Vinegar, the result when ethanol in an alcoholic liquid is oxidized, comes from the Old French “vin aigre”, or “sour wine.” Acetic acid, its main ingredient, is responsible for its sour taste. A natural disinfectant and cleaner, it is found in just about every house. I never thought of it as a cleaner, but this non-toxic liquid kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of viruses.

Vinegar costs little, about $1.19 a gallon at my local Save A Lot, and can be used to clean just about anything in your house.

Mop your tile, wood, or vinyl floors with vinegar and baking soda. (Do not use on marble). This will help keep bugs away because they don’t like its taste. Neither will your young children or animals. If they happen to taste it, there is no need to worry. I doubt they will try it a second time. Even if they do, it won't hurt them.

Dust, dirt and the nasty odor of cigarettes, is removed from your walls when wiped with undiluted vinegar. For wood paneling, a solution of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 2 cups leaves it clean and polished.

Clean and deodorize drains by pouring 1 cup baking soda into them followed by 1 cup of hot distilled vinegar. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then run turn on the hot water and let run for a couple of minutes.

Distilled vinegar ice cubes will clean and deodorize your garbage disposal. Run several cubes through the disposal while the cold water is running.

A solution of half vinegar and half water will clean the walls and shelves of your refrigerator. Cut through the grime that has gathered on top of your refrigerator with full strength vinegar.

Vinegar leaves dishes free of soap residue and glasses streak free when used as a rinse aid in your dishwasher.

Vinegar cleans your coffeemaker. Fill your reservoir tank with vinegar and brew as you would coffee. Run water through the tank a couple of times before using it to brew coffee again. Your morning cup of coffee will taste much better.

Vinegar cleans and disinfects cutting boards and counter tops, ridding them of all their nasty germs.

Vinegar is the environmentally friendly way to soften your clothes. Believe it or not, your clothes will be left smelling fresh and clean. They will not smell like vinegar.

Vinegar cuts through the soap scum on shower doors. Spray vinegar on and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth. Will also remove hard water build up on shower heads and faucets.

Vinegar cleans and deodorizes the toilet bowl. Pour in at least 1 cup of vinegar, allow to sit several hours, scrub with toilet brush, then flush. To just deodorize, pour in 3 cups and allow to sit for about 30 minutes before flushing.

Full strength vinegar sprayed on doorknobs kills germs left on them. Wipe dry. This greatly reduces the chance of those in your household coming down with colds, flu, or any other contagious illness.

Wiping down toys with vinegar will disinfect them. When your toddler uses everything in sight as a chew toy, keep everything within his reach sprayed down to lessen the chances of catching a cold or sore throat. Baby toys are cleaned and disinfected when put in soapy water with a splash of distilled vinegar added.

Use a solution of white distilled vinegar and water to clean and deodorize urine on a mattress. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda. After the residue is dry to the touch, vacuum it.

The stench of a dead mouse or other rodent has the ability to make your entire house smell nasty. Remove this obnoxious odor by wiping down the area where the dead rodent was found with distilled white vinegar. A fabric softener sheet left in the area afterwards removes any lingering odor.

These are a just a few of the many uses of vinegar. Check out the websites listed below for many more uses in cleaning and personal care.