This kind of thing thrills me, maybe some think 31 Things You Can Do With Vinegar is categorized as the mundane of life but I see things differently!  Learning new skills has the power to change your life for the better.  While researching for this post I found several uses for vinegar that I did not know about! I am now able to replace household practices with new, healthier ones.  Healthy living and saving money are two ways I can bless my family.

I am admittedly a science geek and paired with my passion for homemaking this informative post will be helpful to those of us who strive to live a healthy and frugal life and find things like vinegar gripping!

 

 

31 Things You Can Do With Vinegar

 

1. Weed killer

Pour vinegar directly on the weed that you want dead and it will die.

2. Fabric softener

Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the rinse cycle and your clothes will be light and fluffy!  This works best on natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool.

3. Fish

When baking fish, soak the fish in vinegar and water for half an hour.  This makes the fish stay together better and it is more tender.

4. Burn marks

Put vinegar directly onto the fabric with a burn mark and gently rub it with a cloth.  Rinse the fabric and repeat until the burn mark is gone.

5. Dying fabric

Add 1 tsp. of vinegar when dyeing fabrics and it will make the dye set.  How to Dye Fabric and Save Money!

6. Carpet stains

Test the carpet first and then if safe clean with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Rinse the cloth and repeat.

7. Ring marks on wood

To remove ring marks on wooden furniture, make a mixture of equal parts of olive oil and vinegar.  Use a cloth to rub out the ring marks on the furniture.

8. Herbal vinegar

Fill a stylish glass bottle with vinegar insert the herb stems into the bottle and seal.  This makes a delightful herb vinegar that I use to make salad dressings or marinate meat.

9. Soften paint brushes

To soften stiff paintbrushes soak them in hot vinegar. Rinse and let dry before using.

10. Clean iron

Mix equal parts of vinegar and distilled water and pour it into the steam chamber of the iron.  Using scrap fabric steam the fabric until the chamber is clean.  It should only take 10 times.  Let the iron cool and empty the water chamber. Wipe the bottom of the iron with the scrap fabric.

11. Produce rinse

Fill the clean sink with cold water and add 1/4 cup vinegar.  Soak fruit and vegetables for 5 minutes, air dry, or wipe dry with a clean dishtowel.

12. Garbage disposal deodorizer

Make vinegar ice cubes, place them in the garbage disposal, and run.

13. Microwave oven cleaner

Place a glass bowl with vinegar in the microwave.  Microwave until the vinegar is boiling.  The dried food will loosen and will be easy to wipe off with a soft vinegar-dampened cloth.

14. Lunch box /bag deodorizer

Take a vinegar-soaked cloth and wipe out the lunchbox or bag.  It will remove the odor and clean the bag.  Let air dry or use a clean cloth to dry.

15. Window cleaner

Make a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle.  Spray windows and dry with a soft cloth then use a crumpled newspaper to shine the windows.

16. Stale odors

Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and place it in a bowl.  Set the vinegar-soaked bread bowl wherever you wish to remove the stale odor.

17. Brass, copper, and pewter polish

Mix 1 tsp. salt with 1 cup vinegar with enough flour to make a paste.  Cover the items to be cleaned for 15 minutes.  Wash off with warm water and then dry with a soft cloth.

18. Smoke odors

Leave a bowl of vinegar in the room after people are done smoking to remove the odor.

19. Cooking odors

Did you have a kitchen mishap?  Did you cook fish or other odorous food?  Bring a pan of vinegar to boil and simmer for 15 minutes to remove the odor.

20. Cut flowers

Keep flowers fresh longer by putting two teaspoons of sugar with two tablespoons of vinegar in the water you will use to place flowers in.

21. Deodorant stains

Rub a cloth dipped in vinegar over the deodorant to remove the stain.

22. Clean leather

Combine equal parts of linseed oil and vinegar. Using a clean cloth, rub the mixture into the leather to condition and clean it.

23. Insects

Wipe your counters with straight vinegar to deter bugs!

24. Drains

Deodorize drains by pouring in 1 cup vinegar.  Leave for half an hour and rinse with cold water.  You can also add baking soda to the vinegar to unclog the drains.

25. Altered hem or seam line

To remove the lines after altering a hem iron the fabric over a rag soaked in vinegar.

26. Relief from heartburn

Take 1 tablespoon of vinegar after eating to neutralize the acid.

27. Poison ivy

Make a paste of vinegar and cornstarch and spread over poison ivy to stop the itching.

28.  Berry ink

Mix equal parts berries, vinegar, and salt.  Mix well and strain.  Store in a glass container in a cool, dark place.

29. Toenail fungus

Soak your feet for 15 minutes daily in a gallon of warm water with one cup of vinegar.

30. Bee sting 

Soak the sting directly in a bowl of vinegar if possible or soak a clean cloth in vinegar and apply to the sting.

31. Fluffier rice

For fluffier and great-tasting rice, add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the boiling water( before adding rice).  Rice will be easier to spoon and less sticky.

 

 

Did You Know?

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to help blood sugar regulation and is often recommended for use by nutritionists because of its beneficial effects on digestive health. The “mother” in apple cider vinegar is a source of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that contribute to a healthy gut microbiome.  Why not try making apple cider vinegar?  It is a simple and easy process and a great way to use apple peels.

 

YOUR TURN…

What do you use vinegar for?

 

Peacefully Yours,

Signature

 

 

 

Janelle Esker

Janelle Esker is the grateful wife of Michael and homeschooling mother of six amazing children. She lives with her family, 4 cats, 1 dog, 3 ducks and 12 chickens in scenic Ohio. Janelle received her B.A. in Education from Ohio Northern University. She is the author of CHOSEN: One Family's Journey with Autism.

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6 Comments

  1. Those are some great (and new to me) ideas. Pinning it!
    I went through a lot of peppermint oil last year trying to get rid of ants — vinegar is a lot less expensive,
    And I do one part vinegar, one part water and one part rubbing alcohol for windows. I haven’t seen a newspaper in a long time! The alcohol helps it dry quickly.

    1. Thanks for the additional ideas Barbara and thank you for stopping by and commenting!

  2. I love learning new things like this! I really need to get a huge bottle of vinegar and use it for everything. I actually just had a cleaner around for a stain and I should have tried vinegar instead. I’m going to try vinegar in my garbage disposal and drains today! Thanks!

    1. I am so glad you found this helpful Emma, vinegar really is AMAZING! I do however wish it smelled a little different though. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by The Peaceful Haven!

  3. Well I really liked reading it. This subject offered by you is very constructive for good planning.

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