11 Surprising Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar in the House and Garden

We cannot yet declare apple cider vinegar to be a miracle cure. However, according to WebMD.com, Apple cider vinegar has a long history as a home remedy used to treat everything from a sore throat to varicose veins.

Vinegar has been used as a remedy since the days of Hippocrates. The ancient Greek doctor treated wounds with it. In recent years, people have explored apple cider vinegar as a way to lose weight, improve heart health, and even treat dandruff.

 

The right choice

When choosing apple cider vinegar, make sure you get one that includes the “mother.” The mother of vinegar is used to accelerate the fermentation process and ensure an effective product. Bragg’s is considered by many to be the gold standard for high-quality vinegar that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Be sure to shake it well before use.

 

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Here are a few of the ways that ACV may work well for you to treat everyday issues in the same way that it works for so many of my readers and others who’ve reported their results.

Send dandruff packing

Forget all the pricey salon sprays that promise to destroy the fungus that grows on your scalp. Apple cider vinegar’s acidity changes the pH of your scalp and also has antibacterial properties. Make your own dandruff treatment at home that will banish dandruff by mixing equal parts ACV and water in a spray bottle.

Shampoo with your shampoo of choice, rinse, and towel dry. Then spray this ACV dilution onto your hair, work it through to the scalp and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse. Do this twice a week and in no time you’ll send away embarrassing dandruff forever. For routine maintenance, use ACV as a conditioner

Healthy, shiny hair

Mixing 4 parts water to 1 part ACV results in a very effective hair conditioner that will leave your hair soft and shiny. Shampoo, rinse and then pour about 1 cup of this mixture over your hair and rinse it out. Prepare to be amazed.

Sore throat soother

At the first sign of a sore throat, pull out three pantry ingredients to make a powerful elixir that will help soothe the discomfort and also break up mucous and sinus congestion: Mix one teaspoon ACV, 1/4  teaspoon cayenne pepper, and three teaspoons honey in a glass of warm water.

Apple cider vinegar and honey are known to have antibacterial properties, and the capsaicin in the cayenne helps alleviate pain. Sip this concoction gradually one to three times a day. Note: This is not a substitute for physician-prescribed medication.

No more stinky feet

Persistent stinky foot odor is not necessarily a hygiene problem but rather a persistent problem caused by a fungus that may have managed to live unnoticed on the bottom of feet, under toenails or even between toes. A daily shower is not likely to alleviate the problem, but this will:

Soak your feet in a container of hot water to which you have added 4 cups ACV and 1 1/2 cups baking soda. Mix well and soak your feet in it for or at least 10 minutes. Towel dry then enjoy your clean, soft feet that should also smell clean and fresh. Any lingering smell of vinegar will quickly dissipate on its own.

Alleviate heartburn

It seems counterintuitive to combat stomach acid with acidic vinegar but stay with me here. One tablespoon of enzyme-rich ACV in a cup of water or tea taken right before a meal, for many, alleviates the symptoms of heartburn. If you hate the taste, adding a tablespoon of honey will help this medicine go down.

Skincare astringent

Apple cider vinegar will do wonders for your skin—even alleviate acne—for pennies, not dollars. If you have sensitive skin, dilute apple cider vinegar with water. However, for other skin types, ACV is most effectively used straight up.

Use it as an all-natural astringent like this: Mix up a dilution of 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water. Spray this on your clean face or apply with a washcloth or cotton balls. Do not rinse.

The resulting protective acidic layer will make your skin feel smoother, absorb excess oil, and help to reduce fine lines. This works by restoring the proper pH levels to your skin, and the beta-carotene in the apple cider vinegar helps to ward off future skin damage.

Quickly heal sunburn

Acidic apple cider vinegar on a sunburn? You bet, and you’ll be amazed at the result. Here’s the routine: Following an unfortunate sunburn, draw a bath, adding one or two tablespoons ACV to the tub. After soaking for 10 minutes, the ACV will have helped restore your skin’s pH levels and your skin will feel cool and super soothed.

Whitening mouthwash

To make an effective whitening mouthwash, mix one teaspoon ACV with a cup of water. Swish this around your mouth and either spit it out or go ahead and swallow. It’s good for you.

Repel pests

If rabbits are devouring your garden, or cats are making a litter box out of your sandbox or flower beds, keep them away by soaking cotton balls in ACV and sprinkling them around flower beds. For cats, spray undiluted vinegar along the perimeter of flower beds or sandboxes to keep them out.

• MORE: Easy Ways to Naturally Repel Cats From Your Yard and Garden

 

 

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