The Christian Homekeeper™

by Sylvia Britton 1996

These are ways that I have personally used Vinegar in my home. I have had varied levels of success with all of these methods, but vinegar remains the safest and most inexpensive way to approach these common household problems. Many of these uses come from very old cookbooks and out of print household management books, some come from my mother and grandmother, but all of them are worth a try!

Pour full strength on unwanted grass. I had to use it for about 2 weeks.

Spray full strength on tops of weeds in full sunshine if possible. Reapply on any new growth until plants are killed.

When water is hard, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid loving plants like rhododendrums,gardenias, or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use.

To deter ants, spray vinegar along known ant trails, windows and door frames.

To keep car windows free from frost, spray the windows the night before with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water.

Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the washer itself and on glassware.

Clean stainless steel by wiping with a vinegar dampened cloth.

Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry.

Get smoke smell out of clothes add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam until the steam dissipates.

To polish chrome on vehicles, apply full strength with a soft cloth.

To keep cats away, sprinkle vinegar on an area where you don’t want cats to scratch or frequent.

Clean inside dog’s ears with a soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar to kill mites and keep clean.

Add vinegar to pet’s drinking water, just a little, to keep fleas away!

My Grandmother has told me that cider vinegar in the chicken’s drinking water will keep them from pecking each other.

In recipes calling for buttermilk, use 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand 5 minutes to thicken.

Tenderize tough cuts of meat and game by soaking it in vinegar in the refrigerator overnight.

Wilted vegetables like carrots and celery can be revivied by soaking them in a quart of cold water and a tablespoon of vinegar.

New lantern wicks will burn longer and brighter if you soak them in vinegar over night before using. Squeeze out the vinegar before using.

To kill bacteria on pans and dishes, rinse pans with vinegar and allow to air dry.

Vinegar will help to remove skunk odor from dogs.

Substitute 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar for 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.

Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar for every box of gelatin used to keep molded desserts from becoming loose in the summer heat.

2 tablespoons of vinegar added to each quart of water before boiling eggs will keep them from cracking.

1 teaspoon of vinegar added to the cooking water for rice will keep the rice fluffier.

Recipes calling for wine vinegar can be made using 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of dry red wine.

To clean off wax and get rid of insects on produce, wash veggies in water with vinegar and salt. Drain off bugs and wax.

Fresh fish that are soaked or rubbed with vinegar just 5 minutes before scaling will scale much more easily.

Cover a bee string with vinegar to take away the sting.

To relieve sunburn, lighty rub a sunburn with vinegar as needed.

To remove shampoo residue and leave a beautiful shine on hair, rinse with vinegar after washing and conditioning.

Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water to relieve dry itchy skin.

Use a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups of warm water to rinse hair in after shampooing to fight dandruff.

A great sore throat gargle: 1 c. hot water, 2 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. vinegar, gargle three times, then drink the rest.

Mix half cider vinegar and half glycerin and apply to warts.

Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer at night to fight colds and congestion.

Deodorize the kitchen sink drain by pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

Eliminate onion odor by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.

To clean and disinfect wood cutting boards, wash first and then wipe with full strength vinegar.

Vinegar will remove fruit stains from hands.

Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water to help remove grease..

Wash appliances including the inside of the frig with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.

To unclog a drain, pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.

Fill stained pots with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens, wash them away.

Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. When the food is loosened, wipe it away.

To dissolve rust on metals, soak in full strength vinegar.

To get rid of cooking smells, simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.

Clean your steam iron by adding equal amounts of water and vinegar in the iron’s water chamber. Set the iron on steam and leave it upright for 5 minutes. Uplug the iron and allow to cool. Pour out any loose residue. When you use the iron again, more residue will probably come out of the steam holes in the plate of the iron.

Vinegar can clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface.

To help remove lint from clothes, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This will also soften clothes.

To keep colorful clothes from fading in the wash, soak the clothes in full strength vinegar before washing. Check your labels before doing this.

Vinegar will freshen the washing machine and dissolve soap residue. Add 1 cup to a wash cycle, don’t add clothes or soap.

Add to the rinse cycle.

Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual.

Remove decals and stickers by brushing with vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash or rub off.

Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.

Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

To loosen your joints and feel less arthritis, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 4 cups grape juice. Drink 8 ounces daily.