much hair from the brush as possible before soaking the brush in a bowl of warm water and vinegar for 15 minutes. Leave to dry on a towel with the bristles facing downwards.
- Windows
- Picture frames
- Both the frame and the glass can be wiped down with vinegar and water!
- The entire surface of a laptop
- Never spray directly onto a laptop! Just wet a cloth with vinegar spray and then wipe.
- Phone screen
- Phone case
- Soak in a bowl if it needs a serious detox 😉
- Headphones
- Tablets and e-readers
- Yoga mat
- You may want to scrub the surface with soap and water first (depending on how dirty your mat is… haha mine was gross). Then spray and wipe with vinegar and water.
- TV remotes
- The surface of a television
As with all technology, spray a towel or rag with vinegar and then wipe glass, plastic, or rubber surfaces with the damp cloth.
- The outside surface of a refrigerator
- The inside surface of a refrigerator
- Garbage disposal
- Microwave
- You can heat a bowl of water and vinegar for 1 minute before wiping the interior surface with a cloth.
- Dishwasher
- In the top rack of a dishwasher, place a bowl with vinegar. Run the dishwasher and the vinegar will evaporate and get rid of build-up on the entire interior.
- Washing machine
- In the place of fabric softener, run a cycle with vinegar to get rid of build-up inside the machine. This is great if you have hard water! You can even replace fabric softener with vinegar when washing your clothes!
- Smelly towels
- Soak smelly towels or rags in a sink with vinegar and warm water. Do not ring out. Put in the washing machine and wash normally. (I also wash with cold water so that’s why I soaked in warm water and vinegar beforehand.)
- Carpets
- Spray carpets with vinegar/water spray to eliminate odors. Let air dry.
- The interior of your car
- The interior windows of your car
- Desk/office area
- Pens, scissors, and other office supplies
- Walls
- Get rid of scuff marks and other dust that’s built-up on interior walls over time.
- Doorknobs
What to Avoid Cleaning with Vinegar
The general rule of thumb is not use vinegar on porous/natural surfaces because of how acidic vinegar is for it can eat away vanish. I do use vinegar and water on painted wood because the paint acts as a barrier. Avoid using vinegar on:
- Granite or marble surfaces
- Wood
- Stone floors, tiles, or fireplaces
For these surfaces, it’s just best to use soap and water. These natural materials are porous so they absorb liquid and other materials. Most of these materials have finished and vinegar will break them down.
Cleaning with vinegar and water is incredibly cost effective! You can get distilled white vinegar for as little as $0.02/fl oz. I usually buy the biggest container I can (even it’s in plastic) to reduce on packaging overall.
I hope you are safe and healthy during this season of change. What ways do you like to clean sustainably?
Happy Day-
*Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure page for more info.
Leave a Reply