There are many types of baths that can be used for detoxification and relaxation, but none that benefit the skin with a single ingredient as much as vinegar baths.
I’m not a fan of the smell of vinegar, but I’m a huge fan of vinegar baths because they leave my skin and hair looking and feeling amazing.
Why Vinegar Baths?
Apple Cider Vinegar is a versatile natural remedy and natural home product. It can be infused with herbs to be a natural cold remedy and health tonic, or sipped to relieve heartburn.
Sprayed on skin, it takes the sting out of sunburn and as a foot soak it helps alleviate athlete’s foot.
It is also a beneficial natural beauty ingredient in several ways:
For Its Vitamin and Mineral Content
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a natural source of B-vitamins, Vitamin C and trace minerals, making it nourishing to skin. Since the skin is the body’s largest organ, it is possible to obtain these nutrients from soaking and to nourish the skin. It is naturally nourishing and moisturizing and can soften skin and hair.
Beneficial Acids
Vinegar is naturally acidic so it helps restore balance to the skin’s pH which should be slightly acidic (here’s why). Though it helps restore the skin’s pH it has an alkalizing effect internally and can also help aid digestion for this reason.
Also, many people with joint problems notice improvement from soaking in apple cider vinegar baths, and these beneficial acids and vitamins may be part of the reason.
Soothes Skin Problems
ACV can help naturally kill fungus and bacteria on the skin and offers relief for many with eczema and other skin conditions. Vinegar is often recommended for skin problems like eczema, dandruff and dry skin. These same antibacterial properties and beneficial acids make vinegar effective against zits. A tiny dab of ACV can often help reverse a zit overnight.
For this reason, AVC baths are also sometimes recommended for urinary tract infections as the vinegar can help kill the yeast or fungus and create an environment where it is difficult for infection to thrive. ACV is also a potential remedy for warts and athlete’s foot for this reason.
Reduce Body Odor
Body odor occurs when bacteria mixes with sweat or moisture from the body and thrives in the warm moist environment, especially in places like the underarms. Vinegar can help kill this bacteria, reducing odor. It also creates an environment where odor is less likely to thrive.
I haven’t personally tried it, but many people who can’t tolerate deodorants containing baking soda claim that using diluted apple cider vinegar works wonderfully as a deodorant. I would think that an armpit detox would also be helpful for those with body odor or skin irritation in the underarms.
How to Take a Vinegar Bath
Once or twice a week, I fill a tub with warm to hot water and add 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar.
I soak for 20-30 minutes, using a washcloth to clean my face and making sure to get my hair wet as well.
After bathing, I rinse off in a cool shower, though some sources recommend letting the vinegar water dry on the skin.
Other Skin Uses for ACV
- As I mentioned, a tiny dab of ACV can often remedy a zit overnight
- I also use a diluted spray of apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon in 1 cup of water) as a soothing facial toner
- This same spray can be used on the underarms for a natural deodorant, though some people find that they need to increase the concentration of vinegar for this use
- Dab undiluted vinegar on toenail fungus or soak in a strong (50:50) solution of white or apple cider vinegar and water.
- Dab ACV on warts
- Rinse hair with 1/4 cup ACV in 1 cup water for shiny hair.
How do you use vinegar? Ever taken a vinegar bath?
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I take epsom salt baths to detox but I could use a boost to my hair and skin. This sounds easy enough. Thanks
I have used ACV for sunburns it really took the sting out.
Thank you. Can you use your detox baths while pregnant or nursing?
Do you continue with vinegar baths during pregnancy? Congratulations on your great news! I’m hoping it might help me with the joint pain I always get during pregnancy.
I do, but I’d ask a doc or midwife to be sure 🙂
If unable to bathe in tub due to physical disability or lack of tub, use a basin with warm water and vinegar to pull toxins out.
As always, great article! I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of what you can do with ACV. I’ll bet you could come up with 101 things you can do with it, like you did with Coconut oil! I love ACV, have since I was a kid. I can drink it straight up! I remember when I was a kid, sneaking under my grandmother’s porch with a glass of it and drinking it down–slowly, to savor 🙂 I had to hide b/c she used to tell me that it would dry up my blood if I drank it!
I use it in your underarm detox recipe, in my bath, as a facial cleanser, household cleaner, of course, and to dip popcorn in for a little added taste!
I have noticed that, interestingly enough, that the “cleaner” and healthier I eat, the less I crave ACV. Don’t know what the correlation is, but it must have something in there that my body needs that I can’t get from junk!
This looks great!! I’ll definitely be trying this!
Congrats on your new pregnancy! I couldn’t find the appropriate place to congratulate you so… I did it in an inappropriate place. Lol. I am so excited for you mostly because I also just found out that I am expecting our sixth child as well ! ?
You can make your own ACV very easily which makes it much cheaper.
Oh really, how may I ask.
Thanks.
I’ve used diluted ACV to rinse myself for many years after a shower. Haven’t needed deoderant. Hair is shiny. Recomend raw ACV as it has all the vitamins, enzymes intact. The cheaper ones are pasteurized which kills all the goodness.