Did you know that vinegar has many different uses in your home in place of harsh chemicals?

Here are just a few ways you can use vinegar to clean around your house:

• Remove Pet Odor. Spray some white vinegar onto your pet’s puddle when you’re cleaning it up to remove the odor as well as the stain.
• Clean Mineral Deposits. Scrub your shower with vinegar to remove hard water stains, let it stand for about an hour, then rinse. Do you have a clogged shower head? Tie a plastic baggie filled with vinegar around the head with a rubber band and let sit overnight, remove and rinse.
• Absorb Smoke Smells. Vinegar can help to remove cigarette smoke from rooms and surfaces. Add it to your carpet shampoo solution to pull the smell out of the carpet, dilute with water and spray/wipe walls, or even stick a bowl full of vinegar in smoky rooms to absorb odors before they set in.
• Clean Your Refrigerator. Wipe up spills and stuck-on food with a cleaning cloth. Just use 1-part vinegar to 1-part warm water. Works like a charm!
• Dissolve Kitchen and Bathroom Grime. Hard water deposits, soap grime, and food spots are no match for baking soda, vinegar, and toothbrushes! Let the solution sit for 20 minutes up to an hour for stubborn spots, rinse or wipe with a warm, damp cloth.
• Unclog a Sink. This is an inexpensive way to get a drain moving again. Pour 1/3 cup of baking soda down the clogged drain and flush with a generous amount of vinegar, followed by hot water to completely flush the baking soda through the pipes.

Household cleaners can be dangerous to keep around the house, especially if you have young children running around. Next time you need to clean up a mess, consider using the tips above and use vinegar. You’ll be surprised how well it works!