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Top 20 Vinegar Life Hacks (Try #12 Tonight!)
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Most people think that vinegar is only something in pickles, but the truth is, vinegar is a combination of acetic acid and water that is probably the most well-known but underappreciated liquid in the world. Plain white vinegar has hundreds of scientific, medicinal, and household uses that can make your everyday routine anything but ordinary. White vinegar is very cheap, available everywhere, and completely harmless!
Using white vinegar in place of those harsh (and expensive) household cleaners is a great way to save some serious bucks and do your share to keep the environment greener. Check out our top 20 life hacks that involve using vinegar and see what a difference it can make in your life!
1. Got Nasty Air?
If you have a room that is just really stinky from pain fumes, cigarette smoke, pet odor, you name it, all you need is a bit of vinegar. Just pour some vinegar in a bowl, put it in the room and leave it there for a couple of hours. If the room is really large or if it is extra stinky, put two or three bowls in there. Vinegar will absorb the odors in just a few hours, almost like magic. Dump the old vinegar down the drain for a fresher smelling drain as well!
2. Ditch the Iron
Well, maybe you should hold on to it. If you want your clothes to be smooth and presentable, but you don’t have time or don’t want to bust out that ironing board, let simple vinegar do the trick. Hang up your piece of clothing. Pour 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water into a spray bottle. Spritz the wrinkled clothes and let them air dry. In 10 or 15 minutes, you will find that those wrinkles are gone and you have some pretty awesome looking duds!
3. Carpet Odors
Did your new puppy leave you a little gift on the carpet? Simply pour half a cup of undiluted vinegar onto the stinky spot and let it air dry. This will kill the smell and make it easier to clean any leftover stain. This works well in cars, also, if someone got a bit too nauseous.
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4. Trash Can Cleaner
Sometimes, no matter how carefully you package the trash, little leaks and bit of food find their way to the bottom of the trash can and start to make an unbelievable stink, especially during the hot summer months. No one wants to wash out those huge trash cans! If you have a bit of vinegar and a piece of bread on hand, you won’t have to! Soak a piece of bread in some vinegar and put it on top of a paper towel on the bottom of the trash can. Let it sit overnight. Remove the bread and paper towel in the morning and simply rinse with a hose. Super easy!
5. Keep It Clear
Is there anything more annoying than a sink or bathtub drain that backs up? Don’t run down to the grocery or hardware store and buy some of that toxic stuff in a jug. All you probably need is a bit of vinegar and baking soda. Boil two cups of water and pour one cup of it down that clogged drain. Follow that with a half a cup of baking soda and wait about 2 minutes, then mix one cup of vinegar with the remaining hot water and pour that down the drain too. Wait 10 minutes, and then flush with hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. This should work like a charm and is completely non-toxic!
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6. Toilet Cleaner
Got a toilet with some rust stains, maybe some lime build up? Those things are almost impossible to scrub off, but with a bit of vinegar, your toilet could look like new. Flush the toilet, then add about 1 cup of white vinegar to the bowl. Scrub it around just a bit to be sure you get some all over the sides of the bowl. Close the lid and let it sit overnight. That’s it! In the morning, simply brush for a minute, and flush. How easy is that?
7. All Purpose Cleaner
Have you ever looked under your sink at all the different types of cleaners you have? Floor cleaners, window cleaners, stove top cleaners, bathroom cleaners, kitchen counter cleaners: it gets a little ridiculous, doesn’t it? All you really need is a spray bottle. Fill about 1/3 to ½ of it with vinegar and the rest with water. Give it a couple of shakes and you are good to go. Don’t use this on wood floors or marble, but otherwise, you are set.
8. Water Marks
Did a few guests at your last party forget to use a coaster? Get rid of those annoying white rings on your wood furniture by mixing some white vinegar with olive oil and gently rubbing it into the offending area with a soft cloth. Rub in the direction of the grain.
9. Pet Repellant
Tired of the neighborhood cats using your garden like it’s their own personal potty? Or does Fido jump on the sofa the minute you leave the room? Pets are sensitive to certain odors and vinegar is one of them. Put vinegar and a bit of water in a spray bottle and spritz your “no pets” area. Sometimes, placing a rag soaked in vinegar will keep pets away as well.
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10. Stain Removal
If you were out picking blueberries and your hands are now a pretty shade of purple, get out the vinegar. Pour it over the stains and rub for a minute, then rinse. This works far better than soap and water. If your hands are smelly from onions or garlic or anything else, this also works like a charm.
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11. Remove Burned on Foods
If you ever burn something in a pan, or even just cook up something that gets way too gooey and doesn’t seem to want to come off easily, try this: fill the pan with a cup of water and a cup of vinegar. Bring to a boil, and then turn off the heat. Add two or three tablespoons of baking soda and watch it fizz. Once the fizz is gone, dump out the solution, and whatever was inside that pan should wipe right off with a paper towel.
12. Rusty Stuff
If you have some rusty tools, simply soak them in vinegar overnight, then clean them thoroughly with a soft brush in the morning. The rust will wipe away easily. It works better than any of those expensive rust removers you’ve bought at the home improvement stores!
13. Heals Bruises
If you have a bruise that you want to heal quickly, simply soak a wash cloth or cotton pad in vinegar and apply it to the area for 30 minutes. That bruise will be much less noticeable. This is because vinegar helps to break up the blood under the skin. Who knew?
14. Sticker Residue
If you like recycling glass bottles, but get annoyed when you can’t get rid of the label or sticker, try this: pour some vinegar directly on the area. Let it soak for about 2 minutes. That label and the adhesive should come right off. Vinegar is the perfect solvent to remove those sticky labels with ease.
15. Hair Care
You don’t need to buy those expensive anti-color fading shampoos. Make your own anti-fading hair rinse by mixing one part white vinegar to two parts cold water. Apply after shampooing. Rinse well. This will not only protect your color, it will make your hair super shiny as well!
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16. Clean the Keyboard
Clean that grimy, yucky keyboard with a cloth soaked in some white vinegar, not water, for the ultimate clean.
17. Cleans Glasses
Have you ever gone to the beach and found that you can’t remove that sticky salt water from your glasses? Apply a half a teaspoon or so of white vinegar to your glasses (this works with sunglasses too) and let it sit for a few seconds, and then rub it gently with a clean cloth. Those stains and gooey stuff will come right off.
18. Cleans Suede
You don’t have to take your suede boots or jacket to the dry cleaners every time you get some grease or a stain on them. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and rub it on the stain. It should come off in a jiffy!
19. Kill Those Fruit Flies
A big bowl of fruit is so pretty, but who the heck invited all those pesky fruit flies? Get rid of them by placing a bowl of white vinegar on the counter near the fruit. Put one or two drops of dish soap on the top of the vinegar and those fruit flies will be history in a few hours.
20. Prolong the Life of Cut Flowers
A vase full of beautiful flowers adds a lot to your décor, but they seem to die so quickly, don’t they? Prolong the life of cut flowers by mixing about two tablespoon of vinegar with one tablespoon of sugar in a vase full of water. Now add your flowers. That beautiful bouquet should stay beautiful for a much longer period of time. Always take time to smell the roses!
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