20 Uses for Vinegar That Most People Don’t Know
Vinegar, a staple in many kitchens, is renowned for its versatility. Beyond its culinary uses, vinegar can be an effective solution for various household tasks, personal care, and even gardening.
- Unclogging Drains: Mix 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into the drain, and flush with hot, then cold water to unclog and deodorize drains.
- Smoke Odor Removal: Place bowls of vinegar in rooms to eliminate smoke odors.
- Cleaning Chrome and Stainless Steel: Spray undiluted white vinegar and buff with a soft cloth to clean and shine.
- Grease Stain Removal: Wipe grease stains with a cloth dampened in a vinegar and water solution.
- Deodorizing Lunch Boxes: Soak a slice of bread in vinegar and leave it overnight in the lunchbox to deodorize.
- Microwave Cleaning: Boil a mixture of vinegar and water in the microwave, then wipe down the interior.
- Refrigerator Refreshing: Clean the interior and exterior with a vinegar and water solution.
- Disinfecting Cutting Boards: Wipe wood cutting boards with full-strength white vinegar after each use.
- Silver Shining: Soak silverware in a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda, then rinse and dry.
- Polishing Brass and Copper: Make a paste of equal parts vinegar and salt or baking soda, apply to the metal, rinse and dry.
- Revitalizing Rugs: Clean rugs with a mixture of vinegar and warm water.
- Windshield Wiper Maintenance: Clean the rubber with vinegar to remove dirt and improve performance.
- Laundry Boost: Add a half-cup of vinegar to the wash for whiter whites and odor removal.
- Furniture Scratch Concealer: Mix apple cider vinegar with iodine and apply to wood scratches.
- Fruit Fly Trap: Combine apple cider vinegar with dish soap in a saucer to trap and kill fruit flies.
- Bruise Minimization: Apply vinegar-soaked paper towel to a bump to reduce bruising.
- Complexion Care: Use diluted apple cider vinegar as a facial cleanser for its antibacterial properties.
- Athlete’s Foot Treatment: Soak feet in a mixture of vinegar and water to combat fungal infections.
- Fun Experiment: Soak a chicken bone in vinegar to turn it rubbery.
- Weed Killer: Use undiluted vinegar as an eco-friendly weed killer.
Remember, vinegar should not be used on surfaces like granite, marble, or unsealed grout, and it’s not suitable for cleaning wood surfaces or hardwood floors. It’s also not recommended for use on electronic screens like those of cell phones or computers.
Vinegar’s diverse applications make it a valuable component in any household, offering natural and cost-effective solutions for many everyday problems.
These uses are compiled from various sources, including Reader’s Digest, Wise Bread, Barefoot Budgeting, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Each of these sources offers a more extensive list and detailed instructions for using vinegar in these unique ways.
