Is white vinegar antifungal? You may have heard all of the great stories online about apple cider vinegar, but what about it’s forgotten cousin, white vinegar?
This is what we’re going to explore today – the antifungal properties of white vinegar, and how you can use it to improve your life. Let’s take a look!
Yes, White Vinegar Is Antifungal
White vinegar is antifungal and can be used, carefully, to help treat fungal infections like athletes foot, ringworm, and nail fungus.
However, white vinegar is more potent than apple cider vinegar, which is why you usually see home remedies recommend the use of apple cider vinegar as opposed to white vinegar.
Generally speaking, pure white vinegar is used more often for cleaning purposes, while distilled white vinegar can be used for many of the same health benefits as apple cider vinegar.
5% Acetic Acid Vs. 25% Acetic Acid
If you are planning on using white vinegar for anti-fungal home remedies, it is crucially important that you use white vinegar with 5% acetic acid – also known as distilled white vinegar.
This is the type of white vinegar that people use salad dressings, cleaning at home, and curing fungal infections.
25% acetic acid is extremely strong and is usually used for cleaning industrial equipment. Do not use this white vinegar on your skin – it is not safe to eat or even touch.
Only use 5% acetic acid, distilled white vinegar for antifungal home remedies!
Below we will outline some common uses of white vinegar, and how you can use its antifungal properties to improve your life.
How To Use White Vinegar In A Foot Soak
Vinegar foot soaks can also soothe dry, split feet. We recommend using warm water – make sure it isn’t too hot!
Do this at night before bed, then moisturize your feet to keep them from drying out and put on socks.
Soaking frequently or for too long may cause your feet to get back at drier, so utilize a soak sparingly for dry and cracked feet, along with nail fungus and athletes foot.
Usually, using 1-part vinegar to 2-parts water is an excellent ratio. If you are not experiencing any adverse side effects and not observing any improvement with your feet, you can utilize a stronger soak.
We have to warn you in advance – white vinegar is a strong, distinct smell, and this may make you uncomfortable. Some people may like it, but others oftentimes won’t.
Consider using a variety of essentials oils, such as peppermint or tea tree oil to alter the aroma and make it smell less like vinegar.
Applying White Vinegar Directly To The Fungal Infection
Not only can distilled white vinegar be used in soaks, but it can also be applied directly on to your nails. If you do not necessarily have the time for a soak, then this could be a fantastic option.
Carefully pour a small amount of distilled white vinegar into the cap and then utilize a Q-tip to apply it directly to the impacted nails or area and let it dry.
If you know that your skin is usually sensitive, further dilute the vinegar initially before application. People with delicate skin might experience irritation of the skin if applied it straight to the nail.
Using White Vinegar To Stop Smelly Shoes
Apple cider vinegar can also sanitize your feet. Vinegar can assist remove or minimize foot smell by eliminating the germs that trigger the odor.
Simply put a small amount of diluted white vinegar in a spray bottle with some water, and spray your shoes. Leave them to sit overnight, as the odor may be strong.
When treating your smelly feet and shoes, it is likewise important to think about why your shoes are so smelly.
Make sure you regularly wash your shoes, socks, and other beddings, as these may further increase the smelliness issue.
White Vinegar Vs. Apple Cider Vinegar
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar (also known as ACV) are great for treating various fungal infections, but there are differences between the two.
White vinegar is also referred to as distilled or spirit vinegar is clear. Standard white vinegar consists of approximately 4-7% acetic acid.
In order to make white vinegar, manufacturers ferment grain.
Apple cider vinegar, as the name would suggest, is made of fermented apples, and tends to have 5-6% acetic acid.
Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar More Popular Than White Vinegar?
Honestly, it may just be because people have an aversion to things that seem unnatural, and we’re drawn to things that seem healthy.
Most people before reading this article probably had no idea how white vinegar is created, plus, it has an extremely strong odor and taste.
Apple cider vinegar is created by the thing we’re told, from an early age, is good for us – apples! It seems natural, and thus better for us.
How Do I Know If I Have Toenail Fungus?
Oftentimes, people don’t realize they have nail fungus until it has spread and turned into a serious issue!
The most common signs are crumbling of the nail, or thickening of the nail, along with the nail turning yellow, orange, or even green.
Also, watch out for itchy feet, as this is a sign of athletes foot, which can spread and turn into nail fungus.
Lastly, a nasty odor may exist. An infected toenail can show some or all of these signs.
Early infection can appear as a small white or yellow spot in the idea of the nail, so make sure you are constantly checking your feet weekly for the signs of nail fungus.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article! Now you can fully answer the question “is white vinegar antifungal?” confidently.
If you decide to use white vinegar for any of these activities, make sure you are careful – look for packaging labeled distilled white vinegar, and make sure it only has 5% acetic acid.
Additionally, if you are going to use white vinegar on your skin, make sure you do a patch test first to make sure you are not highly sensitive to it.
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