Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Vinegar Solution


If you told my father growing up that you had a stomach ache or were suffering some minor health issue, you were sure to hear the words: "Go drink some vinegar". I don't know how many of us actually did this but now that I know a few things, the man was right. Oh the wisdom of elders. Vinegar is the nectar of Gods. Really. It can do everything. It should be in everyones year supply. Both white distilled and apple cider vinegar. It has replaced so many things in my household and it is so very cheap. 


Here are some of my favorite uses:


HEALTH USES


Stops the sting/itch of insect stings


Soothes a sunburn


Help clears acne: mix 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar to water. After face is cleansed and dried, dab on this mixture and let dry overnight. The acid in the vinegar kills bacteria that is responsible for acne and will eat away dead skin on the face that leaves a dull appearance.


Fixes a sour stomach. Drink 1T. in a cup of water.


Kills warts. Apply vinegar to a piece of cotton the size of the wart and cover with a band aid. Let sit overnight. 
Repeat until gone. Use Bragg's apple cider vinegar.


For an itchy scalp or dandruff, rinse head with 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar and water. Also good for kids that smell like dogs in the summer time!


Cleaning Uses


Unclog a drain. 1/2 cup baking soda to 1 cup white vinegar. Pour in drain and let foam for a while. Follow with hot tap water to flush out.


Removes sticker residue.


Cleanser: 1/4 cup Baking soda, 1 T. liquid soap. Add enough vinegar to make the right consistency. 


Wood floor cleaner: 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon water


Cleanse chrome. Spray on full strength and then rinse off. 


Deodorize: plastic containers, fridge, sinks, garbage pails, etc.


Cleans the toilet: Let sit in toilet overnight and flush in the morning.


Takes soap residue off dishes instantly. You know that soap scum that has been baked on in the dishwasher and won't come off with water and soap! Fill the sink with vinegar and a little water and one dip and they are clean!


What is your favorite uses? Love the stuff! Once again, no need for chemicals. Give me some vinegar, baking soda and a little essential oils and my house will shine. Plus, your pocket book will thank you.

15 comments:

Shea said...

I did not know it could remove sticker residue. That's awesome! I don't have much to add to your list, but sometimes if I let my clothes sit in the washer a little too long and they don't smell fresh, I pour some vinegar over them and rinse them and they smell fresh, ready to go in the dryer. Saves electricity as you do not have to go through a complete wash cycle.

Ashley said...

ha I've been squirting this stuff in my kids mouth for talking back for a while now. Looks like I'm actually doing them a favor!;) Also I just had a sticker residue on some sunglasses I couldn't get off and just yesterday I went to the store to buy some goo gone. Wish I would've checked earlier.

Unknown said...

I Love Vinegar too! at least 8oz of warm water, 1 TBS of Apple Cider Vinegar, 10 drops of Cayanne tincture, sweetened with a little stevia or honey....drink it and it helps to alkaline your body. This is especially helpful when you are doing a candida cleanse.

Also if I have a sore throat I will drink a cup of warm water, apple cider vinegar and stevia. It always clears it right up.

Anonymous said...

I use it instead of fabric softener, it gets rid of soap residues and leaves clothes softer, fresher..don't worry, NO vinegar smell is left

Anonymous said...

I use it instead of fabric softener, it gets rid of soap residues and leaves clothes softer, fresher..don't worry, NO vinegar smell is left

Annabeth said...

My kids use white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean the bathroom with. Non-toxic. =)

I also am going to use it with your GSE/peppermint oil cleaner; instead of 16 oz water, I'll do half of that in vinegar. (it won't affect GSE, will it?)

Shari Goodman said...

I have been putting vinegar in my GSE solution also. Just a little though and still some water. It works great with GSE

kami said...

I love vinegar! It's by far my favorite cleaner. I haven't used it for health reasons though...I will have to give it a try!

Taryn said...

This is awesome!!! I KNEW that baking soda and vinegar would unclog my sink but it wasn't listed as a use on the arm and hammer website. Thanks for listing the measurements, I am going to pour some in right now. Also, I made the homemade cleaner with GSE and peppermint and I LOVE it! It feels great to have my floors clean AND not have to worry about my baby crawling all over it:)

The Lees said...

I had bought a bad box of dish washer detergent that coated my dishes in scum. No amount of scrubbing and soaking and scraping could get it off. Tried soaking in water with a cup of vinegar and a few drops of GSE. After just a couple minutes the dishes easily wiped clean and look as good as new.

Shari Goodman said...

Funny, that is why I started this post was to put down how I had to use vinegar to get the scum off my dishes from dish soap but totally forgot! Thanks, Sara.

Anonymous said...

At my house, we keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar to spritz the underarms of our shirts. Keeps the smell from becoming embedded in clothing. (please tell me we aren't the only family with that problem...)

Cindy Thomas said...

WOW - I never new so much of this stuff! Thanks so much! Off to buy some vinegar! :)

KatieZ said...

They removed phosphates from dish soap so we are all having the "white film" problem.

Love your blog and wish my kids were ready for piano. They are in LOVE with Randi!

Sweat Is My Sanity said...

Thanks for the vinegar tips. We have had problems with our dish washer so it's good to know I can get all the gunk off now.