Many Uses of Vinegar
Vinegar has many uses and has been used for thousands of years to preserve food, as a disinfectant, in cooking, for cleaning, as a beauty treatment and for medicinal purposes both internal and topical. Vinegar is inexpensive making it an economical choice for many of the above uses and is also environmentally friendly. Varieties of vinegar include white, malt, rice wine, balsamic,cider,wine plus flavoured and fruit vinegars.
MEDICINAL USES
For coughs that keep you awake at night sprinkle a few drops of cider vinegar on a cloth and lay it under your head while you sleep.
Gargling with a mixture of 1 tsp of cider vinegar in a glass of warm water three times a day can help with a sore throat.
Nosebleeds can be controlled by inserting a cotton wool ball soaked in vinegar into the nostril. The vinegar will stem the bleeding.
Drinking a combination of fresh fruit juices such as apples, cranberries and grapes, which are all known to be helpful in lowering cholesterol and adding a tablespoon of cider vinegar will if taken daily reduce your cholesterol count.
Arthritis can be relieved by drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in it daily. This can be increased to two glasses per day and then one with each meal as you feel ready. It has been known to alleviate the pain. This can also help improve your blood circulation. However if you are on medication for a heart condition you will need to check with your doctor as some of these medications can be seriously affected by vinegar.
To alleviate foot odour soak your feet in a bowl of warm water with 20 ml or 6 tsp white vinegar added. Do this twice a day for 15 minutes at a time. Continue this process for ten days and the odour will soon stop.
Toenail Fungus - Again soak the offending toe in diluted white vinegar for ten minutes twice daily.
Varicose veins - Massage apple cider vinegar onto the affected area three times a day, or wrap the area in a vinegar soaked cloth and elevate for 30 minutes twice a day. These methods work but may take some time.
Leg cramps - Rub white vinegar into the affected area and the pain will disappear instantly.
Insomnia - Dissolve two tsp of honey and two tsp of cider vinegar in a glass of warm water. Take a few sips before bedtime and if you wake in the night , take a few more sips and go back to sleep. Good if you wake at 4am and cannot get back to sleep.
Vinegar can help to keep the urinary tracts PH at a healthy level. Taking a tsp of vinegar in a glass of water can be very helpful.
Insect bites - apple cider vinegar is great for drawing out toxins and can be placed directly onto the area. Dip a cloth in vinegar and apply to the bite. The itching or stinging should cease. This also works for jellyfish stings and bee stings. Pour any kind of vinegar onto the jellyfish bite or bee sting. The vinegar should help relieve the pain. It is important not to scratch or rub the affected area as it will only inflame it further.
Eczema - adding a tablespoon or two to the bathwater should help sufferers. Including vinegar in the diet has been known to alleviate symptoms for many sufferers.
Cold Sores - once a cold sore enters the burst blister stage apply small dabs of vinegar to the affected area and the healing will be quicker.
Boils - To treat a boil with vinegar dissolve 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and drink the mixture twice a day until the boil subsides.
Nausea and Vomiting - Mix cloves with warm vinegar and water and take as a drink. Alternatively soak a towel in warmed vinegar and place it on the stomach, replacing with another towel when the first one gets cold. The vinegar will gradually draw the toxins from the body.
CLEANING USES
Bathroom - add two cups of white vinegar to a bucket of warm water and wipe down all bathroom surfaces. This will disinfect the area, deodorize it and prevent mildew from forming.
To unclog shower heads either wrap a vinegar soaked towel around the head and leave overnight or fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tape it around the shower head making sure the head is immersed in the vinegar and leave overnight. The next day wipe vinegar off head and run water through. It will be as good as new.
Wipe shower curtains down with full strength vinegar to keep free of soap scum and mildew. To clean in the washing machine add 1/2 cup detergent, 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Wash as usual.
Glass and perspex doors can be rubbed over with a mixture of two cups of vinegar in 1 litre or 4 cups of water. When the area clears rinse with water.
Toilets - Place two cups of vinegar in the toilet bowl and leave overnight if possible or at least a few hours. Flush. Doing this regularly will keep your toilet fresh and clean. If there is a problem area in the toilet a scrub with vinegar will remove staining. Wipe the toilet seat as well with a cloth soaked in vinegar to kill bacteria and disinfect.
Windows and Mirrors - mix equal parts of white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and spray onto the window or mirror. Using a soft clean cloth wash the window clean. Dry off with another clean dry cloth. For stubborn marks dip cloth in full strength vinegar and rub till mark is removed.
Kitchen
Odours - to remove odours from the kitchen area keep a small bowl half filled with vinegar to deodorize the area. Replace when necessary.
Waste disposal unit - Remove smells by pouring equal amounts of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda into the empty unit. Leave for ten minutes then flush through with clean water.
Kitchen sink - to remove grime build up - pour full strength vinegar onto the area and leave for a few minutes then scrub off the dirt. Rinse with clean hot water.
Always remember to rinse vinegar from anything metal as some metals can corrode if vinegar is left on the surface.
Kettle - to remove lime and mineral deposits fill kettle with equal parts water and vinegar last thing at night. Bring to the boil then leave overnight. (When boiling open a window as the smell can be quite strong.) In the morning rinse kettle and fill with clean water. Bring to the boil. Empty kettle again and rinse once more. The kettle will be lovely and clean.
Microwave oven - put 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water together into a glass bowl and place in the microwave oven. Bring the liquid to the boil and boil for a further five minutes. Remove the bowl and wipe oven out with a paper towel or cloth.
Oven cleaner - in a glass bowl make a paste of 1 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup detergent powder and 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda. Firstly heat oven on highest heat for five minutes, then turn off. Apply paste and leave for an hour. Scrape off paste and remove the rest with a damp cloth. Wipe down with hot water to finish.
Stove top - In a spray bottle mix 1 cup of white vinegar and a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Fill bottle with hot water and spray on trouble areas. Leave a few minutes and scrub clean. If you do this once a week your stove top should remain easier to clean.
Wooden chopping boards - after use wash first with hot water then wipe down with full strength white vinegar to destroy any remaining bacteria.
Refrigerator - wipe down regularly with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. This will keep the fridge deodorized, disinfected and will remove any grease.
Floors - wash lino floors with equal parts vinegar and hot water. Do not use on waxed floors as damage will result.
Cars
Windscreens - iced up windscreens - pour vinegar and warm water over the ice. The ice will melt and the screen should stay clear of frost for a few days.
Stickers - to remove bumper stickers place a cloth soaked in full strength vinegar over the sticker and leave for five minutes. Ease sticker off and apply more vinegar to remove any remaining glue.
Chrome - apply full strength vinegar with a cloth and then buff until it shines. Should come up really well.
Vinyl upholstery can be revived by wiping with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.
Laundry
Blankets - refresh and soften tired blankets by adding 2 cups of white vinegar with the detergent when washing.
White deodorant stains - give a quick rub with full strength vinegar then pop in machine as usual.
Collar rings - make a paste of 3 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp vinegar and apply to affected area. Leave for a half hour then wash in machine.
Pets
To deter fleas from your pets put a tsp of white vinegar per 2 cups of their drinking water on a daily basis. The fleas will not like the taste of their skin and will leave your animals alone.
Accidents - sprinkle full strength white vinegar over the fresh accident and leave for a few minutes. Blot up the stain with a sponge from the centre outwards, then pat area dry with a clean cloth. Check the vinegar will not affect your carpet colour by testing a small unseen area first.
Beauty
Vinegar peel - instead of using an expensive peel simply wash your face and then apply vinegar directly to the skin. Leave for five minutes, then rinse. Your sin will feel and look much fresher. After this treatment stay out of the sun for an hour as your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight.
Blackheads - combine 1/3 cup of vinegar with five chopped strawberries and leave at room temperature for a few hours. Dab the liquid onto the affected area at bedtime. Next morning rinse off and repeat this each night until the blackheads clear.
Night cream - mix 1/2 cup olive oil with three tsp apple cider vinegar, diluted with enough water to make a cream. Apply small amounts to your face before bed and rinse off in the morning with water. Inexpensive and natural.
Hair - to control frizzy hair - after washing your hair rinse with a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water. Leave on hair for two minutes then rinse. Continued use will help smooth the hair.
Conditioner - Oil and Vinegar Rinse - Beat two whole raw eggs with one tbsp olive oil and 3/4 tsp vinegar and apply to your hair. Leave mixture in your hair for half an hour. Rinse out with water. This will leave your hair shiny and smooth.
Adding vinegar to your bath water will soften and cleanse the skin restoring PH balance. Simply add 1 litre/4 cups of apple cider vinegar to the bath water.
Outside
Ants - sprinkle a line of white vinegar along the ant trail and the ants will avoid it.
Insect repellent - rubbing apple cider vinegar on exposed skin will keep mosquitoes and other biting insects at bay.
There are many different uses for vinegar in our daily lives. Keeping a bottle of vinegar with the cleaning supplies seems like a good idea and maybe including a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in our daily diet can help keep our insides in order too. As mentioned before it is a good idea to check with your Doctor before taking vinegar internally if you are on any medication for heart problems.
