How to Clean Your Kitchen & Bathroom with Vinegar

There are so many great cleaning products on the market, and trust us, we’ve tried most of them. But we find ourselves circling back to our tried and true favorite: vinegar. We love a good all-purpose cleaner, but when buying it from a store, you never know what you’re actually getting in that bottle do you?

There’s nothing more universal than vinegar. And we like it because it’s safe for our kids, for our pets, and for ourselves.

Vinegar is a great cost-effective way to keep your home spick and span. It can be used for most routine chores like mopping floors and wiping down windows, but we’re going to share some of our favorite ways to incorporate it into a deep cleaning routine for your kitchen and bathroom.

1. Dishwasher

What you need: 2 c. white vinegar, dishwasher safe dish

It sounds somewhat counterintuitive that you have to wash a washer, but all of that food and grime builds up over time. Cut the grease and reduce the odors by running a cycle with a bowl full of vinegar on the top rack. Leave out the detergent and any dirty dishes. Set it to ‘Regular.’ Repeat this process every month, or whenever you notice build-up or smell.

2. Microwave

What you need: 2 c. water, 2 Tbs. white vinegar, microwave safe dish, sponge, dish towel

When sauces splatter and liquids spill in the microwave, they seem to require a chisel and hammer to wipe them up. Soften the mess by placing a glass bowl of water and vinegar in the microwave. Heat it for five minutes, and let it rest for another five, without opening the door. The steam will loosen all of that caked-on mess. Open the door and remove the turntable, if necessary. Wipe down the inside and the turntable with a wet sponge, and dry them both with a dish towel.

3. Garbage Disposal

What you need: 3-4 Tbs. baking soda, 1 c. white vinegar

This has got to take the cake for dirtiest places in the kitchen, so be sure to clean it often! Start by removing the shield- this is the black part you see from the sink. It’s there to prevent food from flying up when the blades are in use and to prevent dishes and silverware from reaching the blades. Once this has been removed, you should be able to see the blades. Sprinkle the blades and bottom of the disposal generously with baking soda, so that it coats it in white. Then pour a generous amount of vinegar down the drain as well. Amount will vary. As it’s reacting and bubbling, all of the grime and grease are being loosened. Once the reaction is through, run the tap for about a minute or two to flush any remaining bits out.

4. Shower Head

What you need: 1 Ziploc bag, a heavy-duty rubber band, 2-3 c. white vinegar

As hard water build-up collects on your shower head, it affects the spray and pressure of the water. Descale it using vinegar, in a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Place the bag of vinegar over the shower head and secure with a heavy rubber band. Let it rest for at least an hour, or overnight if possible. Once you remove the bag and vinegar, rub it with a sponge to remove any particles, and then run warm water through the shower head.

5. Shower doors

What you need: 1 c. dish soap, 1 c. white vinegar, spray bottle, sponge

It’s hard to feel clean when getting out of a dirty shower. Cleaning the shower doesn’t have to be such a difficult chore though. Mix equal parts dish soap and vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray the walls, door, and floor with the mixture. The gel consistency of the dish soap will prevent the solution from all running down into the drain immediately. Allow the solution to sit for as long as you like, and then wipe it away with a sponge and warm water. Helpful Tip: time it right, and you can kill two birds with one stone by scrubbing down the shower, just before you take a shower yourself.

6. Toilets

What you need: 3 c. white vinegar, 1 c. Epsom salts, 2 Tbs. dish soap, large jar, toilet brush

Even when the toilet is “clean,” there can still be rings from the hard water build-up. You will only need to use about a third of this solution, so make up a batch of this cleaner, and use it on all of the bathrooms in your home, or save it for next time. Mix together vinegar, Epsom salts, and dish soap in a large mason jar, and be sure to shake vigorously. You need to shake until the Epsom salts are dissolved. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and scrub with a toilet brush. Flush the toilet.