It seems white vinegar is the go-to, all-natural solution to clean and disinfect all over the house. And while white vinegar is a mild acid that does a great job in cleaning, it should also be used with caution. For example, many people use white vinegar as a rinse aid in the dishwasher, but you should never fill the rinse-aid compartment with it. The reason is simple: Vinegar will eat away at the rubber gasket, making it inoperable. Instead, fill a cup with vinegar and place it right-side up in the dishwasher.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you have an old bottle of ground cinnamon in the pantry and are unsure what to do with it? One natural attribute of cinnamon is that it has fantastic antifungal properties and can help keep fungus like slime mold and mushroom spores from sprouting in your garden or on household plants. To use cinnamon, simply dilute it with warm water and let it steep overnight. When the mixture is cool, transfer to a bottle and spray all over the leaves and on top of the soil of potted plants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Is your nonstick frying pan sticking? It can be frustrating when a nonstick pan begins to make it almost impossible to fry eggs, but there’s no need to toss the pan into the trash! You can easily recoat the pan to make it work almost as good as new. Simply fill the pan with a mixture of water, baking soda and white vinegar. Simmer on the stove for 10 minutes to loosen the grease and baked-on particles, then rinse. While the pan is still warm, rub vegetable oil over the entire surface and wipe off the excess. This will help re-season the pan and make it easier to cook with the next time you need it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION