Welcome to the fourth and final installment of “The Many Uses of Vinegar Series.” As you can tell, I believe in having a natural home and using vinegar throughout the house to accomplish this goal. Aside from getting use to the aroma, it’s a pretty great feeling to know that I am cleaning my home with a product that can do no harm to my family, pets, or the environment.

Below, I would like to share with you some additional ways to use vinegar throughout the house. This list is not all-inclusive by any means, as there are hundreds of uses for vinegar throughout the house. However, I believe it’s enough to help get your wheels turning:

18 Uses for Vinegar Throughout-the-House

NOTE: Always test these solutions in an inconspicuous place the first time you try.

1. Floor: Mix 2 gallons water, ½ capful liquid soap and 1 cup white vinegar. Wipe the floor dry with a soft cloth if you really wish to pick up the loosened dirt.
2. Carpet Stains: Remove with a paste of white vinegar (tablespoon) and salt or baking soda (1/4 cup). Rub the paste into the carpet stain and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.
3. Non-Oil Carpet Stains: Remove the stain at first notice with 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and a mild liquid detergent to a gallon of hot water. Apply and rub in with a soft brush or old toweling piece. Rinse with clean water and blot dry. Repeat if necessary, and give a quick final drying with a hair dryer or fan.
4. Food Stains on Carpet: Use full strength white vinegar. Rinse with clean water and blot dry. Repeat if necessary, and give a quick final drying with a hair dryer or fan.
5. Steam Cleaner: To reduce bubbles, add ¼ cup white vinegar to the steam cleaner and, use the same amount in rinse water to remove detergent residue and make carpets stay fresh longer.
6. Indoor/Outdoor Carpet: Wash with 1 cup white vinegar to one bucket of warm water. Scrub it using a brush or a broom and then hose off.
7. Pet Stains: First blot area then add a white vinegar/water solution to the area. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. Or, let full-strength white vinegar sit on a pet spot for a few minutes, after testing the colorfastness of the carpet in an inconspicuous place. Blot, rinse and dry.
8. Windows: For streak-free quality, use one of the various combinations: Full-strength, 1 cup white vinegar per pail of water, equal parts white vinegar and water, 2 tablespoons white vinegar to 2 pints water. Apply to cloth, sponge, or pump spray and dry with a soft cloth or paper towels. NOTE: DO NOT spray your liquid glass cleaner directly on the glass surface of mirrors with frames, pictures in frames, TVs and computer screens. For these, spray the solution onto your cleaning cloth or towel and then wipe the glass surface clean.
9. Walls: To rid mildew, dust and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
10. Woodwork: Clean wood paneling with a solution of 1 ounce olive oil, 2 ounces white vinegar and 1 quart warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth then, remove any yellowing with a clean cloth. Or, consider using 1/4/ cup olive oil, ½ cup white vinegar and 2 cups warm water, wipe on with a soft cloth.
11. Wallpaper: Remove wallpaper by using a paint roller to wet the surface very thoroughly with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Or spray on until saturated.
12. Furniture Polish: Use equal parts white vinegar and vegetable oil, or 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts olive oil. Note: Always rub with the grain of the wood.
13. Upholstered furniture: Remove stains from upholstered furniture by rubbing undiluted white vinegar directly into the stain, then wash according to the manufacturer’s directions. Note: Color test first.
14. Fireplace Bricks: Scrub with undiluted white vinegar to remove soot and grime. Use a brush to scrub and a towel to blot up the wetness and dirt.
15. Fireplace Glass Doors: Clean with a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water. Spray or wipe on, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.
16. 16.   Humidifier: Rinse thoroughly then, add ½ cup white vinegar when refilling with water. 
17. Ceiling Fans: Clean with a cloth dampened with white vinegar and water.
18. Door Knobs: Clean with full-strength white vinegar and then wipe dry.

So, there you have it! Thanks so much for investing your time with this series.  I hope you received some great value out of these posts! And if you did, please share the love with your friends and family by clicking the Facebook and Twitter links below. I appreciate you!  

To Your Natural Home,

Welcome to the second installment of “The Many Uses of Vinegar Series.” In part one, we talked about 22 Uses for Vinegar in the Kitchen. Today, we’re going to talk about 19 Uses for Vinegar in the Bathroom.

The next time in you’re in the store, take a stroll down the chemical isle (ooops! I meant the cleaning products isle) and notice the aroma (fumes if you ask me). It’s very strong, overwhelming almost. I don’t know about you, but my nose is very sensitive to smell and because of this, compounded with “The Facts” about the effects of indoor air quality on your health, I make a conscious effect to discover alternative cleaning methods throughout my home and I would like to share what I’ve learned with you:

19 Uses for Vinegar in the Bathroom  

1. Calcium Deposits: Soak a cloth, paper towel or even strips of toilet tissue in white vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.
2. Soap Scum: Scrub with a solution of 1 part salt to 4 parts white vinegar.
3. Faucet Lime: Tie a plastic bag containing 1/3 to ½ cup white vinegar around it and leave it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off scrub with an old toothbrush and this should do the job.
4. Porcelain sinks: Scour them with undiluted white vinegar.
5. Countertops: Rinse away soapy film with a solution of white vinegar and water.
6. Grout: Let full-strength white vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
7. Germs: Spray the bathroom surfaces with full strength white vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
8. Tiles: Spray with undiluted white vinegar to remove grime, mildew, and scum. Rinse with water.
9. Bathtub Film: Spray the ring with undiluted white vinegar. Wipe clean. Then, scour with baking soda.
10. Fiberglass tub: Sprinkle liberally with baking soda, then wipe it down with a white vinegar-soaked cloth. Rinse and wipe dry for a spotless shine.
11. Sponge or Loofah: Soak in a strong white vinegar-water solution overnight to remove dirt and slime. Rinse several times with cold water and let dry – in the sun if possible.
12. Shower Door Tracks: Fill with white vinegar and let sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and with a brush, wash and scrub away the scum.
13. Shower Head: Pour ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar into a strong sandwich-sized plastic bag (quart-size if needed) and tie it onto and over a scummy shower head. Let this sit for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water. Hard water buildup will be gone and your showerhead will sparkle again.
14. Clogged Shower Head: First, remove the showerhead, then simmering it in a pot filled with equal parts of white vinegar and water for 5 to 20 minutes. Be sure to remove the rubber washer first.
15. Toilet Bowl Deodorizer: Allow 3 cups white vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour, then flush.
16. Toilet Bowl Scrub: Pour 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup borax into the toilet bowl. Let this sit for awhile before using a toilet brush to scrub the bowl and up under the rim.
17. Toilet Rim: Spray full strength white vinegar on the toilet rim. Lift up the seat, spray the inside bowl rim and don’t bother to rinse it off. The smell will also help deodorize odors as it evaporates.
18. Toilet Bowl Lime Deposits: Remove as much water as possible from the bowl. This can be done by pouring a bucket of water into the bowl (yes, strange as it sounds, it does work) or literally ‘pushing’ the water down the neck of the bowel with a Johnny mop. Soak rolled-up paper towels in white vinegar and lay them on the ring. Leave on for an hour or more or until the ring is easy to scrub off. Using a pumice stone at this point makes the job easy. Or, bring a gallon of white vinegar to a boil and pour it into the almost-empty bowl. In a few hours, the right should disappear with a quick scrub of the brush.
19. Bathroom Air: Freshen the air by spraying a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 cup water (Any empty, clean spray dispenser with do.) Shake the spray bottle well after the mixture stops foaming. Or, just lightly spray the air with full strength white vinegar. You can add a drop of your own perfume fragrance, or herbs, or spices, or vanilla extract to the white vinegar – or not – depending on how you feel about the aroma of white vinegar.

So, how do you feel about making a change in how you clean your bathroom? Have you tried natural products to clean your home before? If so, what have you tried? I’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to take a quick moment to share this post on Facebook or Twitter if you got a lot of value out of it!

Thanks so much! Next up, I’ll share part 3 of 4: 12 Uses for Vinegar with Laundry & Clothing.

To Your Environmentally-Safe Home,

Welcome to the first installment of a four-part series on vinegar as a natural method to economical and environmentally-friendly way to clean your home. Vinegar has been a kitchen staple for many generations. It is a trusted health remedy, a neutralizer, a cleaner, a condiment, and a preservative.

According to Heinz, numerous studies show that their straight 5% acetic solution (50 grains) of distilled white vinegar, found in supermarkets, kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of germs. However, during my research, I have found that the generic brand works equally as well.

Now, I’m aware that many people love the fresh clean scent of traditional cleaning products and old habits are hard to break, but when you learn and understand that the “fresh” clean scent you’re so used to associating with the cleanliness of your home is ladened with toxic chemicals that contaminate your indoor air quality and your body, you might become very motivated to try a natural, more holistic and equally effective method to get the job done. So, here are some healthful ways to use vinegar in your kitchen.

22 Uses for White Vinegar in the Kitchen

1. Scouring Cleanser: ¼ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
2. Chrome Sink Fixture Cleaner: 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar paste will shine up chrome fixtures that are marred with stains or lime buildup.
3. Cutting Board Clean up: Spray white vinegar full strength on a cutting board after its last use at night and don’t rinse it off. The smell will evaporate and the acidic energy will have done its job. Or, rub it down first with baking soda and spray the surface with full strength white vinegar. It will bubble for a bit and then subside. Let this set for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it clean with water.
4. Clean Counter tops: Soak a cloth in undiluted white vinegar for an hour then wipe down. Or, keep a spray bottle of full strength white vinegar and spray and wipe down counters at the end of each day. NOTE: DO NOT use white vinegar on marble.
5. Drain Deodorizer/Cleaner: Pour 1 cup of baking soda, then 1 cup hot white vinegar. (Microwave is perfect for heating the white vinegar.) Let this sit for 5 minutes or so then run hot water down the drain.
6. Garbage Disposal Deodorizer/Cleaner: Pour ½ cup baking soda, then ½ cup hot white vinegar.
7. Microwave Cleaner: Mix ½ cup white vinegar and ½ cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl or glass mixing cup and bring it to a rolling boil so the inside steams up. Baked-on food will be loosened. Wipe clean. Odors will disappear too. Or, Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and a drop or two of liquid dish soap with 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil in the microwave. Let it stand for about 15 minutes before wiping clean.
8. Refrigerator Cleaner: Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a ½ and ½ solution of water and white vinegar.
9. Top of Refrigerator Cleaner: Wipe clean the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth using full strength white vinegar. It will cut the grime.
10. Stove Refresher:  Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven. Make your final rinse a wipe out with a sponge wet with undiluted white vinegar.
11. Stove Window Cleaner: Saturate a grease-splattered window of an oven door with full strength white vinegar (let the door lie open) for 10 to 15 minutes before cleaning it with a scrub sponge.
12. Oven Rack Cleaner: Soak oven racks in a large, heavy garbage bag, with a solution of ¼ cup dishwasher detergent, a cup of white vinegar and very hot water. Set the bag in the garage or outside and let the racks soak for a few hours or overnight before finishing the cleaning job in the sink.
13. Dishwasher Cleaner: Pour a cup of white vinegar into the dishwasher and run the empty machine through a whole cycle each month to get rid of soap buildup and odors.
14. Glass Cook Top: Clean with a cloth or sponge dipped in warm sudsy water to which a splash of white vinegar has been added.
15. Glassware: Add 1/2/ cup white vinegar to the dishwasher rinse cycle to get dishes and glassware sparkling. Or, hand-wash them in a sink full of hot water to which you’ve added a small amount of dishwashing soap and 1 cup white vinegar. Rinse and towel dry.
16. Teakettle Lime: Add ½ cup white vinegar to the water and let it sit overnight. Or, boil full strength white vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.
17. Coffee and Tea Cup Stains: Scrub with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white vinegar, using a sponge or brush. Rinse clean.
18. Thermos: Fill with ¼ cup white vinegar and then hot tap water. Use a bottle brush or cloth to whisk the insides before rinsing it clean.
19. Pots and Pans: Use a paste with equal amounts of white vinegar and table salt for cleaning not only cooking pots, but also tarnished brass, copper, and pewter.
20. Degreaser: Soak a sponge in distilled white vinegar and wipe grease off exhaust fan grids, air conditioner blades, the inside of your oven or anywhere grease gathers.
21. Label Remover: Spread a cloth soaked in white vinegar over a label, decal or price tag you want to remove. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.
22. Dish Rags and Sponge Freshener: Renew sponges and dish rags by letting them soak overnight in enough water to which ¼ cup white vinegar has been added to cover them.

I hope this information was helpful to you. Up next, I will share part 2 of 4 in The Many Uses of Vinegar: 19 Uses for Vinegar in the Bathroom.

To Your Improve Indoor Air Quality and Health,