White vinegar is as cheap as chips and can be used for a whole host of jobs in and outside the home. Whether you’re looking to keep ants at bay or descale a shower screen, this every day kitchen staple – yours for as little as £1.50 a litre – is a must-have in any household.
Always remember to check the item or surface you’re treating though, no one wants to erode the surface of their swanky Italian marble…
Here’s how to use white vinegar safely in the home:
How to use white vinegar in the house
1. Remove limescale from a kettle
White vinegar can help loosen the chalky deposits that build up inside kettles, particularly in hard-water areas (those living London, the South East and East Anglia will be all too familiar with the horror of taking your last sip of tea only to get a mouthful of flaky limescale).
Katie Lillywhite, cleaning expert at AO, recommends filling your kettle with equal parts white vinegar and water, bringing it to the boil and leaving the solution inside for 30 minutes. Empty it, then rinse the kettle thoroughly several times before using it again.
For anyone concerned about a lingering vinegar smell (your kitchen isn’t a fish and chip shop after all…), Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, cleaning expert at Cleaning Express, suggests using odourless citric acid instead.
2. Freshen a washing machine
Detergent, fabric softener and grime can accumulate inside washing machines over time, contributing to musty smells where there should only be the scent of clean laundry.
Katie suggests running an empty hot cycle with one cup of white vinegar to help break down residue and tackle minor limescale. You can also use a diluted vinegar solution to wipe around the detergent drawer (which is prone to getting mouldy) and rubber door seal, where dirt commonly collects.
Always check the appliance manual first, as regular exposure to vinegar may affect certain seals or rubber components (and no one wants to call in the plumber if it can be avoided…).
3. Deep-clean a dishwasher
To freshen a dishwasher, Katie has a nifty trick: placing a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with white vinegar on the top rack before running a hot, empty cycle.
This can help tackle grease, odours and mineral build-up. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before trying it, particularly if the machine contains parts that may be sensitive to acidic cleaners.
4. Clean and deodorise the fridge
A diluted vinegar solution can be used to wipe down fridge shelves, drawers and internal surfaces.
Once again, Katie has a simple solution: mixing white vinegar with water and applying it with a soft cloth to remove food residue and neutralise lingering odours. Dry all surfaces with a clean cloth before putting food back.
5. Tackle limescale on shower screens
The acidity in white vinegar can help break down soap scum and mineral deposits on glass shower screens.
Emma Mannion, cleaning expert at Astonish, suggests putting white vinegar into a spray bottle and misting it over the affected areas. Leave it briefly before wiping and rinsing the glass – and hey presto! stand back and admire the results of your minimal cleaning efforts.
Do not use vinegar if the surrounding shower contains marble, limestone or another acid-sensitive natural stone as it can cause damage.
6. Unblock a limescale-covered showerhead
For stubborn mineral deposits around a showerhead, Trevor Guilday, home improvement and innovation expert and founder of EcoGen America, recommends filling a small bag with white vinegar and securing it around the fitting (dive into that drawer of odds and sods and dig out some rubber bands or string which will work wonders).
Leave it in place for around 30 minutes before removing the bag and wiping away the loosened deposits. Check the showerhead’s material and finish first, as vinegar may damage some coatings.
7. Get streak-free mirrors
Michael Bogoyavlenskiy recommends lightly misting a mirror with white vinegar and polishing it with a lint-free cloth.
Work methodically from one corner to the other using small circular motions, then allow the mirror to dry for around 30 seconds. Any remaining streaks should then be easier to spot and buff away.
A light spray is sufficient; soaking the mirror can allow liquid to seep around the edges and damage the backing.
Now, all that’s left to do is stand back and admire your reflection!
8. Restore cloudy glasses and vases
Hard-water marks can leave glassware looking dull even after it has been washed (and no one wants to sip from a dirty-looking water glass…).
Michael Law, head of sales at Coulee Land Company, suggests briefly soaking cloudy drinking glasses, vases or jars in diluted white vinegar to help loosen mineral deposits. Wash, rinse and dry them thoroughly afterwards.
Avoid using this treatment on decorated, painted or delicate glassware without checking the care instructions.
9. Soften sticky label residue
Is there anything more annoying that trying to peel off the leftovers of a sticker? The good news is that white vinegar may help loosen adhesive left behind by price stickers and labels on glass and some hard surfaces.
Michael Law recommends applying a small amount to the residue, allowing it time to soften and then wiping it away. Test the surface first, particularly if it is painted, coated or made from finished wood.
10. Lift marks from suede trainers
Water can leave suede patchy or discoloured, so dry cleaning methods should always be tried first.
Laura Reaney, fashion expert at MandM, recommends gently buffing surface marks with a clean toothbrush or suede brush. If a stain remains on your favourite jacket of blue suede shoes, don’t despair, just dab it carefully with a cloth lightly moistened with white vinegar, rather than saturating the material. Allow the item to dry naturally before brushing the nap [the raised layer of fibres] back into place.
How to use white vinegar in the garden
11. Refresh stained terracotta pots
White mineral rings often develop on terracotta pots as water evaporates from their porous surfaces.
Monique Kemperman, horticultural expert at the Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland, recommends cleaning empty pots with a diluted vinegar solution to loosen the deposits.
Rinse pots thoroughly and allow them to dry before replanting, so vinegar residue does not come into contact with roots or compost.
12. Clean garden tools and pruning blades
Plant sap, mineral deposits and light rust can make garden tools difficult to use and unhygienic to store.
Michael Law suggests wiping the blades of shears and pruners with a cloth lightly dampened with vinegar. For more stubborn marks, Trevor Guilday recommends soaking the affected area before scrubbing it with a stiff brush.
Dry metal tools thoroughly afterwards and apply a small amount of oil to help protect them from further corrosion.
13. Treat rust on metal garden furniture
For light to moderate rust, Jon Saeed of Lighting Legends recommends soaking cloths in white vinegar and wrapping them around the affected areas. Cover the cloths with plastic to stop them drying out and leave them for several hours before scrubbing with a wire brush (a super satisfying job for a lazy afternoon).
For deeper rust, Michael Scott, founder of Lazy Susan Furniture, advises removing loose flakes with a wire brush or sandpaper before applying vinegar. Once the rust has been removed, the area should be dried, primed and repainted with a weather-resistant metal finish.
Wear gloves and goggles, and protect patios or surrounding surfaces while working.
14. Disrupt ant trails
Ants use scent trails to travel between their nest and food sources. Wiping these areas with diluted vinegar can temporarily remove the markers they follow.
Alastair Mayne, CEO of Garolla, recommends spraying a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water around washable doorways, windowsills, garage thresholds and cracks in paving where ants have been seen.
This is a temporary deterrent rather than a complete solution. Seal entry points and remove nearby food waste to reduce the likelihood of ants returning.
15. Clean bird baths and feeders
Bird baths and feeders need regular cleaning to limit the spread of disease among visiting birds.
Mosh Latifi, co-owner of EcoCare Pest Management, recommends using a solution of one part white vinegar to 10 parts water to scrub an empty bird bath or water feature.
Michael Law also suggests using diluted vinegar to clean bird feeders. Whichever item you are cleaning, rinse it extremely thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before refilling it with water or seed.
Can white vinegar be used to kill weeds?
White vinegar is often recommended for weeds growing between paving stones or on gravel paths because it can scorch exposed leaves.
However, Loren Taylor, owner of Soothing Company, warns that vinegar can also damage lawns, flowers and nearby garden plants. It may affect the soil too, so it should never be sprayed near borders, vegetable beds or anything you want to keep.
For this reason, vinegar is best treated as a highly targeted option for isolated growth on hard surfaces, rather than a general garden weedkiller.
Important white vinegar safety advice
Never mix white vinegar with bleach. The combination can release dangerous chlorine gas.
Vinegar should also be kept away from marble, granite, limestone and other natural stone, as its acidity can etch and permanently dull the surface. It may also damage some metals, rubber seals, grout, painted finishes, waxed wood and delicate coatings.
Always dilute it where advised, use only a small amount, ventilate the area, rinse treated surfaces thoroughly and consult the manufacturer’s care instructions before using vinegar on appliances, furniture or specialist materials.
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