We love to spread the news about cheap, effective products that multi-task; especially when it’s something you probably already have in the house. White vinegar is a super-versatile solution that’s useful for household cleaning, personal care and of course, in the kitchen. Let’s take a look at 20 things it can do (and you’re sure to find many more):

• Clean and deodorize the dishwasher by adding a half cup of vinegar to an empty dishwasher and running a rinse cycle.
• Add a half cup of vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle to soften fabrics, prevent color fade, reduce static and keep pet hair from sticking to clothing.  
• Freshen and reduce build-up in drains by pouring in white vinegar, followed by a hot water rinse.
• Clean pen marks off painted walls by using full strength vinegar on a sponge or cloth.
• Remove mineral build-up on a shower head by filling a plastic bag with vinegar then securing it in place with a rubber band or twist tie.
• Clean a coffeemaker by running a mixture of water and white vinegar through the brew cycle. Follow with brew cycles of plain water until you can’t smell vinegar anymore.
• Remove water rings from wooden furniture by rubbing the area with a mixture of vinegar and olive oil on a soft cloth.
• Soothe a sore throat by gargling with a mixture of one teaspoon of vinegar and eight ounces of warm water.
• Take the sting out of sunburns. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray affected areas.
• Itchy, irritated scalp? Mix equal parts vinegar and water and use as a rinse following shampoo.
• Mix two cups of vinegar into a hot bath to soothe sore muscles or an aching back.
• Bring wilted greens, like lettuce and spinach, back to life by soaking them in two cups of cool water with a tablespoon of vinegar.
• When making tomato sauce, add one or two tablespoons of vinegar toward the end of the cooking cycle to bring the flavors together.
• Add a bit of vinegar to the last ¼ of bottles of ketchup, mustard and other condiments to make them easier to get out of the bottle.
• Small dishes of vinegar placed around a room will absorb smoky or musty odors.
• For strong household odors, boil a mixture of one cup water mixed with a half-cup of vinegar. By the time most of the liquid has boiled away, the smells will be gone.
• Make chrome and stainless steel sparkle by spraying with undiluted vinegar and polishing with a soft cloth.
• Clean and disinfect wooden cutting boards by wiping them with undiluted vinegar after every use.
• Remove bumper stickers by saturating them with vinegar. Let them sit for 15 minutes, then use the edge of a credit card to scrape them away.
• Remove tarnish from sterling silver jewelry by soaking it in a mixture of half a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda for a few hours. Rinse with cold water and polish with a soft cloth.