When you are trying to save money, a good place to start is by minimizing the household products you buy. Some products are thriftier due to their price. Some products are more frugal because they have multiple uses. White vinegar can help you stretch your dollar because it is both inexpensive and has myriad uses around the home. Following are 50 money-saving uses for vinegar.
1. See more clearly. Vinegar makes a great, streak-free glass cleaner. Wipe with old newspaper for a sparkling, buck-stretching finish.
2. Make a science experiment in your kitchen. Clean a slow draining sink by using the old school science project volcano method. Pack the drain with baking soda and pour in 1/2 cup of vinegar to flush grease and gunk. Follow with hot water
3. Clean calcium and mineral build-up from a showerhead: fill a small freezer baggie with a few inches of vinegar; wrap a thick rubber band around the opening, twisting two or three times until snug; stretch the baggie opening over the showerhead and secure the rubber band to the neck; leave overnight. In the morning, remove the baggie and let the water run for a few minutes.
4. Vinegar on the rocks, anyone? Freshen your garbage disposal by making vinegar ice cubes and grinding them in the disposal.
5. Stop seeing spots. Pour vinegar into your dishwasher’s rinse aid dispenser for spot-free glassware.
6. Once a month, pour one cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher and run through a full cycle to keep the machine fresh and clean.
7. Use vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener. Your clothes will be soft and your washer will stay clean. Don’t worry; it will not stink up the fabrics!
8. Remove sweat, tomato-based, and even grass stains by dabbing with vinegar prior to washing.
9. Saturate pet stains with vinegar, allow to set, and then blot away stains and odors.
10. A bowl of vinegar will remove smoky, musty, or cooking odors from a room or vehicle. (Just don’t forget to take it out of your car before you drive off!)
11. Pour vinegar directly on weeds for a safe herbicide. This also works on grass in sidewalk or driveway cracks.
12. Wipe leather shoes and purses with vinegar for a clean shine.
13. Remove shampoo and product build up from your hair with a vinegar rinse.
14. Clean an empty fish tank or bowl with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Be sure to rinse well before reintroducing your guppies.
15. Scrub your birdbath with vinegar and rinse well to remove birdie doodie and mineral deposits.
16. Remove mildew from outdoor plastic furniture with full-strength vinegar in a spray bottle.
17. Create your own meat tenderizers using vinegar and spices. The acidity in the vinegar breaks down the meat, making it tender and allowing the spices to permeate it.
18. The same premise works for ribs or stew meat: boil in a pot of water with a tablespoon or two of vinegar.
19. Remove food odors – such as onion or fish – from your hands by rinsing with vinegar.
20. Correct an over-salted dish by adding a spoonful each of vinegar and sugar.
21. Add a bit of vinegar to the pot before placing eggs to hard-boil and avoid those annoying cracks!
22. Ever try on a new perfume and gag? Wipe it off with vinegar!
23. Remove yellow stains from formerly polished fingernails with a nailbrush dipped in vinegar.
24. Washing the car? Polish any chrome with straight vinegar.
25. Soak metal tools or hardware in vinegar overnight to remove rust. Scrub off any remainder with a wire brush.
26. Clean up your keyboard and mouse with a 50-50 vinegar to water solution. Make sure they are unplugged first, and spray on a rag or cotton swab rather than directly on the hardware.
27. Dampen the fingertips of cotton glove with this same 50-50 mix and wipe dusty, grimy blinds clean with your fingertips.
28. Steep dingy silverware or silver jewelry in a combination of 2 tablespoons baking soda in 1/2 cup vinegar for several hours. Rinse in cold water and shine with a cotton cloth.
29. Banish fruit flies by placing a dish of vinegar near the infested area.
30. Eliminate mineral deposits on sink fixtures by wrapping with a white, vinegar-doused cloth. Leave overnight and wipe clean in the morning.
31. Disinfect and deodorize bath and kitchen sponges by soaking in vinegar for a day.
32. Have a kitchen “oopsie” that set off the smoke detector? Once you are CERTAIN there is no fire, wet a towel with vinegar and swing it around the smoke detector to absorb smoke and cease the screeching.
33. Soothe a bug bite by applying vinegar to the affected spot.
34. Erase water rings from wood furniture by scrubbing with a 50-50 mix of vinegar and vegetable oil.
35. Remove wallpaper by scoring with a blade and applying vinegar with a paint roller. Peel away!
36. Spray on sunburned skin to alleviate pain, redness, and dryness.
37. Soak feet afflicted with athlete’s foot in vinegar daily until symptoms disappear!
38. A spoonful of vinegar will alleviate hiccups. Tasty, maybe not but effective, yes!
39. Sponge ink marks off walls with vinegar.
40. Wipe winter-worn shoes and boots with vinegar to combat harmful salt.
41. Clean pets’ ears with a mixture of 1 part vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 1 part water. This brew will deodorize, balance ph, and dry out your pooch’s or kitty’s ears.
42. Rinse pantyhose with vinegar when hand washing to add life and luster to the nylons.
43. Sponge brick with a mix of 1-cup vinegar in a gallon of warm water to clean and brighten.
44. Wash car windows with a 3-to-1 vinegar-to-water blend on a cold night to deter morning frost and ice.
45. Clean vinyl and leather upholstery or furniture with a cloth dampened in vinegar.
46. In a pinch, apply vinegar to underarms to prevent odor if you run out of deodorant.
47. Remove bumper stickers or price tags by saturating in vinegar and scraping off with a credit card or butter knife.
48. Clean shower door tracks by filling with vinegar. Let sit for an hour or so, rinse with warm water, and scrub with an old toothbrush.
49. Sanitize a butcher’s block or wooden cutting board by wiping with vinegar.
50. Swab your fridge inside and out with equal parts vinegar and water to cut grime and odor. Make sure to clean the door gasket as well; this will help it seal better and conserve energy, saving you even more money!
