40 surprising uses for white vinegar
White vinegar is good for more than just poaching eggs! A cleaning champ, it inhibits the growth of mould, mildew and some bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella. Plus, it’s 100 per cent green. Here are 40 ways you can tap into its natural magic.
1. Remove showerhead scum
Though oft overlooked, showerheads accumulate a build-up of soap scum, hard water minerals and bacteria over time. Want it looking like new again? Take a shower cap, pour some white vinegar inside and use a rubber band to secure it around the neck of your showerhead. Leave it overnight, then remove the bag and wipe down the showerhead with a lint-free cloth in the morning.
2. Clean fruit and vegetables
Mix three parts water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle and use it on fruits and vegetables to rid them of pesticide residue. Rinse with water after spraying and before consuming.
3. Erase iron scorch marks
Forgot to turn down the heat setting on your iron? Get rid of light scorch marks on fabrics by rubbing gently with vinegar, then wiping with a clean cloth.
4. Restore shine to faucets and fixtures
Saturate a paper towel or microfibre cloth with white vinegar and secure on top. Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe away. They’re tough to remove, but this way you can have them looking shiny and new again.
5. Loosen rusty screws
Got a rusted screw that’s hard to budge? Pour vinegar onto it to help dislodge.
6. Disinfect microwaves
Steam clean your microwave by filling a bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar and microwaving on high for 5 minutes. This should loosen any gunk, so you can wipe it away easily.
7. Deodorise fridges
Is your fridge starting to smell a little funky? Give the shelves, walls and vegetable drawers a wipe down with equal parts water and white vinegar.
8. Deodorise Tupperware and lunchboxes
Swab your Tupperware and plastic takeaway containers with a microfibre cloth dampened with vinegar.
9. Treat carpet stains
Create a stain-removing solution by mixing two tablespoons of white vinegar and a ¼ cup of salt. Rub into the stain and allow it to dry before vacuuming the remains away the next day.
10. Revive paint brushes
Give them a refresh by soaking in white vinegar for an hour. Then place in a pot – bristles down – and bring to a simmer. Drain, rinse clean and allow to dry completely.
11. Get rid of static cling
Tired of lint sticking to your clothes? Add ½ a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static.
12. Freshen up your toilet bowl
Got icky toilet bowl residue? Hate the terrible blue colour of Cloros? Try filling a mason jar with white vinegar, punch a few holes in the lid and place the jar upside down in your toilet tank. A little bit of white vinegar will pour out every time you flush, keeping your tank clean and preventing future stains.
13. Erase coffee table rings
Forgot the coaster? Get rid of rings left by wet glasses on wooden tables by rubbing them with an equal mix of white vinegar and melted beeswax. This also works on melted candle wax.
14. Make laundry less musty
Ew, damp smell! Nobody wants clothes that come out of the washing machine smellier than when they went in. If loads are coming out musty and unpleasant, add a cup of vinegar to the wash.
15. Clean washing machine
Clean your washing machine regularly to keep it working at maximum efficiency. Simply pour a cup of white vinegar into the drum and put on the hottest cycle. Then leave open to allow it to air out.
16. Remove clay marks
If you’re a keen crafter, or let your children get down and dirty with clay, stains are bound to happen. First, allow it to dry completely. If scraping then washing doesn’t work, mix one cup of white vinegar with three tablespoons of iodised salt and spread over the stain.
17. Remove sweat stains
Got sweat stains on your favourite shirts? Spray them with white vinegar. The acetic acid helps to neutralise the stain. Leave for 30 minutes then launder as usual. This tip works best on synthetic fabrics such as viscose, acetate and acrylic.
18. Disinfect your dishwasher
To disinfect the interior, fill a small bowl with vinegar and place it at the bottom of the dishwasher, then run an empty cycle.
19. Streak-free windows
Mix white vinegar with an equal amount of warm water plus a squirt of liquid detergent and you’ve got an effective window cleaning solution to use with newspaper – streak-free and squeaky clean. You can also use this solution to polish glassware stained with white marks from mineral deposits.
20. Remove deodorant stains
Take care of icky yellow deodorant stains. Soak them in white vinegar and brush the stains with an old, clean toothbrush. Then launder as normal. This works on both white and colour clothes.
21. Unclog drains and garbage disposals
Unclog your garbage disposals, drains and the pipes they’re attached to with this all-natural cleaning solution. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the sinkhole. Follow this up with a ½ cup of bicarb soda and leave for 30 minutes. Then pour one cup of boiling water mixed with one cup of white vinegar. Cover with a drain plug and leave for 15 minutes – the chemical reaction should dislodge the grimy sludge – before flushing one more time with a pot of boiling water.
22. Perk up droopy flowers
Adding two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to the vase can help revive a sad-looking bouquet.
23. Clean your coffeemaker
Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the main chamber, and then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, switch the machine off to let it soak. Then switch on again until the cycle completes. Run several more cycles with clean water before making your morning espresso.
24. Care for handbags and shoes
A microfibre cloth dampened with vinegar works wonders on scuffed leather, helping to hide the marks and restore shine.
25. Nix weeds
Got weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway? Pour white vinegar onto them and allow it to soak into the roots.
26. Spray on mouldy walls
Spray white vinegar directly on the area and leave for 30 minutes, then wash with a brush and allow it to dry thoroughly. This works best on tiles and other non-porous materials. Remember, vinegar can scratch granite, stone and marble, so avoid using it on these surfaces.
27. Prevent mould on cheese
You can prevent the growth of mould by wrapping them in a cloth dampened with vinegar, then placing in the fridge.
28. Use as a fabric freshener
A spray bottle of white vinegar quickly neutralises odours – including stale cigarette smoke – on carpets, curtains and even in your sneakers.
29. Restore shower curtains
Keep a spray bottle in the bathroom so you can use it – on shower curtains and the side of the bathtub – after you’re done.
30. Prevent frosty windshields
Prevent morning frost by coating your windshield with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water. The acidity prevents ice from building up.
31. Adding gloss to your dog’s coat
Keep it glossy and shiny by sponging or spraying on white vinegar after bathing. The vinegar’s acidity reduces bacteria, cuts odours and helps to prevent fleas and ticks.
32. Deodorise litter boxes
Can you smell your cat’s litter box even when it’s empty? Pour in half an inch of white vinegar and let it stand for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
33. Remove gum
Remove gum from fabric or hair by pouring warm vinegar onto the area. Leave to saturate and the gum will eventually dissolve.
34. Repair DVDs
Got a DVD that skips or freezes? Use a microfibre cloth dampened with vinegar and wipe it down in a circular motion. Allow to completely dry before reinserting it.
35. An extra relaxing soak
Add ½ cup of white vinegar to your bath water. A natural remedy for dry and itchy skin, it helps to remove dead skin and leaves you feeling extra soft and smooth. You can also rinse your hair with a diluted vinegar solution to prevent dandruff, remove hair product build-up and restore shine.
36. Every last drop from condiment bottles
Get the last remaining bits of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the bottle by dribbling in a few drops of vinegar. Put the lid on tight and give it a shake to dislodge those final squirts.
37. Remove sticker residue
Simply apply vinegar to the sticker gunk and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping away with a lint-free cloth.
38. Erase crayon
Has your tiny tot left crayon marks on the walls and floor? Soak a clean toothbrush with white vinegar and gently scrub
39. Clean piano keys
Mix ½ cup of white vinegar and two cups of water. Dip a microfibre cloth into the solution and wring out until just slightly wet. Gently wipe each key. Use a second cloth to wipe the keys dry and leave the keyboard uncovered for at least 24 hours.
40. Test soil
If you suspect your garden soil is too acidic or alkaline, conduct this test: Place a handful of soil in a container and pour in ½ cup white vinegar. If it fizzes or bubbles, it’s alkaline. To see if your soil has a high acidity, mix the soil with ½ cup of water and ½ cup of bicarb soda. If it fizzes, it indicates acid in the soil. Generally, plants grow best in neutral or slightly acidic soil, so pH levels that are out of whack may need the advice of a professional.
Written by Kathleen Lee-Joe. First appeared on Domain.
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