X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Vinegar: the magic cleaner around the house

3 min read

It’s cheap, readily available and extremely versatile; vinegar can cut grease, remove odours and even repel bugs. It’s also a safer, natural alternative to bleach and other household detergents.

So have a bottle or two of undiluted white distilled vinegar ready (it’s more convenient in a spray bottle!), as we show you 15 ways to use vinegar to manage a spotless home, and save money too!

Clean

  • Clean glass windows, greasy oven doors and glassware by spraying on undiluted vinegar and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe away with newspaper or a sponge.
  • Adhesive residue from tape and glue can be cleaned off by wiping off with undiluted vinegar.
  • To remove residue buildup from glass bottles, pour in hot water and vinegar in equal parts and leave for an hour, then scrub the inside with a brush.
  • Effectively rid grime, soap scum, mold and mildew in your bathroom by wiping with undiluted white distilled vinegar and wash off with water. You can also bring the shine back to chrome taps by polishing with vinegar.
  • Say goodbye to white water rings from wood furniture with a half-and-half white distilled vinegar and vegetable oil solution. Simply rub the solution on the stain along the grain of the wood.
  • Calcium and mineral build-up on ceramic heaters in some kitchen appliances can be easily removed by pouring on undiluted white distilled vinegar, and scrubbing off the remaining calcium deposits after 20 minutes.

Deodorise

Vinegar: the magic cleaner around the house

  • Wipe away bad smells on kitchen countertops with an undiluted vinegar-soaked sponge or cloth.
  • Use diluted white distilled vinegar for a final wipe in your just-cleaned oven to avoid smell while heating up.
  • Use a vinegar-dampened cloth to wipe up plastic food containers with stains or a lingering smell.
  • You can freshen up your toilet bowl by pouring in 750ml of white distilled vinegar and letting it rest for ½ an hour before you flush.
  • Eliminate accumulated smells from sponges and rags by soaking them in water (just enough water to cover the contents), then add in 60ml of white distilled vinegar and leave it overnight.
  • Smells from garbage bins and rubbish chutes can be eliminated by pouring in a cup of vinegar, and leaving it in for an hour before rinsing with water.
  • Leaving a bowl of vinegar in a room overnight will eliminate any lasting smell.

Repel bugs

  • Ant problem? Spray some undiluted vinegar at your doorways, windowsills, around your appliances or just anywhere you find them to stop them in their tracks.
  • Fruit flies hate vinegar too. A small dish of undiluted vinegar near your fruits will keep fruit flies at bay.

Disclaimer

Do remember that vinegar is an acid (though a weak one); certain kitchen appliance manufacturers do have an (often strong) opinion about using it in their products, particularly dishwashers and washing machines that have rubber components to ensure water-tightness. So make sure to read the instruction manual for your kitchen appliance for advice and clarification before using vinegar on it.

Partner Stories
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore
Health is Your Greatest Wealth. Learn How Your CPF Savings Can Safeguard Your Healthcare Needs and Provide Peace of Mind
Health is Your Greatest Wealth. Learn How Your CPF Savings Can Safeguard Your Healthcare Needs and Provide Peace of Mind

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Winston Tay

  • Home
  • /
  • Lifestyle
  • /
  • Vinegar: the magic cleaner around the house
Share:
  • 8 Cleaning Mistakes That Leave Your Home Dirtier

    8 Cleaning Mistakes That Leave Your Home Dirtier

  • How to have a happy retirement

    How to have a happy retirement

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • 8 Cleaning Mistakes That Leave Your Home Dirtier

    8 Cleaning Mistakes That Leave Your Home Dirtier

  • How to have a happy retirement

    How to have a happy retirement

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.