Vinegar Tips

Great ways to use distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar around the home...

Sagging cane chairs: Sponge them with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry.
Clean windows with vinegar and water.
Remove stains from stainless steel and chrome with a vinegar-dampened cloth.
Soften hardened paint brushes by simmering in boiling vinegar and washing in
hot soapy water.
To unclog and clean drains, pour boiling vinegar down drains.
Remove skunk odor from pets by rubbing fur with vinegar.
Paint adheres better to galvanized metal that has been wiped with vinegar.
Remove stains from pots by boiling vinegar and water.
Extend working time of patching plaster by adding half a teaspoon per quart.
Rinse hair after shampoo with 1 ounce apple cider vinegar mixed in 1 quart of distilled water.
Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.
Remove odor by cleaning jars with vinegar and water.
Eliminate frosty windshields by coating the windshield with a solution of one part water and three parts vinegar the night before.
Prolong the life of cut flowers with 2 tbsp. vinegar and 1 tsp. sugar to 1 qt. warm water.
Remove old decals on windows, windshields and bumpers without scraping. Simply brush them with a few coats of vinegar. Let vinegar absorb for three to five minutes and then wash right off.
Dissolve corrosive buildup in clogged showerheads and faucets by soaking overnight in diluted vinegar.
Dissolve soap residue on the interior mechanisms of your dishwasher - and maximize cleaning results - by running a cup of vinegar through the dishwasher.

In The Kitchen

Making cauliflower white and clean: Add a spoonful of vinegar to cooking water.
Keep cheese fresh longer by wrapping it in a vinegar-soaked cloth and keeping it in a sealed container.
Thirst-quenching drink: apple cider vinegar mixed with cold water.
Prevent mold-producing bacteria by wiping jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar.
Remove spots and film by rinsing glasses and dishes in water and vinegar.
Prevent grease build-up in your oven by frequently wiping it with vinegar.
Keep breadbox and food containers fresh-smelling with vinegar-dampened cloth to keep and clean.
Make your catsup and other condiments last longer by adding vinegar.
When boiling eggs, prevent white from leaking out of a cracked egg by adding some vinegar to the water.
To give canned fish and shrimp a freshly caught taste, soak in a mixture of sherry and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
When cooking fruit, improve the flavor by adding a spoonful of vinegar.
To give fish a tender, sweeter taste, soak it in vinegar and water before cooking.
To improve the flavor of ham and cut salty taste, add vinegar to boiling.
Improve the flavor of desserts by adding a touch of vinegar.
Eliminate a greasy taste by adding vinegar to your deep fryer.
Help fruit gelatin hold its form by adding a tablespoon of vinegar.
Use vinegar instead of lemon on fried and broiled foods.
To remove lime coating on your tea kettle, add vinegar to the water and let stand overnight.
To prevent mold on uncooked ham, rub vinegar on the cut end.
Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of vinegar to water. They will keep fresh for days in refrigerator.
Preserve freshly picked peppers by putting them in a sterilized jar then filling the jar with boiling vinegar.
Preserve olives and pimentos indefinitely by covering with vinegar and refrigerating.
Avoid cabbage odor by adding vinegar to the cooking water.
Eliminate odor from pets' drinking water and encourage shiny fur by adding vinegar to water.
Get fluffy meringue by beating three egg whites with a teaspoon of vinegar.
For an exceptional pie crust, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to your pastry recipe.
For a shiny crust on homemade bread and rolls, brush crusts with vinegar just before they have finished baking, then return them to oven to finish baking.
For homemade sour cream: blend together 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup skim milk and 1 tsp. vinegar.
Prevent sugaring in the cake icing by mixing a drop of vinegar.
Make meat more tender by adding a spoonful of vinegar to the water when boiling the meat.

In The First Aid Kit

For skin burns, apply ice cold vinegar right away for fast relief. Cold vinegar also relieves sunburn and will prevent burn blisters.
To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
Cool off sunburned skin by bathing in lukewarm water diluted with one cup of vinegar.
Relieve insect bites by dabbing with equal parts vinegar and water.
Relieve poison ivy by dabbing with equal parts vinegar and water.