Vinegar is a common kitchen mainstay. It’s one of those ingredients that you just always know will be in the pantry, which is handy because as it turns out, it’s great for much more than just cooking.
Here are some powerhouse uses for the sour liquid you may not actually know about.
1. Used in maintaining your wool and cashmere clothes
You can also use vinegar in un-shrinking clothes made of wool and cashmere. Just combine two tablespoons of vinegar with one quart of water and soak your clothes for a few minutes so the fibers can stretch.
Re-using old paintbrushes is definitely a huge money saver. However, dried paint can be quite tough. Luckily, vinegar is tougher because it can be used to remove dried paint in your old brushes! Just place them in a pot with vinegar and let them soak for an hour or so. After such time, turn the heat on and see the paint wash away.
Marinating meat is such a great way to make your home cook dishes even better! Vinegar is the main component in marinating and it truly shows off the savory goodness of your meat dishes!
No eggs for your baking session? No worries! Just grab a bottle of vinegar and get a tablespoon for each piece of egg that you are replacing. As long as you have baking powder or yeast in your ingredients, replacing eggs with vinegar should work!
Keeping ants and other bugs away is quite simple. Just spray vinegar on your house’s crevices such as windowsills and doorways to make these tiny crawlers stay away.
Water alone may not be enough to keep your flowers stay longer when placed in a vase. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to keep the flowers fresh and alive for a longer time.
Before painting your nails, it is best to clean them first. You can use vinegar in wiping your nails so you can rid them of any excess oils that might affect your nail polish application. Prepping your nails with vinegar will also help in making your manicure last for longer.
Toilet bowl stains can be nasty. It’s such good news that vinegar is all you need to get rid of the stain and the odor that comes with it. Just spray the toilet bowl with vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe the stains away.
Treating dandruff does not have to involve really strong products that can even be harmful to your skin. Just rinse your hair with white vinegar, let it stay for a few minutes, and rinse with cool water. Clean your brushes with vinegar, too. Do this at least once a week to keep your scalp free from dandruff.
Have you ever felt like you are not making the most of your condiments in jars? There is always something left in the container that is too hard for your spoon to reach! With vinegar, you will surely be able to fully consume your condiments. Just pour a few drops of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar on your jar of mayonnaise or salad dressing and shake away. The last of your condiments will be diluted and will come out of the jar easier.
Did you know that vinegar can also help you a lot in preparing a surface before painting on it? If you’re going to paint a wall, just wipe it with vinegar and let it dry. Paint should stick easier with vinegar on the walls.
Oily foods and food with strong and long-staying colors can sometimes put stains on your plates. The solution to this woe is nothing but a combination of vinegar and a bit of salt to completely get rid of the stains.
One way to ensure that the fruits and veggies you eat are free of dirt is by washing them thoroughly. You can add another layer of washing but this time, you can use vinegar to really remove the dirt on your fruits and vegetables. Just mix equal parts of vinegar and water, place the solution in a spray bottle and spray on your fruits and vegetables. Let it stay for a few minutes then rinse.
Did you know that vinegar can also help in preserving the colors of your clothes? All you need to do is to soak your laundry in vinegar before washing them.
Wooden cutting boards can be tough to clean. But, by using vinegar in cleaning cutting boards, you will find that it can be so much easier to keep them clean and free from odors!
The solution to having mildew in your shower area is right in your kitchen! Just spray the walls and your shower curtain with vinegar to prevent mildew.
Vinegar also helps when unclogging the drain. The first thing to do is to pour half a cup of baking soda. Afterward, pour half a cup of vinegar and let the combination bubble up until no more bubbles are forming. The last step is to pour hot water on the drain to finally unclog it!
Carpet stains are quite difficult to manage. But, with vinegar, handling this predicament becomes easier! Just mix equal parts of water and vinegar then spray it onto the stain. Let it stand for a couple of minutes then blot with a cloth.
Vinegar is an important part of creating buttermilk. Just add one tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of milk and wait for a few minutes until the milk slightly curdles. Whisk the concoction and voila! You have buttermilk.
Rice can become fluffier when cooked with a bit of vinegar. Just add a teaspoon of it while the rice is boiling and you will have fluffier rice after a few minutes.
Here’s a new way of coloring your Easter eggs and it’s with the use of vinegar. Just combine hot water, vinegar, and food coloring in a bowl. Dip the eggs in this combination then let them dry.
Keeping your child’s cloth diapers fresh and clean is totally a must. One simple way of achieving this is by running a cycle in the washer with a mix of vinegar. This will help in breaking down the uric acid and will result in cleaner and stain-free cloth diapers for your baby.
In removing candle wax, you can make it even easier by blow-drying the wax buildup first so that most of it will be removed. After that, you can wipe away the residue using a cloth dipped in a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar.
Ear itch can be really annoying for your pets and may even lead to constant scratching. You can prevent them from scratching behind their ears by cleaning this part with a soft cloth dipped in vinegar.
Cheese can be kept fresh for longer with the use of vinegar. Just wrap the cheese in a cloth dipped in vinegar, place it in a plastic or zip-lock bag and refrigerate.
Cats can be really curious and sometimes go to places where they shouldn’t like your countertop. How to prevent them from going there? Just spray the area with vinegar. Cats hate it and will surely not go there anymore.
Deodorant or coffee stains can sometimes cause your white shirts to become yellowish in color. Make your white shirts brighter with vinegar! Just add half a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle and see the difference.
Washing machines can have soap residues that can cause stains and smells inside the machine. To rinse it off, just add a cup of vinegar and run an empty cycle.
Dogs love to explore and sometimes, stinky “accidents” can happen, just like the moment when they run into a skunk. When this happens, just grab your vinegar and mix it with an equal amount of water. Rinse your dog with it and then, rinse with warm water. You can repeat this until the smell is completely gone.
Cleaning your computer is easy! Just mix equal parts of water and vinegar, dip a soft cloth, wring it out and wipe away! You may use a Q-tip for crevices that are hard to reach.
Your coffee maker is an essential part of each morning and cleaning it is definitely a must. One of the best homemade cleaners for your coffeemaker involves vinegar. You can actually descale your machine and remove coffee stains on it by running a full cycle with vinegar instead of coffee. After that, rinse it thoroughly and you’re good to go.
Treating athlete’s foot at home is possible with the use of vinegar. Combine equal parts of water and vinegar in a basin and soak your feet in the solution for 15 minutes, twice a day. Dry your feet carefully after soaking.
Polishing your car’s chrome is also another use that vinegar can offer. Just wipe your car’s exterior with a cloth dipped in vinegar for a shinier look.
Bee stings can also be remedied at home with the use of vinegar. It relieves your skin from itching and preventing you from scratching over and over again.
Your silver wares also get to benefit from vinegar. Just add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of vinegar. Add about one cup of flour to create a paste-like consistency. Put this paste on your silverware and let it sit for about ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing them with warm water and using a soft cloth to wipe them.
Colds can be annoying and sometimes, being too busy keeps us from finding medication. It’s a good thing that vinegar can be used to be a D-I-Y remedy for colds. Every morning, just mix a tablespoon of honey with a few ounces of apple cider vinegar. Take this concoction three times a day to help you with eliminating your colds. It may taste awful, but it works!