Distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are dual-use and inexpensive products, making them a perfect item for preppers to stockpile. The plethora of ways vinegar can be used now in our daily lives and after the SHTF will not only save money, but also provide a non-toxic alternative to many cleaning chores.
Vinegar has been used for home remedies, cooking and cleaning for centuries around the globe. Folks from ancient Rome to the early inhabitants of China held vinegar in high regard for its medicinal and disinfecting properties. In 5000 B.C. the Sumerians used vinegar to preserve and pickle food. Helen of Troy was said to pour vinegar in her bath water to help her relax. In 247 B.C. the famed military commander Hannibal drenched massive boulders in scalding hot vinegar so the rocks could be cracked into small pieces. Once the heavy obstacles were reduced to rubble and could be easily removed, his army was able to continue on its journey through the Alps.
Vinegar Survival Uses
- Sore Throat – Pour 1 teaspoon of white vinegar into a standard-size glass of water and gargle the mixture.
- Propane Lantern Wicks – Make wicks burn longer by soaking them in vinegar for 3 hours and then allowing them to completely air dry.
- Wart Removal – Apply a mixture of equal parts glycerin and apple cider vinegar to the warts until they shrivel up and go away.
- Psoriasis Control – Wash the area where psoriasis is detected with white vinegar several times per week until it is no longer visible.
- Smell Discipline – Reduce the smell of smoke when cooking or burning wood by placing bowls of distilled white vinegar around the outdoor fire or camping stove.
- Fleas – Add a few drops of white vinegar to a gallon of water to help remove fleas and other pests from the coats of pets and medium to large livestock. Rub the solution onto the pets and allow their fur to air dry – do not rinse.
- Food Preservation – Pickle nearly any vegetable that can be canned using either apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar. *Vinegar pickling recipe included at the end of this Survival Based article.
- Boiled Eggs – Prevent eggs from cracking during boiling by putting 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into the pot with the water.
- Disinfect Wood Kitchen Tools – Wipe wood cutting boards and cooking utensils with distilled white vinegar to disinfect and prevent the spread of disease from raw meat and potentially tainted produce. Do not clean wood floors with the same mixture; it will dull the finish and its high acidic content can discolor the wood over time.
- Stomachache – Mix 1 cup of water with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and drink to help cure an upset stomach.
- Hair Care – Reduce the impact of hard water and remove dandruff from hair by rinsing your locks with a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. The vinegar smell dissipates as the hair dries.
- Dentures – Soak false teeth in straight white vinegar overnight, rinse with warm water and brush before use to clean the dentures and remove any food stuck between the teeth.
- Sprains and Strains – Soak a piece of a paper bag in apple cider vinegar, squeeze out the excess vinegar, and wrap around the injured body part. The vinegar will help reduce inflammation and soreness.
- Insect Trap – Pour apple cider vinegar into a mason jar to make a trap for fruit flies and other insects. Poke a few holes in the metal lid so the gnats can get into the trap. The apple smell will attract the insects, which ultimately drown inside the jar.
- Vehicle Windows – Clean windows with a 3-to-1 solution of white vinegar and water to prevent the glass from frosting over and to thoroughly clean the surface without streaking.
- Wool – Make those sturdy and warm wool blankets a lot less stiff and itchy by adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle.
- Shaving Razors – Soak razors in equal parts white vinegar and water for an hour to remove residue and to disinfect to allow the disposables to be used for an extended period of time.
- Blood Sugar Levels – Help keep blood sugar levels under control by drinking apple cider vinegar four times per day.
- Skunk Stink – Pull a Helen of Troy and soak yourself or your pets in a white vinegar bath to rid the body, hair, or fur of the pungent stench left behind after encountering a skunk.
- Stings – Dabbing bee, wasp, and other insect stings with apple cider vinegar may help reduce swelling and soreness.
- Homemade Baby Wipes – Cut a paper towel roll into thirds and then slide out the cardboard roll. Mix together water, natural soap, white vinegar, tea tree oil, and extra virgin olive oil. Use ½ cup each of the water and vinegar and about 1/3 of a cup of each of the other ingredients. Pour mixture over the paper towels after they have been placed in a storage container with a tightly fitting lid. Cotton fabric scraps can also be used to make the baby wipes.
- Vegetables – Help revive wilting vegetables by soaking them in a mixture of 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar for about 3 minutes. Rinse the veggies with fresh cold water after the soak.
- Tools and Equipment – Remove sticky residue and rust from metal tools, scissors, and too-tight to turn equipment parts by scrubbing with distilled white vinegar. For particularly rusty or sticky components, soak them in the vinegar overnight before scrubbing.
- Gardening – Pour white vinegar onto unwanted weeds around home and in the garden. Pour carefully to prevent any splashing that could also kill the food crops growing nearby.
- Disinfecting Cleaner – Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water for a germ-killing cleaning solution. Toss a few orange or lemon peels into the mix to add a bit of fragrance to the cleaner. The vinegar cleaning smell dissipates as the solution dries. During a long-term disaster, illness or disease will spread quickly. Keep the home or bug-out retreat clean to prevent the flu or common cold from infecting your entire family or mutual assistance group. Never mix vinegar and bleach; the release of toxic chemicals can result.
- Foot Care – Soothe sore and blistered feet by soaking them in a solution of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water.
Vinegar Pickling Recipe
Ingredients
- Vegetable of choice
- 1/2 cup dried or fresh spices such as mustard seed, cumin, peppercorn, or coriander
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon non-iodized salt
Instructions
- Wash and cut vegetables and place them in a mason jar.
- Pour in the spices.
- Pour the water, salt and vinegar into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Pour the boiling solution over the vegetables in the mason jar.
- Place in the refrigerator for three weeks.
- The pickled vegetables should last for up to six months when stored in a refrigerator.