Uses for Vinegar

In today's economy who has the money to spend on "miracle" products that might accomplish the job they have promised? Vinegar is a safe, effective, and economical product. (Plus, I just bought a gallon for $1.49.) Here are some of it's many uses:

Uses for Vinegar in the garden:
1. Kill grass: Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks. Simply spray where needed.
2. Clay Pot Cleaning: Vinegar will remove the white salt buildup on old clay pots. Simply soak the affected areas in full strength vinegar.
3. Kill Weeds: Spraying full strength vinegar on weeds will kill them - 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 and the vinegar will keep them away.
5. Keep Cats Away: Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don't want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don't want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching.
6. Freshen Cut Flowers: Vinegar will help fresh cut flowers last longer. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

For Cleaning:
1. Laminate floor cleaner.
1 part vinegar
1 part rubbing alcohol (speeds up the drying time)
1 part water
1 drop liquid dishsoap
Keep a spray bottle filled with this stuff for touch up jobs. When you need to mop all over, mix it up in a small mop bucket, doubling the water vs. the other ingredients, make sure wring out mop well.
Windows: Save your spray bottles and use a 50/50 vinegar and water mixture to wash your windows. Use an old newspaper instead of a paper towel. The newspaper won't leave paper towel lint or streaks on your windows.
Dishwasher- Run 1 cup of white vinegar through your dishwasher once a month to remove soap residue. You'll notice your glasses come out with fewer spots and streaks throughout the month.
Coffeepots- Run a pot full of white vinegar through your drip coffee maker once a month. (Be sure to run about 3 pots of clean, cold water through afterwards.) This keeps your coffee maker free of mineral buildup and allows the great taste of your coffee to shine through.
Walls: Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.
Clean kitchen and bathroom faucets: Soak a paper towel in vinegar then wrap it around your faucet to remove mineral deposits.
Clean the toilet rim: Put straight 5% vinegar in a squirt bottle and use it to clean the rim of the toilet. It disinfects, too!
Prevent mold and mildew in the shower: Wipe down tile or Formica shower walls with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and vinegar. The vinegar will clean the walls and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.
Unclog the showerhead: Mineral deposits from hard water can cause a sputtering, clogged shower head. Place the showerhead in a pot, add enough vinegar to completely cover it. Heat the vinegar to just below boiling, then remove from heat. Allow to sit for at least 6 hours. The acid in the vinegar will eat away the deposits. Rinse the showerhead well, and it's ready to go again.
Remove rust: To get rid of rust, soak items in vinegar (do not dilute). This will work on any metals.
Get rid of stickers, decals and sticky residues: Rub a few coats of vinegar on the area and allow to soak. Then wash off with a wet washcloth and the sticky will rub right off.
Clean your glasses: Place a drop of vinegar on the lens, then rub with a cotton cloth.

Beauty Care:
Sunburn: Add a cupful of apple cider vinegar to the bathwater to soothe tired muscles and relieve dry itchy skin and sunburn.
Remove residue and styling product build up from hair: After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 warm water to remove all the build up and get rid of that dullness.

Laundry:
Make your own fabric softener by mixing baking soda, vinegar and water (parts: 2/2/4). Add a quarter cupful of the mixture to the final rinse for hand or machine washing.
Stain Removal: Ink stains can be removed by soaking the fabric in vinegar for an hour or two before washing in the usual way. Or rub a small amount of vinegar gently on fruit, jelly, mustard or coffee type stains and wash as usual. No more stain!
Eliminate smells: Run a hot tub of water and pour in one or two cups of vinegar. Hang smelly clothes on hangers along your shower curtain rod. This will remove smoke and other tough smells.

Smells:
Make your own air spray by mixing two cupfuls of white vinegar with one cupful of crushed herbs, choosing from rosemary, lavender, cloves, thyme or pine needles. Place the ingredients in a saucepan and boil gently for ten minutes then leave to cool. Pour into a large jar with close-fitting lid. Leave to stand for three or four weeks. Strain and add the mixture to a spray container or atomiser. Use in the same way as commercial air sprays.
Remove pet urine stains (and smells) from carpet: Mix about 1/4 cup of vinegar to a quart of water. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and blot the area several times.