7 Amazing Uses of Vinegar

Vinegar is a most versatile of natural substances. Basically vinegar is an acid. In ancient times it was discovered that if wine were left undisturbed it would continue to ferment and the substance left behind was vinegar. Historically vinegar has been used as a cleaning agent and a preservative for food.

Today people still recognize vinegar’s amazing possibilities for cleaning, preservation and a multitude of other uses.

Below you will find just a few creative uses for vinegar that you can use as an all-natural alternative to harsh chemical products. This is only a partial list, as the uses for vinegar really just go on and on.

Bathroom Cleaner

People have been using vinegar as a cleaning agent for thousands of years. There are some very specific uses for vinegar in the bathroom, though. Many people deal with lime scales in their bathrooms because of hard water. Vinegar can be used to remove these un-attractive spots from your faucets. Simply soak a paper towel in full strength vinegar and wrap around the affecedt faucet. Leave the towel there for approximately 10 minutes. Remove paper towel and you should be able to simply wipe away the stains. Vinegar can also be used in the bathroom to unclog drains. Pour a handful of baking soda into the clogged drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. When the bubbling stops, run hot water. Repeat until drain runs free.

Laundry Helper

Vinegar can be very helpful when used in your laundry. We all know there are some smells that just do not seem to come out in the wash. A cup of vinegar can be added to a particularly smelly load of laundry to combat the smells. Rubbing full strength vinegar into stained clothing before you wash can also help to remove stubborn stains resulting from things like make-up and deodorant. Vinegar in the wash can also prevent certain clothing from running their colors into other clothing.

Keeps Flowers Fresh

If you love to keep fresh flowers around to beautify your home, vinegar is your friend. You can prolong the life of your lovely flowers, by adding 30 mL of vinegar and 30 mL of sugar to one quart water. Place the mixture in your favorite vases and then fill with fresh flowers. This will increase the time you can enjoy your blooms.

Health Benefits

Apple Cider Vinegar has been hailed for years as a health miracle. There is some medical evidence that points to a connection between vinegar and health benefits. One of the most researched uses is for diabetic patients. Individuals with diabetes have found that taking two tablespoons of vinegar before bed greatly improved their morning blood sugar readings. Vinegar has also been very popular with individuals trying to lose weight. Vinegar is useful in weight loss programs because it adds to a person’s sense of feeling full after a meal. When you feel full you will eat less resulting in quicker weight loss. Not everyone wants to actually drink vinegar in order to reap the health benefits. Apple Cider Vinegar can be used in a pill form as well.

Mosquito Repellant

When the hot summer months bring out the mosquitos, many individuals start knocking back the vinegar. Drinking vinegar water has been hailed as a safe, natural way to keep the bugs off of you during summer. When your body begins to metabolize the vinegar water you have drank, the repellant properties begin to be emitted through your pores. You literally become a walking bug repellant. To shoos the bugs from the inside out, your need to mix about 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 16 ounces of water and keep drinking for several hours. You can also set bowls of vinegar out on picnic tables to discourage mosquitos from ruining your meal.

Hair Care

Many people would never think of using vinegar on their hair. However, most of our hair troubles are caused by product build up over time. Product buildup can cause hair to become dull and unmanageable. Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent and works wonders to rinse product buildup out of your hair. After shampooing, use a vinegar rinse of half tablespoon vinegar and any essential oil you like. Massage into your hair then rinse thoroughly.

Sticker Remover

Stubborn stickers can be a real pain. Whether it is a price tag that just will not peel off a purchase or your toddlers Dora the Explorer stickers all over your purse, vinegar is the magic potion. Warm a little bit of vinegar on the stove. Dip a rag into the warm vinegar and hold over the offending sticker. Once the sticker is fully saturated, remove the rag. You should now be able to simply wipe the sticker and the remaining residue off. Good by Dora.

Vinegar may seem a humble substance, but its uses are almost endless.