There it sits, in the back of your kitchen pantry, just waiting to be used for the next batch of salad dressing. Yes, we’re talking about vinegar, and it has much more going for it than simply being an ingredient to perk up lettuce! Why not bring it into the light and see what this wonder product can do for you?
A. An all-purpose cleaner. Simply combine a 50-50 ratio of water to vinegar in a spray bottle for general cleaning.
B. Banish mildew. Use full strength to combat mildew in the bathroom and everywhere else!
C. Clean silverware. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of vinegar, then add enough flour — approximately 1/4 cup — to make a paste. Rub on, then leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing and polishing with a dry cloth.
D. De-mineralize shower or faucet heads. Remove the head, and soak it in full-strength vinegar for a few hours.
E. Eliminate odours. A vinegar rinse in a garbage container or a bowlful left on the counter overnight will reduce household odours.
F. Frost-free car windows. Spray the outside of your vehicle’s windows with a 75-25 ratio of vinegar to water solution, and keep it frost-free for days or weeks at at time.
G. Grease stains. Cut through grease stains and residues in your kitchen with a 50-50 ratio of vinegar to water solution applied directly to the area.
H. Help treat cold sores. Apply white or apple cider vinegar directly to cold sores, allow to dry, then repeat three times a day.
I. Inhibit ant infestation. Use a 2-1 ratio of vinegar to water mixture to spray wherever you see ants or a potential problem area.
J. Jazz up the sparkle in your home. Clean chrome and stainless steel with a light spray of full-strength vinegar, then polish with a soft cloth.
K. Kill mould spores in plastic containers. Wash the containers, then add full-strength vinegar, and let the container sit for 10 minutes before doing a final wash with soap and hot water to remove the vinegar residue.
L. Laundry additive. Adding a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle will reduce lint and prevent colours from fading. Set-in stains such as chocolate or ketchup can be removed by rubbing the stain with vinegar, then washing it as you normally would.
M. Mirrors and windows will be sparkling clean when washed with a 50-50 ratio of vinegar to water mixture.
N. Neutralize food odours on your skin. Rinse your hands with vinegar before and after handling odorous food such as garlic and fish, then wash your hands with soap and water.
O. Outdoor grills. Spray the grates with a 50-50 ratio of water to vinegar mixture. Let it sit, then scrub with your barbecue brush.
P. Pet care. Clean around your dog’s ears with a 75-25 ratio of water to vinegar to prevent and help treat an infection.
Q. Quickly freshen your breath with a rinse of 2 tablespoons of apple cidar vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt in a warm water.
R. Reduce the appearance of age spots. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, then apply it to your age spots. Allow the vinegar to soak in for about 10 minutes at a time, twice per day, and within a few weeks, you’ll notice an improvement.
S. Sticker removal. Dab full-strength vinegar on the sticker, let it sit for a few minutes, then rub clean.
T. Tile cleaner. Scour away scum with a mixture of 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar.
U. Unhinge wallpaper by soaking it with equal parts vinegar and water, then use a wall scraper to clean it away.
V. Vanquish hair product buildup. After shampooing, rinse hair thoroughly with a cup of vinegar.
W. Wax is easily removed from hard surfaces by warming it first with a blow-dryer, wiping it off and finishing it with a final wipe of a cloth soaked in a 50-50 ratio of vinegar to water solution.
X. EXterminate dandelions with a spray of full-strength vinegar. Repeat as necessary.
Y. Yard maintenance. Kill unwanted weeds and grass with full-strength vinegar.
Z. Zap carpet stains. The standard 50-50 ratio of vinegar to water applied directly to the rug will remove stains. Blot gently after, and reapply as necessary. Check a small area for colourfastness first.
More on home cleaning
Best home remedies for cleaning
Preventing mould and mildew in the bathroom
Eco-friendly cleaning products
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