Vinegar is very useful for adding some bite to your dishes, but you can also use it as a very effective cleaning ingredient. The acidity of vinegar makes it a perfect cleaning agent. Besides its effectiveness, it is also natural, which means that it is harmless to the environment and to the people living in your home. Here are some great cleaning ideas that use vinegar:

• To unclog sink drains, pour one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar down the clogged drain, and flush it down with hot water afterwards.

• To clean glassware, soak tissue paper in pure distilled white vinegar, and wrap the cloudy glassware with it. Let the glasses stand for half an hour, and clean them with soap and hot water.

• To remove smells from refrigerators and food containers, wash them with a sponge soaked in hot white vinegar.

• To remove tarnish, rub a paste made from equal parts of table salt and distilled white vinegar.

• To deodorize a toilet bowl or a urinal, pour three cups of warm white vinegar in the toilet, and allow it to sit for 45 minutes before you flush it.

Vinegar is more than just a way to flavor your dishes or to dip potato chips in. The next time you buy vinegar from the grocery, buy those giant gallon bottles. Not only do you have a great way to add flavor to a meal, but also a great cleaning ingredient at your disposal.