Over the last 5+ years, I have really embraced the cleaning power of vinegar — plain white vinegar. Not only is it extremely inexpensive, it’s also SO versatile — it can practically clean anything!
I’ve shared numerous posts about cleaning with vinegar on my blog (most recently, how I use it to clean our dishwasher) and have even compiled a list of more than 100 things you can clean with vinegar!
It’s no secret that I LOVE cleaning with vinegar!
However, over the last 5+ years sharing my vinegar cleaning tips and recipes with you, the #1 “complaint” I hear is how stinky the vinegar smells.
I’ve been asked over and over and OVER again how to get rid of the smell, how to mask the smell, how to change the smell, etc. etc. but I’ve never had any great answers… until just recently!
I came across the brand new Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar a few months ago and was very intrigued by the idea of an “aroma controlled” vinegar.
Of course, I had to try them out!
From what I can tell, the Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar offers all the same benefits of cleaning with vinegar (non-toxic, environmentally friendly, deep-cleaning, safe for children and pets, etc.) with the additional benefit of being low-odor!
Win-Win!
I guess I personally have never disliked the smell of vinegar as it does seem to dissipate quite quickly; however, Nora enjoys helping me clean and she is really liking the “less stinky” cleaning experience 🙂
As I mentioned above, I clean almost everything (except my granite counters) with vinegar. I use vinegar in the laundry, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, on kid’s toys, outside, on windows and glass, etc. etc. so I use it daily!
Since using Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar, I have noticed no difference in the cleanliness of my home, and there is no residue or stickiness.
I’ve been using the Citrus Mint Cleaning Vinegar primarily in the kitchen, and the Aroma Controlled Cleaning Vinegar in the bathrooms (and everywhere else).
The Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar 24 oz. spray bottles are currently available in Walmart Supercenters (in the vinegar aisle) and HEB stores (in the cleaning aisle) for right around $2.50. They are also available at Walmart.com for those of you who (like me) don’t shop at Walmart.
There are larger jugs available as refills for the spray bottles and you can even print a money-saving coupon right on their website!
If you love the natural, safe, eco-friendly cleaning power of vinegar but can’t stand the smell, I would highly recommend looking for a bottle of Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar the next time you’re grocery shopping.
Also, if you aren’t aware of the amazing cleaning power of vinegar, check out some of the vinegar-cleaning tips on the Four Monk’s website.
How do you use vinegar around your home?
A big thanks to Four Monks Cleaning Vinegar for sponsoring this post and making it possible for me to provide all of the content on my blog free of charge! My opinions are 100% my own! Please see my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you have.
ShirlAnn says
I don’t think this product is available now. I did a search on that website and did not get any results for the product. Can’t find it at Walmart.com.
Andrea says
sorry — it’s an old post, so it might not be available anymore 🙁
Mrs. M. says
Hi!
I realize this post is a few years old, but do you have a way to contact fourmonks? The only way to contact them on their “contact us” page is an email type form that has a reCaptcha at the bottom which doesn’t work… so there’s no way to submit the form!
I wanted to ask them for an updated coupon. The two links on their website to the coupons are expired.
I also wanted to make sure it’s okay to mix their cleaning vinegar with Dawn dish soap.
Thanks!
Andrea says
unfortunately, I haven’t tried to reach out to them lately — but I do know their products are available at Walmart.
And yes, I do believe you can mix their vinegar with Dawn (at least I have!)
Mari says
Does the “no odor/no smell” vinegar still have the same percentage of acidity as the white vinegar one would purchase in a store like Walmart?
dayna says
Do these bottles come with the SDS if purchased from Walmart?
thanks
Andrea says
Ok you lost me — I’m not sure what SDS is, and I’ve also never purchased them directly from Walmart, so I can’t answer your question. Sorry!
Pat HARRIS says
I am getting granite counter tops and I believe you have them too. How do you clean them?
Andrea says
Yes, we have granite — and here’s the link to my homemade granite countertop cleaner! https://andreadekker.com/diy-granite-countertop-cleaner/
Pat Urbanowicz says
Who sells this
Julie@frugallyblonde.com says
I add a slice or two of lemons to my vinegar and let it sit for a week before I use it for cleaning. It smells so much better than using regular vinegar.
Stacey says
I add orange or lemon peels and let them sit for a week or so…works great!
Andrea says
hmmm… interesting. I never thought about letting it sit for a while. I’m sure that would make the smells mingle and mix better!
Alicia says
I actually don’t mind the smell of vinegar, but my husband can’t stand it. Also, I’ve been using your dawn dish soap/vinegar shower cleaning combo to clean my shower for the last 5 years, and I swear by it! It’s the only thing that will completely clean all the residue off my shower floor/walls. 🙂
Andrea says
yay — glad to hear it’s been working well for you! That’s a favorite cleaner of mine too — I just wish I could use it on my granite counters as it really does work extremely well!
Karen says
Not sure if you’ve showed us a granite cleaner, but I use a recipe with rubbing alcohol. It works great!
Andrea says
Yup… that’s what I use too Karen. Here’s my post about that: https://andreadekker.com/diy-granite-countertop-cleaner/
Lenka Horska says
Hello, why you can’t use vinegar on granite counter tops?
Thanks
Andrea says
The acid in the vinegar will slowly eat away at the granite — causing little pits and rough spots.
JoDi says
I make an all-purpose cleaner with vinegar kn it and use it on everything! It’s especially great on glass and mirrors. I don’t mind the smell of vinegar and find that it dissipates quickly too. The recipe I use has rubbing alcohol in it which I really dislike the smell of so I put several drops of essential oil in it to make it smell more pleasant. I like citrus oils because they smell great and are good cleansers too, but sometimes I use eucalyptus or peppermint oil or variety.
Ann says
What is a HEB store? Do we have any in W MI?
Shopping online at Walmart also isn’t an option for me since I don’t shop there in protest because of their policies.
Andrea says
I honestly don’t know what HEB stands for — but I think they are in Texas and maybe some other southern states (here’s the website) I don’t think we have them in Michigan (at least I’ve never heard of them). Sorry 🙁
lyss says
H.E.B. are the man’s initials that started the store. His last name was Butt. So…I imagine he chose initials over, say, Butt’s Grocery. : )
Lisa Taylor says
H-E-B is the initials of Howard E. Butt, the supermarket chain’s founder.
lyss says
Pretty sure HEB grocery stores are only in Texas, and I think they expanded to Mexico, too. Sorry! Not sure why they don’t expand more, as HEB is the go-to grocery for most Texans like me.
Debbie says
Thank you Andrea! I’m one who can’t stand the smell of vinegar except when cooking with it. I’ll have to try this one!
Andrea says
haha — good! Glad to help!
Chris says
Andrea,
I’ve been using vinegar to clean for over 10 years now and the easy way to mask the smell is to use essential oils in your favorite scents. You can scent an entire gallon at a time or scent it as you refill your bottles. I personally love lavender but it is expensive. Other “clean” smells are lemon, tea tree oil, peppermint….. but use whatever you like!
Andrea D. says
Chris,
How many drops of essential oils do you use in 1 gal. of vinegar? Do you ever have an issue with oily residue? Have you ever noticed that the oils effect the cleaning power? Thank you for your tip – I have been thinking about trying this because I also hate the smell of vinegar!
Chris says
Andrea,
You can use 50 drops or 1 dropper full or 1/2 tsp. per gallon – but you can certainly adjust the amount.
I’ve never had a problem with oily residue because of the ratio and it doesn’t affect the cleaning power either. Just remember to shake it before you use it.
If you only want to scent a 16 oz bottle you would use about 20 drops.
Another great use for essential oil is to scent baking soda. I’ve used it as a room deodorizer, to clean drains or the sink. Put some baking soda in a pretty dish or container (not plastic!) and add some drops of your favorite oil, then place in inconspicuous places (away from curious hands). The scent will last for quite awhile. Peppermint scented baking soda can be used to brush your teeth!
Deni says
I love cleaning with vinegar and use it daily (no more chemicals for me 🙂 I’m still using and loving the bathroom cleaner of vinegar and dawn that you posted on the blog. I’ve gotten friends and family members using it as well. I use vinegar to clean bathrooms, floors, kitchen and laundry in place of bleach. It’s natural and wonderful!!!
Andrea says
yes, I too have started using vinegar to clean almost everything. It’s so great because then Nora can help me and I don’t need to worry about her handling the cleaners. In fact, just last week, she accidentally sprayed the vinegar spray at herself instead of at the floors (I don’t know how this is possible, but she did!) and although it stung a bit, I wasn’t too worried as it was just vinegar and water!
Deb says
I don’t really mind the smell and I can get a gallon at a warehouse club for the price of the spray bottle. 😉 But I am cheap..
Andrea says
yes… I’m cheap too! However, I think that if you’re someone who really doesn’t like the smell of vinegar, it would be worth an extra buck or two for no smell!
Mari says
Is it really no-smell/no-odor, OR is it just a different scent than the regular vinegar scent? Where can I get “real” no-odor vinegar?
Andrea says
it’s just a DIFFERENT scent — and you can still smell a hint if vinegar. to my knowledge, there is no way to NOT have any vinegar smell at all. However, it does go away very quickly after cleaning.