White Vinegar Uses

The four things I most commonly use to clean my house with are vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and Everclear. With these four products I can clean just about everything in my house. Like baking soda, vinegar is economical, non toxic, earth friendly and versatile.

 

White Distilled Vinegar Uses Around the Home

De-icer-Stop ice from forming on car windshield. Coat the window with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water. You can wipe this on or put solution in a spray bottle and spray it on windshield.

Cloth Diapers– Adding ¼ cup to the washing machine freshens cloth diapers.

Washing Machine-Add white vinegar to the final rinse cycle to remove any residual soap film.

Static Cling– Add ¼ C. of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle to remove static cling.

Iron- Fill the reservoir with vinegar and turn on full heat. When the vents are clear, empty any remaining vinegar and fill with clear water. Run again to remove any residual vinegar.

Car Chrome Polisher– Apply white vinegar full strength to a soft cloth, rub till it sparkles.

Air Freshener-Fill a spray bottle 50/50 with diluted white vinegar and water. Spray the air and notice the difference.

Fruit Stains-Stubborn fruit stains on your hands, rinse them with white vinegar.

Oven Door Window-Clean baked on grease stains from the glass oven door. Open door and apply distilled white vinegar full strength. Leave door open for 15-30 minutes, before wiping down the window. Rinse and you’re done.

Remove jar labels-Cover glass with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Leave it on overnight in the sink and it will slip off in the morning.

Kill Germs-Keep a labeled bottle of full strength vinegar for this job. Simply spray and wipe with a damp cloth.

Showerhead-In a plastic ziplock type bag mix ½ a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar. Tie it around shower head. Leave on for an hour or till bubbling stops. Remove bag. Rinse showerhead and turn on water for a second to flush any residual baking soda. (If it’s easier remove showerhead and place in container with solution).

Toilet Bowls-Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the toilet, let sit for several hour and scrub. The bowl will be sparkling clean.

Remove Candle Wax-To remove wax from wood furniture; first soften the wax with a blow dryer on its highest setting. Scrape it off with a credit card. Remove what’s left by rubbing the area with a solution of 50-50 vinegar and water.

Remove Water Rings-Mix equal parts of vinegar with olive oil; apply it to wood with a soft cloth moving with the wood grain. Use a second clean soft cloth to shine.

Windshield Wipers– If you’re windshield gets blurred after you turn them on during a rain storm, it usually means they’re just dirty. Simply dampen a cloth with full strength white vinegar and run it down each blade 1-2 times.

Clean Your Dishwasher– To remove built up soap film, pour 1 cup full strength vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and run for a full cycle without dishes and detergent. This is great if you have hard water.

Can Opener. To clean and sanitize the wheel of your can opener, dip an old toothbrush in white vinegar and brush the wheel, rinse and wipe.

Clean eyeglasses-Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.

Remove sweat stains from clothes-Apply one part white vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.

Weed Killer-Pour white vinegar in crevices and between bricks.

Clean Windows-Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle. Dry with a soft cloth.

Kill germs-Use one part vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the bathroom fixtures and floor, then wipe clean.

Ant Repeller-Use a spray bottle or mister filled with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water around door jambs, window sills, water pipes, and foundation cracks.

Keep Drains Open-Pour one-half box of old baking soda down the drain followed by one cup white vinegar. When the bubbling stops, run the hot water.

Clean Dentures-Soak dentures overnight in vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.

Remove splinters-Soak splinter in vinegar for 20 minutes. Vinegar loosens the splinter and it will just slide right out easily when you try to remove it.

Active Cold Sore-White vinegar will dry up a cold sore quickly. Dab a cotton ball in white vinegar three times a day. Vinegar helps reduce the swelling and soothe the pain.

Ceramic Tiles– Expect a great shine on your ceramic tiles. Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with a gallon of water. Wipe and rinse.

Clean Jars-If you like to re-use jars rinse them with white vinegar to remove odors of the previous contents.

Restore Grout-If your white grout lines aren’t looking so white, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and scrub. It’ll remove the dingy color in no time.

Remove Ink Stains-Pre treat a stain by wetting it with white vinegar, then rub in a paste of 2 parts vinegar to 3 parts cornstarch. Let the paste dry thoroughly before washing.

Perspiration Stains– Pour vinegar right on the stain and rub it into the fabric before placing it in the wash.

 

Do you have any White Vinegar hints to share? E-mail your ideas and we’ll expand the list.

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My Health Maven offers information on a wholistic approach to healthy lifestyle choices.