Apple Cider Vinegar Uses & Benefits

I always keep a bottle of apple cider vinegar in my home. It seems to constantly transport back and forth between my kitchen cabinet to my bathroom cabinet because there are just so many uses for it. From cleaning supplies to face masks, the uses of apple cider vinegar seem to be never-ending, and today I’m sharing five of my favorites.

Make sure you use raw, all-natural apple cider vinegar for maximum benefits!

1. Hair Rinse

Apple cider vinegar, pinecones

Apple cider vinegar is an excellent way to remove excess buildup from your hair, whether it’s from styling products or contaminants in your water. This is due to the presence of acetic acid, the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar. In addition, it will balance your hair’s pH level, promote hair growth by stimulating the scalp, treat dandruff, and give your hair extra bounce, body, and shine!

To make: Combine 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar with 1 quart of distilled water in a container and mix well.

To use: Shampoo your hair as your normally would, and rinse well. Apply the mixture (a spray bottle works great for this), leave it on for just a few seconds, and rinse with cold water to lock in the shine. Don’t condition afterwards – there’s no need, and doing so may negate the benefits of the rinse. You can use this rinse about once a week.

2. Face Mask

Honey and bentonite clay

Apple cider vinegar is often used on the face to reduce inflammation and prevent breakouts. My favorite way to use it is in a weekly calcium bentonite clay mask, which will clear your pores and detoxify your skin.

To make: Combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and calcium bentonite clay powder (I use this one) and mix well. You can also add in a little honey if you wish. If this recipe is too strong for your skin, replace half of the apple cider vinegar with warm water.

To use: Spread a thick, even layer over the your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. You will actually feel your skin pulsate as the mask dries, which is a crazy feeling. Rinse off with warm water and enjoy your fresh, smooth skin. Your skin my appear red directly after rinsing the mask — this is normal and should disappear within a half hour. Do this mask once a week for best results.

3. All-Purpose Cleaner

Apple cider vinegar surface cleaner

Due to its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar is a natural disinfectant, making for an excellent all-purpose cleaner for your home. Mix ½ cup apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water in a spray bottle and you’re all set. This is a great cleaner to use on countertops, stoves, refrigerators, sinks, and bathtubs.

4. Deodorant

Apple cider vinegar deodorant

Apple cider vinegar can actually be used as an underarm deodorant! All you have to do is apply some to your underarms with a cotton ball. It will have a strong scent at first, but that will soon neutralize and you will be left feeling as fresh as ever.

5. Heartburn Remedy

Test tubes

Even though apple cider vinegar is acidic itself, it can help treat excess acid in your stomach. Take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and follow with a glass of water. You should start to feel better shortly afterwards! Please note: This will not provide relief for those who have a stomach ulcer.

Apple cider vinegar uses

Do you know any other uses for apple cider vinegar? Comment and let us know!

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Erika
10 years ago

I use it as a toner. I use a 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar to filtered water (but you can use less vinegar if its too harsh on your skin or the smell throws you off). I put it on a cotton ball and then swipe on my face and neck. It smells at first but the smell soon disappears. You’re left with glowing skin. So many benefits to using it as a toner for acne prone skin too. I’ve been using apple cider vinegar like this for a year now and always get compliments on how clear my skin looks. And I can always tell the difference in my skins texture when I don’t use it.

September
10 years ago

I’ve also been using apple cider vinegar as a toner for about two weeks now. Also, apple cider vinegar has a lot of health benefits, including making you feel more energized, so in the morning I mix about 2 tsp. of it in a large glass with some honey, and then fill the rest of the glass with water. Drinking it helps me feel more awake.

10 years ago

I never knew about all of these benefits! I am absolutely going to be trying these! As well as the toner suggestions from the ladies above!

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Hemingway
10 years ago

September,
Thanks for taking time to write in that suggestion. I definitely need an energy boost this morning and am going to go try your idea right now!

Georgi
10 years ago

I just got over a very miserable sinus infection not too long ago and it lasted for almost two weeks. I gave the neti pot a try for the first time ever and would add in small amount of ACV to cooled down boiled water and the sinnus rinse packet. I also drank the ACV in glasses of water for 2-3 days and I was cleared up instantly. It helps thin the mucus and I highly recommend using ACV for colds or sinus infections.

pbmc
10 years ago

It helps with headaches too! Just take 2 tablespoons, as soon as you feel the headache coming on. The apple cider vinegar helps blood flow & most headaches are caused by restricted blood cells.

10 years ago

I LOVE ACV! I use it as a hair rinse, face toner, and health tonic. For the health tonic, I just mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with 1 teaspoon of honey in 8oz of warm water and drink that every morning. So good for digestion and keeping your body alkaline. I also use it as a hair rinse. Just be aware that it can give you some bright coppery highlights over time. I love my highlights, but I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

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Bee
10 years ago

This kind of vinegar also helps to stop the itch of a mosquito bite.
Also, it helps to put some vinegar on aching limbs. I don’t know how, but it works!

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Nathalie
10 years ago

I use APV whenever I am starting to feel sick. I mix it with water, turmeric, fresh cut ginger and a smidge of honey. I put it in my water bottle and drink it throughout the day and by the end of the day the ‘sick’ has dissapeared. It is my miracle go to savior remedy. Works everytime!

Holly
10 years ago

It can be used to treat warts, by soaking a cotton wool ball, and taping it to the skin and leaving it overnight. Repeat this nightly until the wart falls off

jessi
10 years ago

it helps with sunburn as well!

Aleisha
10 years ago

Helps boost the immune system to fight of cold symptoms like a sore throat.

Apples Cider and Garlic.

1 tbsp Apple Cider
1 garlic clove – chopped.

Mix together, Eat!

It burns and doesn’t taste great but it works! My boyfriend and I swear by it.

10 years ago

I use apple cider all the time! Last year I had strep for three months but after the first 2 reoccurances, I started gargling with ACV and it immediately helped instead of using antibiotics which shouldn’t be used for an extended period of time! Along with garlic, ACV is know to have antimicrobial properties.

Don’t forget to dilute it though, otherwise it stings a bit and tastes a little nasty

Anonymous
10 years ago

So many great tips! The toner and the drink are new to me and I’m eager to try them. Vinegar works great in laundry too–use a couple Tablespoons in the rinse cycle to get rid of any musty smells the towels may have.

Kristien
10 years ago

I second the comment about using ACV as a cure for sinus infections. I’m sometimes skeptical about remedies such as this, but I’ve used ACV to clear up sinus infections twice, and it works like a charm. I mix 1 Tbsp ACV with 1 cup of hot water, then add 1 Tbsp of honey. Drink 2-3 times a day until you’re cleared up.

Kelsey
10 years ago

Hello! While I am stoked to read most of these, I just want to let everyone know that taking ACV as a stomach remedy isn’t good for everyone – especially people with blood glucose disorders. Check with your doctor first on that one!

Bianca
10 years ago

Drinking apple cider vinegar (with some raw honey to make it taste better) can actually help cleanse your system, gets rid of allergies, clears skin from acne, removes toxins from the body, helps with weight loss and can even kill cancer cells.

When you think of apple cider, you probably think of fall. A warm sweet glass full of apples and spice that warms the body on a cool fall day and this delicious drink is where this miracle tonic gets its start.

Cindy
10 years ago

I was sick for about two and a half months with cold/flu like symptoms.. was too busy to go to the doctor, so I just continuously took Dayquil/Nyquil to avoid the symptoms. Finally realized that wasn’t helping me, and was told by my uncle to take a ‘shot’ or two of AVC vinegar a day. I felt better within two days… could be a coincidence, but my uncle swears by it!

Ann
10 years ago

I have found that apple cider vinegar work well with athletes foot. I had it very bad and after I showered eCh night I would put a little apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball swab and apply to the affected area. It does burn for a few moments but just grit your teeth and let it dry. When I woke up the next morning I could already see the fungus going away.

Missy
10 years ago

I would put 2 cups of regular vinegar into my boys laundry when they were infants. No more carrot stains on their clothes.

10 years ago

I’ve been drinking it mixed with water and stevia or agave (sometimes with turmeric, ginger, lemon, and/or cayenne too) as a nice tonic in the morning – or all day long – to energize and jumpstart digestion. I keep meaning to try the toner – thanks for this and so many other great ideas!

I also use it to pickle veggies. Soak slices of cucumbers, peppers, carrots etc. for a week to a month or longer in a jar with equal parts vinegar and water (or more vinegar if you like them strong) and spices of choice (I always include cayenne because I like them hot.)

If you like the taste, it’s great mixed with spices directly over salads and other dishes as an oil-free dressing (or you can mix w/ extra virgin olive oil for an oily dressing that’s still way healthier than commercial ones). It’s even good sprinkled over popcorn! Sounds weird, I know, but someone recommended and I finally tried it – I like it better than salt!

Good post. I learn something totally new and
challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be useful to read through content from other writers and use something from their websites.

9 years ago

Great post! Been reading a lot about cleaning with vinegar. Thanks for the info here!

jkw
9 years ago

Be sure to use unfiltered, raw, organic acv. Bragg’s is the best. I’ve been using it for quite some time now. I use cheaper white vinegar for cleaning and laundry. I use in as fabric softener. Will never use commercial fs again. They contain a waxy substance that builds up on fabrics to wear them out sooner and holds odors. Pour it in the dispenser or directly on the clothes at the beginning of the wash. Lovely, fresh laundry at the end.