Growing up, I can’t remember my parents using vinegar a single time. I’m sure they did, but it must have been few and far between. As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that vinegar is this kind of magic all purpose liquid, but I didn’t actually know why. I was talking to someone who makes their own cleaning spray with vinegar, and it got me thinking – what else can vinegar be used for?

Well, mind blown, because who knew that vinegar could be used for so many things! From cleaning and cooking to pest control and personal hygiene, vinegar has you covered. Here are 40 different ways that you can use vinegar in your life.

I personally tested 20 of these in this video – you can see the results here.

Cleaning Using Vinegar

Steam clean your microwave

1. In a glass bowl, add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup water
2. Put it in the microwave for 5 minutes on high
3. Once it cools, dip a washcloth or sponge in the solution and wipe the inside of the microwave clean

Jewelry Cleaner

1. In a medium bowl, add 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda
2. When it stops fizzing, add jewelry to the solution
3. Soak 2-3 hours
4. Rinse under cold water
5. Dry

This solution can actually be used for any silver items like silverware, you just may need to increase the amount that you make.

It can also be used to clean brass, bronze and copper, but you will need to use equal parts vinegar to baking soda.

Rust Removal

1. Soak rusted items in white vinegar for several days
2. Rinse
3. Dry

Unclog Drains

1. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the clogged drain
2. After, pour 1 cup vinegar into the drain
3. After the foam subsides, pour boiling water down the drain
4. Wait 5-10 minutes
5. Flush the drain with cold water

Get Ring Marks Off of Wood

1. Combine equal parts vinegar and olive oil
2. Rub the mixture into the wood going with the grain
3. Buff with a clean cloth

You can also clean the ring marks off of leather, but use all vinegar and no oil

Disinfect Cutting Boards

1. Wash your cutting board with warm water and dish soap as usual
2. Wipe down with white vinegar

Remove Ballpoint Pen and Crayon Marks

1. Wet a sponge or toothbrush with vinegar
2. Use it on the mark
3. Repeat as needed

Remove Gum

This will work for hair and fabric

1. In a microwave safe dish, warm vinegar in the microwave
2. Saturate the gum with the warm vinegar

Clean the Washing Machine

1. Add 3 cups vinegar to the washing machine tub
2. Let sit for half an hour
3. With the vinegar still in the machine, run it without anything else on the longest, hottest cycle

This one was crazy to see how dirty the washing machine itself was. I don’t know how my clothes were getting clean with a machine so dirty!

Remove Charcoal Buildup From Your Grill

1. Spray vinegar on balled up aluminum foil
2. Scrub the gate with the aluminum foil

Remove Wax Stains

1. Make a solution of equal parts vinegar to water
2. Dip the cloth in your solution
3. Wipe the wax stain with the cloth

For tough stains, spray the stain with plain vinegar and let it soak, then wipe with the solution

Remove Sticker Residue

1. Remove sticker from object
2. Liberally apply vinegar to the residue
3. Let sit for 5 minutes
4. Wipe away

Clean Food Stained Hands

1. Wash them with vinegar

I haven’t tried it, but I would guess that this would work to get rid of smelly hands too, like if you cut garlic or handled fish.

Cooking Uses for Vinegar

Make Buttermilk

1. Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup milk
2. Stir
3. Let sit for 10 minutes

Peel Hardboiled Eggs Easier

1. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to the water
2. Make hard boiled eggs like normal

Make perfect poached eggs

1. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water
2. Make poached eggs like normal

Using Vinegar for Bugs and Animals

Trap Fruit Flies

1. Fill a plastic cup a quarter of the way full of vinegar
2. Rubber band Saran Wrap over the opening of the cup
3. Puncture small holes in the Saran Wrap
4. Let sit out in problem areas
5. Dump and repeat as needed

Keep insects Out Of Your Garden

1. Fill a 2 liter bottle with 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup sugar, 1 diced banana and 1 cup of water
2. Put the cap on and shake
3. Remove the cap and place or hang near your garden
4. Replace as needed

Keep Ants Out Of Your House

1. Spray vinegar on doors and windows

Deter Cats From Spaces In Your Home

1. Spray vinegar in the areas where you do not want your cat to go

Make sure that if you are going to spray on fabric like rugs or sofas that you test to make sure the vinegar doesn’t ruin it first

Clean and Remove Pet Urine Odor

1. Test the rug or area with a small bit of vinegar to make sure it doesn’t ruin the area
2. Blot up the urine as much as you can with paper towels
3. Saturate the stain with equal parts water and vinegar
4. Let sit for 10 minutes
5. Blot up the solution
6. When mostly dry, sprinkle baking soda on area
7. Let sit for 1 hour
8. Vacuum

Vinegar Car Hacks

Clean Your Windshield Wipers

1. Put vinegar on a rag
2. Wipe down the wiper blades

Keep Your Windows, Mirrors and Windshield from Frost

1. In a spray bottle combine 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water
2. Spray solution on your windows, mirrors and windshield at night

Using Vinegar for Clothing and Laundry

Remove Stains from Suede and Leather

1. Dip a soft toothbrush in vinegar
2. Brush the stained area
3. Let air dry

You may have to comb the suede after it dries to get it back to normal

Remove Stains From Cotton

1. Dip a rag or toothbrush in vinegar (depending on the size of the stain)
2. Spot treat the stained area
3. Wash in washing machine as normal

If the stain is severe, you can add 1-2 cups vinegar to the washing cycle

For old set in stains, spot treat with a solution of 3 tablespoons vinegar, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent, 1 cup water

Make Your Own Wrinkle Release Spray

1. In a spray bottle combine 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon hair conditioner and 2 tablespoons water
2. Spray on wrinkled fabric
3. Brush out wrinkles with fingers
4. Let dry

Fluff up Your Towels and Avoid Static Cling

1. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to your regular wash cycle

Vinegar Hacks for Health and Beauty

Soothe a Sore Throat

1. Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar in 1 cup water
2. Gargle with a pull of the solution
3. Swallow 2 mouthfuls every hour
4. Repeat for a few hours

Itch Relief

1. Dip a cotton ball in vinegar
2. Apply to itchy area

This is best used on insect bites, do not use if your skin is raw

Lessen The Sting of a Sunburn

1. Dip a washcloth in vinegar
2. Apply to sunburned skin

You can use a cotton ball for smaller more sensitive areas

Whiten Your Teeth

1. Dip toothbrush into vinegar
2. Brush your teeth
3. Do this once or twice a week

Get Shiny Hair and Remove Product Buildup

1. Combine 2 tablespoons vinegar and 2 cups water in a bottle
2. Rinse with the solution in the shower

You can use a little but less vinegar if you have dry hair, or a little bit more vinegar if you have oily hair

This also helps with dandruff

Soften Your Cuticles

1. Fill a small bowl with vinegar
2. Soak fingernails for 5 minutes

Make Your Nail Polish Last Longer

1. Dip a cotton ball in vinegar
2. Rub cotton ball on fingernails before painting
3. Paint like normal

Soften Your Feet

1. Combine 1/4 cup Listerine and 1/4 cup vinegar in a small tub with hot water
2. Soak your feet for 20 minutes
3. Exfoliate

Get Rid of Bad Breath

1. Gargle with a small pull of vinegar

If you can’t stand the vinegar alone, you can add your favorite essential oil to taste

Home Uses for Vinegar

Loosen Jars

1. Add vinegar to a glass cup or other microwave safe dish
2. Microwave vinegar until warm (this takes 30 seconds – 1 minute for me, but will be different depending on the strength of your microwave)
3. Hold jar upside down
4. Pour warm vinegar around the joint of the jar and lid

Preserve Fruits and Vegetables for an Extra Week

1. Fill your sink 3/4 full of warm water
2. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the water
3. Lightly stir to mix the solution
4. Add in the produce
5. Lightly stir the produce around
6. Let sit for a few minutes
7. Drain the water
8. Rinse the produce with fresh water
9. Completely dry

Keep Flowers Alive Longer

1. Combine 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar into a quart of water
2. Use this solution as the water for cut flowers
3. Repeat as needed to keep the water fresh

Get Rid of Weeds and Unwanted Grass

1. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar
2. Spray vinegar onto weeds and unwanted grass (be sure to use enough to soak the plant so that it reaches the root)

If you have a stubborn weed, you can heat up the vinegar and add 1/2 cup salt and try again

Remove Wallpaper

1. Combine equal parts vinegar and water to a spray bottle
2. Saturate the wallpaper with the solution
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Scrape the wall

If you have stubborn wallpaper, score the wallpaper before spraying the solution

And there you have it! 40 different uses for vinegar. I had no idea that vinegar could be used for so many different things. It can replace so many different specialty products that you would have to buy individually. Vinegar is definitely a household necessity. You can also use it as an all purpose cleaning solution for around your house – think counter tops, windows etc.. You can find different solutions all over the web.