How to clean with vinegar minus the smell

Mask and neutralise that fish and chips odour. - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd

When it comes to cleaning your house without chemicals, vinegar is your multi-tasking hero. It’s an essential component for cleaning everything from sinks and stove tops to front-load washing machines and leather. It has antibacterial qualities and removes stains, mould and soap scum.

The only downside to using vinegar is the distinctive smell it leaves behind, which is more akin to fish and chips than a fresh and clean home.

But there are a few things you can do to mask and neutralize the smell of vinegar.

To mask the smell, add equal parts of water and vinegar to a bottle. Add the juice and peel of half a lemon and mix.

To neutralize the smell on stains, sinks, toilets and showers, add a tablespoon of baking soda and leave. If you’ve applied it to carpet, allow it to dry then brush or vacuum off.

To help the smell of vinegar disappear faster, turn on a fan or open a window to help create air flow.

Ready to start cleaning with vinegar? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Rebecca Lowrey Boyd

Rebecca Lowrey Boyd is a former magazine editor and the founder of Wee Birdy, one of The Sunday Times’ Top 50 Blogs in the World. A design nerd and bird enthusiast, she can usually be found poring over Pinterest, knee-deep in Bunnings or sticky-beaking at modernist homes in Sydney’s bushburbia.