If you live in an apartment, you probably have a small bottle of this hidden in the back of a spice cabinet from move in day. You’ve probably even heard that vinegar has 1,000 multi-purpose uses. And as a college student with limited time for DIY-Pinterest-household-y crafts, you have probably never really considered looking into the cleaning wonders of vinegar. But as a college student with limited time, we have to say that vinegar should be your go-to household-y best friend, and for more than just what it does in cleaning!
Long-Lasting Manicure
Before you go to the salon or paint your own nails, dip unpolished nails into vinegar (white or apple cider). The vinegar will strip your nails of oils that would otherwise allow the paint to chip sooner.
Cure Sunburns
Okay, we know this isn’t at the top of your concerns right now in upstate New York. But incase you had a long day of skiing, or aren’t adequately covered on Fun Day (in sunscreen, of course) vinegar helps soothe a sunburn and prevent peeling. Just apply with a rag or cotton balls, or even a spray can if you’re feeling fancy.
Out of Eggs?
If you’re baking recipe calls for three eggs and your roommate made an omelet that morning, don’t panic. One tablespoon of white vinegar can substitute for an egg as long as the recipe has another leavening agent like baking powder or yeast. Sounds crazy but… desperate times.
Cheese-Lovers Friend
Let’s say you just bought some gourmet cheese from Putnam Market, or your wine and cheese party left you with a handful of leftovers. Just put your cheese in a plastic bag or container with a paper towel dampened with vinegar and your cheese will last for the long haul.
Grungy Glasses?
Keep those trendy specs in line by putting a few drops of vinegar onto each lens and wiping dry.
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Thrift Shop Sweater?
It’s cold out and oversized wool sweaters are cool, we get it. But please don’t rock a garment whose hygienic history is fuzzier than the wool it’s made of. Instead, add a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle and enjoy a cost-effective trend that you can feel good about wearing.
Never Touch Drain Hair Again
If there’s one secret we ladies try to hide from guys, it’s the inordinate amount of drain hair that accumulates in our showers. Not to mention the backed up water—we won’t go into details, but let’s just say we’d do anything to never deal with it again. To avoid expensive drain cleaners or the horrors of snaking your drain, simply pour a box of baking soda down the drain and then slowly pour a gallon of vinegar down. This should create a foaming reaction. This trick also works for unclogging toilets!
Fruit Fly Invasion
Do you have a grungy roommate? Do you participate in Skidmore’s compost program? Even if you answered no, anyone can become the victim of an overripe banana left on the counter for too long. If your apartment becomes plagued by fruit flies, add vinegar and a few drops of dish soap into a container and wait for the flies to meet their match. This trick works especially well in containers with larger bases than openings—think beaker glasses.
Invest in your Fruit
Buying fruit for one has the unfortunate side effect of stuff-your-face-before-they-mold syndrome. To enjoy your berries for longer than three days, soak them in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar for a few minutes, rinse and let completely dry before storing. They will last up to one week longer!
Sponge Sanitizer
You see them in every campus apartment—that nasty, slightly discolored, soppy sponge sitting on the edge of the sink. Soak that sucker in white vinegar overnight, and then squeeze it out the next day. Your sponge is now sanitized and eco-friendly!
The Heaven-Sent All Purpose Cleaner
Yeah, we know you know this, but it had to be mentioned. Vinegar has been an all-purpose cleaner for centuries, because as you have guessed by now, its acidic nature does a pretty good job of sanitizing essentially anything. You can use this to clean the microwave, dishwasher, carpet, windows, and your DVDs. It can be an air freshener, a fabric softener, a toilet bowl cleaner, and can remove grease, tarnish, mold and mildew. Not that we see too many of these materials in college, but do not use vinegar on marble and test it in a small area before using on finished wood surfaces or tile.
Vinegar is not just for OCD moms or DIY fanatics. It’s for everyone—and just about everything. We especially love it for collegiettes because it’s so accessible, multi-purpose, and inexpensive! Give it a try in your most pressing problem area and we’re sure you’ll never go back.
Sources: http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/a/Vinegar_Uses.htm