Vinegar is one of the most prominent kitchen condiments available. It shares some sourness to bland dishes and is used as a means for processing food products. The acidic liquid, being present in every household, is strictly used for cooking by most people. Little do they know, vinegar actually has more uses outside the kitchen. As a practical individual, you can cut down on your expenses by taking advantage of vinegar’s tons of alternative uses.
Vinegar, being highly acidic, can be used as a cleaning solution, a cosmetic agent and even a means for treating conditions like hiccups, dandruff and warts. Given its uses, the condiment can replace a number household items, which promotes much convenience. Go and explore its benefits. Here are the other uses for vinegar:
1. Weed Killer – Vinegar’s strong acidic content can dry or burn the leaves of plants, which proves to be fatal when applied in high doses. Naturally, vinegar can be used to kill the weeds in your garden. Just be careful not to splash it onto your garden plants. ( Learn more tips on getting rid of weeds)
itchy scalp2. Dandruff–Removing Solution – After applying shampoo on your hair, mix vinegar with two cups of warm water. The acidic solution will removes most, if not all, of the unwanted flakes on your scalp. People with sensitive skin should consult their dermatologist first before using the solution, though. ( For dandruff treatments, learn how to treat dandruff)
3. Spectacle Cleaner – Sticky oil-based stains on your glasses are not easy to remove. Good thing vinegar can cut through them with ease. Place a drop of vinegar each to the lenses of your glasses. Wipe the stains away with an eyeglass cleaner.
4. Deodorant Stain Remover – A problem with roll-ons and deodorant creams is they produce embarrassing cloth stains, which aren’t easy to remove. Take care of those annoying blotches by hand washing them with water, a strong detergent and some distilled vinegar.
5. Wart-Removing Lotion – Mix apple cider vinegar with glycerin to form the lotion. Apply it daily on a wart and the unsightly spot will eventually disappear. (More tips on how to get rid of warts)
6. Skin Moisturizer – Vinegar can actually be used as a skin moisturizer. Bathe with two tablespoons of vinegar and you will soon see the difference.
7. Sore Throat Reliever – Gargle sore throat away by using a simple vinegar–based solution. Add a small amount of vinegar to a glass of water. Gargle the solution for a minute then swallow. If the sore throat persists, just repeat the procedure until you feel relieved.
8. Alternative Treatment for Sunburn – If you have run out of topical creams, you can use vinegar as an alternative treatment for sunburn. Apply and rub a small amount of vinegar on the affected areas. The redness will slightly fade, and so will the itching. Ointments are still the more effective treatments, though, so just use this solution in case of emergency. ( If you want more sunburn relief, know how to get rid of sunburn)
9. Car Polish – Vinegar may not be as thick as car polish but its acidity and consistency can cut through dirt and dust formations. Just apply a generous amount of vinegar on your car and scrub with your chamois. Your car will look proud with its shimmering paint job.
car polish
10. Hiccup Neutralizer – Some people are relieved off hiccups by drinking a glass of water while others rely on being surprised. A third solution comes in the form of a popular cooking condiment. Swallow a spoonful of vinegar then say goodbye to your hiccups.
11. Vegetable Freshener – The wilted portions of vegetables don’t look inviting but cutting all of them off may be a big waste. You can cleanse those odd-looking portions by washing your vegetables with a mixture of water and vinegar.
fresh vegetables
12. Perspiration Stain Remover – Perspiration stains are unflattering, especially if they mar the seams of your favorite shirt. Take care of this problem by washing your clothes with vinegar solution. The ideal contents of the solution is three parts water and one part vinegar.
13. Ant Repellent – Ants are particularly annoying, especially when they manage to slip onto your bath towel. Stop ants from appearing in your home by putting vinegar on your walls and corridors. Ants, for some reason, do not like the scent nor the consistency of vinegar. (New ideas on how to get rid of ants)
14. Soil Conditioner – Some flower plants prefer acidic soil, which reinforce their production of beautiful blooms. Apply a tiny amount of vinegar to the soil surrounding these plants and you will soon see the results. Though, not all plants love acidic soil, so you have to do some research before applying this method.
soil conditioning
15. Fingernail Cleaner – For smokers and caffeine addicts, you can use vinegar to remove cigarette and coffee stains from your fingernails. Place a few drops on your nails then rub them with a piece of cloth. The stains will gradually fade.
16. Denture Cleaner – Dentures, being placed inside the mouth, should always be clean and free from germs. The acidic content of vinegar can kill most germs upon contact. Soak your dentures in a vinegar–water mixture to keep it clean when not in use.
furniture cleaning17. Utensil Cleaner – Utensils, used as eating equipment, should always be kept clean. You should have no problems wiping away food particles, dirt and germs if you clean your utensils with a highly acidic solution like vinegar. Simply apply some vinegar to your spoons, forks, and knives before washing. The vinegar’s acidity and slippery base will ensure the cleanliness of your eating tools.
18. Deodorize Used Jars – Newly-emptied jars are sometimes marred by the scents of their former occupants. To resolve this, rub some vinegar inside the jar, as if your were putting on soap. Let the vinegar stand for a few moments then wash the container with soap and water.
19. Furniture Cleaner – The beauty of furniture, especially the metal ones, fades through age and wear and tear. Restore the youthful look of your furniture by cleaning them with a vinegar solution or a mixture of vinegar and olive oil.
20. Rug and Carpet Stain Remover – Stains on rugs and carpets are headaches for the owners of the ornamental mats. Vinegar comes as the aspirin for carpet owners, since the liquid’s acidic base can displace hard-to-remove spots and blotches. Apply a generous amount of vinegar onto the stains then scrub until they are all gone. (For other carpet stain solutions, learn how to get rid of carpet stains)
21. Grease Cutter – Grease, when it accumulates in a frying pan, can be a complex cleaning chore. Loosen the grease’s hold on your pan by scrubbing it away with vinegar. The condiment’s acidity will cut through the hardened stuff with relative ease.
22. Shining Solution for Leather – Apply a mixture of vinegar and linseed oil onto a leather item then scrub. The leather object will soon glisten like it was a brand new item.
scaling a fish23. Cure for Heartburn – Drink a mixture of vinegar and water to relieve yourself of the severe chest pain caused by heartburn.
24. Deodorizing Air–Freshener – Vinegar’s ability to eliminate unwanted scents is without question. The problem is, the substance is usually just as foul-smelling as the aromas that it eliminates. If you add a combination of fragrant spices to distilled vinegar, you can create a natural air-freshener that removes unwanted scents from your home or room.
25. Aide for Scaling Fish – Scaling fish is not simple when you’re using an old knife. Make the ordeal easier by rubbing some vinegar on the fish a few minutes before scaling. The vinegar, acting as a lubricant, will loosen the scales for easy removal.
Vinegar, given its numerous alternative uses, can be called the wonder solution. Whether you mix it with water or use it alone, vinegar stands as a useful product. Experiment using the liquid on other endeavors and you will surely find more functions for the kitchen condiment. Feel free to post your own alternative uses for vinegar on the comments section.