One of the items that always make my Costco list is white vinegar. There are so many cool uses of white vinegar that range from cooking to cleaning, this product is a must for any household. Here are some of my favorite uses for this super ingredient.

A cleaning agent.

As we become more earth conscious, people are noticing that many of the ingredients manufacturers put in cleaning products do more harm to the environment and us than the germs we’re so desperately trying to get rid of. 

White vinegar is cheap and because it has antimicrobial properties it does a really good job at cleaning and disinfecting. It cuts through grease with very little effort.

Here’s how to make a simple eco-friendly homemade surface cleaner.

• Use 1 part distilled white vinegar and 2 parts water. I like to add lemon, lime, or orange rind to the mixture for a nice smell. You can also use a few drops of your favorite scent of essential oils. Put all the ingredients in a spray bottle and you have your homemade cleaner. It’s safe to use on kitchen counters, stovetops, etc.

Here are a few more uses for vinegar from the Family Handyman that I haven’t tried yet.

Unclog your sinks

Move over Draino. One of my favorite hacks when my sink gets clogged.

1. Pour hot water down the drain, even if it is clogged. Don’t use hot water from the tap, boil the water, it needs to be really hot when you are pouring it down the drain, especially if the water is stagnant. If that’s the case it’ll heat the standing water in the drain. 
2. Add about a cup of baking soda (another household staple that has amazing uses).
3. Next, add about a cup of white vinegar. It’ll start fizzing (think cool science experiment). 
4. Wait about 15 – 30 minutes then flush with more boiling water.
5. If the clog doesn’t start to loosen carefully plunge to help push the water down.

This method has worked for me many times and has saved me money.

Remove water stains

I love growing my own herbs so many years ago I invested in an Aerogarden, which I absolutely love! When one crop of herbs is done you have to clean out the dead roots and water stains. I’ve been adding white vinegar and letting it run through the pump and that cleans out the system so everything is nice and clean for the next set of herbs.

Remove calcium buildup in kettles and showerheads

To clean the calcium from your kettle, fill the kettle with a cup of white vinegar and heat it on the stove. The fumes will be strong so be aware of that. Leave it on the stove for a few minutes after you turn off the burner, you’ll notice that the hard calcium breaks down. Drain the vinegar from the kettle then rinse several times with regular water to make sure all the calcium and vinegar are removed.

For your showerhead, remove it and soak it in vinegar and a little dish soap. This will also remove the calcium that clogs the nozzles. Leave it soaking overnight or for a few hours depending on the amount of buildup you are trying to remove. Rinse your showerhead before you put it back on. 

There are many other white vinegar hacks that you can find on the internet but these are a few of my favorites that I use all the time.

What are your favorite white vinegar hacks?