There are few readily available ingredients that are as versatile as distilled white vinegar. It’s cheap, comes in huge gallon jugs, and is widely used by cleaning professionals on just about every surface of the home. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, which makes it a great sanitizer in the kitchen, and it can be combined with baking soda to create a fizzy, deep cleaning scrub for stubborn stains. Here are some of the best ways to clean with white vinegar.

Make an All-Purpose Spray Cleaner

Mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle to create an effective all-purpose cleaner. Simply spray down your sink, countertops, floors, or whatever else might need a little polishing, then wipe away with a clean cloth or paper towel. To help balance out the vinegar smell, you can use citrus peels to create an easy DIY citrus cleaner, which has all of the great effects of the simple 1:1 water and vinegar spray, but with a light citrusy fragrance.

Use in the Dishwasher

If your glassware tends to have a cloudy or spotty look after coming out of the dishwasher, vinegar can act as a very effective rinse aid. Just add a bowl of vinegar to the top rack of your dishwasher to reach those upper dishes that need it the most, or pour half a cup in the bottom of the machine to give your dishes an extra shine.

Remove Coffee Maker Mineral Build-Up

Automatic coffee makers and electric tea kettles are prone to mineral build-up, leaving a stubborn white residue behind that can clog up your small appliances. To clean your coffee maker, pour a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water in the reservoir and let it run through the machine, then rinse once or twice to remove any lingering vinegar smell. For an electric kettle, simply boil the vinegar solution and rinse. Just like that, no more build-up!

Make Baking Sheets Sparkle

Make even the most banged up, impossibly stained cookie sheets shine again with baking soda, vinegar, and a little elbow grease. Clean your baking sheets with equal parts baking soda and white vinegar, then sit back and watch it fizz like a middle school science experiment. Let the trays soak for at least 30 minutes, then take a scrubby sponge or scouring pad to the surface in even, circular motions. For particularly stubborn spots, let it soak for another hour. Your pans will be sparkling in no time!

Vinegar is a safe, effective way to clean your home, and a $3 gallon of the stuff will last for months. You can also use it as a deodorizer, refrigerator cleaner, drain un-clogger, and window cleaner.

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