Where to Buy White Vinegar in Bulk In The UK For Cleaning

Looking to buy white vinegar in bulk for making cleaning products? Here are my top places to shop for this green cleaning staple.

Let’s talk vinegar – specifically, where to buy white vinegar in bulk for all your cleaning needs. You see, I go through a lot of white vinegar in our house. And, no, it’s not just because I love chips!

It’s more because scientists have warned that conventional cleaning products could be as bad for your lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day. I’m also keen to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in my home.

As such, I’m really big on making my own natural cleaning products with simple yet effective non-toxic ingredients. Vinegar is a key component in my natural cleaning arsenal, so I do buy a lot of it. 

The Problem With Shopping Locally For White Vinegar

When it comes to shopping for cleaning ingredients I’d normally always recommend shopping locally. And indeed, glass bottles of white vinegar can be picked up relatively cheaply from many supermarkets or corner shops. Around here, it’s about £1 for 500 ml of vinegar. 

And what I love is that these 500 ml glass vinegar bottles are very useful. Simply pop a spray nozzle on the bottle once you’re done and you’ve got an instant eco-friendly cleaning bottle.

The thing is, when you’re using vinegar in relatively higher quantities, the price soon adds up. Shop assistants also give you funny looks when you start buying five bottles of vinegar in one transaction. Voice of experience here.

Frustratingly, some supermarkets (cough, Sainsbury’s) have also started packaging their small bottles of vinegar in plastic bottles, instead of glass. 

Buying vinegar in bulk helps save plastic, as less plastic goes into making a bulk bottle than the equivalent amount of small bottles. Buying in bulk is also less carbon-intensive. Fewer deliveries are required, making it a more efficient way to shop.

Where to Buy White Vinegar in Bulk

To save money, and plastic, and to save blushes, instead, I buy my white vinegar in bulk online and get it delivered straight to my door.

Looking to buy vinegar in bulk too? I have found the best places to purchase white vinegar in bulk. Let me share my secrets with you:

• eBay
• Amazon
• Miniml

eBay

eBay is by far the cheapest place I’ve found to buy white vinegar in bulk sizes. 

20 litres of vinegar often comes in around the £20 mark with free postage. That’s around £1 per litre. Compared to the £2 a litre when buying the glass bottles, that’s a whopping saving of 50% per litre.

Worried about storing 20 litres of vinegar? Worry not, the vinegar arrives in four 5-litre cartons. These are a lot more manageable to handle and store than one 20-litre container. 

To make life easier I decant the vinegar into a glass bottle (an empty gin bottle!) to make it even easier to pour.

Do note that the price of vinegar tends to fluctuate on eBay. Do check here to see the current going rate. 

Amazon

Alternatively, Amazon is another place to check. Whilst Amazon is not my preferred place to shop, for numerous ethical reasons, Amazon does stock white vinegar in bulk.

If Amazon is the best option for you, then you can again pick up 20 litres relatively cheaply. Again, this is split into four 5-litre cartons for easy storage. Like eBay, the price of vinegar tends to fluctuate, so do check to see what the current going rate is.

Miniml

If you would prefer to buy your white vinegar from somewhere more ethical and eco-friendly, then Miniml is my top recommendation.

This British-made vinegar comes in single 5-litre containers or a single 20-litre container.

It’s a little more expensive than other retailers (20 litres works out at just under £30). However, the big plus point is that when your carton is empty, you can send it back to Miniml. This will then be cleaned and re-used – helping to reduce plastic waste.

💷Get 10% off all cleaning and laundry products by using the code CLEAN10 at the checkout.

What’s the Shelf Life of Bulk White Vinegar?

Unopened bottles of bulk vinegar will last for around 2 years. Once opened, the vinegar will last for around 6 months. 

I’ve never had a problem using up vinegar within 6 months, as I have a ton of uses around the house for vinegar. I’ve listed some of my favourite uses below – from cleaning to laundry, to even in the garden – to help you avoid waste.

If your vinegar hasn’t been used up in 6 months then as with any best-before dates do exercise common sense. If it looks off or smells off, then it’s probably off. And if not, it’s probably safe to use, particularly if you are just using vinegar for cleaning.

What Can You Use White Vinegar For?

White vinegar has a myriad of uses around the home and in the garden. Here are some of my favourite white vinegar uses:

• See here for how to make infused vinegar for cleaning with
• Or visit here for how to make your own fabric conditioner
• Alternatively, find out how to make homemade weedkiller
• Here’s how I make natural cleaning sprays using vinegar

Want to know more? Check out my full guide on everything you need to know about cleaning with white vinegar.

Please note – don’t use vinegar on granite, stone, marble, quartz, or similar surfaces, as it can damage the stone. This DIY cleaning spray is better suited for those types of surfaces.

What About British-Made Vinegar in Bulk?

I get the occasional email asking me why I’m not promoting British-made vinegar. Both Golden Swan vinegar (the brand most commonly available on eBay and Amazon) and Miniml’s vinegar are produced in the UK. This makes both a great choice for supporting British-made produce.

Can I Buy Bulk Vinegar Without The Plastic?

It is frustrating not being able to buy white vinegar in bulk without the plastic. The thing is that it’s simply not practical to transport vinegar in large glass bottles. Doing so would prohibitively push the price of this cheap and eco-friendly staple up. And vinegar can’t be stored in metal, as vinegar is corrosive, so plastic it is. 

However, if you’re looking to cut down on your plastic waste, then the other option would be to visit your local zero-waste shop if you have one nearby. Here you’ll be able to fill up on vinegar, using your own container. 

Have you found white vinegar cheaper anywhere else? Do let me know – I love a good deal on vinegar! Some people get excited by sales on clothes or TVs. Not me, no, I get excited by sales on vinegar…!