Apple cider vinegar works like magic in kitchens, bathrooms, and gardens. Mix it, spray it, or sip it. This pantry staple does more than dress salads.
Do you have a bottle of apple cider vinegar sitting in your pantry? It has the potential to do so much more than take up valuable space!
This kitchen staple can handle everything from sticky messes to stubborn odors and costs less than specialty products.
Here’s how to put it to work in ways you might not have thought about before.
❓ What’s that stuff at the bottom?
Look at your bottle of apple cider vinegar and you’ll spot something weird — a cloudy blob floating around. Don’t worry, that’s supposed to be there.
It’s called the “mother”, and is filled with good bacteria and enzymes. When you’re shopping, grab the unfiltered kind with the mother.
It’s cloudier than the clear variety, but that cloudiness means it’s packed with all the good stuff that makes this vinegar so useful around the house.
🌿 Handy Tip: The cloudy blob floating at the bottom of your ACV is packed with good bacteria and enzymes.
👨🍳 How to use it in the kitchen
Are you tired of buying specialty ingredients for your cooking? Apple cider vinegar can be a good:
- Marinade – Marinate tofu, mushrooms, tempeh, and so much more.
- Egg replacement – Combine apple cider vinegar and baking soda to make the perfect egg replacement.
- Fluffy pancakes – Add a tablespoon to your pancake batter to make them extra light and fluffy — no, you won’t taste it in the finished pancakes.
- Better than soda – Want a quick drink? Muddle 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar with a spoonful of honey and fresh mint leaves, then top off with sparkling water. It’s a nice break from soda and takes about 30 seconds to make.
- Refreshing drink ingredient – Add a splash to smoothies or stir a spoonful into hot tea with lemon. My favorite smoothie with it is this easy ultimate antioxidant green smoothie.
- Prevent browning – Do your bananas, avocadoes, and okras turn brown after you cut them? Lightly brush them with a thin layer of apple cider vinegar which will prevent browning without altering the taste.
🐣 Baking Tip: Mix ACV with baking soda and you have a wonderful egg substitute in your baking.
🏡 How to clean your house with it
Store-bought cleaners can be expensive, and most contain the same ingredients in different packages. I went to get my usual cleaner from the store yesterday and found that it was up by $1 from 2 months ago.
So, here’s a money-saving trick:
- Fill (Affiliate Link) a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water – Use it on bathroom mirrors for a streak-free shine, wipe down kitchen counters after cooking, or add a cup to your wash cycle for brighter clothes. Once the vinegar dries, the smell and grime disappear.
- If your kitchen has a bad aroma, put a cup of vinegar and water in a pot and simmer for 10 minutes. This method is better than candles or air fresheners for eliminating cooking smells. My friend, Renee swears by it. She says it works great for removing odors after she cooks an easy one-pan salmon dinner. Use it after frying your favorite appetizers or accidentally burning something in the oven.
- Got smelly appliances? According to Martha Stewart, you can use ACV to remove bad smells from the fridge and microwave. It’s a natural deodorizer.
🪟 Cleaning Tip: ACV helps clean your windows and glass surfaces without leaving a streak.
🛀 How to incorporate it into your beauty routine
Those fancy hair and skin products might look nice, but they’re often full of ingredients you can’t spell and don’t need — and they empty your wallet fast.
While vinegar is an easy-to-find ingredient for making homemade personal care items, it can also be diluted and used directly on your hair and skin.
- For shiny hair without buildup – mix 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Pour the mixture over your hair after shampooing, wait 2-3 minutes, and rinse it out. Do this once a week to remove product buildup and bring back shine. Your scalp will feel cleaner, too.
- For your face, weaken it — 1 part vinegar to 8 parts water makes a good toner. Dab it on with cotton after washing. Try a small spot first to ensure your skin likes it, and never put it on straight. Use it at night after washing your face and before your regular moisturizer.
- For softer nails – If you have tough nails or some fungal problems, you can use Apple cider vinegar to help the problem. Mix 1 part ACV to 3 parts warm water and soak your nails in it for 10-40 minutes. Source: Harvard Health Publishing.
🤏 Beauty Tip: Use diluted apple cider vinegar as a toner. It works so well and is much cheaper.
🪴 Garden and pet helper
Apple cider vinegar also benefits your outdoor space and furry babies. Make your garden happier with a quick vinegar mix. Put 2-3 tablespoons in a gallon of water for plants that prefer acidic soil, like azaleas and hydrangeas. Spray it around the base of plants once a month during the growing season.
Are ants taking over your patio? Spray diluted vinegar where they come in — they hate the smell and will find somewhere else to march.
If you have pets, vinegar can help clean their ears and fur but make it a weak solution with 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. Use soft cotton balls to clean ears or spray the solution lightly on fur before brushing. Check with your vet first, especially if your pet has sensitive skin.
🌸 Garden Tip: Put diluted ACV in plants that love acidic soil. It gives plants and flowers a vibrant color.
❓ Answering Common Questions
Apple cider vinegar lasts a long time, but a few simple storage tricks will help you get the most out of every bottle. Store your vinegar in a cool, dark part of your pantry, and keep the lid on tight.
It lasts pretty much forever if you store it right. Since sunlight isn’t its friend, here’s a trick: pour some into a smaller bottle for everyday use, so you’re not constantly opening the big bottle. This keeps the mother fresh in the main bottle and makes it easy to grab quickly.
According to Medical News Today, you can get indigestion and tooth decay, if you use too much of it. Always dilute it before consuming it. If drinking diluted apple cider vinegar, use a straw.
💪 Make it work for you
Like any new habit, adding apple cider vinegar to your routine is easiest when you start small and build up.
Begin with one or two of these tips, then add on from there. Maybe try the all-purpose cleaner or throw a tablespoon into homemade soup to brighten it up.
Keep track of what works best for you and build from there. Once you see the results, you’ll find yourself reaching for that bottle more and more.
🍎 Favorite recipes using apple cider vinegar
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This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
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