Uses for Vinegar

*Erase ballpoint-pen marks with vinegar .. dab some full-strength white vinegar on pen marks

*When your scissor blades get sticky or grimy, don’t use water to wash them off; instead, wipe down the blades with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar, and then dry it off with a rag or dish towel

*To remove marks left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it up.

*Revitalize wood paneling with vinegar. Mix one pint warm water, four tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar, and two tablespoons olive oil in a container, give it a couple of shakes, and apply with a clean cloth. Let the mixture soak into the wood for several minutes, then polish with a dry cloth.

*Remove candle wax with vinegar. To remove it, first soften the wax using a blow-dryer on its hottest setting and blot up as much as you can with paper towels. Then remove what’s left by rubbing with a cloth soaked in a solution made of equal parts white vinegar and water. Wipe clean with a soft, absorbent cloth.

*Get rid of smoke odor or burned food odors with vinegar. Place a shallow bowl about three-quarters full of white or cider vinegar in the room where the scent is strongest. The odor should be gone in less than a day. You can also quickly dispense of the smell of fresh cigarette smoke inside a room by moistening a cloth with vinegar and waving it around a bit.

*Clean chrome and stainless steel with vinegar ...apply a light misting of undiluted white vinegar from a recycled spray bottle. Buff with a soft cloth to bring out the brightness.

*Steam-clean your microwave with vinegar... To clean your microwave, place a glass bowl filled with a solution of 1/4 cup vinegar in one cup water inside, and zap the mixture for five minutes on the highest setting. Once the bowl cools, dip a cloth or sponge into the liquid and use it to wipe away stains and splatters on the interior.

*Disinfect cutting boards with vinegar ... To disinfect and clean your wood cutting boards or butcher block countertop, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus

*Use vinegar to clear the air in your kitchen ... if the smell of yesterday’s cooked cabbage or fish stew is hanging around your kitchen longer than you’d like, mix a pot of 1/2 cup white vinegar in one cup water. Let it boil until the liquid is almost gone.