I have a confession to make: Before I was into “natural” living, I used to clean nearly every surface in my house with bleach. My husband would come home to the strong smell of bleach throughout the house, nearly overpowering him.
I equated the smell of bleach with “germ free”. But it didn’t occur to me that I was also creating an unhealthy environment by putting toxins into my home with bleach and other various cleaners.
What first got me interested in living in a different way was when I started to research the health effects of said chemicals. I was surprised to learn that the products we were using could be harmful to our health. Forget about germs! I was now worried about autoimmune diseases, infertility and birth defects (we were trying for a baby), and cancer.
That’s when I started on the path to using more natural cleaners. At first I bought natural cleaning brands. But then I found that vinegar worked just as well if not better than those pricey brands.
Benefits of Cleaning with Vinegar:
- Vinegar is cheap and found in every grocery store.
- Vinegar kills germs. Some studies have even found that it kills the flu virus just as well as common household disinfectants and bleach.
- It deodorizes – Not only does it disinfect, but it gets rid of nasty smells.
- It cuts dirt, grease, and grime – When I need a little extra cleaning power, I just spray on some vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes. When I revisit the spot with my scrubbie, it comes off easily.
Will My House Smell Like Vinegar?
I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “But I don’t want my house to smell like vinegar!”
Short answer: It won’t.
Long answer: Yes, your guests may catch a small hint of vinegar if they come into your house right after you’ve done some cleaning. However, the smell of vinegar goes away as soon as it evaporates into the air, meaning the smell is very short-term.
I’ll take a deodorized kitchen with a faint scent of vinegar for a few minutes over the strong smell of chemicals and synthetic fragrance sprays any day. Wouldn’t you?
How to Use Vinegar for Cleaning
Cleaning with vinegar is easy. It doesn’t require any recipe or formula.
Basic Vinegar Cleaning Spray
For a basic cleaning spray, all I use is a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. I don’t measure, just eyeball it.
Suggested equipment:
This basic formula can be used as a glass cleaner or surface cleaner.
Other Ways to Clean with Vinegar
- Room/Linen Spray – Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the basic cleaning spray to make an effective room spray and linen spray. It will deodorize and add a pleasant aroma.
- Toilet Cleaning – When it’s time to clean the toilet, add about a 1/4 cup of baking soda to the bowl. Then pour in some vinegar. Let it foam and sit for about 5 minutes. Come back and scrub out the bowl with the toilet brush.
- Fabric Softener – Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar to the washing machine at the beginning of the cycle. You may also soak a washcloth in vinegar and put in the dryer with your clothes.
- In the Dishwasher – Add 1/4 cup of vinegar when you start your dishwasher to prevent spots and hard water deposits on your dishes.
As you can see, cleaning your house the “green” way doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, I save hundreds on cleaning products every year because I simply don’t buy them. I keep my home in good supply of vinegar (and baking soda) and we’re pretty much set.
How do you use vinegar for cleaning?
Alongside her therapeutic work, Vanessa is also a certified birth doula. With her doula training, she offers compassionate support to individuals and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, ensuring a nurturing and empowering experience.
Vanessa's commitment to supporting individuals on their healing and transformative journeys shines through her expertise in trauma therapy and her compassionate approach to birth support. With her diverse skill set and passion for holistic well-being, Vanessa strives to provide comprehensive care and education.
Do you worry about the GMOs in vinegar? I use regular vinegar to clean but organic to cook with but started wondering if I’m spraying GMOs around my house with my “all-purpose” cleaner.
I personally would not worry about GMOs in my cleaning vinegar because the main concern with GMOs is when ingesting them.
I first started using vinegar to clean when I had a baby. I did not want my infant to be exposed to harsh chemicals, the biggest concern being that babies put everything in their mouths. I used 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water to soak nipples, pacifiers, and toys in for 15 minutes to disinfect them. I also use vinegar as a fabric softener because I have eczema and I cannot use any detergent with fragrance or dyes. It works great and helps to keep my washing machine clean. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar water in the shower and I spray the walls and shower curtain after every shower. This prevents buildup and I don’t have to scrub as often!