Apple cider vinegar is thought to be somewhat of a miracle worker—just ask anyone who’s ever used it to treat a cold or soothe their scalp . But this fermented wonder can also be used to make your house a whole lot cleaner—just check out the following cleaning methods that incorporate apple cider vinegar.
After reading them, you might be inclined to tackle your first cleaning task: grabbing a trash bag and throwing away all the other store-bought cleaning “miracles” you’ve been wasting your time with.
In the Kitchen
A 1:1 solution of apple cider vinegar and water makes a formidable cleaner for the entire kitchen—it can even remove bacteria. Use it to scour your countertops, microwave, stovetop, etc. And because this solution is diluted, you don’t have to worry about the acid within your vinegar eating away at surfaces or dulling their shine.
Adding apple cider vinegar to your dishwasher wash cycle can remove stains from dishware such as coffee cups and wine glasses. A quarter-cup should do it.
A little more ACV can also be used to clean, deodorize and de-stain your dishwasher when added a couple minutes into a wash cycle.
In the Bathroom
Fight bathtub mildew with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Depending on the severity of your mildew problem, you can go with apple cider vinegar on its own or dilute it with a bit of water. Add some essential oils to make the bathroom smell lemon fresh.
A clogged drain is no match for apple cider vinegar, either. First, pour about ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water. After about 15 minute—you probably remember how baking soda and vinegar react from all of those elementary school volcano-related project—rinse it all down with boiling water.
In the Living Room
A cozy night in might lead you to light a few candles… and the wax might run over. Once the wax is brittle to the touch, you can scrape it off with a spatula or credit card. A bit of diluted apple cider vinegar will remove the rest of the residue . Use a dishcloth with the solution to rub it away.
A water-apple cider vinegar solution can even be used to de-streak the windows in your home —living room included. The same solution can safely clean your walls, even painted ones.
Your mother always begged you to use a coaster and, in your own home, you took a stand against it … and now you have water stains on your side tables. Full-strength vinegar can remove the stains, though.
Carpet stains are no match for apple cider vinegar, either. Pour a few tablespoons of salt into the vinegar and rub it into stain(s) before vacuuming it all away. You can also add it to water for use in your carpet steamer to blast away stains.
In the Laundry Room
It’s not often—or, um, ever—that we take time to clean our washing machines . Add two cups of apple cider vinegar as you would detergent and let the machine run without any clothes and voila. Your machine will be even cleaner than before.
You can also use apple cider vinegar to make your laundry cleaner, odor-free and germ-free by pouring a cup in with each load.
In the Garden
Apple cider vinegar does double duty in the garden. By pouring it directly onto weed-prone areas, you can eradicate unwanted growths from your flowerbeds.
On the other hand, mixing 10 ounces of vinegar with 10 gallons of water is a great fertilizer for soil .
Of course, these are just some of the many ways that apple cider vinegar can improve your home and your life in general. So, get to your nearest store, grab a gallon and get to work.