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Issue # 158 - October/November 1996

1. Kill grass on walks and driveways. Pour full-strength on unwanted grass. (Be careful not to pour on wanted plants.)

2. Kill weeds. Spray full-strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have been starved.

3. Increase soil acidity. In hard-water areas, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, gardenias, or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use.

4. Neutralize garden lime. Rinse your hands liberally with vinegar after working with garden lime to avoid rough and flaking skin.

5. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around door and window frames, under appliances, and along other known ant trails.

6. Keep car windows frost free. Coat the windows the night before with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water.

7. Polish car chrome. Apply full-strength with a soft cloth.

8. Power up the propane. Soak new propane lantern wicks in vinegar for several hours. Let dry before using. Will burn longer and brighter.

9. Clean milking equipment. Rinse with vinegar to leave system clean, odorless, and bacteria free without harmful chemical residue.

10. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with vinegar.

11. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on an area to discourage cats from walking, sleeping, or scratching on it.

12. Keep dogs from scratching ears. Clean the inside of the ears with a soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.

13. Keep away fleas and mange. Add a little vinegar to your pet's drinking water.

14. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Add cider vinegar to their drinking water.

Use it when cooking to... 15. Make a buttermilk substitute. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand five minutes to thicken.

16. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar overnight.

17. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in a quart of cold water and a tablespoon of vinegar.

18. Replace a lemon. Substitute 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar for 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.

19. Firm up the gelatin in desserts. Add a teaspoon of vinegar for every box of gelatin used to keep those molded desserts from sagging in the summer heat.

20. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to each quart of water before boiling to keep eggs from cracking.

21. Prepare fluffier rice. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water when it boils.

22. Make wine vinegar. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of dry red wine.

23. Debug fresh vegetables. Wash leafy greens in water with vinegar and salt. Bugs will float out.

24. Scale fish more easily. Rub with vinegar five minutes before scaling.

25. Dampen your appetite. Sprinkle a little vinegar on prepared food to take the edge off your appetite.

Use it on yourself to...

26. S oothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Douse with vinegar. Will soothe irritation and relieve itching.

27. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white or cider vinegar on skin. May have to reapply.

28. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to your rinse to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo.

29. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water.

30. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.

31. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow.

32. Clear up warts. Apply a lotion of half cider vinegar and half glycerin.

33. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.

34. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling.

Use it when cleaning to...

35. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand for 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

36. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing.

37. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full-strength vinegar.

38. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar.

39. Cut grease and odors on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot, soapy water.

40. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.

41. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox overnight.

42. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with solution of equal parts vinegar and water.

43. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.

44. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through for a minute.

45. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty.