Vinegar is regularly used in cooking, and comes with a string of health benefits when it’s consumed in combination with healthy food. From helping to lower blood glucose levels, to making your skin glow and assisting with weight loss management, it is a very unique and special condiment. Because it is made up of acetic acid and trace compounds — produced from the fermentation of ethanol or sugars — it actually has many other uses over and above its culinary prowess. On top of it being studied as a remedy for anything from minor ailments to chronic diseases, there are some other day-to-day uses that you might not have come across yet. These can be life-changing, so take a look at them here, and see what you might be able to incorporate into your routine at home.
Cleaning Dishes and Dishwasher Maintenance
Cleaning Dishes And Dishwasher Maintenance
Even though it isn’t complicated to get your hands on dish soap or dishwasher tablets, vinegar can be a great substitute to use on days when you’re running low on either. Vinegar is strong enough to work its way through grease and can even help to clear up any clogs in your dishwasher, especially after prolonged use. Don’t be shy about running an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar from time to time to help maintain the machine and increase its lifespan.
Keeping Car Windows Sparkling
If you own a car, you’ll know all about how hard it can be to keep it clean all the time. If you’re used to driving long distances in the week, you may even encounter tough grime on your windows that can’t be removed with basic soap. Adding a bit of vinegar on the surface along with a sufficient scrub should help to do the trick. Because vinegar is quite acidic, it will take care of the problem in no time.
Keeping Car Windows Sparkling
Garbage Disposal Management
Garbage disposals are a great addition to your kitchen. Nobody ever talks about the odors that come out of it, especially after prolonged use. It’s not exactly ideal to have to stick your hand down there to try to remove something that might have gotten stuck and is rotting away. Vinegar can help make this easier and safer. Freeze ice cubes with a lemon, one part vinegar and one part water. Drop two of these down the disposal when it needs some extra maintenance, and the foul smell will go away for good.
Garbage Disposal Management
Softer Feet
We don’t always have all the time in the world to treat ourselves to a visit to the salon or spa. If you’re after softer feet and a relaxing experience, try a vinegar pedicure. Dry soak your feet in a mixture of mouthwash and vinegar to help get rid of any dead skin. Soaking your feet for just fifteen minutes will also make them feel softer, and give you that confidence boost to take on the week of challenges ahead in your schedule.
Softer Feet
Pet Flea Killer
Dogs are very likely to attract fleas during their day to day meandering, which can often mean that these critters make their way into your sparkling clean home. Flea shampoo can be very expensive, so why not try vinegar as an alternative to get rid of your pets fleas? All you need is one part apple cider vinegar and one part water, combined in a spray bottle. This is an easy way to tell fleas (and other pests) to “keep away” when it comes to your beloved pet’s furry coat.
Pet Flea Killer
Fluffing Up Towels
Over time, most towels use their shine and fluff, especially if they are used by multiple members of the household. A few stints in the dryer can also make them lose the softness that you bought them for in the first place. To freshen them up, add a cup of vinegar to the cycle with your next wash. You’ll be surprised at how fluffy this will make your towels yet again. Don’t try this for other fabrics, as it may have a different effect on them.
Fluffing Up Towels
Vinegar as a Bruise Healer
We’ve all had bumps and scrapes, as getting around in the world often involves unforeseen accidents. Dark bruises can be quite awful to have, and to look at. The next time you have one, try using a paper towel that has been distilled in white vinegar on the affected area. This should help it to heal a little faster, and the bruise should disappear quicker than it might have under normal circumstances. You’ll be trying this over and over again in future.
Vinegar As A Bruise Healer
Fruit Preservation
The next time you buy fresh fruit from the grocer, try to wash them in a warm water and half a cup of vinegar. The idea is to let them come into contact with the solution, so let the fruit or vegetables sit in the solution for about ten minutes. Give them a good rinse before you place them in the fridge. The vinegar not only rids them of any pollutants, but also helps to keep them fresher for longer. The extra time will help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Fruit Preservation
Stain Remover
Even if you’re the most careful person on the planet, you’re bound to get a stain on your clothing from time to time. A lot of people try scrubbing first, which usually makes the problem even worse. The next time this happens, try rubbing some vinegar on the affected area. It won’t get rid of the stain right away, but throwing it into the wash right after is bount to do the trick. It will be good as new in no time at all.
Stain Remover
Preserving Fresh Flowers
Everybody loves receiving flowers, but nobody talks about the fact that they only live for a short amount of time, before you have to toss them out. They start dying as soon as they are cut from their original plant. If you add two tablespoons of vinegar, as well as one of sugar to the water, you may extend the life of the bunch for a couple of extra days. Considering what flowers cost these days, we should all be doing this all the time.
Preserving Fresh Flowers
DIY Shampoo
If you’re usually first in line to buy a special shampoo, especially if you have an oily hair problem, you may be able to get away with a DIY vinegar shampoo to help. Cleansing your roots with a unique shampoo can set you back a pretty penny, but mixing one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water could do the trick for a much smaller financial investment. Let the solution sit in your hair for at least five minutes, and repeat the process daily until you reach the desired result.
DIY Shampoo
Fix Scratched DVDs & CDs
Not a lot of people still rely on CDs and DVDs these days, but if you have an old collection that you’re still very fond of, you can keep it in tip-top shape by using vinegar to help get rid of any extra scratches. All you need to do is to wipe the bottom of the disc with a vinegar-soaked cloth and it should help to avoid skipping when it is in its specific player.
Fix Scratched DVDs CDs
Anti Fruit Fly Concoction
Fruit flies are never welcome in anybody’s home. They love hovering around the kitchen, hoping to find something to sit down on and to eat. At the same time, they spread diseases from moving around so much. Even just a small jar of apple cider vinegar (topped up with a few dollops of dish soap) will be irresistible to them, and they will end up in the solution. You won’t have to worry about them bothering you again for the rest of the day.
Anti Fruit Fly Concoction
The Odor Destroyer
Bad odors are a part of life. It might not be the case that you have this problem all the time, but when an unsavory smell pops up, you definitely should do what you can to mask it. Take a bit of vinegar and mix it into a slice of white bread, until the whole thing is immersed. Place the boal in the smelly area, and over the next day you will have a fresher smelling home.
The Odor Destroyer
Clothing Mildew Disruptor
Wet clothes that have been bundled up for an extended period develop a mildew smell that can be particularly nasty to get out of the fabric. Luckily, it’s vinegar to the rescue once again, helping to cut down the time it takes to get your clothes to smell like their usual self. All it takes is a single washing load with half a cup of white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil. The rest takes care of itself from there.
Clothing Mildew Disruptor
Buffing Wood Furniture Scratches
Here’s a use that few people are aware of. If you have scratches on your wood furniture, try a little bit of apple cider vinegar with iodine in a bowl. Spread this mixture across the scratches, and watch it buff out the problem in no time. If you’ve got a darker wood, try a higher concentration of iodine to get to the desired result. If you have very expensive furniture, always ask the manufacturer if this mixture will work for your particular type of wood first, as a safety precaution.
Buffing Wood Furniture Scratches
Soothing Sunburn
A day of fun in the sun can often leave you with sore, sensitive and painful burns on the skin. It’s never a bad idea to wear sunscreen, but on the off chance that you can forget you can try a bit of apple cider vinegar stored in the fridge to cool, to help soothe your skin. Be gentle and go slowly, so as not to inflame the skin. This may also minimize peeling, and moisturize the skin better than other after sun solutions can.
Soothing Sunburn
Reducing Clothing Creases
Ironing can be hard work, especially if you have a big family. As it turns out, vinegar can be used to help clothing creases after items have been in the wash. This is especially the case for more delicate garments that can’t just be thrown into the dryer. A spray bottle with a tablespoon of white vinegar, hair conditioner and two cups of water can help with relaxing the fibers and reducing wrinkles on your clothes.
Reducing Clothing Creases
Streakless Windshield Wipers
We’ve already mentioned how good vinegar is for cleaning car windows. If your window wipers are starting to lose their effectiveness, especially after years of use, they may start to stick and streak a little. They might even smear dirt across the window, defeating their very purpose. Although it’s always good to get them replaced at this stage, a bit of distilled white vinegar spread across the rubber will have them working well again in the interim.
Streakless Windshield Wipers
Sore Throat Remedy
Vinegar might be useful in the kitchen and when you’re doing laundry, but drinking it outside of a cooked dish might be taking things a step too far. Some people have had luck with a solution of hot water and a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a bid to help treat the early stages of a sore throat. You can even add some honey if it will help to make it more palatable. Try it once, and remember to go to the doctor if you don’t feel better after a few days.
Sore Throat Remedy
Dust-Free Computers and Laptops
These days, people use computers and laptops more than they use other devices, especially when it comes to their workweek. Dust is always a problem, and can creep into fans and other hard to reach areas of the machine. A vinegar mixture can help to get rid of extra stubborn dust. Remember to turn off the machine first, and to wipe slowly and gently, avoiding contact with the motherboard and other crucial components affecting its performance levels.
Dust Free Computers And Laptops
Removing Furniture Rings
Nobody can say that seeing a large water ring on a piece of wood furniture is a good thing. Coasters are the best way to protect this from happening, but some guests may not have been raised to use them. If you notice a water ring after a night with friends, throw together a mixture of vinegar and olive oil (in equal parts). With a soft cloth, move with the grain and take a different cloth to give it a second wipe.
Removing Furniture Rings
Get Rid of Old Bumper Stickers
If you’re buying a second hand car, there’s a good chance that the previous owner might leave a bumper sticker or two on it before handing you the keys. They can be impossible to remove after a few years, but trying undiluted, distilled vinegar on the top and sides of the sticker (and soaking for fifteen minutes) should help the stubborn glue to start to release from the bumper. The area will be good as new again in no time.
Get Rid Of Old Bumper Stickers
DIY Dusting Spray
Although vinegar has many cleaning uses, it can also be used to prevent dust from entering into your space in the first place. Try a quarter cup of water, a few drops of lemon flavored essential oil as well as two teaspoons of olive oil in areas most prone to dust. You’ll not only add a shine to the surface, but because dust won’t stick to these areas anymore, your cleaning time will be cut in half too.
DIY Dusting Spray
“Do It All” Cleaning Spray
Cleaning companies have come a long way since the days of selling toxic chemicals without thinking about the environmental or health impacts. These days, some products sold in supermarkets still test those boundaries regularly. A vinegar cleaning spray can be a great alternative that is not only good for your health and your home, but helps to protect the environment too. As you try and test various combinations of vinegar and water that work for you, you’ll land on the perfect “do it all” spray in no time at all.
Do It All Cleaning Spray
Toilet Tank Freshener
Toilet bowls get all the attention when it comes to cleaning, but when was the last time you cleaned your toilet tank? Dirt and grime are just as likely to show up in this area, which is why having a vinegar solution handy to keep it sanitary can be a big help. Add a cup of vinegar to the water and let it do it’s a thing as the next few times you flush. If it sounds simple enough, it’s because it truly is.
Toilet Tank Freshener
Garden Weed Destroyer
Who would have thought that you can use vinegar outside of the home too? If your garden is facing a flurry of weeds popping up, it’s good to know that you don’t have to turn to chemicals in order to keep them under control. Chemicals can also negatively affect your health, as well as that of your beloved pet. Use vinegar as a weed destroyer on its own, or try a combination with a tablespoon of dish soap and a cup of salt.
Garden Weed Destroyer
Unclogging Drains
Drains all over the house are prone to clogging from time to time, especially if you have more than two people living in the space. Some gunk seems like it can only be removed by industrial solvents. Before trying these, give vinegar a go as an alternative. Start by pouring boiling water down the drain first, followed by a cup of baking soda. Next, add a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for ten minutes, and the reaction should do the trick.
Unclogging Drains
Microwave Cleaner
It’s safe to say that microwaves are one of the best modern-day inventions out there. Owning one can save you a lot of trouble, but can also be quite difficult to clean. Stubborn grime that builds up over time (especially if you don’t clean it regularly) can be removed by using a distilled vinegar mixture in water. Heat it up in the microwave, so the steam touches all corners of the appliance. Next, wipe it down with the mixture for maximum cleaning effect.
Microwave Cleaner
Restoring a Burned Pan
If you spend enough time preparing meals, it’s likely that you would have run into trouble with keeping a pan on the stove a little too long from time to time. A burned pan might feel like a kitchen nightmare at first, but as it turns out, it’s relatively easy to clean with a little bit of vinegar. Boil a mixture of vinegar and water inside the pan, and add two tablespoons of baking powder once it has cooled. Let it sit for a few minutes, and grab a scour to get rid of the burned areas.
Restoring A Burned Pan
At Home Tile Cleaner
By now, you will have realized just how powerful vinegar can be outside of its primary use in cooking. If you have bathroom tiles that are starting to look a little worse for wear, all you need to do is to mix half a cup of vinegar with a bucket of warm water. This solution will help to make the scrubbing process as easy as possible, and even the most stubborn of grime won’t stand a chance against your at home tile cleaner.
At Home Tile Cleaner
Plaque Cleaner
Although this isn’t backed by science yet, some people have had success with whitening their teeth by using vinegar. Start by brushing your teeth with a toothbrush dipped in white vinegar once every seven days and repeating the process for a month. Surface plaque will be cleaned away, leaving room to show off your teeth in all their glory. Don’t expect miracle results, and consult your dentist immediately if you start to have any kind of adverse reaction.
Plaque Cleaner
Unpleasant Smell Remover
Sometimes, unpleasant smells will arise from the strangest of places in the home. If you have rats in the roof, for instance, you may wake up one morning with a dreadful smell coming from the ceiling (indicating that one had died, and it’s probably a good time to call the exterminators). Vinegar used in combination with a few drops of lemon essential oil can be a champion unpleasant smell remover, leaving the area fresh and keeping the family happy in the process.
Unpleasant Smell Remover
Soothe Mosquito Bites
Anybody that has spent a night dealing with a couple of relentless mosquitoes will know how annoying it can be to have to deal with their bites when you’re trying to sleep. If you can’t seem to get close enough to kill the pest, you might want to consider a solution of vinegar to help soothe their itchy and uncomfortable bites. Try a vinegar soaked cotton ball dabbed gently on the affected area for instant relief.
Soothe Mosquito Bites
Carpet Stain Remover
If you have pets or young kids, carpet stains are a given. It can be difficult to clean these effectively, especially if you’re not keen to expose yourself and other members of the family to harsh chemicals in the process. A mixture of two tablespoons of vinegar alongside a quarter cup of salt (or baking powder) can do the trick of removing tough stains from carpets in no time at all. Let it dry after you’ve applied it, and then use the vacuum to get rid of any remaining residue.
Carpet Stain Remove