For this bathroom tip, we're going to look at ten things you can clean in your bathroom using vinegar either by itself, or combined with another natural cleansing agent (like baking soda).

 

Vinegar has been proven to be an effective killer of household pathogens. In some instances, it can safely be used as a bleach alternative when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting.

 

Here are ten ways to clean your bathroom using standard household Distilled White Vinegar:

  1. Toilet bowl - Pour one cup of vinegar in your toilet bowl and let it set overnight. Then, sprinkle baking soda around your bowl and scrub with your toilet brush. Flush. If you have stubborn stains in your bowl, try emptying the water before adding the vinegar and letting it set.
  2. Floors - Using a 1-to-1 ratio of vinegar and water (or just straight vinegar if needed), cleaning your bathroom floors with this solution can help remove stains and odors. This is especially handy around the base of your toilet.
  3. Drains - If you have stains around your drains, vinegar can help with that, too. Plug your drain and pour 1/2 cup into your tub or sink, just enough to cover your drain stain. Let it set for a couple of hours. Scrub the stain, pull the drain-plug, and rinse the area.
  4. Showerhead - Pour some vinegar into a plastic bag, and secure the bag around your showerhead. Make sure you have enough vinegar in it to cover the bottom of your showerhead. Let this set overnight. Simply remove the next morning and turn on the shower to rinse the head off.
  5. Mirrors - In a 32 ounce bottle, add 1/3 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol. Finish filling the bottle with water. Not only will this solution disinfect, it will dry streak-free.
  6. Handles and doorknobs - Mix a 1-to-1 ratio of vinegar and hot water (as hot as you can stand it). Use a cleaning cloth and this mixture to wipe down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, toilet handles, shower knobs, faucet handles, and any other surface that gets touched frequently. Keeping these areas disinfected can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.
  7. Faucets - If you have a build-up of soap scum on your bathroom faucets, use a mixture of 1 part salt and 4 parts vinegar (or 1/2 cup salt and 1 cup vinegar, for example). Saturate your cleaning rag in this solution and wipe down the soap-scummy area.
  8. Rugs and towels - For clothing items that have a mildew-y smell, simply add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your wash load. This will help remove the smell and it won't hurt your fabrics.
  9. Grout - Spray the grout down with straight vinegar. Make sure it's good and saturated, and let it set for about 20 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes, use a scrub brush (a toothbrush works great), and scrub away the dirt and gunk that have built up on your grout.
  10. Shower Liners - Should you, or someone you know, have shower liners with soap scum issues, you can use straight vinegar to wipe down the scummy areas. You can either spray it and let it set for a moment, then wipe, or you can saturate your cleaning cloth with the vinegar and wipe it down that way.

 

Dirt and germs can lurk in the smallest of places. Keeping your home disinfected can help keep you healthier, protect you against illnesses, and help stop the spread of germs. Knowing that you're cleaning your home with a safe, non-toxic alternative to harsh chemicals can also give you peace of mind -- you are receiving a clean home without the concern of dangerous commercial cleaners.