The $5 Pantry Fix That Can Replace 3 Cleaning Products

One bottle of this will replace many of your household cleaning products.

Plain white vinegar. The ordinary 5 percent acidity kind. No fragrance. No fancy label. New Africa/Shutterstock

I didn’t set out to overthrow three cleaning products in one afternoon. I was simply standing in my laundry room, staring at a shelf crowded with half-used spray bottles, when I realized two things. First, none of them was empty enough to throw away. Second, none of them was impressive enough to justify buying again.

That was the day a humble pantry staple earned a permanent promotion in my house.