10 Ways to Use Vinegar Around the House

Vinegar is a very affordable and natural alternative to many products that we regularly buy. Try using these tips to not only save money, but to be kinder to the environment.

1. Glass and Mirror Cleaner
Replace chemical cleaners with vinegar as a natural and cheaper alternative. Glass and mirrors will shine when cleaned with a mix of white vinegar and water.

2. Hair Rinse
Both white and apple cider vinegar make a great hair rinse. It removes built up residue and restores shine to hair without using oily hair products. This is great for people who are susceptible to dandruff or an oily scalp.

3. Clean Coffee Maker
Soak your coffee pot in vinegar to dissolve the built up residue. Run vinegar through the coffee machine to clean the inside of it. The vinegar will evaporate, leaving otherwise impossible to clean parts of the coffee maker clean. Be sure to run water through after you’re finished with the vinegar.

4. Unclog and deodorize drains
To unclog a drain: Pour one-half cup of baking soda and then 1 cup of vinegar down the sink or tub drain through a funnel. The mixture will foam up as it unclogs your drain.

5. Shine Your Silverware
Take a soft cloth and dip it in white vinegar. Gently rub off any water stains and dullness from the silverware. Alternatively, you can fill the bottom of your (clean) sink with vinegar and toss all your silverware in for a complete makeover. Dry as usual.

6. Make a Homemade Orange Essence Cleaner
Save your orange peels and soak them in vinegar for two or three weeks. The white vinegar will become orange, meaning you’ve extracted the essence necessary for cleaning. Strain the peels and use the liquid as any other strong surface cleaner.

7. Remove Pet Odors
Simply soak the smelly area in vinegar. If the odor is really bad, add a few tea tree oil drops to the vinegar soak.

8. Cleanse Retainers and Dentures
To cleanse and disinfect, leave your retainers or dentures in some white vinegar for several hours.

9. Brighten Your Laundry
Add a half a cup to any laundry load to brighten the colors

10. Ant Deterrent
Spraying white vinegar wherever ants congregate in the house will deter them without damaging the area. This is especially great if you notice ants coming in from a carpeted room. Mopping with vinegar regularly is a great preventative measure if you know an area is susceptible to ants.