Vinegar....uses for the magical liquid

Vinegar is a magical liquid I keep in my house because its magical cleaning power is amazing.

Here are some of the things I use vinegar for along with some uses I found online as well.

1. Clean out my coffee maker.

I use equal parts vinegar and water and run it through the coffee maker. I usually will turn it on, then once it starts dripping, shut it off and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then turn it back on and let it run through the brew cycle completely. If it is particularly dirty, or I haven't done it in a while (shame on me) then I may run it twice using fresh vinegar each time. Then make sure to run a couple batches of plain water through so your next cup of joe doesn't have a vinegar taste.

2. Odor remover

I have a dog, a cat and a kid. On especially wet and yucky days, I can smell the pets on everything, which is just gross. I will put equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and mist everything with it. It is safe for the animals and will help eliminate the odors left behind. I also use it as a refresher on bed linens and blankets between washings. Yes, the room will smell like one big pickle for a while, but the smell will evaporate and take the yucky odors with it. I have used it on my couch, dog bed, my bed, and carpet with no ill effects. If you are concerned with color fastness, test an inconspicuous spot before spraying the entire item.

3. Urine odors

Kids and pets, I swear. That spray bottle that helps eliminate odors above is also good for eliminating urine smells from a potty training puppy or bed wetting accident. Saturate the area, then cover in baking soda. Once the baking soda is dry, vacuum it up and the scent should be gone. Though tough stains and scents may take a second treatment.

4. Laundry

I live out in the country area and have well water. This means that my washer tends to get a musty smell every once in a while. To help eliminate that smell, I will add vinegar to my washer with the towels, but I will also use it to help clean my washing machine too. My favorite video on cleaning my washer is here.

5. Fabric Softener

I also use vinegar in my homemade fabric softener. I got my recipe from here.


Those are just 5 of the ways that vinegar can be used in a household. Here are a few more.



How do you use vinegar?

Happy cleaning.