If I had a penny for every time my mom solved one of my problems with vinegar — be it a fever, mosquito bite, or stubborn stain — I’d be writing this from my private yacht right now. Basically, the Swiss Army knife of your pantry, vinegar has exceptional capabilities that go beyond just dressing your salad.
Here are 20 incredible things you can do with vinegar.
1. Fabric Softener
Replacing your store-bought fabric softener with vinegar is a great idea if you want to cut out chemicals. Vinegar, which is hypoallergenic, naturally softens fabrics, removes detergent residues, and reduces static cling. Plus, it’s eco-friendly and keeps your washing machine fresh.
Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softeners, and you’re good to go.
2. Ant Repeller
Ants release pheromones to create trails that guide their colony to food sources. If these trails lead to your pantry, apple cider vinegar can help. Wipe down surfaces with apple cider vinegar as the strong scent disrupts their pheromone trails and deters them from entering your home.
3. Prevent Fruit From Browning
Those leftover apple slices turning brown too quickly? Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water and toss them in the solution. The vinegar’s acidity will slow down the oxidation process, which causes browning.
4. Removing Rust
Soak your rusty tools or household items in undiluted white vinegar and salt for a few hours or overnight, depending on the severity of the rust. Scrub the item with a brush or steel wool to remove the loosened rust. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly. The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the rust, loosening it from the metal.
5. Natural Air Freshener
Vinegar neutralizes odors and is not toxic, unlike your average air freshener. So fill a spray bottle with equal vinegar and water, then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a pleasant scent. Shake well and spray around your home.
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6. Polishing Silver
Soak your silver items in half a cup of white vinegar and baking soda and let it sit for two to three hours. After soaking, rinse them with cold water and dry them with a soft cloth. The vinegar and baking soda is a combo that works miracles in removing tarnish and restoring the shine of your silver.
7. Making Hair Shine
Vinegar might help you achieve shiny, lustrous hair. After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar and three parts water. The vinegar helps seal the hair cuticle. The smell will dissipate as your hair dries.
8. Cleaning Dog Ears
Keeping Fido’s ears clean is vital for their health, and vinegar can help as it breaks down wax and debris while its natural antibacterial properties fight off infection. Mix 1 part organic apple cider vinegar (2% to 2.5% acetic acid) with 2 parts water. Use a dropper to carefully apply 1 to 5 ml of the solution into your dog’s ear canal, flushing gently. Just be sure not to go too deep, and always consult your vet if your dog has chronic ear issues.
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9. Removing Pit Stains
Those unsightly pit stains on your favorite shirts can be quite an eyesore. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then apply the solution directly to the stains. Let it sit for about 30 minutes before tossing it into the wash. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down the buildup of deodorant and sweat, making those stubborn stains vanish.
10. Skin Toner
Vinegar’s antibacterial properties work wonders with clearing up acne and red flaky skin. Dilute one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water and apply it to your face using a cotton ball. It’s wise to patch test first and adjust the dilution if needed.
11. Opening Tight Jars
Most of us know how a stubborn jar lid can completely ruin your willpower and self-esteem. To make them easier to open, soak a cloth in warm vinegar and wrap it around the lid. Wait a few minutes, then try opening the jar again. The heat and acidity of the vinegar will help loosen the seal. It should twist off with much less effort.
12. Cleaning Garbage Disposals
Keep your garbage disposal fresh and clog-free by pouring one cup of baking soda down the disposal, then follow it with one cup of vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with hot water. The fizzy reaction will help break down grime and deodorize the disposal.
13. Catching Fruit Flies
Fight back the fruit fly invasion in your home with vinegar. Mixing a few drops of dish soap with apple cider vinegar in a bowl, place the bowl where the flies are most active, and watch them disappear. Fruit flies are drawn to the scent of apple cider vinegar but get trapped by the soap.
14. Dandruff Treatment
Has it been snowing on your shoulders recently? While its effects in treating dandruff are anecdotal, some say apple cider vinegar helps relieve dandruff symptoms by rebalancing the scalp’s natural pH levels. Try washing your scalp with diluted apple cider vinegar and see how it goes.
15. Removing Stickers
Remove stubborn stickers like price tags and labels by painting them over with white vinegar and letting them sit for five minutes. The acetic acid dissolves the adhesive, making it easy to scrape off.
16. Cheese Mold Preventer
To prevent your cheese from getting moldy, wrap it in a vinegar-soaked cloth and store it in the fridge. The acid will helps prevent mold growth, and your cheese will stay fresh longer.
17. Bug Bite Reliever
When you get stung by a pesky bug, apple cider vinegar can help. The acidity neutralizes the venom, which eases pain, specifically the burning and itching.
18. Coffee Maker Cleaner
If your morning joe is begining to taste like sludge, it means it’s time for cleaning. Run a cycle of vinegar through your coffee maker. The acid will dissolve the mineral buildup and you’ll have your fresh cup of coffee again. Just remember to rinse it out afterward, unless you’re into tangy coffee.
19. Window Cleaner
If you’re tired of pricey window cleaners that are just okay but not amazing, try white vinegar. The acetic acid cuts through grime like a champ. Just mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and you’re good to go.
20. Stop Cracked Eggs
Eggs tend to crack in boiling water; especially if they are coming straight from the fridge. The trick is to add one to two teaspoons of white vinegar per two cups of water.
The acid helps the egg whites’ proteins coagulate faster, plugging any cracks that form while cooking. It will also help keep the egg whites from leaking out if the shell does crack.
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