Vinegar is one of the most versatile staples in your pantry. Its acidic qualities make it perfect for cleaning and disinfecting, and it lacks the harsh chemicals you'd find in most store-bought cleaners. A lot of this may not be new information, but vinegar's uses go way beyond just being able to use it to clean off and disinfect a dirty countertop. Below, you'll find a whole list of things you can use vinegar for, and we're betting you probably never thought about most of them!
Remove Stickers From Your Car
Getting stickers off your car can be a real pain. You could use a heat gun, but not everyone has a heat gun lying around the house, and if the sticker is on your car's bumper, then you run the risk of damaging the paint. Vinegar is a safer option, and you can use it on both glass and paint. Just soak the sticker and wait around five minutes to start peeling.
It might take a couple of sprays but vinegar is really good at breaking down adhesive so that the sticker peels off much easier than it would have otherwise.
Shine The Inside Of An Oven
Cleaning the inside of an oven can be torturous. However, with a little prep and some vinegar, all of those grease stains come right off. First, you're going to want to make a cleaning paste by mixing baking soda and water. Let that sit throughout the night, and coat the inside of the oven with it the next day. Then, mix vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and use that to start wiping away the paste.
The solution will remove all of the stains that have built up since the last time you cleaned the oven, even if its been so long that you can't remember when that was.
Deodorize Stinky Shoes
Have some shoes that are starting to build up an odor but they're not dirty enough to warrant a wash in the washing machine? You can use a solution of vinegar and water to deodorize smelly shoes. Use white vinegar and mix it with some water in a spray bottle. Simply spray the inside of your shoes, let it dry, and you're good to go. You can also use the solution to clean the shoes.
The solution is also safe to use on leather shoes, which don't usually do so well in the washing machine. It's particularly great at getting rid of sweat stains.
Use Vinegar To Clean Yoga Mats
You can work up a sweat practicing yoga so it's always a good idea to sanitize your yoga mat regularly. Luckily, there's a chemical free way to easily clean a yoga mat. All you need is some vinegar, water, natural oil, and a spray bottle. Mix the vinegar and water in a spray bottle and then add a bit of natural oil for scent. It can be kind of oil.
Spray the mat down and then give it a good wipe using a soft cloth. Not only will you be left with a clean mat but it'll smell really nice too.
Use Vinegar To Fertilize Acid-Loving Plants
This is probably one of our favorite tips on this list. You can actually use vinegar to fertilize your plants, which is especially helpful for potted plants. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar for every liter of water, and then use that solution to water your plants. Repeat the process for 15 days to give your plants a bit of a boost. Just make sure to double the type of soil your plants need to grow.
Luckily, there are a lot of plants like this, including azaleas, blueberries, and rhododendrons. You're going to want to look at plants that need a PH level of 6.5 or lower.
Restore Silver, Brass, And Copper With A Vinegar Solution
If you have some old silverware, or any other type of utensils or pots made out of brass or copper, that need a refresh, you can use a vinegar solution to get rid of tarnish. Combine a cup of white vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and a cup of flower. You'll end up with a paste you can use to coat your silverware. After you've done that, wash everything off using warm water.
The results might just surprise you. The cleaning solution can also be used on any silver jewelry you might have that needs a bit of a refresh as well.
Add A Dash Of Vinegar For More Fluffy Rice
Here's another one we've never thought of before. For better results, you can add a teaspoon of vinegar to your rice while the water is still boiling. The vinegar acts to break down a bit of the rice's starch, resulting in a more fluffy consistency. In addition, the rice will come out tasting a bit better. You'll be able to keep the rice longer since vinegar is an antibacterial.
However, that's not all it does. Vinegar has been shown to help lower the glycemic index of a lot of foods, including rice so that blood sugar levels stay down after you eat.
Revive Wilted Vegetables
If you have some wilted vegetables that look like they're past their prime, you may be able to still save them. Vinegar works great at bringing vegetables back to life. Just add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to a container filled with ice water. Next, soak your vegetables and watch them spring back to life. This won't work if it's way past time to throw it out, but leafy greens that just started to wilt should be fine.
This is a great tip for when you just need some greens to finish off a salad or dish and don't have time to run to the store to pick up more.
Disinfect A Wooden Cutting Board
Wooden cutting boards are one of those things you always want to keep as clean as possible. So, it's a good idea to let it soak in a vinegar solution every now and then to make sure that it's totally disinfected. Just mix around four parts water and one part vinegar and let your board soak for a couple of minutes. Next, rinse it down and dry it to avoid messing up the wood.
The disinfecting process gets it much cleaner than if you were to just wash it the same way you wash your dishes. It's also a good idea to rub it down with a tiny bit of oil to prevent warping.
Whiten Your Teeth
Nobody wants yellow teeth. However, whitening strips can be painful and expensive. Luckily, there's a vinegar solution for that. Just mix some vinegar and baking powder together and use it to brush your teeth for a couple of weeks. The solution helps break down plaque for a white smile. The results won't be as instant as whitening strips, but it's much less expensive, and with constant use, you'll notice a brighter smile.
For the solution, mix two parts vinegar and one part baking soda. However, don't use it any more than two weeks as the acidity can damage your teeth's enamel if used over long periods of time.
Unclog Your Sink Using Vinegar And Baking Soda
Having a clogged sink is never fun. There are cleaners you can buy from the store, but that's really not necessary. Save some money and use a vinegar solution instead, which usually works just as well. Pour around a cup of baking soda down your drain and let it sit there for a couple of minutes. Next, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain. You'll see the solution start to fizz.
The strong chemical reaction is almost guaranteed to unclog any dirty drain. After the reaction has stopped, run your tap on full pressure to wash everything away and make sure there's nothing still stuck in the drain.
Make Your Own Buttermilk
Buttermilk is called for in a ton of different dishes. So, if you're baking or cooking and find that you don't have any on hand, avoid a trip to the store and use vinegar instead. Just add a tablespoon of vinegar to the milk and let it sit for a couple of minutes before stirring and mixing everything together. The vinegar gives the milk the same acidic properties found in buttermilk.
It'll save you a trip to the store, which is particularly useful if you've already started making whatever it is you need the buttermilk for and don't have the time to go anywhere.
Disinfect Your Toothbrush
For whatever reason, a lot of us don't really think about disinfecting our toothbrushes very often. The truth is you should be regularly soaking your toothbrush to disinfect. Luckily, there's a vinegar solution for that. All you need to do is add two tablespoons of vinegar and a half tablespoon of baking soda to half a cup of water. Next, soak your toothbrush in the solution and allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
If you want, you can do this weekly. However, doing it occasionally is better than not doing it all. You can also disinfect your toothbrush by soaking it in mouthwash.
Use Vinegar To Ward Off Ants
Ants can be pests at times, especially if they've gotten into your pantry or found something lying around on your counters. If that happens, all you need to do is spray some vinegar around the area they've been attracted to. Since ants travel using scent and pheromones, this should get rid of them. The vinegar blocks any pheromones left behind by the ants, and they're forced to abandon whatever it is they've gotten into.
The best thing about using vinegar to get rid of ants is that it's all-natural, so you don't have to worry about any harsh chemicals getting into your food.
Stop Lint From Sticking To Your Clothes
Here's one that we never expected to see. You can actually use vinegar to prevent lint from sticking to your clothes. Just add half a cup of vinegar to the washing machine before you wash your clothes, and it'll reduce static in the dryer. Thus preventing lint from sticking to everything. It also helps keep animal hair from sticking to your clothes. This is a great solution if, for some reason, your dryer is producing a lot of lint.
Vinegar is all natural and can also help disinfect, so it poses no harm to your clothes, whether they're lights or darks. In fact, it's actually good for nonwhites.
Clean Your Hands
Vinegar is great at disinfecting surfaces, so it only makes sense that it can also be used to disinfect your hands. If you've been handling something particularly nasty, you can wash your hands using vinegar. The acidity also helps get rid of dirt and grime. However, make sure that you use a lotion or something for your skin afterwards as vinegar can leave your skin feeling a little dry.
Still, it's better than having bacteria all over your hands. We suggest using white vinegar over apple vinegar for this one if you don't want the scent of apples following you around.
Clean Surfaces Before You Paint
If you've ever painted anything before, then you probably know that you're supposed to make sure the painted surface is clean before you get started. However, just how do you make sure the surface is clean enough before you start painting? Well, you could wipe it down with vinegar for one. Just use a bit of vinegar to wipe down your wall, or whatever else it is you have to paint, and it should strip all of the dirt and grime away.
Of course, make sure everything is completely dry before you start painting; otherwise, you risk having some moisture trapped underneath the paint, which might have to be sanded down and repainted later.
Clean Your Glasses
Your glasses usually sit really close to your eyes, so the last thing you want is for them to get dirty. You can use a vinegar solution to clean and disinfect your lenses when they're looking a little rough. Combine three parts vinegar and one part water into a spray bottle, and then use that to get your lenses clean. Even if they don't look particularly dirty, it might be a good idea to disinfect them every once and a while.
You can also just mix everything into a small container and use a cloth to apply the solution to your glasses if you don't happen to have a spray bottle on hand.
Use Vinegar To Clean Your Birdbath
Birdbaths are great to have around the yard, but they can get pretty dirty. The stagnant water, combined with whatever the birds have been rolling around in, can quickly cause bacteria to grow. Use nine parts water and one part vinegar to give the birdbath a quick cleaning. You can just fill the bath up with the solution and use a sponge to scrub everything down, and let it soak in for a bit.
Keep the birds away, and then rinse everything out using fresh water. Your birdbath will be as good as new afterwards, and the birds will thank you for it.
Soothe A Sore Throat With Apple Cider Vinegar
A vinegar solution is a great alternative to soothing a sore throat. Not only will it help ease the pain, but it's also a disinfectant. Start with a glass of warm water and add a tablespoon of salt and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Alternatively, you can swap the salt out for honey. Take either solution and use it to gargle several times a day to soothe your sore throat.
In addition to killing any bacteria, the solution coats your throat and might help loosen phlegm. However, only use it to gargle and don't actually drink it as you would some medicines.
Add Vinegar To Dye For Better Egg Coloring
Here's one for the Easter holiday. The next time you want to dye eggs, add a couple of drops of vinegar to your egg dye. Not only will this give your eggs brighter coloring, but it'll also help the dye stick much better. Just dye them as you would normally and watch the eggs come out better than they did before. For the best results, let your eggs soak for around five minutes.
When they seem like they've taken enough coloring, use a spoon to gently turn them over so the other side can get some coloring on it as well. Repeat until you get the desired effect.
Disinfect Your Coffee Maker
We all love our coffee. However, if you haven't cleaned your machine in a while, it might be time to do just that. They can get incredibly dirty, especially on the inside, where you might not notice. Use a half-and-half solution of water and vinegar and run it through your coffee maker. It'll clean and disinfect so that you can be sure you're not drinking anything you shouldn't be.
For best results, run the solution through your machine about once a month in order to completely disinfect. You'll probably notice a cleaner tasting coffee after the first cycle through.
Get Rid Of Garbage Can Odors
A smelly garbage can be an irritant. Luckily, with a little vinegar and a piece of bread, you can quickly get rid of any foul smells coming from your garbage can. Pour some vinegar onto a piece of bread, enough to almost soak it, and then just toss the bread into the garbage can. This solution can actually be used for any space where you're noticing odors but it works best for the garbage can since you can easily just leave the bread in the trash.
You can also just soak a sponge in vinegar and toss it, but a piece of bread is much cheaper, and you probably won't mind tossing it as much as you would a perfectly good sponge.
Make A Foot Soak Using Vinegar
Vinegar is a great solution for all kinds of foot issues. Not only can it help dry and cracked feet, but it's also a disinfectant, so it helps protect from and ease the symptoms of fungal issues. Use one part vinegar and two parts water to create a solution in whatever type of container you have lying around. Repeat the process until you have enough of the solution to submerge your feet.
It's recommended that you use cool water, as warm water can leave your skin feeling dry. Soak for no more than 20 minutes and then apply some lotion. You can repeat the process the next night but don't overdo it. Use apple cider vinegar.
Remove Oil Stains From Dishes
It might seem like you'll never be able to get rid of that oil stain on your pan, but there is a way to remove stains using vinegar. Mix a solution using two parts water and one part vinegar, and submerge your pans or utensils for a couple of minutes. After they're done soaking, you should be able to rub the stains away using a sponge and some water.
If, for some reason, the stain doesn't come off on the first go, then you can repeat the process and let the pan soak for a bit longer the next time.
Use Vinegar To Clean Glass Or Windows
Vinegar is a great choice for cleaning dirty windows, mirrors, or glass surfaces. It also doesn't leave any streaks. For this solution, combine a fourth of a cup of vinegar, two cups of water, and a half teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. You can combine them all in a small container, but using an empty spray bottle makes the cleaning part a lot easier. Spray your windows and then wipe them down.
Not only does the solution not leave streaks and work just as well as a store-bought cleaner, but it's all natural, so you don't have to worry about any harsh chemicals.
Disinfect And Clean Fruits And Vegetables
If you're worried that a simple wash isn't cutting it when it comes to cleaning fruits and vegetables, there is another way. You can use a vinegar solution to completely disinfect your produce before eating. To make your solution, mix four cups of water with a cup of vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle. Next, simply spray your fruits and vegetables and rest easy knowing you're not consuming harmful germs.
Of course, make sure to lightly rinse everything after you spray so that they don't taste like vinegar and you get rid of any dirt and debris that might be left.
Make Hard Boiling Eggs Easier
We know that hard boiling an egg is typically pretty simple, but you can help speed the process along by adding a bit of white vinegar to your boiling water. Just add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water and it'll make the egg much easier to peel when it's done. The acidity in the vinegar breaks down some of the calcium in the egg. For extra fast peeling, peel under cold, running water.
In addition, the vinegar will also help keep the egg white from running if you accidentally crack the egg when you drop it in the pot of boiling water.
Prevent Ice From Forming On Your Windshield
If you're expecting ice to form on your car's windshield overnight, then you might be able to prevent it from icing up using vinegar. Mix water and vinegar and wipe it on your car's windshield the night before, and it'll help prevent icing and causing you to have to scrape your windshield in the morning. This works because the acid in the vinegar lowers the freezing point of water.
However, it won't help if your window is already frozen over, so it needs to be put on the night before. You can use a spray bottle for easy access everytime you think temperatures are going to plummet.
Preserve Cheese Using Vinegar
Vinegar is a great solution for making sure your cheese lasts longer in the fridge. Soak a cloth in vinegar and then place it in a small container. Since vinegar is a disinfectant and helps prevent mold from growing, your cheese will last longer, and you don't have to worry as much about it going bad before you can finish all of it. However, remember to use white vinegar and not apple cider.
You also want to preserve the taste of the cheese and not taste apples every time you break some out. In addition, vinegar is all-natural, so you don't have to worry about consuming a chemical preservative that's bad for you.
Marinate Meats With Vinegar
Vinegar makes a great addition to just about any marinade. The acidity helps break down tough muscle tissue in the same way that buttermilk does. However, vinegar can also be used for meat that's not chicken. Just add a tablespoon of vinegar to the marinade of your choice, and the acid will do the rest. You should notice the meat being a bit more tender than it usually is after it's done cooking.
It depends on the recipe and the marinade, but in general, you can marinade for about an hour or two, and you should be good to go. Also, remember to mix the vinegar into the marinade.
Disinfect Your Dog's Ears
Depending on the breed of your dog, they may struggle with ear infections. To combat this, you can make your own natural disinfectant using a vinegar solution. Mix together one part vinegar and two parts water and drop a couple of drops into your dogs ears. The vinegar will help get rid of yeast and bacteria and to alleviate your dog's discomfort. However, it's not an alternative to a visit to the vet.
Because of its anti-bacterial properties, the vinegar will help get rid of any bad germs but again, if it's a more serious infection, you may want to consult your vet first to see if the solution is enough alone.
Clean Your Scissors Using Vinegar
Scissors aren't just for cutting paper. If you're like us, then you've probably used your scissors to cut all kinds of things. Luckily, there's a simple way to make sure your scissors are totally clean, disinfected, and free of dirt and rust. Either soak the scissors in vinegar for a little while and then wipe them down, or use a towel that's been soaked in vinegar to wipe away any dirt and grime.
If your scissors are especially hard to open and close, then a vinegar soak might be the way to go. After it's done, just give it a simple rinse using water and dry everything down.
Clean And Disinfect Toilet Bowls
Using vinegar to clean your toilet bowl is a good alternative to harsh bleaches. It's also really easy. Simply pour your vinegar into the bowl and let it sit overnight. Flush in the morning and the bowl should come clean. If there are still stains then it might require a little bit of scrubbing but everything should come clean rather easily, and best of all, you're not holding your breathe trying to avoid breathing in any bleach,
Pour around a cup of white vinegar into the bowl before letting it sit overnight. If your bowl is especially dirty, you can add some baking soda before you start scrubbing everything down.
Get Stains And Odor Off Sports Gear
If you're having a hard time getting sweat stains off your clothes or other sports gear, there's a simple solution and surprise: it involves vinegar. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water, and then add that to your washer during the rinse cycle. The vinegar will lift any sweat stains and help to disinfect. Best of all, it's all-natural, and leaves your gym clothes like they're brand new.
If your clothes are especially funky, use vinegar and baking soda soak before throwing everything in the washer. Just allow the clothes to soak for half an hour.
Eliminate Dandruff
If you're having issues with dandruff, vinegar is a good natural solution for your hair. All you need to do is mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and wash your hair like you would normally. After you finish, spray the solution around your roots and massage it in. This should help balance out your scalp and prevent excess dandruff from forming. It's also good for killing bacteria.
In addition, you should notice a considerable improvement when it comes to an itchy scalp. Use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, but be aware the latter will leave you smelling like apples.
Create Your Own Multipurpose Cleaner
Since vinegar is so useful for a range of different applications, it makes sense that you might want to mix up your own solution for day-to-day use. Just get a spray bottle and mix two cups of water with half a tablespoon of baking soda, a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and two tablespoons of white vinegar. Mix everything together and pour it into your bottle and you have a cleaner and disinfectant that can be used on nearly every surface.
You'll really never have to buy a multipurpose cleaner ever again. Not only is the solution effective, but it's incredibly safe for use around the house and doesn't contain any harsh chemicals.
Keep Cats From Tearing Up The House With Vinegar
You might love your little feline friend, but there's no denying that they can get into all kinds of trouble and destroy things like couches and blinds if you're not careful. Luckily, cats can't stand the smell of vinegar, and they'll stay far away from anything that smells like it. You can use vinegar to spray down any problem areas or soak a sponge in some vinegar and place it wherever you'd like your cat not to go.
You can also place it somewhere your cat is marking its territory to keep it from doing that ever again. Cats have a really powerful sense of smell, so vinegar can be a bit overwhelming for them.
Keep Clothes From Fading Fast
Not only is vinegar great for removing sweat stains and disinfecting but it can also be used to keep clothes from fading too fast. Just add a cup of vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle and let it do the rest. New clothes can also be soaked in vinegar before a wash in order to set the colors. It won't keep your clothes from fading forever, but it will help prolong their vibrant colors.
This tip is especially useful for new clothes that haven't been washed for the first time yet. You can also wash gently using cool water to help prevent fading further.
Keep Flowers Alive Longer
Who knew that vinegar could be used to keep flowers from wilting for longer? All you need to do is add two tablespoons of vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar to your plant's water. The sugar will help keep the plant alive for longer, and the vinegar acts to prevent any bacteria from growing. This is a great way to keep that bouquet or freshly cut flowers from the garden around for longer.
The vinegar also keeps the water clearer since there's no bacterial growth and helps keep the water's PH level where the plant prefers, which in turn allows it to get more water.