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All The Ways You Can Use Vinegar To Solve Common Household Problems
By DANIELA KLEIN
Water Marks
Whitish watermarks on wooden furniture are caused by moisture that permeates the finish. Vinegar gently removes the top layer of the varnish, releasing the moisture.
Rub white vinegar and olive oil in a 1:1 ratio over the watermark, following the wood grain. The ring should diminish or disappear.
Fruit Flies
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which fruit flies feed on. So, you can use vinegar as bait to trap and remove them.
Partially fill a jar with vinegar and a squirt of dish soap to ensure the flies sink into the liquid. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke holes to let the flies in.
Ants
Ants hate acetic acid, and it can disrupt their traveling and social behavior. Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle, and spray wherever you've seen ants.
Although vinegar can effectively deter ants and disrupt their trails, it won't kill them or eradicate their nests. For complete extermination, you'll need a pest control service.
Rust
Vinegar eats away rust spots on steel, brass, and copper so that you can clean anything from rusty garden tools and screws to jar lids and keys.
Simply soak the rusty items in vinegar overnight, then scrub them with water. Brass and copper are softer than steel, so dilute it with water and don’t soak the items too long.
Weeds
Vinegar is a safe, yet powerful, natural DIY herbicide that is as effective against certain weed species as commercial herbicides.