Everyday Uses For Vinegar

So what are the uses for vinegar? Vinegar, which means sour wine, is an acidic liquid used mainly for cooking purposes. In fact, it is an indispensable part of world cuisines from dressing to flavoring to pickling. Vinegar uses, however, extend beyond cooking to include the rest of the house as well as its denizens from humans to pets. As much as possible, use white distilled vinegar in all applications.

The kitchen is a good place to start talking about the wonderful uses for vinegar can be used outside of cooking. These uses include but are definitely not limited to:

• Trash disposal cleaner – Mix one cup vinegar with one pitcher water and freeze in the refrigerator. The vinegar ice cubes can then be run through the disposal and flushed with cold water. You will have cleaner and odor-free garbage disposal!

• Refrigerator cleaner - Mix equal parts of water and vinegar for a cleaning solution. Alternatively, place a cup of apple cider vinegar inside the refrigerator to absorb the odors in two day’s time.

• Wood Cutting Boards – If you run out of baking soda, substitute full-strength white distilled vinegar for odor-free and germ-free cutting boards.

• Brass polish – Make a paste by mixing one teaspoon salt, one cup vinegar and flour. Apply the vinegar paste directly on metal cooking pots and pans and let it stand for 15 minutes. Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm water and then polish until these are sufficiently dry to hang.

• One of the best vinegar uses in the kitchen, however, is as “green” ant and insect repellant. Just wash kitchen countertops and cabinets with vinegar to repel ants and insects.

Horticulturists and gardeners love their vinegar. And not just because it can be used to pickle, flavor, sauce and marinade their produce! Eco-friendly uses for vinegar which are found in the garden and lawn include:

• Grass killer – Grass is good when it grows where you want them to. For undesirable grass growth, however, pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar will curb it. This also goes for weeds in plant plots; just pour on their tops though.

• Soil Acidity Enhancer – Mix in 1 cup of vinegar into a galloon of tap water, which can then be used to water acid loving plants

• Flower Preservative – Instead of just plain water, add 2 tablespoons each of sugar and vinegar for every quart of water. This mixture ought to keep the flowers longer.

• Alternative plant fertilizer - arguably, the best use for vinegar in the garden. Just combine water and vinegar in 8:1 ratio in one mixture. In a separate container, combine sugar and water in 1:8 ratio. Then combine the two mixtures together and use as plant fertilizer. Only apply as long as necessary to revive plant health.

You don’t shower with vinegar, of course, although targeted skin applications are possible. For the bathroom, vinegar can be used as:

• Bathtub film remover – Instead of scrubbing with chemically-laced cleaners, remove bathtub film with white distilled vinegar followed by baking soda. Rinse with water after all film has been removed.

• Toilet bowl cleaner – Use vinegar as substitute for baking soda especially as it can be sprayed on the toilet bowl. Alternatively, pour about 3 cups of vinegar to the toilet water, let it stand for about 30 minutes and then flush.

• Showerhead declogger – Just wrap a vinegar-soaked towel around the showerheads and faucets at night to remove corrosion. Be sure to remove the towels in the morning though.

• Bathroom germ killer – Pour full-strength white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, spray around the bathroom walls and floor, and wipe with a damp cloth. Germs and odor ought not to be a problem when this is done regularly.

• Tile cleaner – Clean tiles of grime, scum and mildew by using paste made of ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, I cup ammonia and 1 gallon lukewarm water. Or you can just use the abovementioned tile cleaner paste to scrub down the bathroom from floor to ceiling!

Uses for vinegar extend to the maintenance of health in the home, for both humans and their pets. These uses include but are not limited to:

• First-aid remedy – Douse vinegar on bee and jellyfish stings to relieve itching and soothe irritation. On skin burns, applying ice-cold vinegar will provide fast-acting relief and prevent burn blisters from forming. Even sufferers of sunburns will benefit from cider vinegar applied on the skin!

• Dry and Itchy Skin Reliever – Either use a vinegar paste (just add cornstarch until you reach a desired consistency) on the affected skin or add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm bath water.

• Dandruff fighter – After shampooing, rinse hair with a vinegar solution made of ½ cup vinegar and 2 cups water

• Pet Odor Remover – Combine one cup vinegar to 2 gallons water and use it as no-rinse bath for your smelly dog.

Indeed, the uses for vinegar is beneficial to humans both inside and out!