Most of us have a bottle of vinegar in the pantry but do you have one in your cleaning kit? There are a multitude of household uses for vinegar and it is not only cheap but it is safe and environmentally friendly. Here I’ve got 10 household uses for vinegar that you can put to use in your home today.

1. Remove ballpoint pen from a wall

Next time your little darling takes to your hallway wall with a pen, pull out the vinegar. Plain white vinegar can be used to remove pen marks on walls by soaking a cloth with full strength vinegar and dabbing the offending “artwork” until all signs of it are gone.

2. Get rid of water marks on furniture

If you’ve put a wet glass down on a wooden table without a coaster at some point, you’re likely to have some unsightly water marks (those lovely white circles) that just won’t budge. Mix equal parts olive oil and white vinegar and wipe over the mark, following the wood grain, and then polish up with another cloth. Water marks be gone!

3. Fix blocked smelly drains

Combining baking soda and vinegar is an age-old cleaning trick. To remove build up and odor from drains, grab a funnel and pour down 1/2 a cup of baking soda and then 1 cup of plain vinegar. Once it finishes bubbling turn the hot tap on and rinse. Wait 5-10 minutes and then rinse with cold water.

4. Shine up taps and other stainless steel

While we are in the kitchen or bathroom, grab a spray bottle and fill with vinegar. Give your taps a thorough misting and then use a dry, lint free cloth to polish. They will shine like you wouldn’t believe!

5. Home made rinse aid & fabric softener

Instead of the expensive options available at the supermarket you can use a 1/4 cup of vinegar as a rinse aid in the dishwasher to keep your glasses sparkling or as a fabric softener for your washing. Don’t worry, your clothes and dishes won’t come out smelling like vinegar, I promise!

6. Deodorise a stinky lunchbox

Did you leave the salmon sandwich in the lunch box over the weekend only to discover your lovely Tupperware now smells like the fish markets? Don’t fear, vinegar is here! After cleaning the lunch box, soak a piece of bread or a sponge in vinegar and leave in there overnight. In the morning, remove and rinse. The smell will be gone.

7. Remove bugs from the pantry

Have you opened your pantry to find moths or other less than welcome bugs? Fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing detergent and then leave it in there for a week. The bugs will be attracted to it and get stuck in the mixture. Once you’ve gotten rid of the bugs, empty the pantry and wipe all the shelves over with dishwashing liquid with a few drops of oil of cloves. Throw away any flours, pasta’s or other wheat based products as these are likely to be hiding bugs.

8. Clean your washing machine

Add 2 litres of white vinegar and run a full hot cycle with no clothes to get rid of build up and smells. Don’t do this too regularly as it can damage the seals but once a season or so will be fine.

9. Get rid of sweat stains and odours on clothes

If some of your clothes have a lovely yellow staining around the collars and armpits these can be removed by mixing 2 parts baking soda with 3 parts vinegar to make a paste. Scrub the affected areas and leave to set for up to an hour and then wash as usual.

10. Keep cats and other animals out of the veggie patch or sandpit

If you’ve just planted some seedlings or set up a new sandpit, the last thing you need is the cat using it as a litter tray and digging everything up. Cats and many other animals (including dogs), hate the smell of vinegar even once dried. Soak some rags in white vinegar and then tie to stakes at the corners of your garden. Re-soak them once every 1-2 weeks to keep them effective. The cat will stay away.

Do you have any other great uses for vinegar? Tell me about them in the comments and feel free to Pin this to Pintrest or hit share to Facebook below. Thanks!