Vinegar - Other Uses - Page 12

• brassware
  To clean brassware without scrubbing, soak in 1 part of white vinegar to 10 parts of water. To clean brass lamps, unscrew the sections and soak in bucket. All the green and black tarnish comes off in no time. 

• leather shoe conditioner
  1 tablespoon (15ml) vinegar
  1 tablespoon (15ml) linseed oil
  
  For regular cleaning and conditioning, an equal mix of vinegar and linseed oil can help keep leather shoes soft and supple. Mix the two together in a small glass container. Apply to shoes with a soft cloth and buff lightly. Rags soaked in linseed oil are considered a fine hazard, so immediately soak them in water after use and never put them in the dryer. 

• removing the smell of bleach
  If you use bleach to remove stains or to whiten cotton, remove the bleach smell by adding 1 cup (225ml) of vinegar to the final rinse. 

• shrunken wool sweater restorer
  1 quart (1 liter) vinegar
  2 quarts (2 liters) water
  
  Everyone has had the unfortunate experience of accidentally tossing a wool sweater in the washing machine, only to see it shrink to Barbie-size proportions. Essentially, when wool becomes warm and wet, the fibers shrink and lock together. If the garment has been accidentally machine-dried as well, you probably have a lost cause on your hands. But if it's still wet and you want to try reshaping the sweater, vinegar may help: Combine the vinegar and water in a large pot and bring to a gentle boil. Add the sweater and soak in the simmering mixture for 10 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool in the pot. Lay the sweater on towels to absorb the excess water, but do not rinse. Lay flat on fresh towels and gently stretch it to its original dimensions. Allow to air dry (any lingering vinegar scent will evaporate as the sweater dries).

• for cleaning fish tanks
  Use white vinegar to clean the mineral deposits that accumulate at the top of your fish tank. Soak some paper towels in the vinegar and simply wipe around the inside of the tank where the water has evaporated and left the white mineral deposits. You can also use vinegar to clean aquarium ornaments. It is harmless to fish so you don't need to worry if some of the vinegar happens to get into the water. 

• keeping flies from a swimming pool
  Pour vinegar around the sides of your pool and it helps keeps flies away. 

• cleaning kettles
  If you get lime deposits in your kettle, gently boil 2/3 cups (150ml) of white vinegar with the water, then rinse well.

• hand care after plaster or clay work
  This tip came from a professional artist. You can re-balance the pH of the alkali in the material if you wash your hands with soap, then rinse well with a one-to-one solution of white vinegar and water each time.  

• label remover
  Soak the label or sticker with vinegar, let stand until it is saturated, then peel off. 

• Copper Pot Cleaner
  1/4 Cup Vinegar
  1 Tablespoon Salt
  
  
  Soak a clean cloth in the vinegar and sprinkle with salt. Rub over tarnished pots. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft cloth. 

• wallpaper paste solvent
  Vinegar makes a great solvent for wallpaper paste. Just dilute 1 cup (225ml) of white vinegar with 2 quarts (2-3 liters) of very warm water, and apply generously with a sponge. Once you get an edge or corner of the wallpaper to lift, then start working the vinegar solution behind the paper to break down the adhesive. This process is most effective when you keep your work area very damp-let the warmth of the water and the chemical properties of the vinegar do the work for you. Rinse your sponge often mix a new batch of vinegar-and-water solution when it becomes cool and/or murky. The bonus is that vinegar is inexpensive and it will not stain or discolor carpeting or other flooring. 

• wood stain
  White vinegar can be mixed with water-base inks to make a wonderful stain for wood. The resulting finish is the color of the ink with a silvery sheen. Simply pour vinegar into a mixing jar, add the ink until the desired color is achieved, and apply to the wood with a brush or rag. Wipe off any excess and let it dry. Since the bulk of the mixture is vinegar, wood warpage is minimal.

• chrome polish
  Apply full-strength vinegar to a cloth to polish the chrome on your car. 

• removing a perfume you don't like
  It is generally recommended in the trade that vinegar removes the smell of a perfume you don't like. Just apply it to the skin that has been sprayed with the undesired perfume. 

• prevent plaster from drying out too quickly
  Prevent plaster from drying too quickly when patching or filling in by adding one tablespoon of vinegar to the water when mixing. This will slow the drying time.  

• cotton and down pillow cleaner
  1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar
  
  If you're troubled by allergies, don't overlook the importance of pillow cleaning. At least every 6 months you should wash pillows according to manufacturer's instructions to get rid of the sloughed skin, mold and mildew, fungus, and dust mite matter that can accumulate. When machine washing, add 1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar to the final rinse in lieu of fabric softener. It's the best way to make sure all the soap is removed. If you're washing a down pillow, add a tennis ball to the wash to keep the down from bunching up during the spin cycle and spin dry twice if possible, to ensure that most water has been removed.

• Delicates
  1 to 2 tablespoons vinegar
  
  If you are washing delicate items by hand, follow the garment's care instructions, but add 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the last rinse to help remove soap residue. 

• microwave cleaner
  To clean a microwave oven, all you need to do is put a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl with a cup of water. Microwave on High for 45 seconds to 1 minute (the time depends on your particular model). Carefully take the bowl out and wipe out the oven. Any baked-on splatters will be softened and easily removed. 

• removing coffee and tea stains
  An equal mixture of salt and white vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from china cups.   

• cleaning wooden paneling
  Clean wood paneling with a mixture of one part olive oil to two parts of distilled vinegar in 4 cups (1 liter) of warm water. Moisten a soft cloth with the solution and wipe the paneling. The yellowing is then removed by wiping with a soft, dry cloth.