Clean with vinegar - 21 effective tips

Cleaning with vinegar is effective, but not on all materials. Learn how to clean with vinegar, which materials can withstand cleaning with vinegar and not. Read our tricks and housewife tips about vinegar here!

How to dose correctly

There is sometimes confusion when we talk about vinegar. When it comes to dosing vinegar and recipes for homemade cleansers with vinegar, there are actually two variants we should think about, vinegar and vinegar.

White vinegar (ättika) that can in Sweden be bought in a small square glass bottle has a strength of 24% acetic acid, while "Ättiksprit" that you find in a round larger glass bottle has 12% strength. This means that you need to double the amount of ättiksprit if a recipe states ättika as an ingredient. It is the acid in the vinegar that makes it so good for cleaning, getting rid of bad odors and descaling.

Homemade products for cleaning with vinegar

Few products are as versatile as vinegar. The antibacterial agent has innumerable
uses for cleaning at home. Here you get some recipes for your own cleaning products based on vinegar. Keep in mind that vinegar is corrosive, so wear rubber gloves when cleaning with vinegar. Keep it and mixtures that you have made with it out of the reach of children and never pour it into bottles that can be interpreted as a beverage. Avoid inhaling vinegar, especially if it's warmed up. If you are unsure about cleaning a surface with vinegar, first test in a hidden place where it is not so visible.

1. All purpose cleaner

Mix 2 dl vinegar and 2 dl water in a spray bottle. Suitable as an all-purpose cleaner to use in bathrooms and kitchens. However, avoid all surfaces of natural stone such as marble, granite and the like when using vinegar as it is corrosive and damages the stone.

2. All purpose cleaner with dish soap

Combine 1 dl white vinegar with 4 dl water and 1 teaspoon dish soap. Try this mix on door frames, handles, baseboards and other surfaces at home. As soon as vinegar is involved, the mixture should not be used on stone surfaces due to the corrosive properties of vinegar.

3. All purpose cleaner with essential oil

If you are not so fond of the smell of vinegar, you can enhance the scent with an essential oil. Mix half 2.5 dl vinegar and 2.5 dl water in a spray bottle. Add about 10 drops of essential oil. Choose lemon for freshness or eucalyptus for a refreshing scent Use, for example, for the stainless steel sink and laminate worktop. Never use vinegar on marble or other stone types and be careful on glossy surfaces that can fade.

4. All purpose cleaner with lemon peel

A good way to reuse the peels from lemons is to use them for cleaning in combination with vinegar and water. Put the lemon peel in a jar and fill with so much vinegar that the peels are covered. Put the lid on and let the jar stand for a couple of weeks. Remove the peels and add as much water as vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle to use as an all-purpose cleaner or in a bottle with a spout to mix into the mop bucket. Stone and acids do not work well together, so you can use this mixture on materials that are not natural stone.

5. Scouring cream

Mix bicarbonate and a little water to a batter in a bowl. Scrub with the bicarbonate batter and a brush on stains and tile grout in the bathroom. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray over the batter. It starts to bubble and fizz and the cleaning starts. Continue brushing until the solution has stopped working and then rinse with clean water. The combination also works on the stove. Then you first sift over bicarbonate and spray with the vinegar and water solution after. Here, a microfiber cloth usually works well instead of a brush. Wear gloves to protect your hands from acid.

6. Oven cleaning

Clean with baking powder and vinegar and get your oven clean and fresh. With 2 dl of vinegar in a spray bottle and a bag of baking soda, you can easily achieve a vinegar baking soda cleaning in your oven. Spread baking powder on the bottom and then spray on the vinegar. It starts to bubble and fizz and the cleaning is in progress. Mix baking powder and vinegar into a batter and rub in the sides of the oven as well. Wear rubber gloves and do this in a well-ventilated kitchen as the vinegar is strong and the smell can be intense. Also be sure to cover the floor with plastic to avoid spills and splatters. Wait until the whole thing has dried and then wipe with a clean cloth and warm water.

7. Window and glass cleaner

To make your own window cleaner, mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 1 l of water in a spray bottle. Spray on window glass and mirrors. Also great for spraying in and on larger vases that can otherwise be tricky to wash by hand. Wipe clean with a non-fluffy cloth, such as a microfiber cloth.

8. Descaler for the bathroom

Clean with vinegar and oil soap in the bathroom and mix 5 dl water, 3 tbsp vinegar and 1 dl oil soap in a spray bottle and spray for example around taps, bath mixers and shower mixers where water often stands and forms limescale deposits. Let the product work for a while and then brush with a used toothbrush. It also works well with other surfaces in the bathroom because it's anti bacterial and you can avoid mold that otherwise easily occurs in damp spaces.

9. Shower spray

Pour 2 dl vinegar and 2 dl water into a spray bottle that you store in the shower. When you have finished showering, spray the walls, the door to the shower cabin and your shower curtain with the mixture. It prevents both bad smells and mold and removes limescale deposits.

10. Washing machine cleaner

It may seem strange to have to wash the washing machine, but after a period of use, the washing machine also needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Pour 1 1/2 dl vinegar into the detergent compartment. Turn on the empty machine on a 60-90 degree program and let the vinegar do the work

11. Stain remover on clothes

Sweat spots in armpits on clothes, deodorant discolorations, blood stains, tomato stains and stains of mustard and ketchup. You can get rid of them with vinegar. Bathe the stain and rub gently with a cloth dipped in water with a splash of vinegar in. Wait a while and then wash the garment as usual. If you are very precious about it, you can test on a hem first, but the question is which is worse, a stain that is clearly visible or a paler one. May be worth a try.

12. Stain remover on carpet

Mix 1 dl water with 1 dl vinegar in a spray bottle and remove stains on carpets. Spray on the stain, rub and bathe gently with a clean towel. Repeat until the stain dissolves and disappears.

13. Fabric softener

Instead of the fabric softeners you buy in the store, you can use vinegar. Mix 7.5 dl water with 2.5 dl vinegar in a bottle and store in the laundry room. When washing, simply add a few tablespoons to the rinse aid dispenser. You can add your personal touch by adding 10-15 drops of essential oil for a fragrant wash.

Remove bad odor with vinegar

Vinegar is the best remedy to get rid of bad odor as it neutralizes odors. The fact that vinegar itself does not smell good does not affect the result when you want to remove foul smells. The scent from the product evaporates and in most cases you can supplement with essential oil to get an even better scent if you want. Here we have collected some of all the uses where you can use vinegar to enhance the scent.

14. Toilets

When the toilet drain smells bad, you can pour 1 dl of vinegar into the toilet. Let it stand for a quarter, scrub with the toilet brush and rinse clean.

15. The refrigerator

You'll get rid of bad smell in the refrigerator if you wipe it down with vinegar mixed with water. If the odor persists, you can set a bowl of vinegar overnight that also neutralizes the air in the refrigerator.

16. The dishcloth and dish brush

Refresh your dish washing tools by placing them in a bowl of water and vinegar.

17. The car

Did you forget the bag after the fast food in the car? Set a glass of vinegar overnight. The next day, the smell has disappeared or at least softened. Repeat if necessary.

18. Towels

When towels start to smell musty even though they've been freshly washed, it's time for a vinegar cure. Wash them first in warm water with 1 dl vinegar. Wash once more in hot water with ½ dl bicarbonate. During this process, don't use ordinary detergent. The musty odor is neutralized and at the next wash you wash as usual again.

19. Old furniture

An old piece of furniture that has become musty inside can be fresher with the help of vinegar. Set a bowl in the empty box or cupboard and let stand for 24 hours. Ventilate and repeat as needed.

Descaling with vinegar

20. The coffee maker

Does the coffee not taste as good as before? Do this to descale the coffee maker. Half fill the water tank with water and half with 12% vinegar. Put a paper filter in the holder and let the liquid brew through to half. Turn off the coffee maker and let stand for 30 minutes. Then continue to brew until everything has run through. Insert a new filter and rinse by brewing a jug with just water and then repeat the rinsing a few more times. Descaled and ready!

21. The shower nozzle

Has your shower nozzle clogged so you got bad water pressure? Mix some water with some vinegar in a plastic bag. Thread the bag over the shower nozzle and hold it with a rubber band. Make sure the shower head holes are submerged in the mixture and leave it there for an hour or longer. Remove the bag and rinse for a while with warm water.

Avoid vinegar here

For some things, vinegar is not suitable for various reasons. Read more below.

Descaling of irons

Don't descale your iron with vinegar as the acid can damage the electronics. Keep your iron free of limescale by draining any remaining water after each use and following the instructions for how to descale.

For natural stone

Don't use vinegar on natural stone such as granite and marble. The acid makes the stone dull and there are stains that can't be removed.

For waxed surfaces

Don't use vinegar on waxed surfaces such as waxed floors and waxed furniture. The surface is matted and the protective property of the wax is destroyed.

For shiny surfaces

Don't use vinegar on shiny and glossy surfaces such as lacquered table tops. Vinegar is acidic and the surface can become dull if you are unlucky.

For egg stains

Don't use vinegar to try to remove stains from eggs. The vinegar coagulates the egg, which only adheres even more. Instead, try rinsing and scraping off the stain under cold water.