5 Easy, Smart Ways to Use Vinegar in the Home

A straight 5 percent solution of vinegar–the white distilled type that you can buy at the supermarket–kills bacteria, mold, and germs.

Studies referenced by Heinz show that it kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).

Vinegar is very useful in the home for cleaning mold and areas where bacteria can grow (like Australian tea tree oil (see below). It is very cheap–the cheapest natural antiseptic material we know about!

Here are my five favorite formulas for vinegar:

Note: All references to vinegar refer to 5 percent white distilled household vinegar.

1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Spray straight white distilled vinegar on the toilet bowl rim.

2. Poison Ivy Killer
Spray straight white distilled vinegar on poison ivy.

3. Cutting Board Deodorizer
Spray straight white distilled vinegar on the cutting board. Let set for at least ½ an hour. Rinse.

4. Window Cleaner
Add ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar to 2 cups of water, and a dab of liquid soap or detergent to a spray bottle.

5. Wood Cleaning Rinse
After washing wooden floors, add 1 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water to the rinse water. The detergent or soap, and many odors, are neutralized by the vinegar, and the floors are left very clean.

Read more: Home, Non-Toxic Cleaning

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Winn A.

12:35PM PDT on May 17, 2013

Thanks

May 17
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Monica M.

7:30AM PDT on Apr 17, 2013

use vinegar only....no chemicals!

April 17
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Duane B.

8:14AM PDT on Apr 10, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

April 10
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11:14AM PDT on Mar 16, 2013

good ideas

March 16
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B J.

10:29AM PDT on Mar 12, 2013

Grandma's ways are sometimes so much better and safer than modern day conveniences. Think it's "coincedence" cancer (for one) was rare instead of now "rare" if you don't have it?!

March 12
send a green star

Terry V.

5:19PM PDT on Aug 12, 2012

thanks

August 12
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Donna H.

9:35AM PDT on Jul 3, 2012

Thanks for the info.

July 3
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Elizabeth H.

8:51AM PDT on May 30, 2012

I ran into a formerly obese friend, who told me she had (among other things) lost all the weight by having a cup of water mixed with 2-3 tsp apple cider vinegar and an equivalent amount of honey. She drank this twice a day, before breakfast and lunch. I started it, and am sure it cut my appetite. It also balanced my Ph, provided some nutritional value. Great for acid indigestion, naturally. Traditionally, it was linked to weight loss. While it can't kick in your metabolism (exercise does that, weight bearing exercised muscles do that) it seems part of the package. Maybe it's an attitude adjustment. A little help encourages me to eat raw veggies, salads, cut out meat and desserts, exercise. All part of a weight loss mind set. My complexion looked great almost instantly. I now only do it once a day. I am certain it prevents acid stomach. I have a few times had "heart burn" at bed time. I fixed a cup of water with a little apple cider and honey and it stopped immediately.