Vinegar is a popular acidic solution with a plethora of uses. If you have excess vinegar, lack enough (ideal) storage, or cannot keep it out of the reach of children, you must know how to dispose of it.
Getting rid of vinegar should be done with great care because a drop of the potent solution can be poisonous to the skin or internal organs if ingested. Undiluted ones also can exert an awful smell in any environment if you do not get rid of them properly.
The best and most economical way to dispose of vinegar is to give it away. However, if you do not wish to follow that route, you can consider other safe options.
This guide is a compilation of these alternatives and what you risk when you fail to dispose of vinegar properly.
7 Ways to Safely Dispose of Vinegar
1. Give it out
The safest way to get rid of vinegar is to give it to someone in need. Such an opportunity may present itself when a friend or neighbor knocks on your door requesting to borrow the solution.
However, there are times when you would be the one doing the knocking. This involves visiting some of your friends, food donation agencies, schools, and other settings that will never say no to vinegar.
2. Pour it down the drain or into the sink
If you are not interested in giving your vinegar away, you can flush it out of your home using the drain or sink in your toilet.
I would not advise the sink in your kitchen because many hand-to-mouth operations occur on or near it. Before choosing this option, dilute the vinegar with water.
After pouring it into the drain, use a faucet or tap to ensure any remnant within the bottle or around these water outlets dissolves and goes down the drain.
3. Pour it into the kitchen waste disposal unit
You can also get rid of vinegar using the waste disposal unit in your kitchen. This is safe because the acid is incapable of corroding the pipes within the device and will go straight into the waste reservoir.
4. Reuse it
Since vinegar has a lot of uses, it is easy to think of one or two extra ways you can reuse the acid. If you bought the solution solely to remove stains, you could still use it to eliminate weird odors or as manure to improve soil fertility.
5. Sell it
Similar to giving out the vinegar solution, you can also sell it. Restaurants and other food service operations will readily buy large quantities from you, especially at a discount rate.
6. Visit a local recycling center
Visiting or contacting a local recycling center is another ideal option for getting rid of excess vinegar. The good thing about recycling centers is that they have a way of recycling your vinegar without harming the environment.
Some of these centers provide pick-up options for very large quantities of vinegar. However, if you have just a small quantity, opting for the closest drop-off recycling center instead of driving down to any center is best.
7. Bury it far away
You can also dispose of vinegar by burying it. However, this action must take place in a distant and safe environment.
Such spots must pose no risk to water bodies, humans, or animals.
What are the Dangers of a Careless Disposal?
If your flushing or burying processes are not done to perfection, you risk exposing the acid to water bodies, people, and animals. This is dangerous as it may result in the following:
1. Skin contact
Allowing any part of your body mistakenly touch traces of vinegar will result in irritation and pain. When this occurs, you must flush or place the contact area under cool running water for about 20 minutes.
Do not touch or rub this area to avoid further complications.
2. Ingestion
Ingesting vinegar by mistake can occur when a food substance or fluid containing the acid enters your mouth. It will likely burn your mouth and may cause damage to your GIT depending on its concentration.
Your first response to this should be to rinse your mouth with lots of water immediately after the burning sensation. Please note that you must not swallow the water in your mouth after rinsing.
After rinsing, drink a cup of water. If painful symptoms persist, you must consult a healthcare professional.
FAQs
Does vinegar expire?
Vinegar does not expire. Its acidic nature makes it self-preserving, giving it an indefinite shelf life.
Does vinegar evaporate quickly?
Vinegar evaporates faster than water because its hydrogen bonds are weaker than water.
An increase in temperature will also increase the acid’s transformation from liquid to vapor.
What surfaces does vinegar harm?
While vinegar can serve as a strong cleaner, it is not ideal for wood surfaces ranging from floor to pieces of furniture.
This is because vinegar is too powerful for wood finishing, making them appear dingy in no time.
Conclusion
Vinegar is a popular household item that solves many cooking, cleaning, and soil infertility problems. In cases where you have more than enough vinegar in your home or office, you can give them out, sell or find other uses for them.
If you are out of options or need fresh disposal advice, you should reach out to local or recycling authorities. Kindly note that these agencies may charge for this depending on your location and the quantity of vinegar you wish to dispose of.
I hope you found this guide helpful. For tips on expired food disposal, these are the best options to consider for canned consumables.
Thanks for reading.