Vinegar - an earth friendly alternative to many chemicals

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Handy vinegar tips

Note: spot test before going all out with any of the cleaning related tips below.

• To remove calcium buildup on kettles and electric jugs, boil the kettle with half a cup of white vinegar and leave to soak for a while. Rinse with fresh water, reboil with same and your kettle should now be calcium deposit free.
• Place a small container of vinegar in your toilet and bathroom to eliminate odors.
• A half cup of vinegar added to a toilet bowl left overnight removes bowl odor. The smell of the vinegar will also dissipate overnight.
• A cotton ball soaked in vinegar and applied to bruises for an hour is said to speed up the healing process.
• Vinegar on minor burns and many sorts of stings can alleviate pain.
• For cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar frozen into ice cubes, then a couple added to the bottom of the dishwasher just prior to a cycle is an effective alternative to using heavy chemical cleaners.
• Old, stiff paintbrushes can be revived by dipping them into heated white vinegar for a couple of hours, followed by a rinse in soapy water. Beats using turpentine!
• Vinegar can be used as a nappy soak; simply add half a cup of white vinegar to the water in the nappy bucket
• Use it as a broad leaf weed killer - spray it undiluted onto the leaves of weeds, being careful to avoid plants you wish to keep. A mix of vinegar and salt can be used to keep weeks and grass out of driveway cement joins.
• Vinegar can be used as a benchtop disinfectant; but it's a good idea to wipe over at night in order that the smell dissipates.
• For pet owners, white vinegar poured onto pet urine mishaps on carpets, then blotted up with paper towel will prevent staining and odor.

• Save money on washing pre-spray by spraying undiluted vinegar on deodorant and other stains on garments just prior to washing.

• Spray a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water onto soap scum on shower screens, leave sit then wipe or rinse off.
• Neat vinegar sprayed onto mold affected bathroom/shower tiles will kill the mold.
• Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener by adding half the amount of vinegar as you would of your usual softening agent.
• I've seen many suggestions that a tablespoon of vinegar can be used as a replacement for hair conditioner.
• Vinegar can also be used as a glass cleaner either mixed with water or used neat in a spray bottle.
• Use full strength vinegar to polish chrome and stainless steel
• Use a 50/50 vinegar and water mix to clean your iron. Add the mixture to your iron and allow it steam itself clean
• Pour boiling white vinegar down a clogged drain to remove the obstruction
• Used in an fine atomizer, vinegar is effective as room deodorizer
• Ants hate vinegar; so spray it around doorways and other areas they frequent to repel them

... not to mention vinegar is great for chips and salad dressings :).