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Vinegar has many uses you probably never knew about. Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, and herbicide. It’s multifunctional and can be used either straight up or mixed with water, and can replace many of the costly household products you’ve got tucked away under your kitchen sink.
These uses for vinegar are not only brilliant, but they make your life a whole lot easier, saving you money too!
8 Brilliant Uses for Vinegar
1. Keep Your Manicure Looking Flawless Longer
When I found out about this vinegar hack, I was really surprised. If you do your nails at home, before you put on your paint color and top coat, swipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar. The vinegar dissolves any surface oils on your nails so the polish goes on smoothly and is less prone to chips. You’ll nails will last longer saving you time from having to re-polish.
2. Eliminate Bacteria on Produce
Fruits and veggies carry bacteria on the surface of their outer skin. To remove 98 percent of this bacteria, mix 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray your fruits and veggies, then gently rub with your fingers as you rinse it off in cold water. You can save a ton of money by making this solution instead of buying the more costly sprays in the grocery store.
3. Eliminate Cat Box Odors
I use this vinegar hack all the time. I have three cats and the boxes can get F-U-N-K-E-Y! No matter how much you clean, you can still smell the odor of cat urine. Use this trick to eliminate it. After cleaning with soap and water, pour in about a half-inch or more of white vinegar and let it sit for 20 minutes. If you have a cat that likes to urinate up the sides of the box, soak a paper towel in vinegar and place it on the inside of the box where the cat is urinating. Leave for 20 minutes and remove. Rinse the box and let dry completely before adding fresh litter. The acid in the vinegar kills the odor-causing bacteria left behind by your cat.
4. Clean Your Garbage Disposal
I have a friend who has the worst smelling garbage disposal for reasons we just can’t figure out. She was using those expensive garbage disposal packets with only a small improvement in the odor issue. I found out about this hack, and since then she uses this method to keep her disposal smelling fresh and clean. Freeze white vinegar in ice-cube trays. Every week or as needed, grind six cubes in the disposal, then flush with water. The ice will sharpen the blades and dislodge any stuck on food residue while the vinegar’s acetic acid deodorizers the disposal.
Related: 9 Unbelievable Uses for Coconut Oil You’ll Absolutely Love
5. Calm Your Sunburned Skin
If you forgot to apply enough sun block and you end up with a little burn, vinegar can help soothe your skin. Soak a couple of paper towels with vinegar and press them onto the affected areas. The acetic acid will balance your skin’s pH to ease the pain and puffiness associated with burns. It will also help to prevent blisters from forming.
6. Clear The Paint Fumes
I do all my own painting and I can tell you this works! After a day of painting, the room smells of noxious paint fumes, even with the windows open. To combat the fumes, place a few bowls of vinegar around the room and let sit there overnight. The vinegar will absorb the paint fumes, eliminating the noxious fumes. Dispose of the vinegar once the smell has gone.
7. Soften Towels
You just scored some fantastic beach towels, but their stiff as a board. Instead of washing them with fabric softener, which can be irritating to skin and create a buildup over time, wash them in vinegar. Add a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. The vinegars acetic acid will break down the starches the manufacturer adds to the towels to keep them looking crisp and new. You’ll end up with softer towels that will be more absorbent.
8. Relieve Swimmers Ear
This doctor-approved trick will have your ear feeling better fast. After a day of swimming and splashing, you ears might feel like they’ve got a whole lot of water in them. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol and place a few drops into your ear using an eye-dropper. Wait 30 seconds, then tilt your head to drain. The vinegar will kill any bacteria while the alcohol will dry out the ear canal.
Check out 12 Habits of People Who Always Have A Clean Home
I’m a professional cleaner with over 13 years of hands-on experience cleaning homes, a published writer, certified money specialist, and the founder of A Mess Free Life. After paying off over $50,000 in debt, I dedicated myself to helping others master their homes and their money — proving that a clean, organized, stress-free life is possible no matter where you’re starting from. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me cooking, playing bocce, sipping an extra dirty martini, or enjoying the ocean with my cats nearby. I’m also a proud mom and grandma who cares deeply for my mother at home.
