> >Eight smart uses for vinegar >By Brian Clark Howard > > Since May is National Vinegar Month (did you forget?), we thought > we'd take a closer look at this inexpensive, versatile good. >According to the Vinegar Institute, the useful stuff was probably >discovered by accident (most wine drinkers know what happens when >you leave a bottle sitting around too long). In fact the word >vinegar comes from a French translation for "sour wine." >Over the centuries vinegar has been produced from many stocks, >including molasses, dates, sorghum, fruits, coconut, honey, beer, >maple syrup, potatoes, beets, grains, and more. But the principle is >the same: You get acetic acid (a.k.a. vinegar) after first >fermenting natural sugars to alcohol, and then fermenting again. >As Michael de Jong, The Daily Green's Zen Cleaner and author of the >Clean series of books, points out, vinegar has been pressed into >service for many uses over the centuries. It has been prized as a >foodstuff, condiment, preservative, and natural remedy. >What's so great about vinegar? Besides being effective, vinegar is >cheap and widely available. It is nontoxic and lasts for a very long >time without losing strength. It does not pollute land, air, or >water, and it doesn't combust. It's much safer to have under your >sink than bleach, ammonia, or other toxic cleaning products. Many >folks also swear by the benefits of apple cider vinegar. >In the spirit of green cleaning, green thrift, and green creativity, >we put together this list of alternative uses for vinegar. Add your >own in the comments! >Cure hiccups >Some have said they were able to cure pesky hiccups instantly by >swallowing a teaspoon of vinegar. Most folks use white vinegar, but >people have also reported success with apple cider, balsamic, and >rice varieties. So you have a few options as far as taste and aroma. >Hey, if the Roman legions drank it, it must be good for you, right? > >Fight cramps >If you often get foot or leg cramps in the middle of the night, you >may want to try boosting your potassium levels. There are a number >of great superfoods rich in potassium (way beyond bananas). Some >folks have also suggested trying this remedy: Mix 1 tablespoon of >apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a cup of hot water. >Then drink before bed. Yummy! > >Break bad bonds >Having trouble getting that annoying sticky label residue off a >product? Or accidentally glue something together? Vinegar can be >used as a solvent to dissolve many common adhesives. Vinegar is also >good at cutting grease. > >Deter cats >We love cats (even LOLcats!). But sometimes you don't want them >doing their business in the kids' sandbox or in your flower bed. >According to HomeEnvy, a simple solution is to pour vinegar around >the edges of the area you want to protect every few months. > >Wash produce >According to the green team at Ideal Bite, vinegar can help remove >bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and veggies. Mix three >parts water to one part white vinegar, and dispense in a spray >bottle. Then rinse with water. The site claims this wash kills 98% >of bacteria on produce. > >Clean windows >Instead of spending money on window cleaning chemicals -- especially >ones that include toxic or potentially toxic chemicals -- make your >own! Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and >dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with >newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking. > > >(Photo: Gerville Hall / iStockPhoto) > >Get spring-fresh laundry >Got grass stains? No problemo, says Michael de Jong. Make a mixture >of one-third cup white vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply the >solution to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat this >process until you've removed as much green as possible, and then >launder as usual. >When your big washing day comes around, toss in a capful of white >vinegar. Your colors will come out bolder and your whites whiter. If >you've recently had an encounter with a skunk, it will take more >than a capful. >After washing, get a sharper crease in pants by dipping the cloth in >a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Then wring out the cloth and >press the creases. Now you look like Dilbert! > >Clean carpets >According to this The Daily Green community member: "Spots in >carpets often remove with a simple dilution of one part vinegar, >one-sixteenth part lemon juice, and eight parts distilled water." >Thanks for the tip!
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