Give your fridge a good clean. Throw out expired and very nearly empty jars that have been taking up space. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Get rid of chipped and cracked china.  It’s dangerous and unhygienic. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or bicarbonate of soda).

Clean the dishwasher. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

Steam the microwave clean. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making cleaning a breeze.

Plastic cupboard - eliminate odours. Wipe out all plastic containers and lunchboxes with a cloth dampened with vinegar.  Allow to dry completely before packing away.  Get rid of the old plastic that you never use because the lids have been missing for years.

Bathroom clean up. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink, bath and shower. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.  Pour a cup or more of undiluted white vinegar into the toilet bowl. Let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.  This should remove stains.

Clean dirty taps. To get rid of lime buildup and grime around your taps, make a paste of one teaspoon vinegar and two tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

Revive droopy flowers and keep your fresh spring bouquet for longer. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a litre of water. Pour the solution into your vase and the flowers will perk up.  Use this solution for flowers if no flower food is provided.  Change the water of your cut flowers often.

Freshen linen and household fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odours in fabrics, carpets, shoes or surfaces.

Erase crayon. If your children get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after kids.

Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the marks left by stickers on bedroom cupboards or windows. Instead, apply vinegar to the sticky residue, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.  This also takes price tags off glass and china.