Fun on the Web July 3 2013 Uses for Vinegar

Lately I have been trying to do more with natural ingredients and have rediscovered that vinegar is a cheap, effective, disinfectant and cleaner.

Update from http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/vinegar.html even more uses

45 Uses for Vinegar

Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled under your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.

1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda). 

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. 

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last. 

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore shower head pressure. If your shower head gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

Even More here: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/vinegar.html


Using Vinegar for BEAUTY, HAIR & BATH

1. In your bathwater.Add ½ cup of vinegar or so to warm bath water when bathing and get double benefits – softer skin and a cleaner bathtub with less work!

2. Hair Conditioner vinegar makes a simple, inexpensive conditioner for your hair and helps remove the sticky stuff shampoo can leave behind. About a tablespoon will do it.

3. Dandruff Treatment Simply pour a few Tablespoons of vinegar on your hair and massage into your scalp. Wait a few minutes, then rinse and wash hair like normal. Try this for a few days until you see results.

4. Weight Loss. Vinegar naturally helps to remove fat from the body - apple cider vinegar is especially good for this. Drink some in a glass of water a few times a day, and add a little lemon or honey for a nicer flavor. This will also help reduce your appetite.

5. Cracked, dry skin. Smooth a little vinegar on dried skin to help it heal.

6. Clean dentures Soak dentures overnight in Heinz White Vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.

7. Facial spritzer mix 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water into a spray bottle. Refreshing!

8. Hair Cleanser Take 1 cup of vinegar and warm water into a large glass and use to rinse your hair after you shampoo. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.

9. Longer lasting pantyhose Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the rinse water when washing and your pantyhose will last longer!

10. Toenail Fungus Treatment (Submitted by Donna) Another use for vinegar.......Soak your feet in a strong solution of vinegar and water at least daily to get rid of toenail fungus.

Using Vinegar for CLEANING

1. Cleans Glass. Mixed with water or simply sprayed full-strength on glass and mirrors, vinegar does a great job quickly and easily. Simply wipe windows dry with crumpled-up newspapers and watch your windows sparkle.

2. Clean your car. Use it full-strength to polish car chrome with a cloth and see it shine! Use it on your car’s windshield and windows, too.

3. Cleans drinking glasses. Soak cloudy drinking glasses in warmed white vinegar for a few hours to remove the film, simply wipe clean, rinse, and dry.

4. Clean your washing machine. Periodically run a gallon of distilled vinegar through your washing machine to clean it thoroughly, get rid of soap scum, and clear out the hoses. Run the machine through the warm water wash cycle empty and then add the vinegar during the rinse cycle.

5. Furniture Polish. Make your own furniture polish with one part vinegar and three parts lemon oil or olive oil.

6. Remove price tags or stickers Paint them with several coats of vinegar and let it soak in. Depending what you are removing them off of is whether they'll slide off easily or require a little heavier rubbing.

7. Clean your IRON Put vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Remember to flush it with water when you are done.

8. Clean paintbrushes Simmer paintbrushes in pure vinegar, then wash in hot soapy water.

9. Wash walls. Wipe down your walls with a vinegar-water mixture and it will help absorb odors and clean the surfaces.

10. Remove spots from glass.Use a vinegar-soaked cloth to remove spots from any glassware or crystal.

11. Unclog drains Pour boiling white vinegar down clogged drains to remove the clog!

12. Clean jars. Remove odors and stains from jars by cleaning them out with vinegar.

13. Clean an old lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.

14. Clean and deodorize a garbage disposal Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through

15. Teapot cleaning Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.

16. Dishwasher cleaning Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware. It may save you from expensive repairs. Keeping any appliance parts, for example: Maytag or Whirlpool parts, should make them last longer.

17. Microwaves Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

18. Remove smoke smells from clothing Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.

19. Clean eye glasses Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.

20. Remove stains from furniture and upholstery Remove stubborn stains from furniture upholstery and clothes. Apply Heinz White Vinegar directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.

21. Natural air deodorizer Heinz Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.

22. Remove rust Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted Heinz White Vinegar overnight.

23. Toilet bowl Pour in one cup of Heinz White Vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.

24. Brighten fabrics Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

25. Natural cleaning wipes A cloth soaked with vinegar for sanitizing kitchen counters, stove, and bathroom surfaces. This is just as effective as the anti-bacterial products and does not promote resistant strains like the commercial products can, this is also a cheaper and greener way to protect your loved ones.

26. Remove lint from laundry Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

27. Remove grease from suede Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.

28. Remove perspiration stains from clothing Apply one part vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.

29. Clean coffee or tea stains from china A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from chinaware.

30. Clean coffeepots and coffee makers Vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers. Fill the reservoir with vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished.

31. Fabric Softener Replacement (Submitted by Cathrine) I use vinegar in place of fabric softener in my laundry. I use the same amount as fabric softener plus twice the amount of water (so 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar) and put it in my fabric softener dispenser. Clothes come out soft and scent free. It also helps reduce static (I still have some but not enough for me to go buy fabric softener!).

32. General Household Cleaner (Submitted by Cathrine) I also keep some vinegar diluted in a spray bottle. I use this for wiping down counter tops (at night only so smell goes away) and cleaning up carpet stains in combo with Oxygen Cleaner (generic OxyClean).

33. Removes smoke stains from walls (Submitted by Kathy) To remove nicotine from walls before painting, always use vinegar in hot water. Will remove stains and the nicotine will not bleed through the paint. It is especially good in bathrooms, where there is a lot of steam from showers. Be very careful to use rubber gloves because the nicotine will absorb into the skin and you will get the same effect as smoking.

 Using Vinegar for FOOD & COOKING

1. Cheese Storage Cheese will last longer if you store it in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

2. Whiter Cauliflower Add a teaspoon or so of white vinegar to your cooking water while cooking cauliflower - it will retain a whiter color.

3. Ketchup Only have a little ketchup left in the bottle? Add a bit of vinegar and give it a good shake and you'll have a bit more!

4. Boiling Eggs Add a bit of white vinegar to the water you're boiling your eggs in, and the shells won't crack.

5. Cooking Cabbage Add a bit of vinegar to the water you're cooking your cabbage in to remove that stinky cabbage smell.

6. Fluffier Meringues Add 1 teaspoon vinegar for every three egg whites and you'll have fluffier meringues.

7. Tenderize Meat Soak in vinegar over night.

8. Unsticky Rice To cook rice without sticking add a spoon full of vinegar in it.

9. Remove onion odors from skin Eliminate onion odor by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.

10. Disinfect/clean cutting boards Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.

11. Make buttermilk Make buttermilk. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand 5 minutes to thicken.

12. Potato Cooking Water (Submitted by Mary) Add 1 teaspoon to the water when you are boiling potatoes to avoid them going black. Note this does not apply to potatoes that are freshly dug or new. This works on potatoes that have been in storage over the winter.

Using Vinegar for GARDENING & YARD

1. Clay Pot Cleaning Remove white salt buildup on old clay pots by soaking them in full strength vinegar.

2. Kills grass. Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks.

3. Kills weeds. Spray full strength on weeds - be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass as it will kill that too.

4. Deter Ants Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather.

5. Keep Cats Away Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don't want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.

6. Freshen Cut Flowers Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

 Using Vinegar for HEALTH

1. Suffering from a sore throat? Mix a teaspoon vinegar with a glass of water. Gargle with the mixture and then swallow.

2. Remove calluses Try soaking your feet in a combination of white vinegar and warm water nightly and watch your feet soften noticeably.

3. Soak a washcloth in vinegar and gently apply it to sunburned skin for cool relief. Reapply as needed as it evaporates. Besides sunburn, vinegar also soothes the itch and irritation of bee stings!

4. Arthritis Tonic. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, several times a day.

5. Jellyfish Stings Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.

6. Sinus Infections and Head Colds Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.

7. Wart Removal Mix one part Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.

8. Soothe an upset stomach Drink two teaspoons Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.

9. Mosquito bites Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Heinz Vinegar straight from the bottle.

Using Vinegar for PETS & ANIMALS

1. Pet's drinking water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to your pet's drinking water to encourage a shinier coat, and reduce odor.

2. Remove skunk odor Use vinegar straight to remove skunk odor from your pet's fur.

3. Stop your cat's scratching furniture Sprinkle or spray vinegar on areas you don't want the cat scratching on.

4. Fish bowl cleaner Eliminate that ugly deposit in the gold fish tank by rubbing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinsing well.

5. Remove pet stains from carpets Blot up urine with a soft cloth, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.

6. Clean pets cages (Submitted by Rita) I use a mixture of 50% White Vinegar and 50% Water in a spray bottle to clean my pet cages. It disinfects and deodorizes it and is much cheaper than the commercial products. I actually got this tip from the owner of a pet store.

7. Stops dogs scratching (Submitted by Rita) I read the cat scratch tip and it works for dogs as well.

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