99 Domestic Uses For The Common Vinegar

It’s the most common mild acid. It’s greatly used in industrial, medical and household purposes. It’s not only a cooking ingredient, but also an efficient household cleanser. It is found in liquid state, and it’s composed of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and water. It the result of either fast or slow fermentation. The slower the fermentation, the less toxic the end product is, because long processes allow the accumulation of acetic acid bacteria, which are nontoxic.

If you plan on using it, know that all forms of vinegar are fine, except the Brown vinegar (cider), which stains porous surfaces. But if used responsibly and cautiously, it can be very efficient. So let us take a look at what it can do!

CLOTHES / FABRICS / LAUNDRY

1. stop lint from clinging to your clothes: 1 cup of vinegar per wash load will fix the problem
2. remove lint from clothes: add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle
3. keep colors bright: immerse them in vinegar before washing (10 minutes will do)
4. degreaser for suede stains: dip toothbrush in vinegar and gently scrub the stain
5. remove stains: rub on wine / jam / mustard / coffee stains then wash normally
6. remove smoke smell: add one cup to a bathtub filled with hot water then hang the clothes over the steam
7. remove perspiration stains: immerse in 1 / 4 vinegar to water ration, then rinse
8. remove anti-perspirant / deodorant spray stains: rub gently with distilled vinegar then launder
9. soften wool and cotton blankets: just add 2 cups of vinegar to the rinse   cycle
10. deodorize wool fabrics: wash then rinse in equal parts vinegar and water to remove the unpleasant odor
11. set the color of various fabrics: add a cup of vinegar per full rinse cycle to help set the color
12. get sharper creases in knit fabrics: dampen the fabrics with a cloth previously wrung in a solution of 1/3 distilled vinegar and 2/3 water the iron with a paper bag over the crease
13. eliminate excess hand laundry suds: splash a little vinegar in the rinse then rinse in water only
14. unclog steam irons: add equal amounts of water and vinegar in the water chamber, turn on the steam and leave the iron running upright for 5 minutes
15. clean a scorched iron plate: heat equal parts of salt and vinegar in a small pan, then use the end product to rub the iron plate

FOODS / CUTLERY / DISHES

16. clean chinaware: salt + vinegar combined will clean the coffee stains from the chinaware
17. freshen wilted vegetables: soak them in 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar
18. keep boiling eggs from cracking: add 2 tablespoons of vinegar in the water before boiling
19. tenderize and sterilize meat: marinate meat in a mixture of vinegar and water and cook the next day without rinsing (you can add condiments to improve the taste)
20. remove hard water from the faucets: soak a cloth in vinegar and leave it over the faucet over night
21. remove mineral deposits from coffee maker’s drippers: fill the coffee makers with vinegar and run a complete cycle; after it’s done, rinse thoroughly
22. clean copper, brass and pewter: dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of distilled vinegar then clean with a piece of cloth after having immersed it in the mixture
23. clean the dishwasher: add one cup of vinegar once a month to the clean cycle to remove soapy deposits
24. sanitize and deodorize the kitchen drain: once a week pour a glass full, down the drain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then flush with cold water
25. unclog a drain: pour baking soda down the drain and after that ½ cups of vinegar; rinse with hot water only
26. remove onion odor from your hands: rub vinegar on your hands after handling onions
27. remove fruit stains from your hands: gently rub your hands with a a little distilled vinegar then wipe them off
28. clean wood cutting boards: clean them with full strength vinegar; make sure you wash them before using
29. clean teapots: boil a mixture consisting equally of water and vinegar; rinse thoroughly after you’re done boiling
30. clean the garbage disposal units: freeze vinegar in ice cubes shape then grind them in the garbage disposal; wash with cold water
31. deodorize and clean jars or glass containers: rinse with vinegar the containers or jars to remove traces and odors of mayonnaise or mustard
32. remove cooking odors from pots: boil a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water
33. remove spots from pots: fill the pot with a pint of water to which you add 3 table spoons of vinegar; boil until the spots softens and it can be cleaned
34. freshen lunchboxes: soak a slice of bread in vinegar and let it sit overnight on the lunchbox; it will remove all the unwanted odors
35. clean and sanitize the fridge: clean it with a cloth previously immersed in a mixture of water and vinegar (50 -50)
36. clean stainless steel: rub with a cloth previously dampened in vinegar
37. degrease glasses and china: add one cup of vinegar to a full sink of warm water; dip and let dry
38. clean and sanitize the microwave: boil in the microwave a solution of one cup of water and 1 / 4 cup of vinegar; it will loosen food stains and deodorize the interior
39. prevent gelatin from sagging: add one teaspoon for every box of gelatin that’s being used
40. puff up the rice: add one teaspoon to the boiling water used to cook the rice
41. prepare wine vinegar: mix two tablespoons of vinegar with one teaspoon of dry red wine
42. kill parasites in fresh vegetables: wash them in water mixed with vinegar and salt
43. scale fish easier: rub them with vinegar and let them sit for 5 minutes before scaling
44. prevent aluminum staining: boil the aluminum utensils in or one tablespoon of distilled vinegar per cup of water
45. remove unpleasant odors from the bread box: after washing, wipe it with a cloth of distilled vinegar
46. prevent the buildup of grease in the oven: wipe the inside of the oven with a cloth previously moistened with a solution of distilled vinegar and water
47. clean formica tops and counters: gently rub with a cloth soaked in distilled vinegar
48. clean no-wax linoleum: give it a better shine by scrubbing with a solution consisting in white vinegar and water (50 – 50)
49. loosen stains on hard-to-clean aluminum, glass or porcelain: boil in a solution of 1 parts vinegar and 8 parts water; wash with soapy water afterwards

TOILETS / SHOWERS / BATHTUBS

50. kill germs and sanitize fixtures: add water and vinegar (50 – 50) in a spray bottle; after spraying the fixtures, wipe them clean with a dry cloth
51. clean soap stains from plastic and chrome fixtures: clean with a solution consisting of two tablespoons of distilled vinegar and one tea spoon of salt
52. clean bathtub tiles of grime, soap scum and mildew: wipe the surface with pure vinegar and rinse with cold water; same goes for shower curtains
53. remove tough stains from the toilet bowl: scrub the bowl with it; for removing odors, add 3 cups of distilled vinegar, let it sit for 40 minutes and flush
54. remove hard water from showerheads: remove the shower head, remove the rubber gasket and then boil it in a mixture of water and vinegar (50 – 50) for 5-8 minutes
55. remove corrosion from showerheads or faucets: soak a cloth in vinegar, wrap it around the shower head or faucet and leave it over night
56. clean bathtub film: wipe firstly with vinegar, then with soda; finally rinse with warm water

HUMAN CONSUMPTION / BEAUTY

57. soothe animal stings (bees, jellyfish, mosquitos): dot the stung areas with vinegar and relieve the itching
58. remove sunburns: gently rub the affected areas with vinegar repeatedly, until the stinging sensation starts fading
59. relieve dry and itching skin: add 3 tablespoons to your bathwater
60. dampen the appetite: sprinkle the food with a little vinegar
61. degrease hair: after washing, take a large glass of warm water and vinegar, and rinse your hair of the shampoo
62. destroy dandruff: rinse with 2 cups and warm water after shampooing
63. stop the hiccups: take one tablespoon full of swallow
64. cure sore throats: gargle with a glass of warm water and one teaspoon of vinegar
65. cure colds: take a tablespoon for 6 – 8 times / day of a mixture consisting in one quarter cup of apple cider vinegar and one quarter cup of honey
66. treat chest colds and sinus infections: add half-a-cup of vinegar to the vaporizer
67. relieve cough: mix together one half cup water, one half apple cider vinegar, four teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper; take one teaspoon before bedtime
68. remove warts: apply daily a lotion consisting in glycerin and cider vinegar (50 – 50) until the warts disappear
69. treat arthritis: drink a glass of water to which you added previously 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar; it can also calm an upset stomach
70. prevent east infections: douche with one tablespoon to one quart warm water; it adjusts the pH balance in the vagina
71. clean and sanitize dentures: soak overnight in pure vinegar and brush in the morning

PLANTS / WEEDS

72. kill unwanted grass formations: pull abundantly over grassy formations in the garden or wherever else they spawn; pour carefully if they’re found in the vicinity of plants
73. kill weeds: spray pure vinegar on weeds until they die
74. neutralize garden lime: clean your hands with it after using garden lime; this way you avoid getting rough skin
75. increase soil acidity: if hard water is abundant in an area, add vinegar (one cup per gallon of water) and water azaleas, rhododendrons etc.
76. prolong the life of plants and flowers in pots or vases: add per quarter of warm water a mixture of vinegar and sugar (one and three respectively); keep stems at a distance of 3 – 4 inches away from the water
77. grow more beautiful plants: from time to time water the plants with a mixture of two tablespoons of vinegar per quarter of water; some plants (like azaleas) enjoy acidic soil
78. clean pots and vases: clean and rinse with vinegar to remove excess lime from the surface

PETS / ANIMALS

79. keep ants away: spray vinegar around the frames (doors and windows) or any other place you suspect of ant activity
80. keep cats at bay: spray with vinegar any area in order to keep felines from sleeping or visiting
81. stop dogs from scratching their ears: clean the inside of the dog’s ears with diluted vinegar to take the itching away
82. keep fleas away: add just a little bit to your pet’s drinking water
83. calm down chicken’s temper: stop them from picking on each other by adding a little cider vinegar to their drinking water
84. remove urine stains from the carpeting: after gently washing and rising the urine with warm water, wash again with a mixture of vinegar and warm water (50 – 50); rinse and let dry
85. remove skunk odor from your pet’s pelt or fur: wash thoroughly with full strength vinegar; rinse and repeat until the smell fades
86. clean the fishbowl: use a cloth soaked in undiluted vinegar to scrub the deposits from the fish tank; rinse afterwards
87. sanitize the milking equipment: use full strength vinegar in order to sanitize, without the cost of heavy chemical residue

METAL / GLASS

88. polish chrome parts: apply undiluted vinegar and scrub to the chrome parts on your car or bike
89. remove rust: soak the rusted tools in full strength vinegar overnight
90. keep car windows from freezing: spray the car windows at nighttime with a solutions consisting of one part water and three parts vinegar

OTHER

91. reduce soap bubbles: while using the steam cleaner, you can add a little vinegar in order to reduce the soapy effect
92. get longer and brighter burning propane lantern wicks: soak them for 3 – 5 hours in vinegar and let them dry before reusing
93. deodorize rooms filled with paint fumes or cigarette smoke: simply place a bowl filled with vinegar in the room; it will nullify unwanted toxic odors
94. keep the air conditioner’s blades and exhaust dust free: dip a sponge in distilled vinegar and clean the parts of the air conditioner
95. clean leather: use a mixture of distilled vinegar and linseed oil; after rubbing the mixture in, clean gently with a soft cloth
96. polish patent leather: wipe gently with a soft cloth with was previously moisten with distilled vinegar
97. loosen old, dried up glue: you can apply distilled vinegar with a small oil can to tables, chairs etc.
98. soften up paintbrushes: soak the rush in hot vinegar then wash it with warm water
99. turn chicken bones into rubber: soak chicken bones in vinegar for 3+ days and they will become as elastic as rubber

There seem to be very few things that vinegar can’t do, it might even seem magical. However, it’s not. It’s an acid after all, and no matter your intentions, use it with caution and care.

Alec Deacon

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