Vinegar is Useful in More Than Just Cooking, Here are the Top Ten Things I Use it For
Number Ten: Air Freshener- You can freshen up the air of any stale smelling room by setting out a shallow bowl or dish filled three quarters full with white vinegar. The vinegar will absorb any mal odors and neutralize it. I like to use it after my dogs come in from outside after a romp in damp weather.
Number Nine: Flea Control- This little known fact can help to keep your furry friend pest free. Here is my recipe which I originally got from my grandmother more then 30 years ago, and it has never failed! In your dog’s drinking water, add one teaspoon of vinegar per one quart of water. Fleas detest the smell of vinegar, and when your dog ingests it, the fleas are repelled and will not come anywhere near your dog. I use this on all of my dogs, and have never had a problem with fleas.
Number Eight: Clean Stainless Steel- Stubborn stains on stainless steel can be easily removed by scrubbing the stained area with pure white vinegar. It comes out as clean as new.
Number Seven: Unclogging Drains- First take 1 cup of baking soda and pour it down the clogged drain. Follow it immediately with 1 cup of vinegar. Next, cover up the drain with a drain plug, and let it sit for an hour. After the hour is up, unplug the drain and pour a pot of boiling hot water down the drain. Repeat pouring the boiling water down the drain several times as needed.
Number Six: Cleaning grease- I use this on my microwave, stove top, oven and even on greasy pans and cookie sheets. Scrub your greasy ovens and cookware with pure white vinegar. The vinegar is wonderful on removing grease build ups, and will kill the germs and absorb odors.
Number Five: Clean and polish wood- To create a wonderful polish and cleaner combination, mix 1 ounce of olive oil with 2 ounces of white vinegar and 1 quart of warm water. Use this to wipe down wood surfaces and panels. I even use it on our hardwood floors. It works wonderfully.
Number Four: Anti Static for Plastic- Vinegar serves and an excellent anti static guard for plastic. I use it on my kids’ outdoor plastic sliding boards and swings. Normally when they would slide down the sliding boards and climb on the jungle gym, which are all made of plastic, they would have their hair standing on end and get a series of shocks. Now, I simply wipe them all down with a mixture of the following: 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Its simple and effective!
Number Three: Ant Killer- Vinegar is a wonderful ant killer. After ants had somehow gotten into my bathroom and kitchen, my friend Lynn told me that she had the same problem the previous year, and that she got rid of them with a mixture of half vinegar half water. Simply mop the floor throughout your entire house with this mixture and for good measure, pour a good dose of pure white vinegar around the doorways. This did the trick for me. I have not had ants since!
Number Two: Hair Care- To make hair shiny, after you shampoo and condition, rinse your hair with one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with each cup of water. It also cuts down on the frizz!
Number One: Itching Relief- This is my favorite, because in the winter months I am notorious for itchy dry skin! I take a cloth with white vinegar and use it on mosquito bites, bee and wasp stings, dry itchy skin, hives, sunburn, and many other skin problems. Vinegar alone relieves the itch.
Vinegar is good for many things and is cheap and non toxic. Always keep a jug of it handy because you never know when you may want to use it.
Written By: Diana Smith
