Uses for Vinegar: Guidelines for Cleaning Your Kitchen

Most people find that the kitchen is the most difficult room in their home to keep clean. And with good reason! With an endless supply of spills, drips, greasy pans, and foot traffic, kitchen cleanup can feel like an endless series of tasks.

But thanks to vinegar, you don't need a different commercial cleaner to tackle each problem. An indispensable tool in any kitchen, this ingredient can clean practically anything plus perform some nifty restoration and maintenance tricks.

Now you know that vinegar can be a key weapon in the never-ending battle of keeping your kitchen clean. In this article, we'll show you how to clean just about anything in your kitchen using vinegar, from pans to sinks.

We'll start with basic appliances, then move to other areas of the house:

Coffeemakers, Teakettles and Teapots

Buildup in a coffeemaker's brewing system can affect coffee flavor. Get rid of buildup with these steps:

Run 1 brewing cycle of cold water and 1/4 cup vinegar.
Follow with a cycle of clean water.
If you can still smell vinegar, run another cycle using fresh water.

To help remove any mineral deposits inside the pot and spout:

Boil water and 1/2 cup vinegar in a teakettle for 10 or 15 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly.
Clean a teapot by boiling a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water for several minutes.
Let it stand for 1 hour.
Rinse with water.

Dishwashers

To open up any clogs in the dishwasher drain lines and deodorize the machine.

Add 1/2 cup vinegar to an empty dishwasher.
Run the rinse cycle.

Microwaves

If your microwave is spattered with old sauces and greasy buildup:

Place a glass measuring cup with 1 cup water and 1/4 cup vinegar inside microwave.
Boil for 3 minutes.
Then remove the measuring cup and wipe inside of oven with a damp sponge.

Ovens

Twice a year you should "de-grease" the vents of your oven hood. To do this:

Wipe vents with a sponge and undiluted vinegar, or
Remove vents and soak them for 15 minutes in 1 cup vinegar and 3 cups water.
Finish the job by using a sponge to wipe entire surface with a mixture of half vinegar and half water. This will help prevent grease buildup.

Refrigerators

Prevent mildew buildup inside your refrigerator or on its rubber seals by wiping occasionally with a sponge dampened with undiluted vinegar. No need to rinse.

Cookware

To prevent egg poachers or double boilers from becoming discolored, add 1 teaspoon vinegar to the boiling water.

Take care of a really greasy frying pan:

Simmer 1/4 inch water and 1/2 cup vinegar in it for 10 minutes.
The lingering oily smell or residue should disappear.
Wash as usual.

Aluminum pans can develop ugly dark stains over time, to remove those stains:

Using 2 tablespoons vinegar in enough water to cover the pans.
Boil the pans in a large kettle.

Clean the burned-on mess off a broiler pan:

Add 2 cups vinegar and 1/2 cup sugar to pan while it is still warm.
Soak pan for an hour.
Clean as usual.

Sink Clogs

A mixture of equal parts vinegar, salt, and baking soda may help open up a slow-draining sink:

Pour the solution down drain.
Let it sit for 1 hour.
Then pour boiling or very hot tap water down the drain.

To clear a minor sink clog:

Use a mixture of 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar.
Let it stand for 3 hours.
Flush with hot water.

Sink Odors

The rubber seal on garbage disposals can retain odors. To deodorize it:

Remove the seal.
Let it soak in vinegar for 1 hour.

Sink Stains

To tackle mineral deposits around your sink's faucets:

Squirt them with undiluted vinegar.
Let the vinegar sit 15 minutes or longer.
Scrub away deposits with an old toothbrush.

To clean minor stains in a white porcelain sink:

Sprinkle a little baking soda on the stained area.
Wipe with a sponge dampened with vinegar.

Stains are best tackled immediately, but for tough or aged stains in a white porcelain sink:

Cover stained areas with paper towels saturated in household bleach (wear rubber gloves and make sure room is well ventilated).
Leave paper towels for 1/2 hour or until they dry out.
Remove towels and rinse area thoroughly.
Follow this treatment by cleaning sink with pure vinegar to remove bleach smell.

Countertops

Wipe your kitchen countertops with undiluted vinegar once a day to shine them and keep your kitchen smelling fresh.

For everyday cleaning of tile and grout, rub with a little apple cider vinegar on a sponge. This gives off a clean scent and will help cut any greasy buildup.

Wood

A wooden breadbox tends to become sticky with fingerprints and food. Freshen it up by wiping surface with vinegar on a sponge or cloth. Do this periodically to prevent grime buildup. For heavy buildup, try repeated wipes with a sponge dampened with vinegar and sprinkled with salt.