Yes, vinegar is my favorite thing this week. I actually had fun cleaning the house this week after discovering vinegar is a fantastic natural cleanser.
It all started on Pinterest where I found a post about using vinegar and Dawn soap to clean stubborn stains in the bathtub. To my shock and awe, the concoction actually worked! Hard water stains I swore were permanently embedded in the bottom of my shower disappeared after a short soak and a few swipes with a scrub brush. Ā I don’t think my shower has ever looked so good.
Then, I went to clean my kitchen counters and I realized I was out of spray cleaner. I pulled out what was left of the vinegar I bought for the bathtub Ā and mixed 1Ā½ cups of water with 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle.
Miracle cleanser: vinegar and water!
Everything from my counters, bathroom sinks, toilets, and floors came out sparkling clean. I even put vinegar to the ultimate test of cleaning my kitchen tile grout. The dirt came up within in seconds. Like the shower, my kitchen floor has never looked better.
Not only have I been spending way to much money on mainstream cleaning supplies, but I’ve been putting more elbow grease into removing stains than necessary. After cleaning my entire house with a little vinegar and water, I can honestly say I will never buy another bottle of Windex or all-purpose spray cleaner again!
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What is your favorite thing this week?
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c.b.w. 2013
C.B. Wentworth 
Cool! Gotta try this.
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It does wonders all around the house! š
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Love vinegar! I use vinegar and water to clean my windows, wipe dry, then scrub with dry newspaper. Works like a charm, go figure!
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Ooo, I’ll have to try that! š
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I’m housesitting and had a problem with ants after a big rain. All I could find under the sink was vinegar, which turns out to be a great ant killer, too. Not only is it nontoxic, but it’s so inexpensive!
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NIce to know! Every summer, the ants try to invade my house. This year I have a secret weapon. š
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I do the same thing – try adding some lavender essential oil. It’s a natural antibacterial (for countertops, etc.) but also cuts the vinegar smell!
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Ooo, nice! I don’t mind the smell of vinegar, but I definitely love lavender! š
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I keep meaning to do this but I keep forgetting. I bought some castile soap that may work better than Dawn. I don’t know. I was going to suggest an oil too, maybe lemon, but lavender sounds good. Now I just have to get into the mood to clean. lol
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I’m slowly working on different areas of my kitchen floor. By the end of summer I should have every line of grout cleaned out! š
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Love this post. I also discovered vinegar through pinterest. It’s the most fabulous stuff ever. To get a fresh scented general spray, don’t discard your orange peels. Put them in a wide-necked jar with vinegar, stand for a couple of days and, voila, a fresh citrus scented spray which also keeps insects away. Oh and vinegar appears to do flies in as well.
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Oh, that’s a great idea! I will definitely try it. Thanks for sharing! š
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Oh gosh, I must try the Dawn and vinegar in our shower. It’s an old metal shower that rusts frequently, and trying to get the soap scum off the sides requires steel wool. This sounds incredible!
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I found out the same mixture works great in the bathroom sink. We have really hard water and one of my sinks is covered in calcium deposits. This morning I tried the dawn/vinegar mixture and got great results. There are a few stubborn spots left, but I think they’ll be toast after another treatment. š
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I’ve been using vinegar for cleaning for some time but never imagined it would clean away those hard water stains! The answer to a couple of toilets and a shower has just dropped into my hands — thank you, C.B.!
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I tried everything imaginable on those stains, but vinegar did the trick. It’s usually the simplest things, isn’t it? š
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I’ve been using vinegar for years. Lemon juice is also great for removing stains from coffee pots and lemon halves are great for freshening disposals. Stick them in the sink and turn on the disposal. Cleans and deodorizes. Baking soda is also an amazing cleaner.
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I’ve used baking soda as a scrubber inside my fridge and you’re right that it is amazing! Why I once spent so much on fancy cleaning supplies I’ll never know. From now on I’m sticking with the all natural way!
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I’ve recently discovered the wonders of vinegar, myself. My laundry had taken on an odd odor, even though I use a fabric softener with a scent. Someone told me to add 1/2 – 1 cup of vinegar to my wash. Apparently, if you don’t use very hot water to wash your clothes to kill bacteria (I have been using cold water Tide to save money), they will become musty-smelling. The vinegar will kill the bacteria so your clothes smell fresher. It’s also good to soak fresh fruit and vegetables in a mild vinegar solution as soon as you get home from the grocery store to kill any bacteria on them that will cause them to spoil quickly. Our ancestors used vinegar to preserve foods, so this does make sense and this vinegar soak is mild enough that your fruits and veggies will not take on a vinegary taste.
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I just read about using vinegar in the laundry. It’s so dry here that I haven’t really dealt with that musty smell, but it’s still good to know vinegar can save the day. š
I will definitely be using vinegar to soak my produce – thanks for sharing!
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I did my kitchen counter grout and it worked! Thank you!
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Yay! š Those coffee stains didn’t stand a chance!
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The thing you learn on a blog! I am going to try the vinegar on some things (shower, tub) that I waste way too much time scrubbing….and not being satisfied anyone when I’m finished scrubbing. Thanks.
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Make sure you let it sit for one to two hours and those tub stains will be gone! š
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I just discovered the vinegar/Dawn trick, and WOW! I thought the soap scum would never disappear from the shower doors, but they are clear and clean now. I am going to try the vinegar on my bathroom floor grout next. If it works for coffee stains, it’s worth trying on the floor.
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It totally works on coffee stains! My mom tried it out earlier this week and it wiped out the stains on her countertop. š
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And dingbat me didn’t come back and read the directions and used hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar……. Well, let’s hope that works for now. Idiot me.
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Oh no! š¦ Definitely use vinegar instead!
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