When you think of apple cider vinegar, what comes to your mind may be one of its many benefits as a health food or traditional medicine. But did you know that apple cider vinegar has other uses as well?

From conditioning your hair to helping you clean your house helping apple cider vinegar has a number of surprising uses. If this has piqued your curiosity, here are 18 of these surprising uses for apple cider vinegar.

1. Natural skin toner

Beyond its many benefits when consumed, apple cider vinegar also provides benefits for the outside of your body. For one, apple cider vinegar is an excellent, and inexpensive, natural toner. When you apply it to your skin, it neutralizes the skin’s pH, leaving your skin smooth and soft.

You can wipe pure apple cider vinegar directly on your skin with a cotton ball. That said, if you find that the smell is too strong, you can mix one part apple cider vinegar to two parts water to create a more diluted mixture with a milder odor.

2. Hair conditioner

Apple cider vinegar also works as a good, natural hair conditioner thanks to its acidity. Hair that’s dull, brittle or frizzy tends to be more alkaline – higher on the pH scale. By spraying on some apple cider vinegar, you lower your hair’s pH, bringing it back into balance.

3. Bath mix

You can add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bathtub for a relaxing soak. Similar to using it as a skin toner, apple cider vinegar’s acidity means that using it in your bath brings your skin’s pH back into balance. This helps it keep moisture in and irritants out, calming itchy skin and even helping relieve sunburn.

In addition, apple cider vinegar has been shown to help treat infections caused by several common strains of bacteria.

4. Aftershave

The same properties that make apple cider a great natural skin toner also make it a good, natural soothing aftershave. Dilute it with an equal amount of water, shake, then splash on your face after shaving just as you would any aftershave.

5. Stomach calmer

If you’re feeling bloated, try drinking 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed into a cup of water before meals. Apple cider vinegar can help calm your stomach because it contains pectin, which is known to fight intestinal spasms. In addition, pectin can also fight the bacteria that cause diarrhea.

6. Fungus and wart treatment

Apple cider vinegar can also be used to treat fungus infections as well as warts on your skin. This is because vinegar is an acid, it can kill off fungus as well as the virus that causes warts on contact. In addition, it can also burn and slowly destroy infected skin, causing the wart to eventually fall off.

For fungus and warts on your toes and feet, you can get rid of them by simply applying undiluted apple cider vinegar. For warts in other places, you can soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and then tape it onto the wart, leaving it on overnight or for as long as it takes.

7. Soothe a sore throat

Apple cider vinegar’s ability to kill off germs, due to its acidic nature, means that it’s a great way to soothe a sore throat. Simply mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and then gargle it.

In addition, you can also mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of honey in a large mug of warm water as a drink to relieve your throat. That, or you can mix apple cider vinegar and lemon juice with your tea.

8. Stop hiccups

Common remedies for hiccups usually involve taking a spoonful of sugar or drinking water, but did you know that apple cider vinegar can help as well?

Try taking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar the next time you have hiccups. Apple cider vinegar is thought to over-stimulate the nerves in the throat that are responsible for your hiccup spasms.

9. Nasal cleaner

In addition to your throat, you can also use apple cider vinegar to clean your nasal passages. Simply add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. Not only does the acetic acid in the apple cider vinegar kill off bacteria, but the potassium in it also helps thin the mucus.

10. Treat dandruff

As previously mentioned, apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural hair conditioner. But did you know that it can be used to treat dandruff as well?

Apple cider vinegar has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. This makes it effective in killing dandruff-causing yeast on your scalp. As a bonus, apple cider vinegar pH balancing properties can help it soothe irritated scalps.

11. Reduce swelling

You can use apple cider vinegar to help reduce swelling by massaging it onto swollen parts of your body. This is thanks to its high potassium content, which in turn can help reduce fluid retention.

If you have swollen feet, you can also soak a clean cotton towel with equal parts apple cider vinegar and warm water. Squeeze out the excess water and vinegar and wrap this around your feet and relax for up to 20 minutes.

12. Boost energy

The potassium and enzymes in apple cider vinegar can also help boost your energy and prevent a sense of exhaustion. Just add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and you’re set.

13. Stop bad breath

Bad breath may be a sign that the pH of your mouth and saliva is out of balance. Gargling with apple cider vinegar helps balance out the pH levels in your mouth. In addition, apple cider vinegar can also help kill off bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Get rid of bad breath by gargling with apple cider vinegar on its own or diluted with water for 10 minutes. Doing so before a mean means you’re less likely to suffer from bad breath after eating.

14. Make a DIY facial mask

Apple cider vinegar’s pH balancing and antimicrobial properties mean that it makes for a great ingredient for a homemade facial mask. Simply mix it with bentonite clay and honey. Apply the mask to your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing off.

15. Lighten liver spots

Research shows that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may help lighten pigmentation, such as in dark spots like liver spots. You can treat liver spots on your skin with undiluted apple cider vinegar. Simply dab it on the affected area, leave overnight, then rinse it off the day after.

16. Neutralize body odor

The pH balancing and antimicrobial properties of apple cider vinegar also make it a natural deodorant.  You can apply it to your armpits to help neutralize any unpleasant odors.

17. Fight acne

Apple cider vinegar helps restore your skin’s natural, slightly acidic pH levels. This can greatly help when faced with conditions such as acne and atopic dermatitis which leave the skin pH more alkaline.

In addition, apple cider vinegar contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which make it an efficient natural exfoliant, helping it slough off dead skin. This is on top of its natural antimicrobial properties, which help kill the bacteria that cause acne.

18. Chemical-free household cleaner

Apple cider vinegar’s benefits go beyond your body. You can also use it as a natural cleaner for your house, free of harsh artificial chemicals. Simply mix it with water in a spray bottle. You can then spray this mixture on a surface you want to clean before wiping it off with a clean cloth.

Apple cider vinegar is more than just a healthy superfood. It’s a highly versatile culinary ingredient and natural remedy that can provide you with a host of benefits. It can even help you clean your house. With this in mind, stock up on apple cider vinegar today so you can experience these benefits and more.

Sources:

TreeHugger.com

Tasty-Yummies.com

Healthline.com 1

Nature.com

TheBalanceEveryDay.com

Healthline.com 2

Healthline.com 3

Cosmopolitan.com

Femina.in

PHMD.pl

MindBodyGreen.com