As many frugal people know, vinegar has hundreds of household uses. Not only is it great for cleaning; it’s also fast and very, very affordable. Instead of spending big bucks on expensive name brand cleaners, try out some of these great thrifty tips and tricks for using vinegar to clean your house.

Which kind of vinegar works best for household cleaning? White vinegar is the preferred choice of most thrifty cleaning experts. White vinegar cheaper than store-bought cleansers and has the added bonus of being much safer and environmentally-friendly.

1. Use vinegar to clean your oven.

Cleaning your oven can be a lot of work, but vinegar can make the process easier. Occasionally spray the inside of your oven with a mixture of vinegar and water to minimize odors and remove charred buildup. Allow the vinegar to sit for a few hours and wipe up with a wet sponge or cloth. By doing this regularly, you can minimize the amount of buildup in your oven.

2. Add a small amount of vinegar to plain water for a highly effective window cleaner.

Mix about one-sixteenth of a cup of vinegar into a spray bottle filled with water. Spray the mixture on your windows and wipe up completely with a soft, dry cloth. I have always found that this method works far better than any commercial window-cleaning product. Not only do my windows look better, they are 100% streak-free.

3. Create a paste using baking soda and vinegar to use on sink fixtures that have hard-water buildup.

Mix a small amount of baking soda and vinegar together in a small, glass dish. Once you have a paste-like mixture, use an old toothbrush to spread the mixture on stained sink fixtures and gently scrub. This is an excellent way to remove the lime and calcium buildups from hard water.

4. Clean household surfaces and appliances with a vinegar spray.

Using the same vinegar combination that you use on your windows, spray the surfaces of other household items such as the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and countertops. This is a fast and easy way to clean up the kitchen and remove stains. You can also use a vinegar spray inside the fridge and microwave to quickly clean them and remove odors. Cleaning the fridge is absolutely my least favorite chore, but this technique makes it much easier.

5. Add vinegar to your dishwasher and run on an empty cycle.

Vinegar is also a great way to remove any buildup from the inside of your dishwasher. Remove any dishes from the dishwasher and start up a new cycle. Once the wash cycle kicks in, open the door and pour about one-quarter cup of vinegar inside. Doing this every so often will help your dishwasher run better and remove any mineral buildups.