Commercial cleaners are often full of harsh chemicals that cause health risks and environmental damage. Making your own cleaners at home allows you to eliminate the chemicals while saving money. Vinegar offers versatile cleaning capabilities and is safe for a variety of surfaces. Plain white vinegar works well for a variety of cleaning purposes, from cutting grease to reducing wax build-up, according to EarthEasy. Always test your homemade cleaning solutions before using them in a large area.
Make an All-Purpose Cleaner
Vinegar works well in an all-purpose cleaner because of its grease cutting and disinfecting properties. It works on a variety of general surfaces, such as showers, chrome, stainless steel appliances and counter tops. Mixing up a spray bottle of a vinegar-based all-purpose cleaner eases the cleaning process because of its versatility for different surfaces. EarthEasy recommends starting with 1/2 gallon of water, adding in 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda.
Wash Windows
A vinegar solution cleans windows without streaks or film, according to the Vinegar Institute. Equal parts of vinegar and warm water create a natural window-cleaning solution for the home. Apply the mixture with a cloth or place it in a spray bottle. Wipe off the window with a dry, soft cloth. The Daily Green recommends using newspaper instead of a cloth, which can also help reduce streaks.
Clean the Bathroom
Vinegar works well for a variety of bathroom-cleaning jobs. Vinegar may help remove mold or mildew from the bathroom. The Daily Green recommends spraying or pouring vinegar on the affected areas and letting it rest for a few minutes. Scrub the area with stiff brush to remove the mold or mildew. A similar process works to remove film or soap residue from the shower walls and doors.
Instead of harsh toilet bowl cleaners, try using vinegar to clean and deodorize the toilet. Spraying vinegar and scrubbing the toilet removes stains. To deodorize the toilet, pour vinegar in the bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Soaking your shower head or faucet in vinegar helps remove buildup. If you can't soak it in vinegar, soak a terry cloth towel and wrap it around the faucet or shower head.
Clean Floors
Vinegar works on floors as both a general floor cleaner and a carpet stain remover. A half cup distilled vinegar mixed with 1/2 gallon of warm water creates a simple cleaner for no-wax floors, according to the Vinegar Institute. Try the floor cleaner on a spot that isn't highly visible before washing the entire floor with the solution.
For a carpet stain remover, mix 1 tsp. of a liquid detergent and 1 tsp. of vinegar with 1 pint of lukewarm water. Gently rub the mixture into the stain using a soft towel or brush. A dampened towel is used to rinse out the vinegar mixture, followed by a dry towel to blot the area dry. If the stain isn't removed the first time, repeat the process until it is gone. A hair dryer or fan dries the carpet quickly after the stain is gone.
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