The Uses for Undiluted Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is vinegar that is made by the oxidation of apple cider. Any alcohol that is formed by the fermentation of sugars will convert to an acid when air is allowed to get to it. A good example of this is a bottle of wine that has been left open and after a few days becomes undrinkable due to the ethyl alcohol being converted to acetic acid. Exactly the same happens with cider, with the resulting liquid being apple cider vinegar.

Anti-Fungal properties

• Apple cider vinegar has strong anti-fungal properties and because of this is, it is an effective deodorant. Swabbing the armpits with a little of the liquid in cotton wool will remove any unpleasant odors. To remove foot odors, soak the feet in warm water with some apple cider vinegar. If the odor is caused by athlete's foot, which is a fungal infection, the condition can be eliminated by swabbing the affected areas, usually between the toes, with undiluted apple cider vinegar. A tablespoon of the vinegar in a pint of warm water makes an effective douche to combat a yeast infection.

Cleaning agent

• The antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of apple cider vinegar can be used about the house as a special cleaning agent. Use a 50:50 mixture of the undiluted vinegar with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to spray on and clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces and on cutting boards. Use this same mixture for cleaning places in the bathroom where mildew may have formed. However, that this may not be as effective as commercial cleaning agents obtained from your supermarket.

Eliminate smells

• If there is an area of your house that is particularly smelly -- due to, for example, spilled beer, cigarette smoke, paint or pet odor -- leave a small basin of undiluted apple cider vinegar standing on the floor overnight. The vinegar is an effective absorber of such odors. This method may also be used for removing odors from a vehicle or from closets. Leaving a pot of boiling water with some undiluted apple cider vinegar on the stove is another way of eliminating household smells.

Medicinal uses

• Heat a little undiluted apple cider vinegar in the microwave and bend over the bowl with a towel draped over your head and breathe in the vapors to clear a blocked nose and sinuses. This method may also help to relieve some headaches. This warm vinegar may also be applied to varicose veins and to hemorrhoids and will cause them to shrink, and when applied to liver spots can cause them to fade. Rinsing the hands in the undiluted vinegar will remove the smell of garlic or fish.