10 Things You Can Clean With Vodka (Yes, Vodka)

Whether you’re a martini maven or a big believer in Bloody Marys, you probably didn’t know you can clean with vodka. It’s true! With its high alcohol content, and lack of smell, vodka makes a great disinfecting cleaner. So grab that cheap, bottom-shelf bottle that’s been collecting dust and try one of these cleaning tips. We’ve got one for just about every room in your house.

Bedrooms

• Linen spray: Combine 1/2 cup of vodka, 1 1/2 cups of water and about 30 drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle. Spritz your bed linens or in your closet when things need a quick refresh.
• Disinfect the mattress: All you need is straight vodka for this job. Remove the sheets, pour a shot or two of vodka into a spray bottle and spray away. This is great to do in the guest room between visits from house guests, or on your own mattress about every three months.
• Room diffuser: Fill your bedroom with a beautiful and welcoming scent. Mix a few splashes of vodka, about 12 drops of essential oils (we suggest lavender) and 1/4 cup of safflower oil or sweet almond oil. Place the mixture in a fun glass vase with reeds or paper straws.

Bathrooms

• Shine chrome fixtures: Vodka is great for shining up your chrome faucets and cabinet hardware. Spray vodka directly on the fixtures, then buff with a lint-free towel for a sparkling finish.
• Glass and mirror cleaner: Vodka has solvent qualities that clean mirrors and glass without streaking (woo hoo!). To make a quick glass and mirror cleaner, combine in a spray bottle 1 cup of vodka, 1 cup of water and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
• Get rid of soap scum: Spray vodka where you need it most in the shower or tub, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and dry. Repeat as needed.

Laundry

• Remove sweaty scents: Underarm scents on shirts are no match for vodka. Fill a spray bottle with 4 parts water to 1 part vodka; spray both sides of the garment’s underarm areas, then let it sit overnight. Then launder as usual. (This also works for dry clean-only clothes between cleanings.)
• Wash away mildew: Ever forget to unload a wet load of laundry and then discover it later stinking of mildew? Add 1/2 cup of vodka then run the washer again—the smell will be gone!

Kitchen

• Goodbye to grease: Use straight vodka or equal parts vodka and water mixed to degrease cabinets, backsplashes, countertops and the tops of range hoods.
• Multi-purpose cleaner: Mix 1 1/4 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of vodka. Then add 15 drops of lemon essential oil. This cleaner can be used to disinfect every surface in the kitchen, plus it smells amazing.

One of the best parts about using vodka to clean, beside your shining surfaces, may be that it’s not filling your indoor air with harsh chemicals. These other homemade cleaners do the DIY trick, too.