You know how sometimes the problems that seem complicated have the simplest solutions? When we realize it, we wonder why we didn’t think of it before! And one fine example of this is vinegar – yes, plain old vinegar, which can solve about a gazillion of your common household problems. Vinegar is your home’s Superman, Spiderman and Batman all rolled into one humble bottle of transparent liquid! Yes, there are at least a dozen uses of vinegar in your Home

What makes Vinegar so useful?

Vinegar is basically a mixture of acetic acid and water in varying concentrations, and it may have other chemicals or flavors added. Vinegar has been around for centuries, although it’s popularity has seen a sudden urge only recently. There are several kinds of vinegar, though it is the plain white distilled variety that is used for household purposes. Apparently, it is the acetic acid in it that gives vinegar that really gives it cleaning properties. Acetic acid has been found to kill a range of bacteria and viruses, by chemically modifying their internal structure. Vinegar has an unmistakable natural odor which also makes it good as a deodorizer. Check out these 10 amazing uses of vinegar in your home.

10 Amazing Uses of Vinegar in your Home

1. Clean Windows

Most chemical window cleaners still give unsatisfactory results, so you may as well throw them out! Make your own natural window cleaner by creating a solution of 2 tbsp of vinegar and about 3 and a half liters of water. Pour in a spray bottle, spray directly on windows and wipe with a newspaper for that good as new sparkle!

2. Make Laundry Easier

Vinegar is truly a super-product when it comes to laundry. Substitute your regular fabric softener with half a cup of vinegar for less static and lint. It’ll also sharpen your clothes – brighter brights and whiter whites! For stain removal, apply some detergent on the stain, scrub with an old toothbrush, then dab some vinegar on it. Wash in cold water.

3. Freshen Carpets and Rugs

Carpets and rugs can be a pain to clean, owing to their size and bulk. However, you can freshen them up easily with a mix of a cup of vinegar and 3.5 liters of water. Just dip a brush broom in the solution and brush along your carpet. You can also remove carpet stains – first put some baking soda on the stain, pour vinegar over it and wait for it to finish bubbling. Then wipe it up and vacuum the carpet till dry.

4. Remove Sticky Wallpaper

Everyone has experienced the annoyance of trying to get off a sticky label or stubborn wallpaper that refuses to come off! In such a situation, a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water can come in very handy. Just pour into a spray bottle and apply liberally over the sticky stuff. Wait for 10-15 minutes and try scraping it off gently.

5. Clean Shower Heads

While people often clean their bathrooms frequently, shower heads get ignored most of the time. The result is calcium buildup and hardened dirt – not pleasant! Remove the shower head and place it in a ziploc bag with half a cup of vinegar. Reseal and let it rest for a few hours, then remove and rinse thoroughly to release all the gunk.

6. Clean Rust

Vinegar is excellent at cleaning rust, and this discovery and suddenly prevent many of your belongings from reaching the trash can! For small items like nails, just immerse them in a mug of vinegar overnight and it’ll dissolve the rust. For larger items, you can spread some vinegar on the rusty part and leave it for some time before scrubbing off. This works great to make your scissors look as good as new!

7.  Clean Kitchen

Vinegar is a complete kitchen cleaner – use it to clean your countertops, refrigerator, microwave and more! For countertops, make sure that it is vinegar-friendly; this may not work for surfaces like marble. Empty the dishwasher and let it run with a cup or two of vinegar. Make cloudy containers and jars sparkle by cleaning them with vinegar. Heat some vinegar in the microwave and let it stand for a few minutes before wiping the inside.

8.  Unclog Sink

Got a sink that is all clogged up? Vinegar to the rescue! Pour a third of a cup of baking soda into the clogged drain, followed by a cup or more of hot vinegar. Or you could pour down room temperature vinegar and follow up with boiling water. This will clear the pipes thoroughly.

9.  Remove Tea/Coffee Stains

If you’re a tea or coffee lover, it’s quite likely you have a favorite mug for the purpose – one that tends to get brown stains on it. Make a smooth paste of vinegar and salt, and scrub away at the inside of your cup. The salt acts as an abrasive, and the vinegar helps to dissolve the stains.

10. Restore Leather

Leather is something that ages beautifully, but it does need maintenance. Buff up old leather sofas, handbags and shoes with a solution of vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Just dip a soft cloth in the mixture, shake or squeeze out any excess and buff away till it shines.

Now you can throw away all those toxic cleaners and get home a bottle of plain white vinegar. Trust us; your home and your wallet will thank you!

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