6 Best Uses for Vinegar in the Kitchen

If you’ve never heard yourself say, “Vinegar is so amazing!” then please keep reading. There are so many reasons why I love vinegar (and hundred of uses for it) , but today I’m just going to share my top 6 uses for white vinegar in your kitchen. For about twenty cents, you can make a bottle of vinegar water that you can use for dozens of purposes.

I usually do a 50/50 ratio of white vinegar and water in my spray bottle. That is strong enough to be effective, but diluted enough to not damage surfaces.

My husband was a little doubtful that vinegar would clean as well as a store-bought, chemical cleaner so I did a little research to assure him that his house really was clean.

I know people love their clorox, but vinegar has strong antibacterial properties and one test by Good Housekeeping’s microbiologist found that 5% vinegar is 90% effective against mold and 99.9% effective against bacteria. Because it is acidic, it can dissolve mineral deposits from glass and other smooth services.

The main reason it is so awesome is because it is all natural, so if you have kids or pets, you don’t have to worry about anyone ingesting chemicals. Also, if you’re pregnant (or even if you’re not), you are not inhaling any fumes while you clean.

Let’s travel around my kitchen and I’ll share the top 6 uses for your vinegar/water mixture.

1) Mirrors and Windows

Amazing streak-free results every time. And when the kids fog up the mirror by pressing their mouths against the glass, you can relax. No chemicals.

2) Cleaning the inside of the Refrigerator

I really can’t image using anything else inside the fridge. It is filled with food. Plus, when you shut the door, you’ve trapped any leftover fumes from a chemical cleaner.

3) Outside of the refrigerator

Vinegar/water mixture is wonderful on stainless steel, so you can use it on all of your appliances.

4) Clean Stovetop Surfaces

Spray and wipe the surface for everyday cleaning. For stubborn stains or caked-on residue, spray and leave for 15 minutes. You can also soak your grates in the mixture.

Our oven repairman told us to soak the metal piece on a gas stove (i’m sure it has a name) in vinegar overnight. This will remove any grease buildup in the hole where the pilot light lights.

5) Disinfect your garbage disposal and drains.

Run garbage disposal and rinse well so that it is food-free. Then pour 1/2 cup or so of baking soda into your garbage disposal and then pour 1-2 cups of straight vinegar (not your mixture) down the drain. It will begin to fizz. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse with hot water for a few minutes.

7) Clean fruits and veggies

Buying organic fruits and veggies can get expensive. A great alternative is to clean fruits and veggies with this mixture. It can remove most of the harmful residues that remain on our food. Simply spray the item well and rub under water giving the fruit or veggie a good massage.

Some bonus uses: To clean the inside of your dishwasher, place a cup of vinegar (in a dishwasher safe cup) in the top rack of an empty dishwasher and run a hot cycle. To clean the inside workings of your coffee maker, pour 2 cups of your vinegar and water mixture into the machine and run a cycle. Follow with 1-2 cycles of plain water to rinse.

Caveats: Vinegar is acidic, so do not use it on any wood surfaces like kitchen tables or wood floors. If used regularly, it will damage the wood. I promise and can show you proof 🙂

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