Top Uses for Vinegar Everyday
by Michele Partridge
I love vinegar. That weak form of acetic acid that forms through the fermentation of sugars or starches is the “cat’s pajamas” in my book. Why, you ask? …. well it is completely edible, inexpensive, found everywhere and has so many other uses to make your life a little easier. It really is endless. Let’s see.. there’s cleaning, cooking, experiments at school, beauty care, pet care, garden solutions… shall I go on? It really is a PERFECT product.
Here are some of my favorite uses for plain white vinegar::
1. Remove stickers: Don’t you hate it when you can’t get a sticker off a product??? Drives me nuts! Vinegar to the rescue! Simply moisten with vinegar. After 10 minutes of soaking, wipe away.
2. Cleaning Carpets: For spills on carpet, use a sponge or cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Then spray with a mixture of half vinegar, half water. Let stand for about two minutes, then blot with towel or sponge. Repeat as needed. Amazing results!
3. For Stains on Clothes: Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap, and 1 cup warm water. Rub. When finished cleaning, follow by drying with a hairdryer set on low.
4. Clean the House: Vinegar is a great CLEANER for the home. Simply add vinegar and water (half and half) to a spray bottle, then spray and wipe everywhere in the house. For a fresh smell, add a few drops of essential oil to the bottle.
5. Clean silver, pewter, copper, or brass: Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in one cup vinegar. Add flour to create a paste (1/4 cup or more.) Apply the paste to the metal item, and let stand for at least fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water and polish with a soft cloth.
6. Clean the Toilet: Add 1/4 of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 cup of plain white vinegar and water to a spray bottle. Spray the toilet bowl, let it sit a few minutes, then scrub with the toilet brush.
7. Removing Soap Build up: Clean with a mixture of 1 part salt to four parts vinegar.
8. Prevent Mildew: Spray shower walls and shower curtain with vinegar to help prevent mildew.
9. Ant Prevention: To keep ants away, spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, countertops – anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly,) clean it with vinegar.
10. Drain Cleaner: For a clogged drain, first pour in 1/2 cup baking soda. Then add an equal amount of vinegar. When the mixture finishes bubbling, rinse with warm water. (Note: Check with your manufacturer first as some some garbage disposals do not react well to this cleaning method.)
11. Clean the Microwave:: To clean your microwave oven, put a microwave-safe bowl of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in the oven, and cook long enough to boil. In addition to removing any lingering odors, this will loosen any baked-on food from the microwave’s walls. Then easily wipe clean.
12. Laundry: To decrease lint on clothing, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. To make your “brights brighter,” add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
13. Laundry Smells: To remove the smell of bad odours from clothing, add a cup of vinegar to a tub of hot water. Let clothing hang in the same room for several hours.
14. Pet Deterrence: To keep cats off windowsills or other surfaces, spray with vinegar. This will also keep them from scratching upholstery (spray an unnoticeable area of the fabric first to make sure the vinegar doesn’t cause a stain.)
15. Clean Dog’s Ears: To keep dogs from scratching their ears, clean with a soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
16. Pet Cleaner: If your dog should have a run-in with a skunk, vinegar will take care of the smell better than even tomato juice. Using vinegar diluted 50% with water, rub the dog’s fur. Rinse with warm water. Repeat as needed.
17. De-Gunk Your Hair: When your hair gets full of too many products and gets limp and dull, pour 1/4 cup of vinegar (or less depending on how much hair you have) on your hair. After your hair is covered, rub in, then rinse. Shampoo and condition after. You’ll notice right away how clean your hair feels.
18. Pesticide Cleaner: To get rid of wax and pesticides off your fruit and veggies, simply soak them in a sink full of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar for 10 min. Then rinse.
These are some of my favorites. There are many, many more uses for vinegar, but I can vouch for these tips as I use vinegar for these problems daily with great results.
Look how much money you’ll save by not buying other products and you’ll also save your health and leave less of a carbon footprint on our planet. It’s win/win!
As I said before, I love vinegar.
About the author: Michele Partridge is a mom, wife, blogger and drama coach. After working for a green cleaning and organic products company, Michele became a green living expert, helping people live a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle. Her advice will save you money, time and your family’s health. Visit Michele at Greenkick.ca.
