How To Clean With White Vinegar

Finding ways to freshen your home naturally is becoming a growing trend all over the world and many of us are looking to help improve the environment by changing our cleaning habits. Fortunately there are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning solutions which we can switch to, in order to be more sustainable.

One of the best eco cleaners is white vinegar as this contains acid which works wonders on most surfaces and acts as a natural disinfectant. What’s more, cleaning with white vinegar can be done in lots of different ways and we’re here to showcase these to you. Here in our article we will be giving you top tips on how to clean with white vinegar, so you can get your home sparkling!

Benefits of white vinegar for cleaning your home

White vinegar is the perfect cleaning ingredient as it is acidic which makes it excellent for wiping away grime, grease and debris from surfaces. It is also a natural cleaner and one of the best all-natural disinfectants for your home, which means it is better for the environment because it is easily biodegradable. You can safely use it around children and pets as it is non-toxic or bleach-based, so there are no harsh chemicals.

White vinegar is completely multi-purpose and is an excellent cleaning hacks that will make you clean quicker and better. It has a variety of benefits over other cleaning products, like not causing asthma, as well as the following examples:

• Inexpensive natural cleaning product
• Protects colors and removes excess detergent from your laundry
• Kills bacteria and germs
• Removes stains
• Removes streaks from glass surfaces
• Eliminates bad odors
• Quickly breaks down oil, dirt and grease marks
• Can be combined with other products to make it more effective

Here are the most common things you can clean with white vinegar:

• Glass surfaces / windows
• Washing machines
• Sinks
• Bathroom
• Microwave
• Floors
• Stovetop
• Kettles / coffee makers
• Pots and pans
• Dishwasher
• Fridge

What to not use white vinegar with for cleaning:

• Natural stone surfaces
• Granite or Marble worktops
• Stone floors
• Wooden floors and countertops

Here Are Easy Ways To Clean With White Vinegar

Bathroom

From the bathtub, shower, toilet to wash basin, white vinegar can be used to clean almost everything in your bathroom in the most natural effective way. It especially works well when it is combined with baking soda.

Bath and Shower:

To clean away any soap scum or grime from your shower or bath, the best method is to mix white vinegar with warm water and spray the area with the mixed solution until it is completely covered. You can also add a drop of natural dish soap to dilute the smell of the vinegar and help with tougher stains. Then, allow this to soak in for 7 minutes, then scrub the surface with a microfiber cleaning cloth and rinse thoroughly. To get into smaller gaps, a toothbrush is also a good scrubbing tool.

This can be applied to the shower head as this is normally where limescale tends to build up. The easiest way to do this is by pouring white vinegar into a plastic bag and fixing it around the showerhead with an elastic band. Leave this to set overnight and rinse it in the morning to a shining shower!

Toilet:

The most effective way to clean your toilet with white vinegar is to simply pour 2-3 cups of it into the bowl and let it set overnight. In the morning, add some baking soda and scrub vigorously with a toilet brush. Then flush the toilet to rinse it away. Your toilet should look brand new.

Tub or Wash Basin Drain:

It is common for the bathtub or wash basin drains to get clogged up over time, but white vinegar is great for solving this problem. All you have to do is pour ½ cup of white vinegar into the closed drain and leave it for several hours. When you return, you will have to scrub the area well and drain to rinse. To unblock the drain, pour boiling water down the drain, add some baking soda and follow this with some water and white vinegar. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then pour more boiling water down the drain again.

Kitchen

Fridge:

Due to our busy lifestyles, it is easy to neglect our fridges, but this can cause bad smells and bacteria. By deep cleaning them regularly, food can be kept fresher for longer and it’ll clear away any nasty odors. Thanks to white vinegar, this task is made fast and simple.

Firstly, you’ll need to ensure everything is cleared out of the fridge and make lots of space. Then mix some white vinegar with hot water in a spray bottle. Prepare some cleaning cloths or sponge, and some microfiber towels.

Cover the draws and shelves first with the water and white vinegar solution, then scrub them clean. Rinse them and leave them to dry so you can do the inside. When cleaning inside the fridge, you must only use cold water with the white vinegar. Use half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of cold water, then pour into a spray bottle. Clean all the inside surfaces and wipe with a microfiber cloth to dry. By the way, here are some tips to know how to clean your microfiber cloth when you're done. 

Dishwasher:

When you want to freshen up your dishwasher, white vinegar can be used to break down the soap scum inside. Just add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse container and put the dishwasher on a full cycle.

Microwave:

A good way to clean a microwave is by mixing ½ of white vinegar, ½ of water and ½ a lemon in a large glass bowl and placing it inside the microwave. Turn on the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, until it starts to boil. From this point, you’ll be able to quickly wipe away those stubborn dirt and stain marks.

Stovetops:

Getting rid of grease from stove tops is kept simple with white vinegar as it is able to easily break through tough grime. You will need to spray some vinegar and water mix onto the stovetop, then let it soak for 10 minutes. When it has set, you’ll need to scrub down afterwards with a scouring power stovetop cleaning kit, vinegar alone won’t work. Use soapy water to scrub the area so it can rinse through. If it is hard to wipe away, leave the solution for a bit longer.

Floors

Carpet:

White vinegar is super powerful at removing harsh stains, so it is a brilliant product for cleaning carpets. Be sure to test some on a small hidden area of your carpet to avoid any damage when using this method. First, you need to give your carpet a vacuum to get rid of any dust and debris. Prepare a bucket with warm water and 3 or 4 cups of white vinegar. Using a sponge, scrub the carpet to remove any large dirt marks first and then add the solution to the sponge and continue scrubbing. Rinsing the carpet is very important, so be sure to use plenty of cold water to clean away any excess solution and leave the carpet to dry naturally inside or outside your home.

Hard floors:

You can also clean your hard floors with white vinegar, but before using this method, do test the solution first. It is important that your floor is properly sealed and clear of any clutter. From here, you should prepare a microfiber dust and wet mop, a vacuum cleaner and a soft toothbrush. Remove any loose dust or debris first and then mix together 1 gallon of water and a cup of white vinegar inside a large bucket.

Use a slightly damp mop to clean your floor surfaces, wiping up any excess liquid to prevent damage to wood. If there are stubborn marks, gently use a toothbrush to lift the grime and go over with the mop to wipe it away. To dry the floor, you can use a microfiber towel or let it air dry.

Glass and Windows

Clearing away streak marks from windows can be a challenge, however white vinegar is super effective when it comes to polishing them away. By mixing equal parts of hot water and white vinegar together to make your solution, add a drop of liquid soap as this removes the streaks. Apply the solution to your window with a wet sponge or cloth and rub the grime away. You’ll also need a squeegee to clean from top to bottom of the window for a streak-free result.

Using white vinegar for glass cleaning is also a really effective and cheaper alternative. For best results, pre wash your glass surface with soapy water. Then, with a spray bottle, mix 50/50 tap water and distilled vinegar and cover this over your glass surface. Rub the solution in well with a lint free cloth for a shiny, clean finish.

Washing Machine

Washing machines should be cleaned every few weeks to prevent mold, dirt and smells building up as this ensures your laundry is properly washed. Clearing your washing machine is made easier with white vinegar and is a simple process to follow. To do this, you’ll need a cleaning cloth, bicarbonate of soda and a toothbrush. Just pour in 4 cups of white vinegar to the liquid detergent dispenser and start a cycle on the highest and hottest setting.

Once this cycle is complete, place in a cup of baking soda and turn on for one more hot cycle. Make sure the baking soda is added to the drum of the washing machine and the vinegar to the dispenser. This will scrub the washing machine and remove any debris, odors etc, then the vinegar will melt any excess debris away. Note you should never use these two at the same time as they will counteract each other.

Also, add a cup of oxygen bleach to the final cycle to thoroughly clean and disinfect your washing machine. Oxygen bleach is also a great natural disinfectant. To clean the door of your machine, just damp the cloth with some of the diluted white vinegar solution and wipe the glass surface for a shining finish.

What white vinegar do I need for cleaning?

For quality cleaning results, white distilled vinegar is the most recommended type to use. To prepare the solution, you will need to dilute the white vinegar with water. Also you can add essential oils to create a lovely aroma. You should dilute the mixture with cooled boiled water as this kills off any bacteria. To make the solution stronger, you could add a tablespoon of washing-up liquid.

All you need now is an eco cleaning cloth

There are endless cleaning methods that you can experiment with white vinegar and it offers a whole bunch of benefits due to its acidic nature. So you can improve your home’s hygiene and keep it smelling pristine.

To get you started with your sustainable cleaning routine, at Aspen Clean we provide a range of quality eco cloths - we even tell you the truth about microfiber cloths - and plastic-free cleaning solutions which are perfect to use with white vinegar. So you can ensure the job is done correctly and delivers the best results, while reducing the impact on the environment.

If you have more questions about cleaning with white vinegar, about our products or if you just want to keep getting cleaning tips, check out other posts on our blog!