5 out of 5 leaves
White vinegar is a low cost, all natural and safe to use cleaner. Can it wipe out yucky mildew?
The Good
- Better for the Earth – white vinegar is made from corn, a renewable resource
- Better for You – vinegar does not have harmful fumes and is safe to use around kids and pets
- Saves Money – oz for oz, white vinegar is a steal vs traditional cleaning products. It’s an even better deal vs high priced “natural” products.
- Natural anti-mold and anti-bacterial properties
The Bad
- Your house will smell like vinegar – but it dissipates quickly
My Experience
So there’s this spot in my bathroom that’s pretty yucky. I mean really yucky. So yucky that maybe I’ll tell you it’s in a friend’s bathroom because it’s just too embarrassing. Ahem.
Yuck!
This spot must be destroyed immediately. Especially since a quick Google search suggests to me that it could be (bum ba ba bummmm) Black Mold. This is not especially surprising as my (friend’s) bathroom is completely unventilated. Enter my newest natural weapon: white vinegar.
Quite a steal at $2.39 a gallon!
I got my strong husband to remove the glass shower doors where the mildew was creeping and take them out to the backyard. A quick spritz of vinegar, and a little attention with a scrubber sponge took care of the problem quite nicely. The three-year old happily hosed down the shower doors for me and they dried in the sun. Look at how great it turned out!
I can shower without fear again!
Overall, vinegar was an easy, cheap and effective tool against the mildew that was creeping around the edges of my shower. It also did a decent job of clearing up some of the soap scum on the glass shower doors as well. I’m thinking a whole series on cleaning with vinegar may be in order!
Update: there is a strip of brown grass in my backyard where I did the cleaning. Perhaps a review of vinegar as a week killer is in order?
What have you successfully cleaned with vinegar? Any ideas for what I should try next?
Shared at Teach Me Tuesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, WIldcrafting Wednesdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Rural Thursday and Your Green Resource, Frugal Friday
12 years ago, my friend found a 4-drawer, legal-size, OAK filing cabinet set out for the trash because it had a small amount of mildew on one exterior corner. He didn’t need a filing cabinet, but I did. We wiped off the mildew with a rag soaked in vinegar, and we threw away the moldy-smelling paper folders that were inside. The mildew has never come back.
I also wash my hair with vinegar, use it in the rinse-aid dispenser of my dishwasher, and add a shot to the sink of soapy water when hand-washing dishes–it reduces water spots when dishes air-dry, and it seems to help cut grease, too.
Thanks for the tips Becca! I think I need to do a whole series on vinegar!
Hi there!
This would be a great post to share on Wildcrafting Wednesday. I hope you’ll stop by.
Thanks!
~ Kathy
Will do, Thanks Kathy!
WOW! That first mildew pic looks just like my shower door. It looks so shiny now ! I will have to give this a whirl. Thank you!
It never ceases to amaze me what vinegar can clean!! Now…if it’s a weed killer too, I want to know. If you try it and it works, I definitely want to feature you on my blog!
Thanks for checking in Christine! I am quickly falling in love with the cleaning power of cheap, white vinegar. I have some sidewalk weeds I’m eyeing to participate in the next vinegar challenge. Stay tuned!!
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I have used white vinegar in my garden as weed-killer for years. CAUTION: Vinegar is not particular as to which plant it kills, so spray directly on plant you want dead…shield anything close so overspray does not kill the “prettys”
Yes! Vinegar seems to kill anything. I’m not brave enough to use it in my garden — will probably stick to sidewalk cracks!
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I’m a huge fan of vinegar too. I used to buy all these cleaning supplies, but as they run out, I’m not replacing them. Instead, I clean with vinegar, baking soda, and sometimes 7th generation dish soap w/ water. Thanks for the tip!
Lindsey @ GrowingKidsMinistry.com
disgusting – buy a new filing cabinet
What about on window sills? Vinegar doesn’t seem so effective on wood.
I use it on painted window sills, but I’m not sure I would recommend to apply straight to untreated wood.