This Affordable Ingredient Is Vinegar's Best Friend When Cleaning Your Kitchen

Vinegar is among the must-have cleaning items for every kitchen, and for good reason. It's cheap and always ready to fight grime, grease, and odors. But what many people don't realize is that vinegar doesn't always work best on its own. In fact, safely pairing it with the right ingredient can double its cleaning power. Think of it as vinegar's go-to partner that makes every scrub more satisfying. We're referring to borax, a powdery, budget-friendly cleaner that's been sitting in the laundry aisle, waiting for its big moment. When vinegar meets borax, they become a serious cleaning duo, tackling stubborn messes with zero fancy tools or toxic fumes.

Borax has been around for decades and is still one of the most underrated staples in natural cleaning routines. It's multi-purpose and works hand in hand with vinegar, creating a more pH-neutral mix. Together, they go beyond surface cleaning and get deep into the grime that clings to sinks, counters, tiles, and everything in between. It's a power move for anyone who wants to clean smarter.

When it comes to everyday kitchen messes, from crumbs to fingerprints and that mystery stickiness on the counters, borax and vinegar make a surprisingly powerful team. For a genius tip for using borax at home, make a simple surface-cleaning paste by grabbing a bowl and mixing one cup of borax with ¼ cup of white vinegar. Stir until well blended. You'll get a smooth, gritty texture that gives you just the right amount of scrubbing power without scratching your surfaces. Dip a sponge into the paste and start wiping down your countertops, stovetop, backsplash, and even cabinet doors. It lifts grime like a charm and leaves behind a satisfying clean without harsh fumes or chemical overkill. The mild acidity of vinegar cuts through grease, while borax, with its 9.5 pH level and alkaline nature, adds that extra muscle for a deep-down cleanse.

But if you're dealing with the kind of grease that resists regular cleaning — think stovetop corners or behind the sink — level up to a more heavy-duty solution. Combine two tablespoons of vinegar, two tablespoons of borax, two cups of warm water, and a generous squirt of liquid dish soap. Mix it well until everything dissolves. Use this easy DIY degreaser to tackle your dirty kitchen. Simply dip a sponge or pour it into a spray bottle for quick application. It clings to stubborn grime, breaks it down, and rinses clean without leaving residue.