20 Uses for White Vinegar

Vinegar is the best of all cleaning agents because it is easy to find, versatile and cheap. In addition to that, it is as effective as bleach at killing household germs, and it is safe to use around kids and pets. However, remember that vinegar is an acid—never use on marble, granite or quartz and always test on surfaces to make sure discoloration will not occur. Here are a few of my favorite uses for white distilled vinegar

Add 1 cup to a load of towels it helps remove the fabric softener build-up so that your towels will be absorbent again.

Use it in a spray bottle to clean off kitchen counters, cutting boards, and door knobs.

For winter mornings when there is frost on the car, wipe the windows the night before with a solution of one part water to three parts white distilled vinegar. They won’t frost over.

To keep colors in fabrics from bleeding, soak them for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar. Then wash separately. Repeat as necessary.

Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables.

Apply vinegar with a soft cloth to remove streaks from stainless steel appliances. Try in an inconspicuous place first.

Clean the microwave by boiling a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Then wipe down with a soft cloth.

Garbage disposals may be kept clean and odor free with vinegar cubes. Vinegar cubes are made by filling an ice tray with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and enough water to fill the tray then freezing. Run the cubes through the disposal, and then flush it with warm water for one minute. *Running ice cubes in your disposal also helps sharpen the blades.

Adding 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

Give your dog a shiny coat by spraying or rubbing with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 quart water.

Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, wipe with a clean cloth, then rinse with water. Dry completely before filling with kitty litter.

For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Will not remove stains on containers that have been pitted by use in the microwave.

Clean the wheel of a can opener using white distilled vinegar and an old toothbrush.

Clean and renew sponges, loofahs, and dishcloths by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight. Rinse well in running water and then let them air dry.

Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry then vacuum up the residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).

Clean stinky garbage cans by filling with equal parts white distilled vinegar and water. Let sit overnight, empty and then air-dry.

Remove the water line in a flower vase by filling it with a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar.

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar and 1 ½ quarts of water to remove bacteria.

Remove the leftover odor in a vehicle after a rider has been carsick by leaving a bowl of white distilled vinegar overnight on the floor. Then just discard.

Remove onion or fish odors from your hands by rubbing with white distilled vinegar.

How To Get Out Ink

There are three ways I try to get out ink--inks of all kinds, including permanent marker.  While it largely depends on the surface of whatever you are trying to salvage from ink damage (or the artistic efforts of your children), most ink can be removed or, at least, lightened.

Try the following:

Hairspray (not gel or mousse--just run of the mill, ozone depleting hairspray).  Spray it on, let it sit a few seconds and rub it out or off.  Repeat as often as necessary.

Wet wipes--the kind you use on babies' bottoms.  Yes, it's odd that the very thing that is supposed to be gentle on your infant's tuckus is also strong enough to clean up radio-active waste, but, well.... the two really aren't that different when you come to think of it.

Magic Clean sponges.  Yes, I know some claimed they cause chemical burns--but they aren't supposed to be used on your skin.  If used correctly--on inanimate surfaces--they work very well.

If you have any other ways to get ink out of various items, please leave a comment and share it with us!  Thanks!

How To Get Rid of the Gunk in Your Dishwasher

Deffinition of Gunk: The nasty, orange grease and food residue that builds up all over everything and makes you want to roll your almost-new dishwasher into four lanes of traffic; a.k.a.: "the luxury-bred American woman's nightmare".

Now, there are a lot of things you can try, but, honestly, I think you should skip all of those things and go straight to what works. Sometimes the best solution is also the simplest (and, ironically, something you never thought of doing despite all your labor and had to hear through your husband after he talked to a dishwasher salesman.) Throw in a half cup of bleach with your next load. Repeat this about every month or so to keep the nast at bay. WHA-LA!!

P.S. My dishwasher and I are now beginning to patch up our fragile relationship. He agrees to do his job and I agree not to say nasty things about him to his face or behind his back to everyone I happen to meet.