If you're looking for a natural cleaning agent thats inexpensive, effective, and has tons of uses around the home, distilled white vinegar is your answer. It's undoubtedly the best thing you can have on hand and has been used for decades...it's old-school, if you will. About two years ago (when Meriwether was born), I started keeping it in stock at all times for laundry purposes, but as I've found, this powerhouse liquid can do so much more. I've rounded up a list of all the surprising ways you can use it in your home and beyond.

*Be aware that vinegar does have an odor, but once it dries it leaves a scentless, fresh and clean home behind. If you absolutely hate the smell, you can simply add ten drops of your favorite essential oil(s) to your half water/half vinegar cleaning mixtures.

SHOP THESE CLEANING FAVORITES

No. 1 // LAUNDRY

I could do an entire post about using this miracle liquid in your laundry, but I'll keep it short. Using inexpensive distilled white vinegar in your laundry will...

1. Whiten

2. Brighten

3. Banish odors

4. Soften fabrics

5. Keep your darks, well, dark

6. Remove perspiration stains

7. Reduces lint and pet hair when used in the rinse cycle

8. Cleans your washing machine (!!)

9. Removes smoke/bonfire odors

10. Clears mineral build up in your iron when added to the water reservoir

I buy the largest gallon size and keep it in my laundry closet and under my kitchen sink. I first sprinkle baking soda on the top of the laundry load. Then, I use about a 1/2 cup in conjunction with my detergent, though you can use it in place of detergent. I just use less detergent and add the vinegar in as well. Vinegar is safe to use in all washing machines and is actually beneficial to septic tanks and the environment. 

No. 2 // WINDOW & COUNTERTOP CLEANER

Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Spray windows/countertops, then wipe clean with a cleaning cloth. I recommend these reusable glass spray bottles for different areas in your home. They're inexpensive, and they look nice sitting out on your counter (which encourages cleaning often). I use this label maker to label my bottles and place them around my home. These microfiber cloths are perfect for a dust free finish on furniture and mirrors.

No. 3 // KEEP CUT FLOWERS FRESH

Fresh flowers last longer if you add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the water in the vase (approx 1 quart). Trim stems and change the water every few days or when the water starts to get cloudy.

No. 4 // MICROWAVE CLEANING

Boil a solution of ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave until steam forms on the window. Easily wipe away food residue.

No. 5 // SPARKLING DISHES & GLASSWARE

For sparkling results, add 1½ to 2 cups white distilled vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher. Wash on regular cycle using the usual amount of detergent.

No. 6 // FRESHEN DRAINS

Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down your drains when cleaning the rest of your home. Let sit for thirty minutes, then flush with cold water. This will keep drains clear and fresh.

No. 7 // DECALCIFY SLEEP APNEA (CPAP) MACHINES

My father-in-law has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine. To remove calcium deposits in the CPAP reservoir, heat 1¾ cups of vinegar in the microwave for two minutes. Pour vinegar into the reservoir and replace the cap. Allow this to sit for one hour before pouring out the vinegar. (As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.

No. 8 // REMOVE SHAMPOO BUILD UP

After every few washings, remove shampoo buildup by rinsing hair with a solution of 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar (either white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar) and 1 cup of water. Adjust the amount of vinegar to suit your hair type — using less vinegar for dry hair and more vinegar for oily hair. A second rinse with plain water is optional. Results are silky, shiny hair.

No. 9 // CLEAN COPPER, BRASS AND PEWTER PIECES

To effortlessly remove tarnish, apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon salt, ½ cup of white distilled vinegar and enough flour to make a paste. Apply to the metal and allow it to stand for 15 minutes. Rinse with clean water and polish with a soft, dry cloth. (The flour keeps the vinegar and salt in contact with the tarnished surface.)

No. 10 // BATHROOM CLEANER

To prevent soap scum buildup in your shower, wipe doors with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar. No need to rinse. You can remove bathtub film by wiping it first with white distilled vinegar, then with baking soda. Rinse away with clean water for a sparkling tub. Use white distilled vinegar to dissolve mineral buildup in your shower head. Add a cup of vinegar to a plastic storage bag. Using a rubber band to secure it, place the bag over the shower head so it's sitting in the vinegar. Allow it to soak overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and turn on the shower to rinse.

No. 11 // STICKER RESIDUE

To remove sticker residue, saturate the entire area with distilled white vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and the residue should peel off easily.

No. 12 // REMOVE WINE STAINS

To remove wine stains from cotton, cotton/polyester and permanent press fabrics, it’s important to treat the stain within 24 hours. Sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the area until the stain disappears. Proceed to launder according to directions on care label.

No. 13 // KEEP BERRIES FRESH, LONGER

Once you bring your fresh berries home, the key to keeping them fresh is to kill any spores on the fruit. The pH of white vinegar does the job. Place the berries in a large bowl and wash them in a vinegar-water bath: 1 cup of white vinegar and 8 cups of water.

No. 14 // REMOVE SCORCH MARKS ON CLOTHING & IRON

Dip the corner of a cloth in white vinegar. Rub lightly on the scorched area of fabric. Wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat as needed.

Heat equal parts of white distilled vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub mixture onto the bottom of a cooled iron to remove any scorch marks.

No. 15 // CLEAN PET URINE IN CARPETS

*And Other Liquid Stains*

Blot up as much of the urine as possible by laying several paper towels over the area and walking on them (the extra pressure increases absorption). Replace towels and blot until most of the urine is removed.

Before treating the area with vinegar, test in an inconspicuous place for colorfastness. If colors don’t run, saturate the stain with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water. Allow it to sit on the area for at least 10 minutes. Blot again, replacing towels as needed. When the carpet is mostly dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area. This will help absorb odors. Vacuum in about an hour.

No. 16 // FLOOR CLEANER

For rinse-free and residue-free cleaning, mop your floors using a solution of ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to a half gallon of warm water. I recommend making a batch, then pouring it in a large spray bottle or pour it into the container on your spray mop. I spray my floors instead of using a bucket for mopping...it's much easier in my opinion. This is my favorite mop of all time. I've had it for years - great quality. You can also buy extra pads. I have a pack of three.

No. 17 // KILL YARD WEEDS & GRASS

You can stop buying store-bought grass and weed killers. Pour full-strength white distilled vinegar on unwanted vegetation. Reapply as needed.

No. 19 // CLEAN COFFEE MAKER

To dissolve buildup in your coffee maker, fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run the coffee maker through a brewing cycle. Empty the pot or container. Rinse vinegar residue by running a full reservoir of water through the brew cycle. *As always, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

No. 20 // REMOVE WATER RINGS

If your friends and family are too lazy to use coasters, you might end up with rings on your wood coffee table. To remove marks left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it up. To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.

It was so much fun putting this post together! Vinegar is a huge part of keeping my own home clean, and I hope you can use some of these methods in your home as well. Enjoy!