Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Vinegar

Unclog and deodorize drains
To clear clogs in sinks and tub drains, use a funnel to pour in 1/2 c baking soda followed by 1 c vinegar.  When the foaming subsides, flush with hot tap water. Wait 5 min, and then flush again with cold water. This also washes away odor-causing bacteria.

To speed up a slow drain, pour in 1/2 c salt followed by 2 cups boiling vinegar, then flush with hot and cold tap water.

Clean windshield wiper blades
Dampen a cloth or a rag with full strength white vinegar and run it down the full length of each blade once or twice.

Keep windows frost free
Wipe or spray the outsides of your windows with 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part water. Each coating may last of to several weeks.

Disinfect cutting boards
Wipe wood cutting boards or butcher block countertop with full strength white vinegar after each use. When the board needs deodorizing also, spread baking soda over it and spray on undiluted vinegar. Let it foam and bubble for 5-10 min, then rinse with a cloth dipped in clean cold water.

Deodorize your garbage disposal
Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, pour the solution in an ice cube tray and freeze it. Then drop a couple vinegar cubes down the disposal every week or so, followed by a cold water rinse.

Wash out your dishwasher
Pour 1 c undiluted vinegar into the bottom of the unit or in a bowl on the top rack. Then run the machine through a full cycle without any dishes or detergent. Do this once a month, especially if you have hard water. Note: Check the manual first for mention of vinegar. If not, call the manufacturer first.

Wash store bought produce
Rinse in 4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar dissolved in 1 gallon cold water. Removes hidden dirt, pesticides, and even insects.

Ease sunburn and itching
Dab the area with a cotton ball or soft cloth saturated in white vinegar or cider vinegar. This is more effective if it's applied prior to stinging. Instantly stops the itch of mosquito and other insect bites, as well as poison ivy or poison oak.

Make nail polish last longer
Dampen nails with some vinegar on a cotton ball and then let it dry before applying nail polish.

Treat a jellyfish or bee sting
Pour undiluted vinegar on the sting and scrape out the stinger with a plastic credit card. Warning: Using vinegar on stings inflicted by the jellyfish's cousin, the Portuguese man-of-war is now discouraged. Vinegar may actually increase the amount of toxin released under the skin. Also if you have difficulty breathing or the sting area becomes inflamed or swollen, get medical attention quickly; you may be having an allergic reaction.

Wash mildew from shower curtains
Put the shower curtain along with a couple soiled towels in your washing machine. Add 1/2 c laundry detergent and 1/2 c baking soda to the load, and wash it in warm water on your machine's regular cycle. Add 1 c white vinegar to the first rinse. Before it goes into spin cycle, remove the curtain and hang to dry.

Disinfect toilet bowls
Pour 2 c white vinegar into the bowl and let the solutions soak overnight before flushing. Doing this weekly will also help with the water rings that appear above water level.



Source: Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things

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