Vinegar has a multitude of uses outside of cooking. If you are limiting your use of vinegar to the kitchen, then you are missing out on all vinegar has to offer. There are countless tips, tricks and uncommon uses for vinegar which many people swear by! Vinegar is very inexpensive and so versatile that it can be used in almost any room in your home. So try a few of these tips and start using up that vinegar!
The vinegar that I am specifically talking about in this article is the white, distilled vinegar. This is luckily the most inexpensive and common vinegar sold in stores. So white distilled vinegar should not be hard to get your hands on in case you don’t happen to have any vinegar laying around.
Uncommon use for Vinegar # 1 – Fabric Softener
Many times clothes get that uncomfortable “stiff” feeling from unpleasant residue left behind on the fabric. Luckily, vinegar is a master at removing this yucky residue! All you have to do is add one cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle (just like you would add fabric softener) of the wash cycle. There are many people who do add vinegar to their wash cycle to prevent skin irritation from the laundry soap they use, as well as avoid the need for expensive chemical laden fabric softener. As an added bonus, the vinegar helps remove some of the soap residue from the washer itself with each use!
Uncommon use for Vinegar # 2 – Cleanse Hair
I remember a few years ago, a few shampoo companies came out with a special shampoo “clarifying shampoo” that would rinse the residue of other shampoos off your locks. These commercial shampoos advised users to use it once a week to properly cleanse hair of all residue from shampoo, styling and environmental build up. Well, vinegar does the same thing – for much cheaper! After cleaning the hair with shampoo simply take a large cup or bottle and fill it with one cup of vinegar mixed with one cup of warm water. This vinegar rinse will have the same effect on your strands as those “clarifying shampoos” Except vinegar is pure without any added chemicals. The use of this vinegar rinse is also said to help restore the scalps PH balance therefore aiding in getting rid of dandruff! I think vinegar takes the gold for this one!
Uncommon use for Vinegar # 3 – Garbage Disposal Odor Eliminator
There are many natural things you can use to deodorize a foul garbage disposal. I highly recommend staying away from commercial disposal cleaners, as there are too many natural, safer options. One of those options, of course, is vinegar! Take an ice cube tray and fill a few slots with pure vinegar. When ever your garbage disposal needs some freshening up – just pop a vinegar ice cube into the disposal! The vinegar cleans the disposal by removing any gunky film in the unit as well as deodorizing the toughest odors by eliminating (not covering them up) odors completely. Just be sure no one uses a vinegar ice cube in their soda!
Uncommon use for Vinegar # 4 – Keeping Windshield Frost Free
If you live in a cold climate – then this is a must use use for vinegar! I know how frustrating the irritating frost that clings to the windshield of your car can be! Ugh! I dread the thought of standing there in close to single degree temperatures scarping my windows. Of course, i can start my car – waste precious gas – and hope that the defroster is working at prime to dissolve it before I have to go – but who wants to waste gas? Not me! A simple trick involves – you guessed it – vinegar! Mix three parts vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle and spray your windows before turning in for the night. Come morning the windshield will be clear of all frost! Forgetting to spray the windshield with the vinegar solution isn’t a total wash. Try full straight vinegar to easily remove the frost once it’s already stuck to the glass. Just be sure to use the wipers to swoosh off the mess! It sure beats scraping it off yourself!
Uncommon use for Vinegar # 5 – Coffee Pot Cleaner
Drink coffee? then you know how gross a coffee pot can look when it’s not properly cleaned. the problem is lime scale starts to build up in the pot and messes with the use of the coffee maker. Unsightly lime scale can not only make the pot look dirty but can make the coffee it makes taste gross! Vinegar to the rescue! Simply ad one part vinegar to one part water and add it to the reservoir of the coffee maker. Run this solution through at least twice to remove all lime scale and other deposits, then let air dry. Your next cup of coffee will taste great thanks to vinegar!
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