When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Face it: Your cleaning cabinet is riddled with hokey, superlative-laden labels claiming mystical virtues as if each and every one of them somehow single handedly invented the very task of cleaning itself.
In spite of almost each and every one of them, though, there's a perfectly natural and ubiquitous solution that takes care of 99% of your household sanitation woes: white vinegar.
White vinegar and distilled white vinegar (the more food-friendly variation) both reduce most pathogens and will get pretty much every surface in your house shiny clean. They're also cheaper than many chemical-ridden agents to which entire grocery aisles are dedicated. Vinegar will run you about $0.09 an ounce, whereas you can expect to pay closer to $0.27 per ounce for all-purpose cleaners like Mrs. Meyer's.
Short of sensitive electronics and stainless steel appliances, white vinegar is a safe cleaning agent for the kitchen, the bathroom, and anywhere else that requires regular wipe downs.
Here's how I use vinegar as a cleaner in my home: