25 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Will Chnage Your Life

Apple cider vinegar is incredibly versatile and can be used in many way around your home. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cookware without PFAS and nanoparticles, best organic mattresses, & best air purifiers, now join us as we bring you 25 ways that apple cider vinegar will change your life.

Did you know that apple cider vinegar has been used as a healing elixir since 400 B.C.? Vinegar was used by the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates – he prescribed it for up to 17 different ailments – and is just as useful today.

This post was medically fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Hark, RN, BSN and contains affiliate links.

Table of Contents

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses for Around the Home

Use ACV as a Non-Toxic Cleaner for the Kitchen

What some people don’t know about apple cider vinegar is that, in its raw unfiltered state, this vinegar contains all the bacteria-fighting benefits that many commercial kinds of vinegar lack.

To make your own cleaning solution, simply mix equal parts water and ACV, plus a little elbow grease, to get your home free of dirt, bacteria, and toxins cleaners.

Don’t worry, the vinegar smell goes away as it dries.

(However, if you are looking for the safest disinfectants to clean surfaces that disrupt your indoor air quality, here they are.)

Use ACV as a Weedkiller Instead of Glyphosate

A friendly neighbor turned me on to vinegar as weed killing alternative years ago and experts claim it can be just as effective as dangerous herbicide glyphosate.

Just mix 1/2 gallon ACV, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/2 teaspoon dish soap.

But if you’d like ALL your options for the safest ways to battle weeds and pests, go here for our investigation on safe gardening products.

Use ACV as an Odor Neutralizer

Is your home filled with an unpleasant odor that just won’t go away? Crazy as it sounds, ACV acts as an order neutralizer.

Place some ACV in a dish or simmer some on your stove to help manage offensive odors make your space smell better.

Possible Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar to Talk to Your Doctor About

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Linked to Helping Control Diabetes

Multiple studies have shown a correlation between apple cider vinegar and lower blood sugar levels.

In one study, participants took twenty grams of apple cider vinegar after dinner and had their blood tested at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after eating. The researchers noted that the apple cider vinegar did drop their post-meal blood sugar levels.

One easy way to get more ACV in your life is with salad dressing and we have all the best salad dressings here.

Drinking ACV for Weight Loss–Possible Links

Apple cider vinegar was a major weight loss trend throughout the 2000s. One study found that feeding obese mice and rats plain vinegar saw a modest decrease in weight as well as lower triglycerides, while another study found that vinegar makes people feel fuller (by causing nausea).

These studies were not done using apple cider vinegar, but regular vinegar – and warrants more testing with actual ACV, so the jury is still out.

But hey, if it works for you – that’s fantastic!

Possible Links to Lower Cholesterol

In addition to lowered blood sugar and weight loss, a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed interesting findings of apple cider vinegar and cholesterol.

Lowered VLDL levels and lowered triglycerides were discovered in lab rats who were given apple cider vinegar alongside a high cholesterol diet.

The rats who were not given ACV did not see the same drop in cholesterol.

A similar study in humans did show that there was a decent drop in cholesterol in those who received apple cider vinegar – but more research is needed before this can be used as a standard for treatment.

Links to Slowing Oxidative Stress on Organs

Apple cider vinegar can help detox your home, but it can also detox your body.

One study showed that apple cider vinegar slowed the signs of oxidative stress in kidneys and livers of rats, but this is the only study of its kind, so the results may or may not be reliable.

This has not been studied in humans.

Can Prevent Bacterial Growth On Salads

Seems like every other day, salad and salad mixes are being recalled for one bacteria infestation or another.

Researchers have been looking into the antimicrobial benefits of apple cider vinegar and have found that mixing lemon juice and apple cider vinegar had been shown to reduce Salmonella – which is a common contaminant in salads. Plus? It tastes delicious.

For more on the best salad dressings with the least amount of preservatives and junk go here.

Sore Throat

The bacteria-fighting properties of apple cider vinegar can work quite well!

Gargle equal parts warm water and apple cider vinegar at the first sign of a sore throat to keep it at bay, and repeat every hour as needed.

You can add honey and/or lemon to the mixture if you need more help with your sore throat!

But if you are looking for the best over the counter (OTC) medication to help you manage other cold & flu symptoms, go here.

Digestive Aid

Having tummy troubles or know you’re going to eat something that you might regret later?

Some people swear that sipping diluted apple cider vinegar (such as being mixed into water or juice) can help settle your stomach.

It’s absolutely a personal preference as other people have noticed increased stomach issues with drinking ACV.

Speaking of digestive aids, our investigation on the best probiotics for digestive health is here.

Itchy or Sunburned Skin

Apple cider vinegar can be great for sunburned or itchy skin. Just apply right to the itchy area for some relief.

It also can work for itches caused by bug bites, poison ivy, or a jellyfish sting.

If you are looking for the best sunscreens, you can find that investigation here. And we also have the safest bug sprays around children here.

Sinus Infections

While you should never, ever rinse your sinuses with apple cider vinegar (unless suggested by a doctor) because it can damage the thin layer of tissue in the sinuses causing burns but inhaling the warm mist of an ACV concoction may loosen up your sinuses.

Here’s what you do:

Add ACV and water to a pot – you can also add lemon – and heat until boiling. Then, put your face over the steam (not too close to the water – you don’t want to get burned) and breathe in.

But again, if you need the safest OTC medications, they are here.

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses For Beauty/Hygiene

Shiny, Flake Free Hair

Apple cider vinegar can be an excellent weekly hair rinse.

Mix 1/3 a cup of apple cider vinegar into 4 cups water, rinse hair after shampooing, then rinse with cold water.

It’s known to leave your hair looking shiny and soft

The acid in the the ACV is supposed to remove product build-up in your hair

It helps to balance the pH level of your scalp.

If you are also interested in the best non-toxic shampoos and conditioners, that investigation is here.

Facial Toner & Cleanser

Thanks to the antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar, it’s great for cleaning most everything, even your face.

It may even help prevent breakouts & just like your scalp, it can help balance your skin’s pH levels.

If you are interested in Mamavation’s investigation on the best non-toxic face washes and moisturizers, it’s here.

Deodorant

Many of the deodorants our there are harmful to your health. We at Mamavation even looked into the best, better, and worst types of deodorant available, here.

Luckily, using ACV can fight the odor-causing bacteria without the cancer-causing toxins.

Just apply a little ACV under your arms.

And you won’t be left smelling like a salad once it dries.

Fade Bruises

Coming from a long line of klutzes, this was the best thing I learned about apple cider vinegar.

After a bump or the appearance of a bruise, dab on some apple cider vinegar. If the bruise is bigger, you can use compress made of ACV and warm water.

It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and will help to ease discoloration.

But if you would like to cover up that bruise with some non-toxic makeup, here’s our makeup investigation here.

Whiten Teeth

Many people swear by ACV as a natural teeth lightener – and it does work.

If this is what you’re going to use as a teeth whitener, make teeth sparkle after swishing around some ACV diluted with two parts water.

Then brush as usual.

The bacteria-fighting power of ACV is an added bonus too.

Speaking of teeth, if you are interested look here for the best non-toxic toothpaste and here for the best non-toxic dental flosses.

Eliminate Bad Breath

Use apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash, and gargle to help eliminate objectionable mouth odor. It’s very effective at its job and so long as you don’t use it every day, you should be safe.

ACV kills the bacteria that causes bad breath.

Stop Smelly Feet

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, ACV helps get rid of many, many bad smells, and one of the absolute most disgusting scents is caused by stinky feet.

Luckily, if you’ve (or your kid, or husband, or whomever) suffers from stinky feet, this is a great remedy.

Wipe your toes and feet down with a paper towel soaked in ACV to combat the odor.

You can also use it as a foot soak for an hour each day using a 1:2 ratio of ACV and water. You can add essential oils to make this soak smell delicious.

If you are interested in the best non-toxic body washes to clean those smelly feet, look here.

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses in Food

Juice

Consuming organic raw, unfiltered ACV can assist in many health benefits (as we discussed above); however it can be dangerous in large quantities, so do ask your doctor if drinking raw, organic, unfiltered ACV is safe for you.

You can also add it to juices or smoothies if the taste is too pungent for you on its own.

Check out our investigation on contaminants found in juices at the store and which are the safest here.

Baking

Fluff up your baked goods by adding apple cider vinegar.

It adds lift to cookies, cakes, and other concoctions and you won’t taste it in the final product.

If you are also planning on cooking with dairy, here are the best & worst organic dairies.

Sauces

I use ACV for my barbecue sauce and it’s perfect for that tangy but sweet flavor.

Try it in your favorite marinades or mix it into condiments that are too thick.

And check out Mamavation’s best non-toxic condiments.

Soups

Still, need more ways to get vinegar into your diet?

Try adding it to soups.

It can add a bit of brightness and flavor – and hey, don’t worry – your soup won’t end up tasting of vinegar.

And stick around to our investigation on canned soups.

Salads

I think this one goes without saying, but it certainly needed to make the list.

Whisk together some ACV and olive oil and your favorite additions (garlic, mustard, citrus, honey, etc) for a delicious drizzle over your organic greens.

It’s even great in recipes like this Fiesta Coleslaw.

But for the best brands of salad dressings without all the junk, go here.

Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

In a small study in Germany in 1998 relating to one woman who drank apple cider vinegar for 6 years with water, she was admitted to the hospital with low potassium levels. Later, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, which is a condition of brittle bones that is incredibly rare in young people so researchers took note. The doctor who treated her believed that the large daily doses of apple cider vinegar led to minerals inside her bones being leached out and the acidity of her blood changing. The amount she consumed every single day for six years was more than any person would likely consume but good to be wary of too much anyways. Therefore, be on the lookout for too much vinegar consumption to change your potassium levels and make sure any daily routine is monitored by a doctor.

It’s also good to note that vinegar may interact with the following medicines which underscore the importance to have daily routines monitored by your doctor:

Insulin stimulating medication for diabetes. People who take insulin or insulin-stimulating medications and apple cider vinegar may experience low blood sugar or low potassium levels, which is dangerous for those types of patients.
Digoxin (Lanoxin) to lower blood potassium levels. This medication lowers your blood potassium levels, so therefore taking it in combination with apple cider vinegar can act to lowering your potassium too much.
Some diuretic drugs to help excrete potassium. To ensure you prevent potassium levels from dropping too low, these drugs should never be consumed with large amounts of vinegar.

Our Recommendation on Apple Cider Vinegar Products

Our favorite apple cider vinegar is good old-fashioned Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. This iconic brand is available at most grocery stores around the country and on Amazon here.

What do you use apple cider vinegar for, and what about apple cider vinegar were you most surprised to learn?

About the Author

Leah Segedie is a consumer watchdog, author, entrepreneur, environmental activist, and mother of three boys.

She wrote Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, & Be Happier (All Without Driving Your Family Crazy!) in 2018. She’s consistently been featured in the media for the past 15 years in media outlets like ABC, CBS, CNN, Yahoo, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, Ladies Home Journal, Shape Magazine, Fitness Magazine to name a few.

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