Apple cider vinegar is one of those basic necessities of life-something you should always have on hand and, at the same time, something that has so many uses, it can be easy to run out just when you need it. From your kitchen to your bathroom and from head to toe, apple cider vinegar can not only replace, complement, or enhance other items you use for your health and home, it can save you money as well.
Apple cider vinegar is made from the fermented juice of crushed apples that is fermented a second time. The slow fermentation process results in a vinegar that is a source of various vitamins and minerals as well as pectin, acetic acid, citric acid, and more, giving it highly desirable antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and other benefits.
Whenever you use apple cider vinegar and especially when taking it for medicinal purposes – be sure to use the unfiltered, unpasteurized, raw, organic form whenever possible. Such vinegar typically comes with a “mother,” a nontoxic film present in the vinegar, made up of acetic acid bacteria and yeast, an indication that the vinegar is high quality.
Note that although white distilled vinegar is usually the form used for household purposes, you can use apple cider vinegar as well.
21 Awesome Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Apple Cider Vinegar kills germs while you clean.
Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial organic acids (e.g., acetic, lactic, ascorbic, citric, malic, propionic, succinic, and tartaric acids) that can destroy harmful bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli. Keep a spray bottle of vinegar and water (a 1-to-1 solution) in your kitchen and bathroom.
Read More: 25 Ways to Spring Clean with Vinegar
2. Clean gold jewelry with apple cider vinegar.
Give your gold jewelry a new sparkle by submerging the piece in apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes, then towel dry.
3. Apple cider vinegar for hair.
Use the vinegar as a rinse and enjoy the shine. Combine 1/2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of cold water in a bottle and pour it over your hair after shampooing.
4. Apple cider vinegar for your skin.
Toss your conventional toner away and try vinegar instead. Make a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar with 2 parts water and apply to your face with a cotton ball.
5. Banish warts.
To get rid of unsightly warts, soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar, place the cotton ball on the wart, and cover the site with a bandage overnight. Once the wart has fallen off, repeat the application of apple cider vinegar for several more night to ensure the wart does not develop again.
6. Remove tooth stains.
Apply apple cider vinegar to a cotton ball or soft cloth and rub on your teeth. Rinse with water.
7. Use as a deodorant.
No more need for conventional deodorants! You can make your own by simply dabbing some apple cider vinegar under your armpits and you’re ready to go-it dries quickly!
8. Eliminate foot odor.
Use a soft cloth to wipe down your feet with apple cider vinegar and clear away foot odor.
9. Reduce heartburn.
Try this method only if you don’t have ulcers. Take 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar followed by 8 ounces of water. It works by correcting low stomach acid, which is a cause of heartburn.
Read More: 7 Natural Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies that Actually Work
10. Soothe sunburn.
As summer approaches, keep plenty of apple cider vinegar around for unexpected sunburn. You can add 1 cup of the vinegar to your bath and soak for 10 minutes or wet the affected area with water and dab on apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball or soft cloth. You may want to follow this with some coconut oil rubbed gently onto the burned area.
11. Clean toilets.
Pour apple cider vinegar into your toilet and let it sit overnight. Effortless cleaning that smells good too!
12. Apply as an aftershave.
Your conventional aftershave will be a thing of the past once you combine equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water and apply after shaving. Don’t forget to shake the bottle first!
13. Apple cider vinegar for digestion.
Some experts have suggested that apple cider vinegar can help reduce appetite by stabilizing blood glucose and breaking down fats.
14. Improve lipids.
Research in both animals and humans has indicated that apple cider vinegar can lower triglyceride levels and help boost high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, two markers that can help with diabetes and heart disease.
15. Help with diabetes.
Results of several studies have suggested apple cider vinegar may help people who have type 2 diabetes. In one study, vinegar improved insulin sensitivity by 34 percent in people with prediabetes and by 19 percent in those with type 2 diabetes. In another study, blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes declined by up to 6 percent when individuals took 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bedtime.
16. Repel fleas.
Dog and cat parents listen up. An equal amount of apple cider vinegar and water applied to your pet’s fur and rubbed in daily for a week should keep fleas away.
17. Balance your body.
Daily consumption of apple cider vinegar can help you maintain a healthy pH balance. All you need is a few sips of vinegar throughout the day to lower your pH and boost your energy.
18. Can candida.
Taking apple cider vinegar may help rid the body of an overgrowth of candida.
19. Apple cider vinegar for weight loss.
Apple Cider Vinegar can help stave off hunger by controlling the glucose released in the body after you eat. It stabilizes your blood sugar and also breaks down fats.
20. Add to bone broth.
Apple cider vinegar is a necessary ingredient in homemade bone broth. The vinegar helps draw the minerals from the bones.
21. Wash fruits and veggies.
A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water is the combination to help remove bacteria and pesticides from your fruits and veggies. Place your produce in the solution, swish them gently, and then rinse thoroughly. This wash is not recommended for fragile fruits such as berries.
A Few Words of Caution
Too much of a great thing isn’t so, well, great, which is why moderation is the recommendation. Prolonged use of apple cider vinegar internally could result in low potassium levels, which could in turn take a toll on your bone density. If you are taking medications for heart disease or diabetes or using diuretics or laxatives, you should consult your healthcare provider before starting regular use of apple cider vinegar, as it may interact with these medications.
