Vinegar is common and the most versatile kitchen item. If you think it is only for cooking, then you are underestimating its potential. Read about its surprising household uses.
Almost all of us have a bottle of vinegar in the kitchen. This favorite salad topper is going to be your favorite household helper too. Vinegar is a superb all-purpose household cleaner, a stain remover & a deodorizer, thus it earns a special place in your pantry. Its acidity level makes it a perfect cleaning/disinfecting product. From disinfecting rooms to removing odors and stains, vinegar is surprisingly versatile and multi-use product. Using vinegar for cleaning is the best way to save money and avoid harsh chemicals. This incredibly affordable, non-toxic and environmentally safe cleaning solution can be used in many ways for household cleaning. Here are twenty good ones to freshen up your home.
Amazing Household Uses of Vinegar:
1. Unclog Drain
Vinegar and baking soda combination is among the best and most effective method to unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the clogged drain and then pour 1 cup of vinegar. Wait until the foaming fully subsides and flush the drain with hot water. After 5 minutes, rinse again with cold water. This method is non-toxic and less damaging to your pipes.
2. Clean Shower Heads
Add 1/2 cup of vinegar in one cup of boiling water. Soak the clogged shower head in this solution for 10 minutes. If it’s not possible to remove the shower head, then tape vinegar filled plastic bag over the fixture. Remove the bag after about one hour.
3. Remove Rust
Take care of your rusty tools with full-strength vinegar. Just soak your rusty tools in vinegar for few days to renew them. Wash and dry the tools well.
4. Clean Unwaxed Wood Floors
Make a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 gallon hot water. Mop or scrub the wood floors as usual. After that, dry the floor with a towel. You can also add one or two drops of Lemon- or lavender-scented oil to the mixture. This will reduce the smell of vinegar.
5. Clean a Coffeemaker/Coffee & Tea Pot/Tea Strainer
To clean buildup of coffee oils, minerals and other residues in the coffee maker, fill up your coffeemaker’s water chamber with a mixture of white vinegar (2 cups) and water (1 cup). Switch on and run the mixture through the machine. After that, run pure water through the machine to clear vinegar mixture. And to clean coffee & tea pot as well as tea strainer, soak them in the vinegar mixture. This will remove residue and stains.
6. Clear PCs and Peripherals
You can keep your fax machine, computer, printer and other home office gear dust-free with white vinegar and water solution. Mix equal parts of both and use it to clean. Dampen a clean cloth in the solution and wring out as hard as you can. Wipe fax machine, computer or printer.
7. Conceal Scratches in Wood Furniture
Don’t worry if your wooden furniture got a scratch. You can conceal scratches with distilled or cider vinegar and iodine. Make a solution of vinegar and iodine, and paint it over the scratch.
8. Remove Candle Wax
To remove candle wax from wooden furniture, blow-dry (on hottest setting) the wax and make it soft. Now, blot it up with paper towels and rub a cloth soaked in white vinegar and water solution (equal parts) to remove the remaining wax.
9. Remove Carpet Stains
You can easily remove stains from the carpet with the help of vinegar.
Soak your silverware (bracelets, rings, and other silver jewelry) in concoction of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 Tbsp. baking soda for around 2 to 3 hours and wash them under cold water. Dry completely with a cloth.
13. Degrease Grates, Fans, and Air-Conditioner Grilles
Eliminate the layer of grease developed on air-conditioner grilles, heating grates and fan blades by wiping them with a cloth dampened in white vinegar and water (equal parts). Use an old toothbrush to clean the tight spaces on grilles and fans.
14. Revitalize Leather Furniture
The best way to restore the luster of leather sofa or other leather furniture is by using vinegar. All you have to do is add 1 cup of boiled linseed oil in 1 cup of white vinegar and pour it into the spray bottle. Spray the solution on furniture and spread evenly with a cloth. Rub it off after few minutes.
15. Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
Add 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 2 Tbsp. sugar in water. Put flowers in a vase and pour this vinegar water. This will increase the longevity of fresh cut flowers. Make sure that you change the water every week.
16. Fabric Softener
Vinegar not only makes the clothes soft, but also removes detergent residue. Take half cup of vinegar and add it into the final rinse water.
17. Kill Weeds
Just, pour full strength vinegar on weeds in sidewalk cracks and on driveways/the edges of the yard.
18. Removing Sticker Residue
Peeling off label, decal or price tag becomes easy with vinegar. To remove sticker residue, rub a washcloth dampened with vinegar onto the sticky area and wipe off after 5 minutes.
19. Discourage Ants
Ants dislike the smell of vinegar so to deter them, spray with full strength white distilled vinegar on the areas where they are found.
20. Loosen Stuck Jar Lid
Take warm vinegar and pour it around the neck of the jar (upside down). This will loosen a stuck jar lid without any effort.
Image source: remodelaholic.com
Almost all of us have a bottle of vinegar in the kitchen. This favorite salad topper is going to be your favorite household helper too. Vinegar is a superb all-purpose household cleaner, a stain remover & a deodorizer, thus it earns a special place in your pantry. Its acidity level makes it a perfect cleaning/disinfecting product. From disinfecting rooms to removing odors and stains, vinegar is surprisingly versatile and multi-use product. Using vinegar for cleaning is the best way to save money and avoid harsh chemicals. This incredibly affordable, non-toxic and environmentally safe cleaning solution can be used in many ways for household cleaning. Here are twenty good ones to freshen up your home.
Amazing Household Uses of Vinegar:
1. Unclog Drain
Vinegar and baking soda combination is among the best and most effective method to unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the clogged drain and then pour 1 cup of vinegar. Wait until the foaming fully subsides and flush the drain with hot water. After 5 minutes, rinse again with cold water. This method is non-toxic and less damaging to your pipes.
2. Clean Shower Heads
Add 1/2 cup of vinegar in one cup of boiling water. Soak the clogged shower head in this solution for 10 minutes. If it’s not possible to remove the shower head, then tape vinegar filled plastic bag over the fixture. Remove the bag after about one hour.
3. Remove Rust
Take care of your rusty tools with full-strength vinegar. Just soak your rusty tools in vinegar for few days to renew them. Wash and dry the tools well.
4. Clean Unwaxed Wood Floors
Make a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 gallon hot water. Mop or scrub the wood floors as usual. After that, dry the floor with a towel. You can also add one or two drops of Lemon- or lavender-scented oil to the mixture. This will reduce the smell of vinegar.
5. Clean a Coffeemaker/Coffee & Tea Pot/Tea Strainer
To clean buildup of coffee oils, minerals and other residues in the coffee maker, fill up your coffeemaker’s water chamber with a mixture of white vinegar (2 cups) and water (1 cup). Switch on and run the mixture through the machine. After that, run pure water through the machine to clear vinegar mixture. And to clean coffee & tea pot as well as tea strainer, soak them in the vinegar mixture. This will remove residue and stains.
6. Clear PCs and Peripherals
You can keep your fax machine, computer, printer and other home office gear dust-free with white vinegar and water solution. Mix equal parts of both and use it to clean. Dampen a clean cloth in the solution and wring out as hard as you can. Wipe fax machine, computer or printer.
7. Conceal Scratches in Wood Furniture
Don’t worry if your wooden furniture got a scratch. You can conceal scratches with distilled or cider vinegar and iodine. Make a solution of vinegar and iodine, and paint it over the scratch.
8. Remove Candle Wax
To remove candle wax from wooden furniture, blow-dry (on hottest setting) the wax and make it soft. Now, blot it up with paper towels and rub a cloth soaked in white vinegar and water solution (equal parts) to remove the remaining wax.
9. Remove Carpet Stains
You can easily remove stains from the carpet with the help of vinegar.
- For lighter stains:
- Make a mixture of 2 Tbsp. salt & 1/2 cup of white vinegar and rub it on stains. Then, vacuum it once it dries.
- For larger or darker stains:
- Add 2 Tbsp. borax in the white vinegar and salt mixture and use in the same way.
- To clean and deodorize your garbage disposal, pour equal parts of baking soda & hot white distilled vinegar and leave it for 5 minutes. After that, run hot water down the disposal.
- Another way is to make ice cubes of water and vinegar (equal amount) and drop several cubes down your garbage disposal each week, followed by a cold water rinse.
- Take 1 tsp. of salt and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar in a bowl. Add flour in them to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your brass/copper/ pewter and rinse with clean warm water after 15 minutes. Polish until dry.
- You can also use 2 Tbsp. of ketchup and 1 Tbsp. white distilled vinegar to polish brass/copper/ pewter. Mix both of them and rub with a cloth until dry & shiny.
Soak your silverware (bracelets, rings, and other silver jewelry) in concoction of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 Tbsp. baking soda for around 2 to 3 hours and wash them under cold water. Dry completely with a cloth.
13. Degrease Grates, Fans, and Air-Conditioner Grilles
Eliminate the layer of grease developed on air-conditioner grilles, heating grates and fan blades by wiping them with a cloth dampened in white vinegar and water (equal parts). Use an old toothbrush to clean the tight spaces on grilles and fans.
14. Revitalize Leather Furniture
The best way to restore the luster of leather sofa or other leather furniture is by using vinegar. All you have to do is add 1 cup of boiled linseed oil in 1 cup of white vinegar and pour it into the spray bottle. Spray the solution on furniture and spread evenly with a cloth. Rub it off after few minutes.
15. Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
Add 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 2 Tbsp. sugar in water. Put flowers in a vase and pour this vinegar water. This will increase the longevity of fresh cut flowers. Make sure that you change the water every week.
16. Fabric Softener
Vinegar not only makes the clothes soft, but also removes detergent residue. Take half cup of vinegar and add it into the final rinse water.
17. Kill Weeds
Just, pour full strength vinegar on weeds in sidewalk cracks and on driveways/the edges of the yard.
18. Removing Sticker Residue
Peeling off label, decal or price tag becomes easy with vinegar. To remove sticker residue, rub a washcloth dampened with vinegar onto the sticky area and wipe off after 5 minutes.
19. Discourage Ants
Ants dislike the smell of vinegar so to deter them, spray with full strength white distilled vinegar on the areas where they are found.
20. Loosen Stuck Jar Lid
Take warm vinegar and pour it around the neck of the jar (upside down). This will loosen a stuck jar lid without any effort.
Image source: remodelaholic.com
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