White vinegar has a wide variety of uses inside and outside the house, including repelling bugs and pets, cleaning the laundry and appliances, and killing weeds. These 55 great uses for white vinegar can make taking care of your home and yard a breeze!
Vinegar can help you cut through grease. Mix 2 tbsp. of white vinegar in a sink full of hot water and liquid dish soap to cut through that grease.
2) Refresh Wilted Veggies
If you have some leafy greens that are looking a little sorry and wilted, you can toss them in cold water and a little bit of vinegar to perk them up.
The steam from a boiling bowl of vinegar will loosen the caked-on gunk in your microwave. Then, simply wipe it clean with a clean sponge or cloth.
Sometimes stemware and glasses can become cloudy after being put in the dishwasher or when air drying. To prevent this, wrap your glasses in vinegar-soaked paper towels. The cloudy deposits will rinse right off.
Stop your cat from scratching your furniture or climbing on certain things by spraying it with vinegar. If you want to stop them from causing mischief outdoors, soak a sponge in vinegar and place it in that area. Cats hate the smell!
If your cat is marking its territory in your home, spray the area with vinegar. This will help get rid of the smell and prevent recurrences. Also, one part of white vinegar and three parts of water poured over a pet stain and blotted with a clean cloth will neutralize the order.
Get rid of water marks on your wooden furniture by rubbing the area, with the grain, with a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and vegetable oil.
7) Clean Drain and Garbage Disposal
Clean out your drain and garbage disposal by pouring a 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down your drain. The foam will eat up the gunk, as well as deodorize.
Soak your skunked animal or child in a solution of equal parts vinegar and water before you rinse them with fresh water. This will remove the skunk smell.
Wipe your car windows with a solution of three parts vinegar and one part water to prevent them from frosting over in the winter.
We all want to keep fresh flowers alive for as long as possible, but after a few days, they often begin to droop. Simply add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of sugar to 1 quart of water and pour into your flower vase to freshen them up.
11) Remove Bumper Stickers
If you want to cleanly remove a bumper sticker, spray it with white vinegar until it’s completely saturated. It will peel right off. You may have to spray it a few times though.
12) Clean the Dishwasher and Coffee Pot
There’s nothing worse than pulling clean dishes out of a stinky-smelling dishwasher or questioning the freshness of your morning coffee. To clean, simply pour 1 cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher and run a full cycle, and/or into your coffee maker and turn it on.
Doing this monthly will keep your dishes clean and your coffee tasting as it should!
It’s scream-worthy when you open your fridge only to find that you forgot about that cucumber you put in the crisper a few weeks ago or that your ketchup bottle inexplicably leaked.
In order to keep it clean, wipe down your refrigerator with equal parts white vinegar and water, remembering to give the side walls a good cleaning as well.
When a sponge is used one too many times to clean dirty dishes, bacteria can start to breed. Instead of tossing away your smelly dish sponges, simply renew their life!
Put the sponge in a dish (with just enough water to cover it) and add ¼ cup of white vinegar. Soak overnight and your sponge will smell like new in the morning.
Household scissors, especially those kept in the kitchen, often get sticky or appear to have some sort of questionable residue present. Simply wipe the blades with a damp cloth soaked in white vinegar and dry. This avoids rusting the metal and gives your scissors a sharp, new look!
Are your ice cubes starting to taste funny? Is the bottom of your ice cube tray coated in residue? Give those trays a refresher by soaking them in undiluted vinegar for 4-5 hours. Then, rinse them with water and allow them to air dry.
For an easy way to clean your bathtub — even with soap scum build-up — without having to use too much elbow grease, simply mix ½ cup white vinegar, heated in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, with ¼ cup liquid dish soap (Dawn is recommended).
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray into your tub and on shower walls and fixtures. Let sit for 30 minutes, and then wipe clean with a sponge.
Sometimes during a shower, we feel that the pressure is slowing or look up at the showerhead and see cruddy, green, or white residue. To combat this, soak the showerhead in a solution of ½ cup vinegar to 1 quart of water.
Bonus tip: Put the solution in a plastic bag, and tie around the showerhead to soak.
19) Sanitize a Toothbrush
Most of us use the same toothbrush for several (or more) months before discarding. So, it’s a good idea every now and then to sanitize your toothbrush. In a glass, mix together ½ cup of water, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
Let your toothbrush soak for 30 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.
20) Clean Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors require care, and many of us prefer to use non-toxic cleaners that are safe for kids and pets. After sweeping, dusting, and/or vacuuming your hardwood floors, you’re ready to start mopping.
To create the solution, mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water. Next, dip your mop in the solution and ring out, leaving a bit damp. Mop in the direction of the floorboards, making sure to rinse the mop frequently and freshen the solution if it begins to appear dirty.
21) Clean the Washing Machine
High-efficiency, front-loading washing machines are great for saving water but tend to develop a musty smell. Let vinegar come to the rescue by wiping down the rubber seal around the door with equal parts vinegar and water.
Also, make sure to remove any debris from the crevices around the rubber.
Don’t you love the “snuggly” feeling of new towels, clothes, and fabrics? I sure do, but it gets lost after the very first wash.
To keep that feeling, add 1 cup of white vinegar to your rinse dispenser, and your fabrics will become soft and snuggly just like when you first bought them. It also prevents static cling!
Distilled white vinegar is a great disinfectant. It kills unwanted bacteria and germs on clothes. Just add 1 to 2 cups of vinegar to your laundry instead of bleach.
24) Whiten White Clothing
White clothing can gradually become dirtier and darker over time. This is a result of detergent residue and stains.
To prevent this from happening, add 1-2 cups of vinegar to the wash for regular whitening of whites. If you really want to whiten dirty clothes, then soak individual items in 5 cups of water and 2 cups of vinegar overnight before you wash.
25) Remove Odors From Athletic Gear
If you like to work out and sweat through your clothes, then there’s always that nasty, musky smell in your laundry. Normal detergent doesn’t always remove it because of the materials on the athletic gear, but distilled white vinegar will.
Add 1-2 cups of vinegar to your wash to remove the odor, or pre-soak your gear in vinegar to get a deeper cleanse.
26) Reduce or Prevent Lint
You can reduce and prevent lint and pet hair from clinging to your clothes by adding just half a cup of distilled white vinegar.
Spray vinegar on your fresh stains and then let it soak for a few minutes. Throw the clothing into the wash, and watch your stains come right off.
For older stains, continue spraying the vinegar and blot with a white cloth. Once it’s lightened, put it into the wash.
28) Feed Acid-Loving Plants
Plants like gardenias, holly, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and begonias grow beautifully in acidic soil. Spray them with a mixture of 1 gallon of water to 1 cup of white vinegar to help them grow.
29) Keep Rabbits Out of the Garden
If rabbits are ruining your garden, you can soak cotton balls in distilled vinegar and place them in a 35mm film container or something similar. Poke holes in the top of the container, and place it in your garden to keep rabbits at bay.
Spray ant hills with one part water and one part vinegar to kill them. Spray areas where ants are likely to invade to keep them at bay.
Get rid of unwanted garden weeds by pouring apple cider vinegar onto the weeds. The weeds will die, but your soil will stay healthy.
You can soak garden tools, like a rake or hoe, overnight in vinegar to get rid of rust and grime. You can also fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it over a water spigot to keep it submerged. Rinse everything off with water.
33) Eliminate Slugs and Snails
If slugs and snails are compromising your plant growth, spray them with some undiluted vinegar. This will make them wither and die.
Mix some undiluted water with white vinegar, and use it to scrub your birdbath. Make sure to rinse it off with water.
Insects such as ants, spiders, and other bugs are opposed to the smell of vinegar. So, to deter them from creeping into your home, spray this mixture around window sills and the thresholds of doors.
In a spray bottle, mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Mix it up, and start spraying your way to a home free of creepy-crawlers!
You can wind up with dirt and allergens on your hands after spending a day working in your garden. Wash your hands with some distilled vinegar to cleanse them of debris and make sure that they don’t itch.
37) Protect Clothing Colors
Preserve the colors of your clothes by adding 1 cup of vinegar to the beginning of your wash cycle. It protects against color bleeding. If you’re really worried, then soak an item overnight in a mixture of water and vinegar before you wash it with other items.
38) Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Mixing vinegar with dish soap is just one of the many ways to deter annoying fruit flies. Just add three drops of dish soap to a bowl full of vinegar and leave it uncovered. When the fruit flies land on the vinegar, they will sink down and drown.
39) Remove Ink From Walls
To remove ink from walls, dab straight white vinegar onto the wall’s surface using a sponge or clean cloth. Repeat this process as necessary to remove the ink.
40) Clean Office Equipment
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bucket to create a solution for cleaning your computer, fax machine, and other equipment. Use Q-tips to get into tighter areas. Make sure to use a clean cloth and squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can before wiping down.
This hack might seem super strange, but it actually works amazingly well. Prepare a foot soak with 1 part Listerine, 1 part vinegar, and 2 parts warm water. Soak for about 15-20 minutes. It’s really easy, very affordable, and will make your feet feel like a baby’s!
42) Make Reusable Cleaning Rags
Having a wet rag to clean up spills and messes is always handy. Create your own grab-and-go rag by keeping a washcloth in a mason jar with a bit of water and vinegar.
Yoga mats can become yucky and dirty after a few uses and being stored in the corner. Give it a nice clean by putting a mixture of water, vinegar, and a few drops of essential oil (for fragrance) in a spray bottle. Spritz your yoga mat and wipe with a cloth.
“When it comes to stinky shoes, you need to go right to the source of the problem, the stinky
feet! A vinegar soak a few times a week will do the trick to keep feet smelling clean and fresh,” says
One Good Thing By Jillee. She also has a
tutorial.
After a long, hard day, take a load off by relaxing in a detox bath. Just draw a bath and add Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, and bentonite clay. This is a perfect soak for when you’re feeling under the weather as well. You’ll sleep like a baby and feel so refreshed.
Using vinegar in your meat marinade is a great way to not only create a delicious dish but to also help tenderize your meat. Add herbs and spices to your choice of vinegar and let your meat soak for at least 20 minutes. Even better, let it sit in the fridge overnight.
When you’re boiling eggs, be sure to add a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar. It will help ensure that the shells don’t crack and it will also make them easy to peel once they’re cooked.
48) Get The Most Out Of Your Condiments
Toward the end of the bottle or container of your condiments, it can become very hard to get the rest out. Most condiments already contain a bit of vinegar, so just add a few teaspoons of your favorite vinegar to the bottle and give it a shake. Although it will be a bit diluted, you can get the last bit of ketchup, mayo, or mustard out.
49) Wash Your Fruits And Veggies
A simple vinegar solution is perfect for washing fruits and veggies. The vinegar will dissolve any wax on the fruits and also remove pesticide residue. Rinse with warm water afterward.
50) Help Make Cheese Last Longer
Prevent cheese from becoming dried out by wrapping it in a vinegar-soaked cloth. It will also help prevent mold from going on the surface.
Make the dye on your Easter eggs extra bright by adding vinegar to the mix. For every cup of hot water or dye mix, add 2 teaspoons of vinegar. Your colors will pop!
“For a sore throat caused by coughs and colds, gargle with a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of salt added. Use as often as needed until your sore throat is gone,” says
Tips Bulletin.
To help keep those pearly whites white, give yourself a brush with distilled white vinegar once a week. Brushing with vinegar will help whiten your teeth and kill any bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath.
White vinegar is a great home remedy for eliminating dandruff and curing a dry, flaky scalp. Once a week, pour a cup of white vinegar on your scalp and let it sit for 55 minutes. Continue until the problem has been resolved.
55) Help Cure Foot Fungus
White vinegar has incredible disinfecting and antibacterial properties. Soak your feet in a mixture of water and vinegar for a few minutes every day to help fight any toenail or foot fungi that you’re battling.
Make cleaning your home and keeping it free of pests a snap by using white vinegar. You can even use white vinegar in your laundry to protect colors and brighten whites.