Take a peek in my pantry and you’ll quickly discover one thing; around 15 bottles of organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Why? Well because there are so many uses for apple cider vinegar that I can’t keep it on hand unless I buy a ton at once! When I first started trying to manage diabetes naturally, apple cider vinegar was one of the first things I added. It has so many health benefit and so many other uses though that it very quickly became a favorite around our home. After you read this post, I’m certain it will become one of your favorite products too!
Before we get to my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar, I want to make something clear to you. This is especially important if you’ve never used ACV before. Not all apple cider vinegars are created equal. First, you’ll want to find one that contains the Mother. The mother is a spidery web like addition that grows naturally as the ACV is made. Basically if your ACV contains it, it is unfiltered. Why is the Mother important? There is some significant research that shows that a lot of the benefits of ACV come from the Mother so by including it, you give yourself a step up if the research proves true. Secondly, you’ll want to opt for an organic apple cider vinegar. With something like ACV, you really want to avoid any unnecessary chemicals and the only way to do that, short of making homemade apple cider vinegar is to buy organic.
Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
The second thing you should know is why apple cider vinegar is good for you and good to use. ACV is full of good stuffs that your body needs like acetic acid, probiotics, potassium, magnesium, and other enzymes that can help your body balance itself, detox and more. Acetic acid is one of the more important items in that list since it basically kills bad harmful bacteria and allows good bacteria to grow. It is the acetic acid that gives ACV most of its benefits, but of course if you’re low on potassium or magnesium, you’ll get the benefits from that as well. In other words, it works as a fantastic natural antibiotic, a detox method and more.
The last thing I want to mention is that the internet is full of sites that will tell you to gargle ACV by itself or to put it directly on your teeth. ACV is incredibly acidic and as such, it can actually harm your teeth if you don’t dilute it. Because of this, you should never drink it straight. Always dilute it in water or another drink before you drink it.
With all of that said, onto my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar!
Help to regulate blood sugar –
On of my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar is its ability to regular blood sugar. In fact, this is how I got started using it. I was diagnosed as diabetic and was looking for a natural diabetes treatment. To use ACV for your own blood sugar, add 1-2 tablespoons a day to water, tea or another drink like the one I mix up. I take it twice a day like this and my blood sugar levels run normal!
Helps to whiten teeth –
Because ACV kill harmful bacteria, it is great for whitening your teeth. However, remember that I said it is super acidic so don’t put it on your teeth directly. Instead, add 1-2 tablespoons to 1 cup of water and swish the mixture around your mouth after brushing.
Add shine to your hair –
Another of my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar is as a hair condition since it adds shine back to your hair. I like to take an empty conditioner or shampoo bottle that I’ve rinsed very well and add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. I then fill with 1 cup of water and shake well. Shampoo your hair with your favorite homemade shampoo recipe and rinse with acv after. If you’re worried about smelling like vinegar, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or rinse your hair after with plain water.
Remove warts –
Warts are annoying and frankly they’re kind of ugly but apple cider vinegar can help. Soak an organic cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. Cover the wart with the cotton ball then use a bandage to hold it in place. Leave it on overnight and remove it in the morning. Repeat this every night and soon you’ll see the warn disappear!
Treat heartburn and acid reflux –
This is one of our most common uses for apple cider vinegar around our house. My Emma was born with GERD and even 13 (almost) years later, it still bothers her. Because apple cider vinegar is full of probiotics, it is fantastic for treating it! Just mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water and drink it around 5 minutes before you eat a meal that you think might bother you. It works surpringly well! I’ve used after I’ve gotten heartburn too and it even works then!
Help with body pain and stiffness –
A lot of folks don’t realize that apple cider vinegar can actually help with arthritis and the pain or stiffness that can come with it. Because it does have some anti-inflammatory properties, it can help ease the inflammation that causes those things. I can personally attest to this one as my own chronic pain issues eased quite a bit within days of adding ACV to my daily routine and has stayed away since then.
Helps you to feel more energetic –
Research has shown that a body with higher acidity (in other words, a lower PH balance) can lead to sluggishness and lack of energy as well as a higher rate of infection. Apple cider vinegar can help your body become PH balanced which in turn causes you to have more energy. Not only that, but because ACV takes care of harmful bacteria, your infection rate should drop as well. Even if you only drink less caffeine and don’t’ stop drinking it all together, it is still worth it to give ACV a try for energy.
Helps speed weight loss –
When you take 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar each day, you will speed up any weight that you’re trying to lose. Because it helps you to feel fuller and blocks some fat from forming, you’ll see results much quicker than just with diet and exercise alone. ACV is a much healthier option for losing weight than a lot of the products on the market which makes it one of my go-to products for weight loss. I use it in conjunction each day with the Thrive 3-step system and am constantly shocked by how much I’ve lost!
Help prevent yeast infections –
Remember how I said ACV is full of probiotics and acetic acid? Those two items when combined help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as candida. Candida is that bacteria that causes yeast infections. To help boost your probiotic levels and help kill of candida, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup water and drink it three times a day to detox your body from Candida.
Boost digestive probiotics –
Again, those probiotics that ACV includes are not only great for removing harmful bacteria, but they boost beneficial bacterias. This means that your digestive system will run smoothly as it should. If you frequently have an upset stomach, drinking a mixture that contains 1-2 tablespoons of ACV each day can help.
Reduce sugar cravings –
Science is still out on this one, but given the other health benefits of ACV, it makes sense to take it if you’re looking for help reducing sugar cravings. There is some thought that since ACV reduces harmful bacteria that it can also curb sugar cravings with it.
Antibacterial cleaner –
Another of my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar is to use it as an antibacterial cleaner. Just mix it up in a glass spray bottle with water at a 1:1 ratio. Use like any other cleaner in your kitchen, bathroom or any room that you need to spruce up. If you would like to cover the smell, you can do so by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lemon essential oil is especially good.
Helps to soothe a sunburn –
Did our time in the sun lead to a bad sunburn? Fill the bath with lukewarm water and add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in. Mix it around then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil along with around 25 drops of lavender essential oil. Not only will the pain go away but your sunburn will heal quicker!
Take the sting out of poison ivy and poison oak –
It seems like we get hit with poison ivy at least once a summer since we do a lot of camping, but ACV is a great remedy for it! Since organic apple cider vinegar with the mother contains so much potassium, it can reduce swelling and inflammation. To use it for poison ivy, dilute it a bit with water then dab onto the affected area. It should relieve the itch pretty quickly!
Use apple cider vinegar to kill fleas –
I have a big doofy dog and one of the things that we constantly fight are fleas which means that this is one of my favorite uses for apple cider vinegar. It can help get rid of fleas! To treat your dog or cat for fleas using apple cider vinegar, mix a 50/50 solution of ACV and water then soak your pet in the tub. Do this once a day until the fleas are gone!
Help relieve allergy symptoms –
If you’re constantly suffering from allergies, take ACV daily! It is known to help break up mucous in your body, support the immune system and clear your sinuses. To help with allergies, add 2 tablespoons ACV to 1 cup of water and drink it three times per day. After a few days you should see significant relief!
ACV helps to stimulate lymph nodes –
Not only can ACV help with allergies, but it can also help you keep your lymph nodes healthy. Lymph nodes run through your entire body and if they get clogged or sluggish, they can swell and cause quite a bit of pain. Luckily, ACV helps to support lymphatic drainage so by taking 2 tablespoons of ACV in 1 cup of water once a day, you’re helping your body stay healthy and to remove potential infections from your lymphatic system.
Treat acne with Apple Cider Vinegar –
Do you have an issue with acne? How about your teenager? If so, dip an organic cotton ball into apple cider vinegar and rub it into the pimple or blackhead. Let it dry fully then add a bit of organic coconut oil and lavender essential oil to help it heal even faster.
Treat spider veins with apple cider vinegar –
Spider veins are not only unsightly but they can also be slightly painful. Luckily, one of the easiest beauty uses for apple cider vinegar is to help treat spider veins! Add 1 part apple cider vinegar to two parts witch hazel. Mix well then rub onto spider veins in a circular motion once a day for around two weeks.
Natural deodorant –
I’m a huge fan of my homemade deodorant recipe, but if you want something simpler or are simply in a hurry, apple cider vinegar can help! In fact, this may be my favorite on this entire list of uses for apple cider vinegar. Just dip your fingers in apple cider vinegar then rub it into your armpits can keep you smelling great all day and will kill yeast and other nasty bacteria that cause odors.
Relieve cold symptoms –
Not only is ACV great for relieving allergies, but it can help relieve cold symptoms too! The treatment is the same for allergies. 2 tablespoons of ACV in 1 glass of water three times a day. This is one of my favorite home remedies for a cold or the flu.
Home remedy for sore throats –
Have a sore throat? Gargle 1-2 tablespoons of ACV mixed with water three times a day. Your sore throat will be gone before you know it!
Treat bad breath –
No one wants to be known as the person with bad breath and luckily ACV can help with it. To keep your breath smelling fresh, gargle 1-2 tablespoons of ACV with water once a day or whenever your breath needs a pick me up.
Helps to heal bruises –
If your kids play sports, you’ll love this on our list of uses for apple cider vinegar! To help heal a bruise, soak a cotton ball in ACV. Dab it gently onto the bruise and within a couple of days it should start going away!
Make a homemade weed killer –
If you’re trying to landscape your yard on a budget, you may not want to pay for a chemical weed killer. Instead, use combine 1/2 gallon of ACV with 1/4 sea salt and 1 teaspoon original blue Dawn dish soap. Spray onto your weeds and only your weeds. This mixture will kill any plant that it comes into contact with so be very careful not to get it onto your flowers or other plants.
Lower Cholesterol –
This is another one that is up in the air, but there is some research that taking ACV daily can lower your LDL cholesterol levels. If you’ve got high levels, it may be worth it to give it a shot.
Food preservation –
If you’re looking for a way to preserve food other than learning how to can or dehydrator recipes, apple cider vinegar can help! ACV is acidic which means it makes the foods more acidic, deactivates enzymes and kills bacteria that cause spoilage. Vinegar has been used for thousands of years to pickle foods which makes it a great frugal use of apple cider vinegar!
Kill fruit flies in your kitchen –
Fruit flies are more annoying than anything, but they’re also unhealthy to have around. Luckily one of the easiest uses for apple cider vinegar is to kill fruit flies. Fill a disposable cup with apple cider vinegar then add a few drops of original blue Dawn dish soap. Cover the cup tightly with plastic wrap and use a rubber band to seal it. Use a sewing needle to poke tiny holes into the plastic wrap then set it where you most often see the fruit flies. The flies will fly into the cup, get trapped and drown/sink in the ACV/soap mixture. If you want to give it an even better boost, add a piece of banana to the cup. They smell sweeter than the ACV alone which draws the fruit flies in even more.
Better hard boiled or poached eggs –
Getting perfect hard boiled eggs can be hard but if you’re making something such as a deviled egg recipe, you need them to be consistent. You can either use an InstantPot or you can add vinegar to the water! Using apple cider vinegar helps the eggs to keep their shape when they’re boiling. Plus if you happen to crack one when you put them into the pot, vinegar will speed up the hardening or coagulation of the egg white meaning it won’t leak into the pan nearly as much.
Make a homemade fruit and vegetable wash –
Apple cider vinegar makes a great homemade fruit and vegetable wash because it kills bacteria. Just keep in mind that it may not clean off pesticides so you will still want to look for another option for removing them from your fruit and vegetables.
Make a Homemade Denture Cleaner –
Looking for a natural denture cleaner? Use a toothbrush and wash them with apple cider vinegar! Just be sure to dilute the ACV and to rinse well so that the acidity doesn’t harm your dentures.
Make a homemade dandruff remedy –
If you’re plagued by dandruff, apple cider vinegar can help. Just mix it with water to a 1:1 ratio and massage it into your scalp. Rinse well and you’ll soon be flake free!
Clean your toothbrush –
Do you realize how funky your toothbrush gets? Very funky, but apple cider vinegar can help keep it bacteria free. To make a homemade toothbrush cleaner, mix 1/2 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of ACV and stir. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and dip the head of your toothbrush in the solution. Leave for 30 minutes then rinse well.
Use as a home remedy for foot odor –
If you have stinky feet, pour some ACV into a tub or bin and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Rinse and dry them well and your foot odor should be gone!
Use as a home odor remover –
Stinky trash can or smoke smell? Fill a shallow bowl with apple cider vinegar and sit near the odor. The ACV will absorb the odor and your home will smell great! If you want to add an even more powerful punch, pour baking soda into a bowl and use the two together. Discard the ACV and baking soda after a few days and replace with fresh!
Make a homemade aftershave –
Shaving can be harsh on your skin, but ACV can help soothe it. If you’re looking for a homemade aftershave recipe, just use a cotton ball dipped in ACV. Dab it on the recently shaved area, let dry then rub in fractionated coconut oil with lavender essential oil. Your shaved skin will be smooth and soothed!
Soothe itchy bug bites –
Bug bites are pretty much a given during the warmer months of the year, and even though you might be using a homemade bug spray, they still happen. Soothing them with ACV is a snap though! The process is the same as using ACV as a homemade aftershave above.
Take your baking to the next level –
Want to really wow people with your baking skills? Replace 1-2 tablespoons of the liquid in your recipe with ACV. You won’t taste the vinegar but your baking will come out moist and fluffy!
Bring out the color in soups –
We eat with our eyes and soups that are bright and colorful always just seem to taste better. Add 1-2 tablespoons of ACV to your next soup recipe and your vegetables will stay bright and colorful for a beautiful presentation!
Make an amazing salad dressing –
ACV makes an amazing salad dressing recipe and they’re usually really easy to make! THIS is one of my favs! The next time you’re having a salad, give it a try and I guarantee you won’t go back to bottled!
