Is this the best budget-friendly cleaner, ever? As you probably already know, vinegar makes for a great cleaner and disinfectant, but did you know it could clean almost everything? You need to read this.

Vinegar makes a great household cleaner because its acid nature can help dissolve dirt, grease and even grime. It can also kill bacteria. Best of all, it’s super budget-friendly. You can pick up a big 2 litre bottle of vinegar for just $1.40 at Woolworths.

Vinegar Cleaning Hacks That You Need To Know

1. Clean your microwave in minutes

Microwaves can easily become a splatter of mess and smells, but with this quick trick you can return it to new in minutes. In a microwave-safe cup add 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Microwave on high for five minutes, and then let sit for 3 minutes. Simply wipe clean afterwards.

2. De-gunk toothbrush holders

Does your family have a toothbrush cup where everyone places their toothbrushes? They can be quite the playground for dried up toothpaste and gunk. To remove all that built up toothpaste, fill your laundry sink with enough hot water to cover the holder. Add 1 cup of vinegar, and soak the cup for 15 minutes. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the hard to reach places. Wipe out a clean cloth. Voila!

3. Get rid of hard water stains in the toilet

One of the hardest household stains to remove is the water stains in the toilet, but this solution does the trick. Place 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl, and give it a quick stir with the toilet brush. Leave for one minute. Add 1 cup of baking soda, and another cup of vinegar and leave for ten minutes. Stir with the toilet brush, and then close the lid and leave overnight. In the morning scrub with the brush, and then flush.

4. Remove mineral build-up on your shower head

Fill a plastic bag with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix, and then attach it to the shower head with a rubber band. Leave for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse off. Repeat if necessary.

5. Make your mirrors sparkling clean

In a spray bottle, make a mix of 50/50 vinegar and water and use it to clean mirrors for a beautiful streak-free shine.

6. Create a simple lemon all-rounder cleaning spray

If you’re not a big fan of the vinegar smell (we get it!), you can make up a great lemon cleaning spray. In a spray bottle combine a 50/50 ratio of water and vinegar, and then also add in some lemon wedges. Let this sit for at least two weeks, and it will take on a fresh lemon smell.

7. Make cut fresh flowers last longer

It’s a treat to receive (or buy) fresh flowers, so make them last longer by add a dash of vinegar to the vase.

8. Freshen up for your tiled floors with this solution

Simply add 1/2 a cup of vinegar to your bucket of hot water for mopping tiled floors. This never fails at our house!

9. Rinse your fruits and vegetables

Want to rinse your fruits and veggies and also makes them last longer? Try this!Combine about one part vinegar with three parts water in a large bowl or sink. Place the fruits or veggies in the water and let them sit for a few minutes. Drain and set on a clean towel to dry.

10. Give your dishwasher a freshen up

Put a small, heavy dishwasher safe bowl in the top rack of your dishwasher and fill it with vinegar. Put your dishwasher on the hottest setting possible, and run the dishwasher and let it work its magic.

11. Refresh your refrigerator

Create a simple 50/50 spray of water and vinegar and spray the shelves and walls of your fridge. Wipe down, and then do a second wipe down with water.

12. Whip your washing machine into shape

To freshen up your washing machine, run a full cycle and add 1 cup of vinegar right into the water (for top loaders), or add the vinegar to the detergent dispenser (for front loaders). Run a second rinse cycle to rinse the machine.

13. Clean caked-on dishes

When soaking really dirty dishes, add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to the dish water. This will help cut through grease and grime, and get your dishes back to normal.

14. Clean windows with a streak-free finish

Make up a spray solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar, and then spray onto windows to clean. Using scrunched up newspaper is a great way to clean windows.

15. Clean the air after stinky cooking

Cooked salmon or another stinky dish? You can clean the air with a vinegar mix. Make a saucepan of 1/2 cup white vinegar in 1 cup water. Bring it to the boil, and let it bubble away until the water is almost evaporated. The air will be better, and you can breathe again.

16. Remove blood stains from clothing

You can remove stains with vinegar (make sure you get onto it within 24 hours though!). Pour undiluted vinegar onto the stain and then immediately wash.

17. Freshen up lunchboxes and Tupperware containers

Lunchboxes can be a plethora of unpleasant smells, so this hack will be much welcomed! Soak a piece of white bread in vinegar place into the lunchbox or container, and let sit overnight. Empty and wash normally, and the smell should be a distant memory.

18. Remove pen from walls

Every had an artistic child write on the walls and create a masterpiece? You can dab undiluted vinegar onto the artwork, and rub until it disappears. Artwork gone!

And remember, while we love vinegar for many purposes, there are some things that vinegar simply doesn’t love. Don’t ever use it on granite, marble or stone benchtops.

Do you have a favourite way to use vinegar for cleaning?