Clean Your Home for $5 or Less

If you want to clean your home both cheaply and safely, you can’t beat vinegar. You can get a gallon-sized jug of it at most supermarkets, and it’s effective for cleaning a whole bunch of things. Let’s take a look at some of vinegar’s household uses that can definitely save you money.

1. In the Kitchen

Use vinegar in the kitchen to clean your fridge. You can use it on both outer and inner surfaces with a 50-50 vinegar and water mix. You can also clean your drain with it. Sprinkle some baking soda in your drain and pour in a little vinegar to remove odors, then grab your scrub brush and go to town. You can also clean and deodorize your cutting boards, microwave, and countertops with vinegar.

2. For the Bathroom

In the bathroom, use vinegar to clean your toilet (especially effective if you add baking soda or borax), sink, mirror, countertops, and more. For most surfaces, use a diluted 50-50 solution. But if you want to clean stubborn gunk from your shower, you can actually bring straight vinegar to a boil, then use a sponge to wipe down tile and shower doors. Then, for more power, sprinkle some baking soda on a non-scratch sponge and go to town on soap scum before rinsing. To remove hard water scale from your shower head, put some vinegar in a plastic bag and wrap it around your shower head with a rubber band or twist-tie. Let it sit overnight.

3. Yes, the Bedroom

Most of us would definitely think of vinegar for cleaning in the kitchen and bath, but what about your bedroom? You can actually disinfect your mattress with a mix of white vinegar, a little rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of tea tree oil. Put it all in a spray bottle and lightly spray your mattress. You’ll help fight mildew, odor, and even dust mites. When you’re done, if you feel you need more, dust the mattress with baking soda and let it dry, then vacuum it all up.

4. Living Room

Did you know that — in the right mix — vinegar can be used on wood furniture? Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 cup olive oil. You can even add a few drops of citrus essential oil if you like. This mix can keep your wood looking clean and conditioned.

5. Laundry

Vinegar comes real handy in the laundry room. It softens fabrics, helps remove stains, and neutralizes odors.

6. Floors

Vinegar is useful for cleaning floors without leaving that notorious residue.