UNUSUAL USES FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS
One of the most popular items with visitors is
the unusual uses for things you find around the house, from clothes pegs (pins) and
potatoes to Coke and used tumble dryer fabric softener sheets.
At this point, however, I would like to mention these ideas
are passed on in good faith but I do not guarantee and cannot be held responsible for any
adverse results. (see our Disclaimer)
|
VINEGAR |
| WEED KILLER |
Vinegar is awesome
at killing weeds in the yard, thus avoiding all those other nasty
poisons out there. Just be careful not to spray it on anything
you do not intend to kill.
Robert
Schichi |
| WALLPAPER PASTE SOLVENT |
Thought you might want to know that
vinegar also makes a great solvent for wallpaper paste. Just dilute a cup of white vinegar with 2-3
liters of very warm water - as hot as your hands can tolerate - and apply generously with
a sponge. Once you get an edge or corner of the wallpaper to lift, then start
working the vinegar solution behind the paper to break down the adhesive. This
process is most effective when you keep your work area very damp - let the warmth of the
water and the chemical properties of the vinegar do the work for you.
Rinse your sponge often and mix a new
batch of vinegar/water solution when it becomes cool and/or murky. You'll notice
that the fresh batch of solution is far more effective and you'll quickly get a feel for
when an old batch is past its usefulness.
Best part of this is that vinegar is
very inexpensive and it will not stain or discolor carpeting or other flooring.
Note that red wine or cider vinegar
should be avoided because their coloring may cause staining.
Thank you Rob O'Daniel |
| MICROWAVE CLEANER |
To clean a microwave oven all you
need to do is put a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl. Microwave on
high
for 45 seconds to 1 minute (time depends on your particular model). Carefully take the
bowl out and wipe out the oven. Now I am not too sure about the next bit, it sounds too
frightening to me but if you want to try it it is up to you.
If you have some food that won't come off then put the
vinegar back into the microwave and heat until it explodes out of the bowl. It makes
a loud pop but that way it gets into every corner. It usually takes about a minute
and a half to explode but you know when it happens!
This contribution
was sent in by Lynn - Many thanks. |
| WEIGHT LOSS |
Combine 1 tablespoon
apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon honey in an 8 ounce glass of unsweetened grapefruit
juice. Drink 1 glass before each meal as an appetite suppressant. Contribution from Angela
Kern - thanks.
An alternative to the
grapefruit juice recipe is to mix 1 teaspoon raw organic apple cider
vinegar with 1 teaspoon diluted honey (fewer calories and it will mix in
easier) in just about one half cup of lukewarm water. I've been doing this
twice a day, right before lunch and dinner. I haven't lost any weight yet,
but have noticed a huge change in energy levels and "correction"
in metabolism since I take lithium, several antidepressants, and depakote.
A really great internal cleanser for anyone on psych. meds!
Courtesy
of Camille |
| AIR FRESHENER |
A saucer of vinegar left in the
corner of a room acts as an air freshener, removing all odours such as cigarette smoke
etc. Thanks
to Elaine Prentice for this gem. |
| RUST REMOVER |
Soak a corroded bolt etc. in a small
container of vinegar for several days and the rust will begin to dissolve. |
| LABEL REMOVER |
Soak label/sticker with vinegar
leave until saturated, then peel off. |
| SHOE CLEANER |
Remove winter salt stains from shoes
by wiping with a cloth dampened in a vinegar solution (1 tablespoon vinegar to a cupful of
water). |
| PAIN RELIEVER |
Hot vinegar compresses can sometimes
ease discomfort of a strain or sprain. If, however, the pain continues medical
advice should be sought in case a bone has been fractured. |
|
|
| SPONGE/CLOTH RESTORER |
If a sponge, flannel or dishcloth
becomes slimy or smelly, soak overnight in a solution of half vinegar/half water.
Rinse in clear water and leave to dry. |
| WINDOW WASHER |
Clean windows with a solution of 2
tablespoons of vinegar to 2 pints (1 litre) warm water and a dash of
washing up liquid (hand dish washing detergent). Put into a clean,
empty spray bottle, shake to mix before use.
Wash from top to bottom on
the inside of windows and from side to side on the outside. This way you will be
able to tell on which side any smears are. |
| KETTLE CLEANER |
Lime deposits in kettles can
sometimes be removed by filling with equal parts vinegar and water. Bring to boil
then leave to stand overnight. Empty out vinegar solution, refill with clean water,
reboil. Empty out again and then use in the usual way. |
| STEAM IRON CLEANER |
Mineral deposits may be removed
from an old steam iron by filling it with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and
water and letting it steam until dry. Rinse the tank with clean water, refill it and
shake water through steam holes over an old piece of material. Test on old cloth
before ironing. It is not advisable to try this
on a new iron as the acidity of the vinegar may damage the iron. |
| HAND CLEANER |
Remove cooking smells from hands by
rinsing them with vinegar and then wash thoroughly with soap and water. |
| EGG SUBSTITUTE |
If you are baking and find you are
short of an egg, as long as the recipe contains another rising agent
(e.g. baking powder or
self raising flour) the egg can be replaced with 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar. |
| LAUNDRY AID |
Perspiration marks can be eliminated
by soaking them with vinegar before laundering in the usual way. Collars and cuffs can be cleaned by rubbing a thick paste of baking soda and
vinegar onto the stains before washing in the usual way. |
| HAIR TREATMENT |
Put a shine on dark, greasy hair by
adding a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to your last rinsing water. |
| POACHING EGGS |
To prevent the white of an egg
spreading during poaching add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a shallow pan of boiling water. |
| RELAXER |
Add 8 fl. oz (225 ml) cider vinegar
to a bath of warm water and soak for at least 15 minutes - this should relieve aching
muscles or itching skin. |
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