We all have that one bottle of vinegar in our pantry that we never use, and it just takes up space. But did you know that vinegar is actually a really versatile household item? From cleaning your floors to getting rid of fruit flies, here are five different ways you can put that bottle of vinegar to good use.

1. Cleaning Your Floors – Did you know that you can use vinegar to clean your floors? Just mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bucket, and mop away! The vinegar will disinfect your floors and leave them looking shiny and new.
2. Unclogging Your Drain – If your sink is starting to drain slowly, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for an hour. After an hour has passed, flush the drain with hot water to clear any remaining debris.
3. Getting Rid of Fruit Flies – Are fruit flies taking over your kitchen? Place a bowl of vinegar on your counter top and cover it with plastic wrap. Poke a few small holes in the wrap, and the fruit flies will be drawn to the vinegar and won’t be able to escape.
4. Whitening Your Clothes – Add a cup of vinegar to your laundry load when washing whites to make them brighter. You can also soak yellowed pillowcases or stained clothing in a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water before washing them as usual.
5. Disinfecting Your Cutting Board – Wood cutting boards can be difficult to clean, but vinegar can help disinfect them. Just mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, and spritz your cutting board after each use. Wipe it down with a clean cloth, and let it air dry. 
6. Cleaning Your Coffee Pot – If you’ve ever made the mistake of using soap to clean your coffee pot, you know that it doesn’t take long for the taste of soap to make its way into your morning cup of joe. To avoid this problem, clean your coffee pot with vinegar instead. Just add a cup of vinegar to the water in your coffee pot and let it sit overnight. In the morning, run a cycle of fresh water through the pot to rinse it out and voila! Your coffee pot will be good as new.
7. De-gunk your microwave – Food splatters happen to even the tidiest of cooks. To clean them up, mix ⅓ cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water in a bowl and microwave on high for 5 minutes. The steam will loosen any caked-on food so you can easily wipe it away with a sponge. 
8. Get rid of soap scum and hard water stains in your bathroom tub or shower – By scrubbing with full-strength vinegar and rinsing clean with hot water afterwards you’ll make your bathtub or shower look like new!
9. Freshen up smelly laundry – Add a  ½ cup of vinegar to the wash cycle (along with your regular detergent). Vinegar is especially effective at getting rid of sweat smells from workout clothes—just be sure not to use it on delicate fabrics like wool or silk as it could damage them. 
10. Make your windows shine – Mix together ¼ cup each of cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spritz on glass surfaces before wiping clean with a lint-free cloth or newspaper (for really streak-free results). You’ll have some windows that will definitely let in the light.

Vinegar is a versatile household item that can be used for cleaning, unclogging drains, getting rid of fruit flies, whitening clothes, disinfecting cutting boards – and so much more! So the next time you’re looking for a cleaning solution or pest control solution, reach for that bottle of vinegar!