This Is Why You Should Always Have Vinegar In Your Home

Your utility closet always needs a few things: batteries, a hammer, a steamer and other essentials. But, vinegar is the one-stop shop for nearly all of your household cleaning needs. From your laundry room to the kitchen and even your patio, white vinegar can clean just about anything. Plus, it's all-natural, meaning that you won't have to worry about inhaling toxic fumes during or after your scrubbing session. 

In the laundry room, vinegar can keep your colors looking bright. If you've noticed fading hues among your garments, make a simple pre-rinse with ⅔ of a cup of vinegar for each gallon of cold water. Soak them for up to 15 minutes, then toss your clothes in the wash — trusting that they'll come out as bright as new, according to Martha Stewart. Furthermore, white vinegar can brighten your whites too. Just add up to half of a cup of the liquid to the first laundry rinse of the cycle so the second rinse can fully wash it out. 

When you head to the kitchen, start by using white vinegar on your drain to disinfect and, more importantly, deodorize. The outlet notes that you can use a solution of white vinegar and warm water to clean your garbage disposal to mitigate sour smells and kill germs. Simply use a long-handled bottle brush to clean it alongside the solution.

Beyond classic cleaning places like the laundry room and kitchen, the natural solution also works well on electronics. Reader's Digest suggests using diluted vinegar to disinfect your computer — including your mouse and keypad. Mix a half-and-half solution together and dip a cotton ball in. From here, gently wipe across your computer parts, gaming consoles and other electronics for a safe clean.

Vinegar is also a godsend for removing stains from just about anything. The outlet reports that vinegar can quickly remove water rings on wooden furniture by mixing it with olive oil. Furthermore, rug stains are no match for vinegar's pungent power. With one cup of vinegar and a gallon of water, you can use a carpet brush to revive your worn-out rugs. Stained brickwork and carpets also work well when cleaned with vinegar. If you're spill-prone or have a child who is, vinegar is a must-have.

The white liquid also works as a powerful deodorizer that can mitigate smells from just about anything. From a smelly trash can to old cigarette odors, wiping things down with vinegar can quickly tame pungent odors.

Don't get caught without it: vinegar should always be in your cleaning cabinet!