Green Cleaning—Uses for Vinegar in the Kitchen

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals that can harm both the environment and your health. They are also expensive. So why not look to the past for both inexpensive and healthier alternatives. Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common household products to clean your home. This week, we'll look at using vinegar in the kitchen.

• Wipe down your cutting board with full-strength vinegar to deodorize and degrease.
• Run through your coffee maker to remove lime deposits, or boil with water in your tea kettle.
• Used a diluted solution of vinegar and water to clean and deodorize plastic containers.
• Wipe the inside of your refrigerator with a vinegar solution to deodorize and kill bacteria.
• Clean work surfaces with full-strength vinegar.
• Vinegar is a good degreaser for deep-fryers and exhaust hoods.
• Boil water and vinegar in your microwave oven to loosen built-on foods.
• Dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe out your oven.
• Boil water and vinegar, let it cool a little, then pour into ice cube trays to freshen them.
• Add vinegar to the rinse compartment of your dishwasher for a clean, cost-effective rinsing agent.