uses-for-vinegar

Uses For White Vinegar

Vinegar. There are lots of uses for vinegar. It’s cheap, and a great product to have on hand for a number of reasons – not the least of which is general preparedness (for its multiple uses).

Many of you have probably used vinegar with foods (salad dressings, etc..). But it also has many other uses such as being a popular ingredient in many household cleaners.

Practical Uses For White Vinegar

There are many alternative uses for vinegar. Here is a list of a few that may be of interest.

Add your own tips in the comments…

Clean windows. I notice that ‘Windex’ now has their window cleaning product with vinegar.
 
Clean rust off of tools by soaking them in undiluted vinegar overnight to remove the rust.

Corn or callus remover by soaking a piece of cloth in white vinegar and secure it over the corn or callus overnight.

Sore throat remedy by mixing one tablespoon of vinegar with one glass of water. Gargle once an hour, then swallow the mixture.

Relieve itching by soaking a cotton ball or gauze pad with the vinegar. Dab onto the itchy area, for example, from a mosquito bite and it will help relieve the itching. Vinegar will also help reduce the itching and burning pain from sunburn.

Relief for colds by mixing one-quarter cup Apple Cider Vinegar with one-quarter cup honey. Take one tablespoon six to eight times daily.

Cure an upset stomach by drinking two teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water.

Use in laundry to cut soap.

Marinating meat in vinegar kills bacteria and tenderizes the meat.

Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.

Cut grease on dishes by adding a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water.

Replace a lemon by substituting 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar for 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.

Prepare fluffier rice (rice and beans, right?) by adding a teaspoon of vinegar to the water when it boils.

Soak new propane lantern wicks in vinegar for several hours. Let dry before using. Will burn longer and brighter.

Cleaning the coffee pot. Use instead of water. Run it through twice, and then run plain water to get rid of taste. Run different water to make coffee.

Removing adhesives. Cheaper than Goo Gone and similar.

Weed killer.

Wine stains.

Cleaning the grease around the stove.

Clean the floor with it. Mix with water and mop the floor with it. (Mrs. J does this with her own homemade ‘Swiffer’ recipe.

Cure hiccups. 1 teaspoon.

Clean glass. Vinegar mixed with water is a great glass cleaner.

Clean hard water deposits. Vinegar with baking soda in your dishwasher.

Clear a clogged drain. Vinegar and baking soda may help clear a clogged drain (put baking soda in drain then add vinegar and allow it to ‘boil’, then rinse with hot water).

Repel flies. Mop your floors with vinegar and water to repel flies.

Eliminate dandruff. Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar after shampooing to eliminate dandruff.

Cure athletes foot. Apply directly to the affected skin.

Keep chickens healthy. Raw apple cider vinegar containing the ‘mother’ (the dark, cloudy substance found in the vinegar) is great for keeping your chickens healthy. It prevents several diseases caused by bacteria & fungus. Add 2 TBSP to a gallon of water for ill birds and half that for maintenance. (don’t use metal water containers with vinegar, because it will corrode)

[ Read: Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits For Your Health ]

[ Read: Ratio of White Vinegar & Water | Kill Germs on Fresh Vegetables ]

16 Comments

  1. Soak sweat stained clothes in vinegar and water for a hour or so. Gets rid of the sweat smell too.

  2. This home has a Rinnai hot water heater. Removing the mineral build up in the heating system every year (when I remember) I use vinegar to clean it. The water when going through this process will come out a deep blue until it is clean then goes to a clear color.
    I can use up to 10 gallons of vinegar for the cleaning process when I have gone over the years’ time limit. The used vinegar is then dumped on places where I do not wish weed to grow.

  3. For sprains and swelling:
    In a one quart mason jar mix fill half with apple cider vinegar and half turpentine. Add one egg still in the shell. Wait until she’ll is dissolved before applying.
    Gently rub on area. Dampen a rag with it and wrap on area. Cover with a plastic bag.
    Swelling will be gone in the morning.

  4. Add 1/8th cup white vinegar to the water of a canner, water bath canner or pressure canner. This will keep the mineral “white” covering off the jars.

    Before putting the lid and ring on the jar, wipe the glass lip off with a vinegar-soaked paper towel. Especially if you are canning meats or syrupy fruits. I have never had a seal fail after I started using the vinegar to wipe.

    1. – No problem with septic systems. Using it right now straight for calcium buildup on faucet, put it in a plastic bag held on with a rubber band. Use the same system for shower heads.

      – Papa S.

  5. I use the vinegar, just plain white vinegar and boiling hot water. Pour down clogged drain.
    Works every single time!

  6. Just tried white vinegar as a radiator flush on the old Ford tractor.
    Still running it through. Small usages at a time.

    Tomorrow I’ll get a new thermostat for it. Drain, flush and hope for the best that this may cure the over heating issues.

    My dad did a new radiator, water pump, decades ago. Me, new cap and thermostat with no changed results.
    I’m thinking the block is full of crud.
    Tis a 70+ year old tractor
    Been a PITA for me but still a life savor….and bro says it has ran better since it’s in my hands…..I wish to argue.

  7. Fire Ant Bites – pop the blister and soak area with vinegar on a rag.

  8. Use vinegar to mildly etch concrete slab before painting. Cheap flooring alternative.

  9. I am a dealer in Antique Ceramic Tiles, which are mostly from the Victorian and Art Nouveau artistic periods. Since, all antique tiles are only obtained via salvage, or reclaiming, efforts…most tiles are going to show some signs of having been installed, either in a fireplace, a wall, or in some vanished piece of furniture. I use White Vinegar to soak hundreds of tiles, entirely submersing them for a few days, as the vinegar will react with the antique mortar residue and any other foreign contaminant, like paint, or adhesives, and allow the tiles to be cleaned without harming them. If I were using hydro-sonic methods, the liquid I would use would still be white vinegar as the cleaning solution.

    Vinegar will simply melt old mortar and allow it to be washed completely away from a tile…with no risk involved.

  10. Alkali neutralizer!
    An inlaw was working for an auto repair shop and had his bare hands in some parts cleaner. His skin was burning even after washing. I filled a bowl with white vinegar and after soaking his hands for a minute, his hands felt much better.

  11. Thanks for the tip about using it to remove rust. I just salvaged my favorite hand pruners that had rusted solid. Soaked in vinegar for a day then used a brass bristle brush to clean rust out of the springs. Almost like new!

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