Why Vinegar is a Must Have In Your Home

There's one substance every homeowner absolutely MUST keep on hand at all times (and we aren't referring to wine!): plain old white vinegar. Buy the biggest, cheapest generic jug you can find, and you'll be shocked at all the purposes it serves. White vinegar is environmentally friendly, inexpensive, readily available, and capable of magical tasks you never imagined. We promise that smell goes away, too! Here are five great household uses for plain white vinegar: 

1. Effective and non-toxic weed killer: Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, add a few squirts of original Dawn liquid (the blue stuff) and shake well. Then, on a sunny day, spray liberally on any annoying weeds - such as the kind that poke through cracks in your sidewalks and driveway - and they'll wither away within the day. (Because no toxic chemicals are involved, this is a great and fun chore for kids!)

2. Natural deodorizer: To rid mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture of bad smells, spray a mixture of white vinegar and hot water on the surface and allow to set. Blot with a towel and allow the surface to dry - the vinegar odor will disappear right along with whatever smell you wanted gone (though you can add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice if the vinegar smell bothers you that much!).

3. Cleaner for sparkling windows and mirrors: That same mixture of water, vinegar and lemon juice you used on your upholstery can also get your windows and mirrors insanely shiny. Simply spray and wipe with a clean microfiber cloth.

4. Microwave de-greaser: To clean stuck-on grease and crumbs from your microwave, pour about 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon, into a Pyrex or other microwave-safe bowl and heat for about three minutes. When the timer goes off, leave it to set for about five minutes. The steam from the vinegar and water mixture will loosen everything that's stuck to the microwave surfaces, allowing it to be easily wiped away.

5. Miracle drain cleaner: Here's another great task for kids! Empty about a third of a box of baking soda into your kitchen and/or bathroom drains, followed by several generous "glugs" from the vinegar bottle. Congratulations - you've just created a drain volcano! Allow it to fizz and do its thing until the bubbles dissipate, then flush the drain with lots of hot water. Doing drain volcanoes monthly can help keep drains clear and eradicate any odors that may have gotten trapped.