Vinegar And Coffee Grounds: 9 Things Around The Home You Can Clean Using This Combo

Among those who prefer to use DIY, non-toxic cleaners, vinegar and baking soda are old standbys. Rather than reach for lung-irritating bleach or overpriced commercially made natural cleaning products, many housekeepers prefer to use baking soda and vinegar for a wide range of cleaning projects, such as cleaning and descaling a dishwasher. Now housekeepers are learning that vinegar has another BFF when it comes to cleaning hacks. Used coffee grounds — which can be used in your yard and garden — can also be combined with vinegar for a winning cleaning combo.

The unexpected combo of vinegar and coffee grounds works similarly to that of vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar's acidic chemical composition helps to dissolve grease, while coffee grounds neutralize odors and act as an abrasive. Plus, spent coffee grounds also have antifungal properties, which can help when cleaning areas of the home where mildew has taken hold. Why choose used coffee grounds over baking soda? It's a way to repurpose this waste product one more time before tossing the coffee grounds into your compost pile.

When you have a wooden cutting board in need of a deep clean, try applying a combo of coffee grounds and vinegar to the dirty surface. Let the mix sit for a few minutes, then rinse this mix clean. The abrasive action of the grounds will help remove any caked-on food debris, while the vinegar will assist in disinfecting, helping to keep your home kitchen clean.

Drippings from delicious meals that splash out of cookware and land onto the stovetop can quickly become a hard to remove layer, making your home feel dirty. When you apply a combo of vinegar and used coffee grounds together to clean the stovetop, those drips and splashes can be wiped away after letting the mixture sit for a few minutes to loosen and soften the caked-on grime.

That homecooked meal may have been delicious, but the sight of a dirty pan with burnt on residue can be a frustrating end to a long day. By using a mix of vinegar and coffee grounds, you can scrub that residue off of pots and pans with less effort. Mix these two magical ingredients, spread the combo on the bottom of the pan, and let it sit before wiping away with a sponge so you can relax and enjoy your meal.

If hard water has caused soap scum deposits on the surface of your sink, this winning combo can help keep your bathroom clean. A mix of coffee grounds and white vinegar will quickly cleanse the sink, making it look like new. The vinegar will help to break down the soap scum, while the gently abrasive coffee grounds help to scrub it away, making your home feel nice and clean.

Don't worry if some of your used coffee grounds go into your disposal after you clean your sink. Mixed with white vinegar, coffee grounds can freshen the dank smell coming from your sink garbage disposal. In this kitchen cleaning hack, the coffee grounds neutralize odors, while the vinegar will help to break down any gunk sticking to the blades of your sink garbage disposal. After cleaning, your disposal should smell fresh and look clean.

Often neglected when housekeepers are making their rounds of the kitchen, cleaning your fridge seal is more important than you probably realized. The dynamic duo of spent coffee grounds and vinegar can be used in a mix to give your fridge seal a deep clean, with the antifungal properties of the spent coffee grounds removing any mildew that may have started to grow in the seal's crevices. After applying the combo to scrub away dirt, residue, and mildew, wipe clean with a cloth or sponge to remove any debris.

Grease on casserole dishes can be especially difficult to clean, especially when any food particles have burnt onto the glass, ceramic, or stainless steel dish. Using vinegar alongside coffee grounds can give you a cleaning strategy for this hard to deal with kitchen challenge. Apply a combo of vinegar and coffee grounds to the baked-on food, and let it sit until the food loosens and is easy to wipe off. This hack one of the best unexpected uses for leftover coffee grounds around your home.

After a long home baking session or your daily dinner making endeavors, does your kitchen countertop look like it has seen better days? You can add vinegar to coffee grounds for an all-natural DIY countertop degreaser. Mix this combo into a paste and use it to scrub any grease spots or hard to remove food residues. However, always check to make sure that these ingredients are compatible with your particular countertop — with granite countertops, for instance, cleaning with acidic ingredients like vinegar can cause damage.