Distilled white vinegar is a traditional cleaning solution that has many uses around the home. It is also known for its descaling properties and might just become your home cleaning staple. Find out some of the ways you can use this highly versatile product.

Clean your dishwasher

You can give your dishwasher a clean by placing 2 bowls, one on the top rack and the other on the bottom and then filling (about half way) with white vinegar. Then run a long hot wash and your dishwasher will come out clean and smelling fresh. Also to eliminate hard water spots on dishes and glassware, you can add white vinegar directly into the rinse aid compartment of your dishwasher.

Kill weeds

Best used on young annual weeds, you can pour white vinegar onto them to kill them. Or you can add the white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray onto the weeds if preferred. You might need to carry out this process a number of times for it to work effectively. Be careful not to put the white vinegar onto plants and greenery you want to keep.

Spruce up stainless steel appliances

Beforehand take a look at the ‘grain’ on the stainless steel you are about to clean, it will run either horizontally or vertically. Spray your appliance with white vinegar and wipe in the direction of the grain with a soft cloth to create a shine. Dip your cloth in a bit of oil (mineral or olive) and wipe in the direction of the grain again. After you’re done wipe the area with a clean cloth and your appliance should be shining!

Descaling the kettle

This is a cheap and effective way to remove limescale in your kettle. Fill your kettle with a solution of half white vinegar and half water and leave to soak overnight. The limescale will then remove easily in the morning when you rinse it. Rinse the kettle in the morning thoroughly and boil fresh water after, depending if the white vinegar odour has been removed you might want to boil it a few times. You might need to repeat the treatment if there is a lot of limescale build-up.

Remove grass and grime from lawnmower blades

Grass can accumulate on lawnmower blades along with insects too, especially if the grass was damp when you cut it. A quick way to keep them maintained is to wipe the blades with a cloth dampened with white vinegar. This will then remove any grass and insects that were stuck on and leave the blades clean.

Keep fresh flowers for longer

Keep fresh flowers longer by making a preservative solution by dissolving 3 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a quart of warm water. Make sure cut stems are covered by 7-10 centimeters of the solution. Change the water every few days or when it starts to turn cloudy and trim the stems.

Remove limescale from your showerhead

Remove the showerhead if possible and fill a re-sealable plastic bag with white vinegar, place the showerhead in the bag to allow to soak. You could also use a bowl instead of a plastic bag. Leave for several hours and then remove the bag and rinse the showerhead with water. Scrub away any limescale that is left with a soft clean sponge or toothbrush and rinse with water again. Reattach the shower head and run the shower for a few minutes to remove the white vinegar odour and use as normal.

These are just some of the white vinegar hacks you can use around the home. If you’re unsure about which cleaning products you can use on your appliances, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Always exercise caution and do not mix commercial cleaning products with homemade cleaning solutions as it is dangerous. Another incredibly versatile product is bicarbonate of soda, find out its many uses in our blog on 10 bicarbonate of soda hacks for the home.

Tags: cleaning hacks, distilled white vinegar, home cleaning