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15 Best Uses for White Vinegar (Everyday Household Uses)

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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Allison Lancaster

Tired of spending a bunch of money on dozens of household cleaners that are only able to perform one or two tasks? Who wouldn’t be? I’d like to let you in on a little secret. All this time you could have simply been buying one product to handle all of these cleaning jobs. That’s right, white vinegar is considered one of the most versatile household cleaning products available that will get you the same, if not better results. And it’s cheap too! But cleaning isn’t all white vinegar is capable of. Check out these 15 best uses for white vinegar. 

cleaning the shower with white vinegar

What kind of vinegar should I use to clean my home?

White vinegar works wonders around your home! I use mine often and keep a large jug of it on hand at all times. There are so many household uses for white vinegar other than cooking. My favorite brand to use around the house is this brand. It’s the most cost-effective brand I’ve found!

How to Use White Vinegar Around Your Home

1. Keep Your Shower Walls Scum-free

Ignoring the scum and streaks that are building up on your shower walls will mean a lot more time and energy on your part when you finally get around to cleaning them. Instead of allowing them to get that way, all you need to do is fill a sponge wand with some vinegar and a few drops of Dawn dish soap. Every time you shower, do a quick wipe down with it and then rinse it off with water.

2. Get Rid of Tough Carpet Stains

Deep carpet stains can drive most homeowners absolutely bonkers! But with just 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda, you can create a powerful mixture that can handle most carpet stains. Rub it into the stain and allow it to sit overnight. Then suck up the remaining residue with a vacuum the next day. But just to be on the safe side, make sure that you try it on an out-of-sight piece of carpet first. 

3. Provides a Shine to Your Shoes and Handbags

Want your leather handbags and shoes to look better? You can wipe vinegar over them to help hide scuff marks to give them more of a shine! 

4. Makes Paint Brushes Good as New

Did you fail to rinse out your paint brushes properly? You can remove dried paint from them by soaking them in a pot of vinegar for an hour. Next, place them over the stove and bring it to a simmer. Then take your paintbrushes and rinse them off. This tip isn’t recommended for plastic paintbrushes.

5. Unclogs Drains

Using white vinegar on your pipes and drains is a natural and simple solution to unclog them. Take one cup of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda and then pour it down your drains. Once the mixture has begun to bubble, finish by rinsing your pipes by flushing a pot of boiling water behind it.

6. Restores Showerhead Pressure

Mineral deposits over your showerhead can quickly put a damper on your enjoyment of a hot shower. All you need to do is take a Ziploc bag filled with 1 part vinegar and one part water and place it securely around your showerhead while using a rubber band. The next morning, remove the bag and rinse and wipe away any remaining residue. 

using white vinegar as a household cleaner

7. Loosen a Rusty Screw

Pouring just a bit of white vinegar over a stubborn screw can make all the difference in the world. If that still doesn’t work, place a rubber band beneath your screwdriver to give it extra traction. 

8. Prevents Frost on Your Car Windshield

Are you always cutting it close on getting into the office during the winter because you’re having to spend so much time clearing off your windshield? Not anymore! All you need is a solution of 3 parts of white vinegar mixed in with 1 part of water and coat it over your windows the night before. 

9. Removes Gum from Hair 

Hopefully, this one has never happened to you as a parent, but if it ever does, you’ll know exactly what to do. Microwave a small bowl of white vinegar until it’s warm and then soak the affected hair area with it. The gum should start to dissolve. 

10. Brightens Hair 

By using just a tablespoon of white vinegar while you’re in the shower, you’ll get rid of any product buildup that’s putting a damper on your hair. You should try this tip about once a month. 

11. Helps to Soften Feet

For those of you who suffer from dry feet that easily become calloused and cracked, white vinegar can fix this! Soak your feet in a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part of white vinegar for 20 minutes. This helps to remove dead and dry skin, leaving you with smooth and softer skin. You can also use a drop or two of your favorite essential oils to make them smell good. 

12. Get Rid of Foul Odor Coming from the Litter Box

Tired of the stink coming from your cat’s litter box Once you’ve cleaned out the litter box, spray it down with white vinegar and allow it to completely dry. Then you can put the litter back in. If you don’t want to wait that long, allow the vinegar to sit for 20 minutes and then rinse it out with cool water. Fill it back up with litter once it’s dry.

13. Also Works on Your Garbage Can

When your garbage can is also adding a foul odor to your home, you can use the same method as what was mentioned on the litterbox tip to deal with the bad smell.

14. Removes Leftover Sticker Gunk 

Instead of always being left with sticky residue after you’ve tried scratching off stickers from walls, furniture, and clothing, use white vinegar to tackle the problem. Once the vinegar has been applied and has sat for a bit, the gunk should wipe right off!

15. Removes Pit Stains

Do you have any white t-shirts that have yellow pit stains on them? Instead of throwing them out, rub some white vinegar on your shirts using a soft cloth. Allow them to sit for a bit and repeat the process if necessary. And for one last-minute tip, washing your clothing with just a bit of vinegar and your normal detergent will also help get rid of any mildew smell that may be lingering on them. 

These are 15 amazing uses for white vinegar that will do absolute wonders in your home. Which of these were you most surprised about? Do you know of any other awesome uses for vinegar that you’d be willing to share with others?

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