10 Fabulous Uses for Vinegar

I LOVE vinegar.  It has so many incredible uses, it's natural, it disinfects and it's inexpensive.  What is not to love?  One bottle of vinegar can truly replace a number of household cleaning products.  Here is a list of my favorite vinegar uses...

1.  Disinfect household surfaces. Countertops, door jams and knobs, light switches, and other highly used surfaces should be wiped down regularly to eliminate germs.  You can use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or a lemon infused vinegar solution. See my All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner recipe below.

2.  Make mirrors and windows sparkle.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water.  Traditional glass cleaners do not even compare to the streakless, sparkling shine that vinegar produces.  I just put my solution in a spray bottle, spray on window or mirror and wipe with a an old t-shirt rag. 

3.  Polish chrome and stainless fixtures.  I spray pure vinegar on all of our faucets and fixtures and wipe with a soft cloth.  The result is fabulous.  No streaks, just shine. 

4.  Shine up hardwood floors.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water sprayed on floor and wiped up for gleaming, clean floors.

5.  Sanitize sinks, tubs and toilets.  This works especially well if you sprinkle a little baking soda in first and then spray vinegar onto the surface.  Scrub, rinse, and enjoy the results.

6.  Clean the oven.  Again sprinkle baking soda, spray vinegar, scrub, wipe clean with a warm wet washcloth.  

7.  Refresh your coffee pot.  You know when your coffee gets a strange bitter taste?  It's because your coffee pot needs a good cleaning.  Fill the pot with full strength vinegar, run it through, and then follow twice with hot water.  You will be amazed how much better your coffee tastes after doing this!

8.  Wash your produce.  Produce is covered with dirt, pesticides, and waxes.  Before consuming fill your clean sink with cold water, add a cup of vinegar and soak produce for 5-10 minutes.  Rinse produce and dry.  You can eat it immediately or store it.  For some reason this vinegar rinse also helps prolong the freshness of produce.

9.  Extend the life of cut flowers.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 3 tablespoons of sugar to the vase water to keep flowers looking beautiful. 

10.  Kill grass and weeds in sidewalk cracks.  Simply spray full strength vinegar onto grass and weeds in the sidewalk and they will wither and die.  (Don't spray weeds in your lawn or garden because it will kill grass and other plants around them!)

Vinegar has many, many more uses, but this is a good start for everyday use around your home!
If you have other uses for vinegar I would love to hear them.  Share in the comments section below :)


~All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner~
Take squeezed lemons and place peels in a large glass containers.  Fill container with distilled white vinegar and cover.  Allow the mixture to set for at least 24 hours.  Finally, strain the lemon infused vinegar into a spray bottle and it is ready to go.