You Can Clean Almost Every Surface in Your Kitchen With This One Household Product — Here’s How

While apple cider or flavored vinegars are better for cooking, distilled white vinegar has infinite household uses—especially in the kitchen. It is inexpensive, easy to dilute with water, and safely cleans most kitchen surfaces.

Learn why you should add a bottle of distilled white vinegar in your kitchen cleaning caddy.

How Vinegar Cleans Your Kitchen

Distilled white vinegar is made by distilling alcohol from grain and allowing microorganisms to process the alcohol into vinegar. The acetic acid formed in the vinegar is what cuts through grease and grime and removes mineral deposits.

Distilled white vinegar contains around five percent acetic acid and 95% water. Cleaning vinegar contains around six percent acetic acid, making it 20% stronger than white distilled vinegar and therefore perfect for tackling tough cleaning chores.

You can use vinegar in the kitchen to clean:

• Cooktops
• Laminate and sealed stone countertops
• Refrigerator and freezer interiors
• Dishwasher interiors
• Stainless steel and porcelain sinks
• Faucet heads
• Cutting boards
• Vinyl floors
• Plastic food containers
• Coffee makers, tea kettles
• Garbage cans

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

How to Use Vinegar to Clean the Kitchen

Regular distilled white vinegar is strong enough for kitchen cleaning and is often diluted 1:1 with water. You can make an effective cleaning solution by adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid to help lift grime and stains.

Refresh Countertops and Appliance Exteriors

1. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Add it to a spray bottle and label clearly.
2. Lightly mist surfaces. Spray the area you wish to clean with a light mist of the solution.
3. Let it work. Allow the solution to work for at least five minutes to begin breaking down grease and grime.
4. Dry the surface. Wipe the surface with a dry microfiber cloth.

Clean Your Microwave

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with equal parts vinegar and water.
2. Heat the mixture. Bring the solution to a boil and turn off the microwave, but do not open the door until the steam clears.
3. Wipe away the stuck-on food splatters. Use a damp sponge or microfiber cloth to clean the interior.
4. Clean the exterior. Dip the sponge in the warm water and vinegar solution and wipe down the exterior of the microwave to remove smudges.

Descale Coffee Makers and Electric Kettles

1. Fill the water reservoir. Fill the water reservoir of the appliance with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Be sure there are no coffee pods or grounds in the machine.
2. Run a heat cycle. Run a brewing or heating cycle until all of the vinegar mixture has passed through the appliance. Allow the mixture to sit in the electric kettle or coffee carafe until cool to help dissolve mineral deposits.
3. Empty the mixture. Empty the vinegar solution from the machine,
4. Rinse twice. Run at least two brewing cycles with fresh water to rinse away deposits and vinegar residue.

Remove Stains From Plastic and Silicone Containers

1. Use hot water. Fill a sink or large plastic tub with a solution of one part water and one part distilled white vinegar.
2. Add the discolored pieces. Add stained plastic storage containers and silicone bakeware.
3. Soak the pieces. Allow the pieces to soak for at least one hour to remove stains.
4. Rinse and dry. Rinse the pieces in warm water and dry well. 

Clean Ceramic Tile and LVP Kitchen Floors

1. Mix a cleaning solution. Use one cup of distilled white vinegar per gallon of warm water and add one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid.
2. Sweep or vacuum floors. Remove loose dirt and dust by sweeping, dry mopping, or vacuuming floors.
3. Mop well. Dip a microfiber mop in the vinegar solution and wring well. Start in one corner of the room and mop in a small area. Rinse out the mop often. There is no need to rinse the floor after mopping.
4. Allow to dry. Do not walk on the floor until it is completely dry.

Remove Mineral Deposits From Faucets

1. Add vinegar to a resealable plastic bag. Use a sandwich bag large enough to fit over the head of the faucet.
2. Attach the bag to the faucet. Tie a rubber band tightly around the bag so that the entire head of the faucet is submerged in vinegar.
3. Let it soak. Leave the vinegar to work for at least 30 minutes.
4. Rinse the head. Let water run freely through the head of the faucet for 5-10 minutes or until no more mineral deposits are expelled.

Open a Slow-Running Sink Drain

1. Heat the pipes. Pour one quart of boiling water down the drain.
2. Mix a solution. In a large pitcher, combine 1 cup of hot water, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of vinegar. There should be some fizzing.
3. Add the solution. Pour the vinegar mixture down the drain and let it work for 30 minutes.
4. Flush the drain. Pour another quart of boiling water down the drain to flush away loosened grease and debris.