Did you know: fall cleaning is just as important as spring cleaning? This season, skip the commercial (a.k.a. chemical) cleansers and reach for a bottle of all-natural apple cider vinegar instead!
Believe it or not, the popular dietary supplement—made from the fermented juice of fresh, pressed apples—is a smart solution for cleaning and freshening your home. Use the versatile vinegar to breathe new life into your:
1. Windows. Mix one-part apple cider vinegar with two parts water and use the solution to rid your windows of unsightly streaks and smudges.
2. Window blinds. Have some of your window solution left over? Use it to clean your blinds as well!
3. Countertops. Combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and apply the mixture to your kitchen and bathroom counters. Goodbye, grease, grime and bacteria!
4. Microwave. The same 1:1 solution of diluted apple cider vinegar and water can also be used to clean and disinfect your microwave.
5. Stove. A mixture of one-part apple cider vinegar and one-part water makes an excellent degreaser for your stove.
6. Dishwasher. Add one-quarter cup apple cider vinegar to your dishwasher’s wash cycle to clean and deodorize the appliance. Bonus: it will also remove stains from your coffee cups, glasses and dishes!
7. Refrigerator. Use a 1:1 solution of apple cider vinegar and water to clean your fridge from top to bottom, especially the door seals, which can be prone to mildew.
8. Tabletops. Forget the water! Use full-strength apple cider vinegar to remove stains from tabletops.
9. Bathtub. Use a mixture of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water to rid bathtubs of mild mildew. For more severe cases, treat the tub with straight vinegar. Tip: add a drop of lavender or citrus essential oil to the solution for fragrance!
10. Shower curtains. Add one cup apple cider vinegar to your wash cycle and toss your machine-washable shower curtains into the washing machine.
11. Toilets. Forget the water! Use straight apple cider vinegar to make the porcelain surfaces of your toilets sparkle.
12. Sinks. Fill your sinks with hot water and add two cups apple cider vinegar. Let the solution sit for up to two hours to rid the surface of hard water stains.
13. Drains. Pour a half cup baking soda down clogged drains, followed by a cup of apple cider vinegar and a cup of hot water. Allow 15 minutes for a chemical reaction (remember your grade school volcano science project?!) to occur, and then rinse with boiling water.
14. Washer. To clean the cavity of your washing machine, add two cups apple cider vinegar to an empty wash cycle. You can also use add a cup of apple cider vinegar to each laundry load to remove germs and odors!
15. Iron. Fill the reservoir of your clothes iron with apple cider vinegar. Then set it to steam and allow it to rest upright for approximately 10 minutes. Next, repeat the process with water and voilà. Your iron will be free of residue!
16. Carpet. Mix some apple cider vinegar with water and pour it into your carpet steamer to power away stains. You can also spray rugs with a 1:1 vinegar-water solution, allow it to soak for about an hour and then vacuum.
17. Fabric sofa. Combine a few tablespoons of salt with a bit of apple cider vinegar and rub the mixture directly onto sofa stains. After it dries, vacuum the affected area(s).
18. Walls. Apply full-strength apple cider vinegar to a clean cloth and use it to wipe down your walls. This is especially effective for removing dirt and ink!
19. Air. To freshen and deodorize your home, simply add some apple cider vinegar to a saucepan and simmer on the stove for approximately an hour. To eliminate intense odors, such as smoke, pour pure vinegar into small bowls and place them in rooms with the strongest scents.
20. Garden. Last but certainly not least, pour apple cider vinegar directly onto pesky weeds to remove stray growths from your garden.