Vinegar is a staple in many recipes, but it’s useful for far more than just enhancing flavor. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide range of tasks — especially cleaning, all while reducing your reliance on harsh chemicals.
It also has some surprising uses you may not have considered. Take a look!
Soften your feet
Get your feet sandal-ready by soaking them in warm water mixed with vinegar. It helps soften the skin and makes removing dead skin much easier.
Whiten teeth
For a brighter smile, brush once a week with a mixture of baking soda and distilled vinegar. It’ll help polish your teeth and leave them gleaming.
Kill weeds naturally
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and generously apply it to the roots of any unwanted weeds in your path. They’ll wither and die in no time.
Get skunk smell off a dog
Very few things can get rid of skunk odor on a dog, but vinegar does the trick. Mix one part vinegar with two parts water and soak it into your dog’s fur. Let it sit for about ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You—and your pup—will be much happier.
Clean your microwave
Mix half a cup of water with half a cup of vinegar in a microwave-safe cup. Microwave it for a few minutes until it steams — the vapor will loosen grime, making it easy to wipe the inside clean.
Clean that coffee maker
Run a mixture of water and vinegar through your coffee maker or espresso machine, then follow up with a couple of plain water cycles to rinse it out. You’ll notice a big improvement in the taste of your coffee afterward.
Revive stained plastic containers
Rinse the items with vinegar, then let them sit for 24 hours. They’ll be as good as new afterward.
Mop a hardwood floor
Vinegar is a key ingredient for clean, chemical-free, and polished floors. You can use it on its own or mix it with a bit of dish soap for extra cleaning power.
Remove eggshells with ease
Next time you boil eggs, add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water. It’ll make peeling the shells a breeze afterward.
Use it as a hair rinse
Vinegar helps break down shampoo and conditioner buildup, leaving your hair soft and full of bounce. Just add a tablespoon to your rinse water for a natural refresh.
Brighten white clothing items
If your clothes are looking a bit dull, try adding white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment during your next wash. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how refreshed they look.
Repel spiders
Combine one cup of vinegar with two cups of water in a spray bottle, then spritz it around windows and doorframes. It’s a simple way to help keep spiders out.
Make a mattress freshener
To keep mildew and mites away, mix a little alcohol and a few drops of tea tree oil into a spray bottle filled with vinegar. Lightly spritz your mattress and let it dry completely.
Remove old paint from brushes
Place the brush bristles in a pot of vinegar and gently heat them for about an hour. Once done, the paint will come off with ease.
Clean your shower head
To prevent buildup that can restrict water flow, place your showerhead in a bag filled with vinegar and let it soak overnight. It’ll come out clean and unclogged.
Get rid of mildew in clothes and towels
To eliminate stubborn mildew odors, add two cups of vinegar to a wash cycle. Then run a second cycle with your regular laundry detergent — the smell will be gone.
Soften your skin
Next time you take a bath, add a splash of vinegar to the water. It helps remove dead skin and excess oils, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and silky smooth.
Make a fruit and veggie wash
Skip the store-bought produce washes — just mix two tablespoons of vinegar with a pint of water and use it to rinse your fruits and vegetables clean.
Remove dandruff
Once a week, pour a cup of vinegar over your hair and let it sit for about an hour. It helps break down dead skin cells and leaves your scalp feeling refreshed and clean.
Clean sink drains
To clear out stubborn soap buildup in your drains, pour in some vinegar and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then flush with water — your drains will be much clearer.
Unshrink wool
Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a quart of water and soak your item in the mixture. It will help relax the fabric and restore it to its original shape and size.
Soften fabrics naturally
Ditch the chemical fabric softeners and add half a cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle instead. It naturally softens fabrics and leaves them fresh.
Clean the fridge
Clean the inside of your fridge with a solution of half water and half vinegar. It’s an effective, chemical-free way to keep your food storage space fresh and safe.
Avoid germs on the cutting board
Germs can settle into the tiny crevices of a cutting board. To keep it clean, spray it with vinegar once a week and let it air dry.
Remove tea and coffee stains from cups
No need to put up with stained mugs — just mix equal parts vinegar and salt, then gently scrub the insides. They’ll look good as new.
Get the toilet sparkling clean
Pour vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. In the morning, add some baking soda and give it a final scrub for a sparkling clean result.
Get rid of lint and pet hair on clothing
Add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle when doing laundry — it helps loosen pet hair and lint, so they won’t cling to your clothes.
Remove scuffs on shoes
Use a cloth dipped in vinegar to wipe away scuff marks on your shoes — they’ll disappear with ease.
Natural glass cleaner
Combine equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle to create an effective, chemical-free glass cleaner.
Keep car windows from frosting
Vinegar’s acidity can help keep windows from frosting. Clean them with a mixture of three parts vinegar to one part water for a clear, frost-resistant finish.
Destroy underarm odor
Keep a spray bottle of vinegar in the laundry room to treat underarm areas on shirts. Spray, let it sit for ten minutes, then wash as usual.
Remove candlewax residue
Mix equal parts water and vinegar, apply it to the area, and then wipe it down with a damp cloth. The wax should come right off.
Remove hemlines
Place a vinegar-soaked cloth under the hemline and set your iron to a low, safe temperature. Then gently iron to erase old seams and creases.
Revive old CDs and DVDs
Scratched or skipping CDs and DVDs may just need a gentle clean. Use a soft cloth dampened with vinegar to wipe away any buildup.
Get rid of litter box odor
After emptying the cat’s litter box, wipe down the interior with vinegar. It helps eliminate lingering odors and keeps the box fresh.
Use it with dark clothes
Add half a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to keep black clothing looking new. It helps eliminate soap buildup and residue that can dull dark fabrics.
Remove stickers
Soak stubborn stickers with vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes. The adhesive will loosen, making it easy to peel them off.
Erase crayon from walls
Don’t worry if there’s crayon on the walls—vinegar can dissolve the wax. Apply it with a toothbrush and gently scrub the marks away.
Clean the dishwasher
Once a month, pour a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher and run a full cycle. This helps prevent buildup and keeps it running efficiently.
Clean window blinds
Use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water to wipe down your window blinds. It will effectively remove both grime and dust.
