A few years ago, our old apple tree gave us far more apples than we could possibly eat. Rather than let them go to waste, we turned a big batch into homemade cider.
About a year later, my husband came across a forgotten barrel tucked away in storage. I had completely forgotten about it and assumed the cider was ruined. It turned out I was wrong. The cider had continued fermenting and had become apple cider vinegar.
That happy accident introduced me to one of the most useful staples in our pantry. Since then, I’ve found plenty of ways to use apple cider vinegar around the house, from cleaning surfaces and getting rid of odors to helping with chores in the garden.
If you have a bottle sitting in your pantry, it may be useful for far more than salad dressing. Here are 13 ways to put apple cider vinegar to work around your home.
1. Preserving Food
The acidity in apple cider vinegar can help inhibit bacterial growth, which is why vinegar has been used in food preservation for generations. It’s especially common in pickling and other preservation methods.
I also love the flavor it adds to homemade pickled vegetables. Since we ended up with gallons of the stuff after our cider experiment, finding ways to use it in the kitchen was pretty easy.
Just follow a tested recipe when canning or preserving food rather than relying on vinegar alone to make food safe for storage.
2. Cleaning Surfaces
Apple cider vinegar can be useful for everyday cleaning because its acidity helps break down dirt, grease, and some mineral deposits. It can be a handy alternative for certain household cleaning jobs.
I like keeping a spray bottle with a 1:1 mixture of ACV and water for surfaces such as tables and some countertops.
Vinegar can also help loosen soap residue on sinks, tubs, and shower surfaces. Before using it, check that the surface is vinegar-safe. Vinegar can damage natural stone such as marble and granite.
3. Disinfecting Garden Tools
Garden shears, pruning scissors, and other cutting tools can pick up plant pathogens as you move from one plant to another. Cleaning your tools between plants can help reduce the chance of spreading disease.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, and research has found that 30 minutes of exposure to acetic acid can eliminate many types of bacteria.
For plant disease prevention, use a disinfectant recommended for gardening tools when appropriate, particularly if you’re dealing with a known plant pathogen. Vinegar can be useful for cleaning, but it shouldn’t be treated as a universal garden disinfectant.
4. Repelling Insects
That strong vinegar smell isn’t exactly appealing to many bugs, which is why some people use diluted apple cider vinegar around areas where insects are a nuisance.
Mix equal parts ACV and water and spray it around places such as windowsills and doorways. Test the mixture on a small hidden area first, especially if you’re spraying near fabric, painted surfaces, or furniture, since vinegar can cause damage or discoloration.
For fruit flies, there’s an even more useful trick:
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap with Apple Cider Vinegar
5. Soothing Sore Muscles
After a long day of gardening, lifting, or doing chores around the property, a warm bath can feel pretty good on tired muscles.
Some people add a cup of apple cider vinegar to their bathwater as part of their routine. There isn’t strong evidence that ACV in bathwater treats muscle inflammation, so think of this more as a personal bath ritual than a proven remedy.
If your skin is sensitive, skip the vinegar or use a much smaller amount. Stop using it if you notice irritation.
6. Getting Rid of Odors
Apple cider vinegar has a strong smell of its own, but it can also help with unpleasant household odors.
Try placing a small bowl of undiluted ACV near an area with a lingering smell, such as the kitchen or laundry room. It can also be useful around garbage areas.
Don’t expect it to fix the source of a serious odor, though. If something smells because of mold, spoiled food, or a plumbing problem, deal with the underlying issue rather than trying to cover it up with vinegar.
7. Adding It to Livestock Water
Some homesteaders add small amounts of apple cider vinegar to their animals’ water. The practice is often associated with supporting digestive health and keeping drinking water mildly acidic.
I used to give our chickens ACV too, especially during periods when the flock wasn’t doing well. Still, animal care isn’t one area where I’d rely on a homemade recipe without checking first. The right amount can vary by species, age, health, diet, and water system.
Before adding anything to an animal’s drinking water, check with a veterinarian or livestock professional. Clean, fresh water should always be available.
8. Cleaning a Clogged Showerhead
Mineral buildup can gradually block the small openings in a showerhead, especially if you have hard water.
Vinegar can help dissolve some of those mineral deposits. Remove the showerhead and place it in a container of vinegar for a few hours. For heavy buildup, you may need to scrub the openings with an old toothbrush afterward.
If you’re not sure whether your showerhead’s finish can handle vinegar, check the manufacturer’s instructions first.
Here’s another guide that can help:
How to Deep Clean a Shower Head with Vinegar
9. Washing Fruits and Vegetables
It’s tempting to think vinegar can make produce safer by killing every harmful germ or removing every pesticide residue, but it isn’t a substitute for proper washing.
For everyday produce cleaning, rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water. You don’t need vinegar for routine washing.
If you do use a vinegar solution for a particular reason, rinse the produce well afterward. Don’t assume that soaking food in vinegar makes it safe from all foodborne pathogens.
10. Using It as a Fabric Softener
A little vinegar in the rinse cycle is a popular laundry trick because it can help rinse away leftover detergent residue.
Some people add vinegar to the fabric-softener compartment of their washing machine instead of using commercial softener. If you try this, follow your washer manufacturer’s instructions first.
Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination can release dangerous chlorine gas.
If you’re already making your own laundry products, here’s another recipe you might like:
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
11. Making a Simple Hair Rinse
Apple cider vinegar is also used as a hair rinse. A heavily diluted mixture can help remove some buildup and leave hair feeling clean and smooth.
A common starting point is one part ACV to four parts water. Apply the mixture carefully, keep it away from your eyes, and rinse thoroughly.
It isn’t a replacement for shampoo or a treatment for every scalp problem. If your scalp is irritated or you have a persistent skin condition, it’s better to skip the vinegar and ask a healthcare professional about the problem.
If you’d like to try making your own hair-care product, here’s another option:
12. Soothing Some Insect Bites
Vinegar has long been used as a home remedy for minor insect bites and stings. Some people dab a small amount of diluted ACV onto an itchy mosquito bite for temporary relief.
There isn’t strong evidence that apple cider vinegar treats insect bites, and putting vinegar on broken or irritated skin can make the area sting.
For a bite or sting that causes severe pain, swelling, trouble breathing, dizziness, or another serious reaction, seek medical help rather than relying on a home remedy.
13. Freshening Smelly Shoes
After a hot day working outside, shoes can get pretty unpleasant. A diluted vinegar spray can help with lingering odors.
Mix ACV with water, lightly spray the inside of the shoes, and let them dry completely in a well-ventilated area. Don’t soak the shoes, and test the mixture on an inconspicuous spot first.
For leather or suede footwear, check the care instructions before using vinegar since acidic liquids can damage some finishes.
Apple cider vinegar isn’t a magic solution for every household problem, but it can be a useful pantry staple. From pickling vegetables to cleaning mineral buildup and dealing with everyday odors, a bottle can come in handy in more places than you might expect.
Just keep in mind that vinegar isn’t safe for every surface, and it shouldn’t be mixed with bleach or other incompatible cleaning products. A little caution goes a long way.
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