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If you look in your kitchen cabinets, you’ll likely find a bottle of vinegar there for cooking.
But vinegar has many more uses than just adding flavoring to your dishes!
This article explores some surprising uses of vinegar that you may not have thought of.
So get ready to be amazed by how versatile this simple ingredient can be!
1. Dye Eggs
Kids love coloring hard-boiled eggs, and it’s a fun activity for the whole family.
After boiling the eggs, mix ½ cup of boiling water with one teaspoon of white vinegar and 10 to 20 drops of food coloring in separate cups for each color.
Then, use spoons to dip the eggs until they reach the desired tint.
2. Clean Your Coffee Pot
If you use your coffee pot daily, you may notice it slowing down or not filling your cup full because it has mineral deposits.
To remove the buildup, run one brewing cycle of distilled white vinegar and then a water cycle to rinse away any residue.
3. Soothe Athletes Foot
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection, and it can be uncomfortable and itchy.
An easy remedy for relieving itching is soaking your feet in a solution of two parts water to one part white vinegar.
4. Keep Flowers Fresh
Fresh flowers make a home feel more welcoming, but sometimes, they don’t last very long.
Add two tablespoons of white vinegar to the vase water to keep a bouquet of fresh flowers longer.
5. Relieve Sunburn
If you get a sunburn from spending too much time in the sun this summer, you can cool the burn with white vinegar.
If you keep your vinegar in the fridge, dip a cotton ball in the vinegar and dab the sunburned area for instant relief.
6. Soothe Aching Muscles
If you feel achy after a workout or a long, hard day, add two cups of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of peppermint oil to your bath.
The apple cider vinegar can soothe those sore muscles, while the peppermint oil provides a cooling sensation.
7. Clean Leather Furniture
If your leather furniture looks dull, you can bring back its shine with vinegar.
Mix equal parts of linseed oil and white vinegar in a spray bottle, lightly spray onto the leather, and wipe with a clean cloth.
8. Clean Your Computer
To keep your computer nice and clean, mix vinegar with water to clean it.
Start by powering off your computer, then dampen a cloth in the vinegar mix, wring it out well, and gently wipe down your computer’s outer surface.
9. Wash Veggies and Fruits
After buying fruit and vegetables, they need to be cleaned before eating.
In a bowl, add one part vinegar to three parts water.
Soak the veggies or fruit for a few minutes, then rinse well before eating.
10. Get Windows Sparkling Clean
Mixing equal parts of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle or bowl is a great way to make your windows shiny and streak-free.
Spray your windows or apply vinegar and water mixture with a sponge, then wipe them clean with a clean cloth or squeegee.
11. Make Pickles
If you love pickles, you can use vinegar to make your own pickles or pickled veggies!
Go online to get a recipe for your favorite pickle and start pickling.
12. Clean New Clothes
When you buy new clothes, they sometimes have a chemical smell.
You can get rid of that chemical smell by running your clothes through a wash cycle with a cup of white vinegar.
13. Remove Stickers
If you have kids, stickers are probably stuck to your furniture or walls.
Wet the corners with a cloth soaked in vinegar to remove the sticker and scrape it away with a plastic card.
You can remove any leftover residue by wiping it again with the vinegar-soaked cloth and letting it sit for a bit before wiping it away.
14. Kill Weeds
If you have weeds or dandelions growing in the cracks of your sidewalks and driveway, you can get rid of them with vinegar.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray the weeds; if you see the weeds starting to come back, you may need to repeat the process.
15. Remove Soap Scum
Glass shower doors make a bathroom feel larger and more open but can also be a pain to clean.
To get rid of the soap scum and keep it from building up again, use a sponge that is soaked in white distilled vinegar to wipe the doors.
16. Clean Microwave
Does your microwave look like something exploded, and is the mess now stuck on?
Try boiling ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar and one cup of water in your microwave; when you see steam on the window, you can wipe away the mess.
17. Fruit Fly Trap
If you have fruit flies this summer, you can make a simple trap with apple cider vinegar and a jar or bowl.
Start by filling the container half full with vinegar, then cover it with a lid or plastic wrap with holes punched in it.
18. Remove Skunk Odor
If your dog encounters a skunk, removing the smell can feel quite challenging.
Mix ½ cup white vinegar, 1 tsp liquid soap, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 quart hydrogen peroxide.
Rub this mixture into your dog’s coat, rinse it with equal parts water and vinegar, then rinse it with a final rinse with just water.
19. Remove Candle Wax
Candles can add a cozy, warm feel to any room, but they can also drip onto furniture or carpet and be challenging to remove.
Start by melting the wax with a blow dryer and dabbing away any that you can with a paper towel, then dip a cloth in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar and wipe away the rest.
20. Deodorize Drains
Have you noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your drains?
Pouring one cup of white distilled vinegar into the drain weekly can remove the smell and keep the drain fresh.
21. Get Rid of Ants
Did you know that ants hate the smell of vinegar as much as they love the smell of your picnic foods?
If you have anthills in your yard, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray the hills or anywhere you see ants.
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I have over 15 years experience in the financial services industry and 20 years investing in the stock market. I have both my undergrad and graduate degrees in Finance, and am FINRA Series 65 licensed and have a Certificate in Financial Planning.
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