18 Ways to Clean and Remove Odors With Vinegar

Non-toxic and inexpensive, simple white vinegar is a cleaning and deodorizing boon. Indoors and out, from kitchen surfaces and caring for laundry to tackling bugs and weeds, there are many uses for this kid and pet-safe, environmentally-friendly household staple and workhorse extraordinaire…

How many ways can you put vinegar to work in your home?

• Kitchen
  • Clean and kill kitchen germs.
    With full-strength vinegar on counters, stovetops, and in the fridge – also works on bathroom surfaces!
  • Destroy drain & disposal odors.
    Pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain, let sit for 30-60 minutes, then flush with water. Is disposal still stinky? Try processing vinegar ice cubes.
  • Remove buildup.
    Pour a cup of vinegar into your dishwasher or drip coffee pot once per month, then let it run a full cycle to reduce soap and/or food buildup.
  • Bug banisher.
    Spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, counters, and any place ants are seen trailing to keep them away.
  • Onion eliminator.
    If hands or containers become scented by onion or garlic, wipe down with vinegar to safely remove odors.
• Bath
  • Defeat deposits.
    Scrub fixtures with a 4:1 mixture of vinegar to salt to restore shine. Scummy shower doors? Wipe down with a vinegar-soaked sponge and air dry.
  • Tidy toilets.
    Pour a cup or more into the bowl and let sit overnight. Scrub and flush.
  • Free-up flow.
    Pour in a plastic storage bag, secure with an elastic band, then soak showerheads in vinegar overnight to restore pressure and flow.
  • Unclog drains.
    Pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of vinegar, down the drains. Rinse with boiling water. (Caution: Solution will fizz!)
• All-Over
  • Room odors.
    Pour some vinegar in a small bowl, then let sit overnight to erase odors.
  • No-wax floors.
    Mop with a solution of ½ cup vinegar to a half gallon warm water for a clean, rinse-free shine.
  • Carpet care.
    A 50/50 water/vinegar solution applied after soaking up offensive spills can help curtail spots and smells.
  • Window washer.
    Grab some old newspapers and a spray bottle filled with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for the most sparkling windows on the block.
  • Fabric softener & natural whitener.
    Sub ½ cup white vinegar for an inexpensive, chemical-free fabric softener, or a cup for soft, lightened fabrics and skip the harsh bleach.
• Pet Care
  • Fancy fur.
    One cup of vinegar mixed with one quart of water offers an inexpensive pet care product that not only shines your dog’s fur but helps repel fleas and ticks.
  • Sanitize carpet smells.
    With ¼ cup vinegar per quart of water, blotted onto pet messes with a washcloth.
  • Banish box odors.
    Pour a half inch into your empty litter box tray, let stand for 20 minutes, rinse, then air dry to staunch smells.
• Outdoors
  • Eliminate weeds.
    Pour full strength to saturate roots in walkway and driveway cracks and nix toxic chemical sprays.

Caution! Don’t use vinegar on this:

Granite and marble surfaces, as well as stone floor tiles. Don’t put it in your iron either – it will muck up components. In addition, spot test fabrics and upholstery before use, as well as hardwood floors, which may or may not be vinegar compatible. Also, avoid the use of vinegar on egg stains and spills due to coagulation issues.