Uses for Vinegar

• Add cinnamon to vinegar and microwave for a quick potpourri.

• Put on hands to remove fishy odors.

• Rub into deodorant stains in shirts before washing.

• Make eardrops by mixing equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Put 3-4 drops in each ear after swimming. The alcohol dries up the water and the vinegar kills the bacteria.

• When hand washing dishes, add vinegar to the rinse water for spot free glassware and china.

• To prevent mineral buildup on canning jars, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the canner before processing.

• Laundry softener – add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the last rinse cycle.

Window cleaner – Mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a bucket of warm water. Apply with a sponge and remove with a squeegee. If you don’t have a squeegee, use black and white newsprint followed by dusting with a soft brush or duster.

• Drain cleaner – Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1 cup white vinegar and follow with boiling water. Flush with cold water for 1-2 minutes.

• General cleaner – 1 cup distilled white vinegar with 2 tablespoons lemon juice in 1 quart of water.

• Remove hard water mineral buildup from showerheads and faucets by soaking in white vinegar for several hours. Soak by immersing in a bowl of vinegar or by wrapping a vinegar saturated terry cloth towel or washcloth around them. Brush and rinse.

• Use cleaning vinegar (50% stronger than regular white vinegar) to remove tough hard water stains. Spray on, let sit briefly, and clean off with a scrubbing sponge.


For more ways to use vinegar, visit The Vinegar Institute.