If you’ve read through any of the posts on the Sisters with Stuff blog you know that I love Vinegar. It is so versatile and is so inexpensive. I buy the 2-gallon pack at Costco so that I always have plenty. Now I’m guessing you’ve seen some of these vinegar tips and hacks before. However I think I might have a few that will surprise you, I’ve found 15 Amazing use for Vinegar.
What’s the big deal? What is vinegar anyway?
White vinegar is comprised of acetic acid (about 5-10%) and water (about 90-95%). Acetic acid is created by fermenting some kind of carbohydrates like grapes, apples, malted oats, or barley. White Vinegar is usually made of corn according to Food Revolution Network. Humans have used some form of vinegar for over 2000 years. It’s not just for cooking, some studies have shown it to have health benefits as well as cleaning properties. Its acidity makes it effective in killing, mold, bacteria, and germs. There are many different kinds of vinegar for cooking, they are made with different ingredients. Such as apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and rice vinegar. Each has its own unique flavor and can vary in cost. I use plain white vinegar for all my tips and hacks, it is very economical to buy in large quantities.
15 Amazing uses for Vinegar:
My very favorite use for vinegar is to clean the microwave. Fill a small microwaveable bow with half vinegar and half water. Microwave it until it boils, let it boil for a minute or two, turn it off but leave the door closed for another minute or 2. When you open it anything that was stuck on should be steamed and you can wipe it right off with a rag or paper towel. You can literally wipe the whole thing down, no scrubbing, nothing stuck on. This is by far my favorite vinegar hack.
I don’t use fabric softener any more but I do use vinegar in the wash. I use it just like I would use fabric softener, it reduces lint in your clothing and gets out odors like smoke or food smells. It’s great for towels, they come out fresher and fluffier. I promise your clothes do not smell like vinegar when they come out of the wash.
Does your dishwasher need a cleaning? Every once in a while run an empty cycle using vinegar instead of detergent. I would have to pour it into the little compartment on the door, it would probably run out as soon as the door was upright but it will still do the job. You may have seen articles that say to use vinegar as a rinse agent instead of buying the little bottles of liquid. I personally would not do that. Your dishwasher has rubber seals and gaskets and the acidity in vinegar could cause those rubber gaskets and hoses to break down.
A cleaning every once in a while, not a problem but it should not be used every time you run your dishwasher. And don’t look away for a second if you have a cat like ours, she likes to explore everywhere and that includes the dishwasher.
Vinegar can be used to mark hard boiled eggs easier to peel, add a teaspon of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt to the water when boiling. The vinegar will also keep them from cracking.
Use Vinegar to get rid of weeds, I put vinegar into my sprayer and then I spray the weeds that grow between my patio stones. Spray any weeds that you want to get rid of. It works best if it has a couple days of hot sun, the weeds turn yellow and brittle and can easily be picked. You can feel better that you aren’t using harmful chemicals around kids and pets.
In my article Love Curry but hate how the smell lingers in your house, I use vinegar in several ways to help get rid of the curry smell. Place a couple of bowls of vinegar around the cooking area to absorb some smells. Microwave a bowl of half vinegar and half water until it boils. Let the vinegar smell permeate the area and get rid of the curry smell. Fill a spray bottle with half and half vinegar and water and spray soft surfaces that you can’t wash.
Every once in a while when you do a deep clean, wash your window coverings (if you can) in your washing machine with 1/2 cup vinegar and regular laundry soap. If you can’t put them in the washer, hand wash with a solution of soap and vinegar. Curry releases an oil into the air, the oil vapor is absorbed by fabric and other porous surfaces. It gets into furniture, window treatments and any kind of clothing, jackets, hats………everything!!! But it tastes so good, here’s my recipe for Chicken Curry with Vegetables & Rice.
Descale your coffee maker every once in a while. Fill the water chamber half way with white vinegar and then the rest of the way with water. Let it go through a brew cycle. Do several brew cycles of water only after that to get rid of any leftover vinegar and particles that may have been loosened by the vinegar.
Vinegar is so inexpensive!
To make your sour cream last longer, add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to the small container or 2 tablespoons for a large container. The sour cream won’t go bad as quickly.
If you are marinating meat, add some of your favorite vinegar and garlic. The vinegar helps tenderize the meat by breaking down the tough fibers.
Vinegar has so many uses!
1 part Vinegar to 3 parts water makes a great vegetable wash. You proably should wash your fruits and veggies when you get home. This is a safe non toxic way to get rid of unwanted residue on your produce.
If you ever need buttermilk for a recipe and you don’t have it. Use 1 Tablespoon per cup of milk, mix and it will make the milk go sour and can be used as buttermilk.
Replace toxic cleaners with vinegar. Put equal parts vineger and water into a spray bottle, you can add an essential oil if you want for a fresh scent. Use this spray solution to wash windows and mirrors. Disenfect countertops by spraying solution and letting it sit for 1 minute then wipe clean. Vinegar works great as a chrome polish, apply directly on hrome with a rag and the buff it until it shines. Clean your floors, equal parts vinegar and warm water in a bucket and use your mop or sponge as usual.
I’ve mentioned using different types of vinegars in cooking, this recipe uses plain white vinegar. Make your own Homemade Creamy Coleslaw Dressing. I never buy premade coleslaw or premade dressing anymore. This recipe is so simple and delicious, you’ll never buy store bought again.
Believe it or not white vinegar can be used as a science experiment. My daughter used it for her See Through Bouncy Egg Experiment at her science fair. You soak an egg in vinegar for several days, eventually the shell dissolves and the egg becomes translucent. Read the post to get all the details, it is a perfect science fair project for an elementary student, it’s really fun to watch the transformation.
In the wintertime use vinegar to prevent frost on your car windows. If you park outside you know what it’s like to come out in the morning and have to scrape your windshield and other windows. Keep you car windows from getting frosty by using 3 parts water 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray your windows at night when you park your car, it will help to keep the frost from building up. Make sure you are not using straight vinegar, it should always be diluted. Straight vinegar can harm the rubber in the window seals and wiper blades.
I’ve shown you 15 Amazing uses for Vinegar but there are so many more. If you llike this article about vinegar you might enjoy more articles about using natural ingredients and inexpensive household hacks for cleaning and freshening your home.
- Non-Toxic All Natural Air Freshener Recipe
- All-Natural Tips to get the Smell of Onions & Garlic off your Hands
- Get rid of Brussel Sprout smell when cooking
- My Homemade Recipe that keeps my Front Load Washer smelling fresh
- 20 Ways to use Lemons & Limes around the house
