The holiday season is one that nearly everyone looks forward to. There are elaborate dinner parties, presents, visiting family and friends…cleaning. Well, maybe no one really looks forward to holiday cleaning, but it’s there all the same, and if you’re like most families the in the United States, you probably rely on a lot of heavy-duty cleaning solutions to make the job as easy as can be. However, did you know that many household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can present potential health hazards? So, how can you avoid exposure to these chemicals this holiday season (and beyond)? Well, for starters, you can substitute your store-bought cleaners for a traditional household staple: white vinegar!

White vinegar is non-toxic, all natural, environmentally-friendly, and very economical! Plus, it has heavy-duty cleaning and disinfecting powers that will guarantee you won’t miss your old cleaners at all. Here are some ways to use white vinegar around your house this holiday season:

Clean Your Coffeemaker… Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine’s water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.

Disinfect Your Dishwasher… To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour ½ cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle, says Hunter. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.

De-Gunk Your Drains… Clean drains―and the pipes they’re attached to―by pouring vinegar down them. After 30 minutes, flush with cold water.

For Shining Floors… Add ¼ cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean almost any type of floor except marble (vinegar can scratch it) or wood (vinegar can strip it).

For Glistening Glassware… For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.

Clean Moldy Walls… Spray vinegar on the affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse and let dry thoroughly.

Streamline Showerheads… To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the showerhead, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight. Rinse with water in the morning.

Windows Will Sparkle… Mix ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.

For more tips on how to use vinegar to clean your home, visit VinegarTips.com!