7 Amazing Home Uses for Vinegar
Your grandma had a bottle sitting right next to her Farmers’ Almanac. Your mother had a bottle stashed in the bathroom. You may have a bottle on hand, too — but do you know how many uses you actually have for vinegar?
Vinegar is a powerful cleaning agent that fights mildew, controls odor, and cuts through tough grease.
Consider this your new secret weapon. Bright and acidic, vinegar can save the day in almost any room of your house. Here are a few ways:
1. Coffee Buzz
Whether you’re using a Keurig or a Chemex, your coffee machine will get mucky with coffee residue over time and start slowing its drip. Don’t settle for a burnt, stale start to your morning. Brew a full pot with equal parts vinegar and water and then brew another pot with clean water to rinse it out. You’ll have a sparkly clean machine! And, chances are, a better cup of coffee.
2. Vanishing Act
Worried you’ve ruined your carpet with that grape juice stain? Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with ¼ cup of salt or baking soda. Rub the paste into the stain and let dry overnight. Vacuum away the dried residue the next day to reveal — voila! — a spotless carpet.
3. Snuggly Blankets
Make laundry fun again. Add anywhere from a capful to a ½ cup of white vinegar to a rinse cycle. The acidity reduces static and protects clothes from clingy dryer lint. You’ll also see bolder colors and brighter whites.
4. Clear Skies
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Start spritzing and wipe away with a microfiber cloth for streak-free shine!
5. Dish It Out
Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of white vinegar and run your dishwasher on the hottest, highest setting available. When the cycle is complete, you’ll be amazed to find grease, grime, and musty odors have disappeared.
6. Make It Rain
Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and fasten it around your shower head using a rubber band. Leave overnight; in the morning, rinse the shower head with water and scrape with a toothbrush. Watch grime and mineral deposits flake away!
7. Pest Destroyer
Are pesky gnats floating around your kitchen? Ditch the chemicals and trap them with this neat trick. Fill a mason jar halfway with apple cider vinegar and add ½ teaspoon of sugar. Top the jars with cling wrap and poke a few small holes in the plastic so the bugs can get in.
Don’t let pests destroy the beautiful home you’ve made. Follow this field guide to things that want to eat your home.
© 2019 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
