10 Uses for Vinegar

Since we have been talking so much about Surprising Uses For Household Items lately, I thought it might be nice to dedicate an entire post to one of my favorite household items – Vinegar (the distilled white, not the delicious Balsamic). Here are 10 uses for Vinegar.

10 Uses for Vinegar

1. Natural Pesticide – If you have ants or other little bugs working their way into your house, try spraying undiluted vinegar on the doorways and windowsills to keep the bugs on the outside.
2. Weed Killer – Spray vinegar on pesky weeds instead of the expensive weed killer from home improvement stores. If you have an empty jug of the store bought stuff, rinse it out with the garden hose and fill with vinegar, so you aren’t having to refill a tiny spray bottle often. (It will kill the grass, so be precise with your spray).
3. Dishwasher Cleaner – run a cycle with a cup filled with vinegar on the top rack to clean the dishwasher and keep it at peak performance.
4. Washing Machine Cleaner – I have posted about Ask Anna’s great tutorial on cleaning your washing machine using vinegar, but just in case you missed it here it is again.
5. Window Cleaner – Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of half water and half distilled white vinegar to clean your windows – no more expensive store-bought window cleaners needed.
6. Mold and Mildew Cleaner – I live in Florida where humidity is almost a constant, meaning mold and mildew can be a real problem. Since the fumes from store-bought mold and mildew sprays give me a nasty headache, I started spraying a mixture of water and vinegar as spots start to show up in m bathroom. I honestly think the results are better – plus, no headache.
7. Garbage Disposal Deodorizer – Usually I toss my lemons in the garbage disposal after I am done using them for cooking and that is enough to keep it smelling fresh, but if nasty odors still linger try adding some vinegar while you run the hot water and disposal to help keep it smelling fresh.
8. Hard Water Stains – I am constantly tackling hard water stains, one thing that has worked well for me on most of my bathroom shower/tub surfaces to eliminate the residue left by hard water is vinegar. Spray it on and let it sit for about 10 min before scrubbing.
9. Facial Toner – I always start with caution when it comes to applying anything to your skin (especially your face), but many people speak highly of the benefits of using a splash of vinegar on a cotton ball for a facial toner. (If you have sensitive skin, test a small area first to see if you have a reaction of any kind).
10. Coffee Maker Cleaner – It’s important to follow instructions based on the type of coffee maker you have, but I have always been able to successfully running vinegar through the system to clear any build up from mineral deposits. Remember to run a few cycles with clean water afterwards to remove the smell of vinegar.

What other uses do you have for this classic household item?