Tired of scrubbing your home with harsh chemicals that leave behind a toxic smell? There’s a natural cleaner hiding in your pantry that can tackle dirt, grime, and even germs. That’s right, we’re talking about apple cider vinegar!
This kitchen staple isn’t just for salad dressings and marinades—its acidic nature makes it a powerful disinfectant, capable of banishing bacteria and viruses from your home.1
1. Freshen Up Your Fridge
Apple cider vinegar’s antibacterial properties make it a natural deodorizer. Wipe down your fridge’s interior with a vinegar solution to eliminate lingering food smells.
2. Shine Your Stainless Steel
Say goodbye to fingerprints and smudges! Mix apple cider vinegar with water and buff your stainless steel appliances for a streak-free shine.
3. Disinfect Your Garbage Disposal
Pour a cup of apple cider vinegar down the drain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This will help kill bacteria and freshen the disposal.
4. Clean Your Cutting Boards
Eliminate bacteria and odors from your cutting boards by spraying them with undiluted apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
5. Brighten Your Laundry
Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle. It acts as a natural fabric softener and helps remove detergent buildup.
6. Deodorize Carpets & Upholstery
Mix apple cider vinegar with water in a spray bottle and lightly mist carpets and upholstery. The vinegar will help neutralize odors.
7. Clean Your Microwave
Combine apple cider vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, then let the steam loosen food particles and wipe them away.
8. Unclog Your Showerhead
Remove mineral buildup by soaking your showerhead in a bag of apple cider vinegar for a few hours. Rinse thoroughly before reattaching.
9. Clean Your Coffee Maker
Over time, mineral deposits can build up in your coffee maker, affecting the taste of your brew. Fill the reservoir with equal parts water and apple cider vinegar and run a brew cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water afterward.
10. Shine Your Windows
Mix a solution of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray onto your windows and wipe with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine.
11. Remove Hard Water Stains
Soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around faucets or showerheads with hard water stains. Let it sit for a few hours, then scrub the stains away with a brush.
12. Clean Your Toilet Bowl
Pour a cup of apple cider vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush to remove stains and odors.
13. Clean Your Dishwasher
Pour a cup of apple cider vinegar into the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run a hot water cycle. This will help remove grime and deodorize the dishwasher.
14. Polish Furniture
Mix apple cider vinegar with olive oil to create a natural furniture polish. Apply a small amount to a cloth and buff your wooden furniture to a shine.
15. Deodorize Your Garbage Can
After emptying your garbage can, wipe it down with a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar. This will help eliminate odors and keep pests away.
As you can see, apple cider vinegar is a true cleaning powerhouse, capable of tackling a wide range of household tasks with ease. Its natural disinfecting properties, combined with its versatility and affordability.
Source:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7817673/
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.