Winter is here. With Winter comes mud, slush, salt, snow and plenty of other reasons to get to know how to use vinegar with a frugal mind. Vinegar is a great ingredient to make your own cleaner, odour remover, sanitizer, and even a remedy for some health and beauty issues. Vinegar is not only inexpensive, but it contains no harsh chemicals or allergy irritating fragrances. So whether you're looking to remove some tough stains or cure a sunburn, you might want to read about these 8 fabulous frugal uses for vinegar. Vinegar has never let me down, here's how to use it:
Cleaning
1. Stain Remover
First, get yourself an empty spray bottle. If it previously contained another cleaner, don't use it. Just grab a cheap spray bottle from the dollar store. Fill the spray container with 1 part vinegar, 3 parts water and a dash of dish soap. To remove the stain, spray the stain with your solution. Call it "Mom's Kick Butt Cleaner" or something along those lines, because after just a few sprays - you can wipe the area clean no problem. This is great for my suede furniture as suede can be so delicate.
2. Stinky Garbage Can?
You are going to think I am crazy for this one. I frequently dispose of diapers and kitty litter, so my garbage can doesn't exactly smell like roses. When garbage night comes around and I get the chance to leave the trash can empty, I soak a piece of bread in vinegar and place it on a paper towel. I then take that paper towel and piece of bread and put it right on the bottom of my trash can overnight. By the morning, the horrendous stench is gone.
3. Odour Remover or Air Freshener
This is a real simple way to remove pesky odours from gym bags, litter boxes, and more. Just fill your handy dandy spray bottle with pure white vinegar and give a few sprays to whatever area doesn't exactly smell appealing to you. Vinegar neutralizes bad odours, and fast. Once the vinegar is dry, the smell will be gone. The vinegar smell will vanish once the vinegar is dry as well.
4. Unclog The Drain
Not again. The kitchen sink is clogged and that gross water just will not drain. No problem! Throw some baking soda down the drain, generously. Then pour vinegar down the drain as well. This will create a foaming action that will lift any debris that may be causing the drain to be clogged. Once the foam settles, pour some more vinegar until the baking soda is gone. This will also ensure a fresh smelling drain. Also make sure you run hot water down the drain before you use it after using this solution.
Laundry
1. Laundry Stain Remover
Vinegar is also a fabulous agent you can use to remove tough stains on your clothing. If you had fun at the BBQ and didn't notice that pesky ketchup stain on your capris until you get home, don't fret. Simply saturate the stained area in pure vinegar and allow it to soak in well. Then throw the stained clothing in the wash like normal, and voila.
2. Vinegar Fabric Softener
Oops, you ran out of fabric softener half way through laundry day. No problem. Just add a cup of white vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle. Your clothing will come out soft, odour free and it won't even cling to you from static. Vinegar is also an excellent way to remove soap residue from your clothing, or make your towels a little more absorbent without adding chemicals to your laundry.
Vinegar Remedies
1. Good-bye Athlete's Foot
Spring is here, and flip flop season is just around the corner. If you are trying to get rid of that burning, irritating athlete's foot - keep reading. Grab your vinegar and your baking soda to master this cure. Make a solution of equal parts white or apple cider vinegar and water. Then, soak your feet for 15 minutes, twice a day. Be sure to make a new solution each time, and dry your feet well afterwards. Also make sure you place your shoes out in the sun with some baking soda inside as to kill any left over fungus. Baking Soda will dry up any of the moisture. Without moisture, the fungus can't live.
2. Cure That Sunburn
As a fair skin toned lady, I get sun burnt quite often. Why not cure the burn with some vinegar? You'll need white or apple cider vinegar and a spray bottle for this miracle treatment too. Fill your spray bottle with vinegar, and spray the sunburned areas on your body. If your face is sun burnt too, then I would suggest applying the vinegar with a cloth.
Hey Bargainmoosers, what other good uses for vinegar do you have?
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