Vinegar - Other Uses - Page 3

• removing glue from old furniture
  To loosen old glue around rungs and joints of tables and chairs being repaired, apply distilled vinegar with a small oil can. 

• cleaning waste disposal units
  Clean and freshen the waste disposal by running a tray of ice cubes through it with 6 tablespoons of vinegar poured over them once a week.    

• weed suppressant II
  Kill individual weeds by pouring hot vinegar on. This might take a couple of times to work completely. This is best for treatment on patios and pathways, rather than lawns, or among precious herbaceous beds. Alternatively, use white vinegar straight from the bottle to pour on the weeds and grasses that come up through the paved area. Pour on and leave for a couple of days. The weeds will die back and won't reappear for several months. 

• cleaning humidifiers
  Rinse out humidifiers every few days and add two tablespoons of vinegar to prevent mold and bacteria from forming. Running this in the bathroom with the door and window closed will eliminate mold. Rinse and run again with clean water. It's important to renew the water each time instead of just filling up the reservoir. 

• window blind cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) vinegar
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  
  Before tossing out your sold cotton socks that have lost their mates, consider saving a few for spring cleaning-you can put them to good use by getting your window blinds nice and clean. Just put an old sock on your hand as if it were a mitten and dip into a bowl containing equal parts vinegar and warm water. Squeeze dry and run the dampened sock along the slats to remove dust. Repeat as necessary until clean. 

• cheap cleaning solution
  1/3 part white vinegar
  1/3 part rubbing alcohol
  1/3 part water
  3 drops dishwashing liquid
  
  Mix in a (recycled) spray bottle and you have the equivalent of the floor cleaner. Just spray and mop. It also recommended for deodorizing a room and for a fast cleanup. Use this on any tile floors with great results. The alcohol is added to make it dry faster, but you could leave it out, if you want. 

• removing tar from jeans
  Pour a few drops of vinegar on the stains, then put them in the washing machine and wash as normal. 

• leather
  Clean leather with a mixture of 2/3 cup (150ml) boiled linseed oil and 2/3 cup (150ml) vinegar. Carefully apply to any spots with a soft cloth and let dry. 

• stains on concrete
  Remove unsightly marks on concrete by applying vinegar directly to the stain.

• preventing fading of embroidery thread
  Dip the whole skein of thread in white vinegar and then let dry. This sets the dye, so when washing an embroidered item there will be no running of colors.

• furniture polish
  Make a furniture polish using equal parts of white vinegar and vegatble oil. Wipe it on and buff with a soft cloth. 

• getting rid of shiny marks when ironing
  Mix half vinegar and half water and put into a spritzer bottle. When ironing, use the spray to help remove iron-made creases or shiny areas in the fabric. Spritz a shirt for a clean, odor-free, crisp garment, especially collars and underarm areas. Use a damp cloth and gently rub shiny areas, such as those that appear when the iron is too hot and you iron over a zipper, then repress and the shine will be gone. Repeat is necessary. 

• lint on clothing
  Another reason to use vinegar in the rinse cycle is that it cuts down on the lint. Put 2/3-1 cup (150-255ml) in the rinse cycle. You will notice the reduction in lint on the family's clothes. 

• baby clothes and cloth diaper cleaner
  1/2 cup (110g) baking soda
  fragrance-free liquid laundry detergent
  1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar
  
  Baking soda is a great laundry aid for baby clothes because it helps neutralize the strong acids present in the bodily fluids of babies. Plus, being fragrance-free and water-soluble, it dissolves completely in the laundry water and doesn't leave behind harsh chemicals that can irritate a baby's delicate skin. To use, add the baking soda to the wash cycle along with the detergent. Add the vinegar to the rinse cycle to leave clothes naturally softened and ensure that all the detergent is properly removed.

• removing the smell of onions
  A little white vinegar rubbed on your fingers before and after slicing onions will remove the smell of onions quickly. 

• Cleaning and refreshing an ironing board
  White vinegar
  
  Spritz the ironing board cover to freshen it up and iron while it is still damp. This is cheaper than any purchased fabric freshener or odor eliminator. 

• cleaning fireplace doors
  Put vinegar on newspaper and use to wipe down the insides of glass fireplace doors. Cleans instantly and does not streak. 

• toilet bowl cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) vinegar
  1/2 cup (110g) baking soda
  
  To give your toilet an all-natural clean, start with vinegar. Pour it into the bowl and let it sit for 1 hour. The mild acidity will jump-start the cleaning process and make the next step much easier. To finish the job, dip the toilet brush in the bowl and then sprinkle with the baking soda. Scrub the inside of the bowl until clean, adding more baking soda to the brush as needed. 

• static cling
  A good way to control static cling is to add 2/3-1 cup (150-225ml) of vinegar to the last rinse cycle of your wash.   

• preparation for painting
  Wiping down clean metal surfaces with a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 5 parts water) prepares the surface for painting and reduces the incidence of peeling.