30 Uses of Vinegar in the Kitchen and Work Shop

 30 Uses of Vinegar in the Kitchen and Work Shop

Dr Abe V Rotor

Natural vinegar from sugarcane 

1. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron’s water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for five minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.
2. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.
3. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing.
4. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
5. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue. 
6. Brighten fabric colors. Add a ½ cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
7. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
8. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then was as usual.
9. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.
10. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off.
11. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
12. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tbsp vinegar and 1 tbsp sugar for each quart of water.
13. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength vinegar with a soft cloth.
14. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar.
15. Clean windows with vinegar and water.
16. Rub vinegar on the cut end of uncooked ham to prevent mold. It will not change the taste of your ham.
17. Add vinegar to laundry rinse water. This will remove all soap and prevent yellowing.
18. Remove hairspray and other p[product buildups from your hair. Massage one ounce of full strength vinegar into hair and leave on for about 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. The shampoo and rinse your hair as usual.
19. Boil vinegar and water in pots to remove stains.
20. Pour undiluted vinegar in coffee maker to remove sediments. Run through like you are brewing coffee. Let cool and run through again if your coffee maker is full of sediment. When done, run in plain water through to rinse a few times.
21. Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.
22. Wash hands with diluted vinegar after working with cement. This will restore smoothness and color of your hands.
23. Artists use vinegar for etching and blending paint materials.
24. Soak your fingernails in vinegar for 20 minutes two times a week to strengthen them. They will grow longer a lot faster than normal.
25. Bring vinegar to a boil in an old saucepan. Reduce to shimmer and place paint brushes with hardened paint on them in the pan. Leave until you see paint loosen. Wash brushes with soapy water to soften the brushes.
26. Dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe counters, canisters and other containers to keep them smelling fresh and clean.
27. Place small containers of vinegar all around the house to take out cigarette smoke smell. Or wave a cloth you soaked in vinegar around the house to clean the air odors.
28. Pour baking soda down clogged drain. Add boiling vinegar to it and your drain should unclog. If not, your clog is needing a commercial drain opener.
29. To tighten cane bottom or caneback chairs sponge them with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry. They will tighten back into shape.
30. To eliminate mildew. Dust and odors. Wipe down walls with vinegar-soaked cloth.

Basi and table wine made from local fruits, and Ilocos Vinegar (extreme right)

Vinegar is sour wine (vin-egar).  Vinegar is oxidized wine i.e., ethanol converted into acetic acid.  These are products of the author's home industry in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.   

* Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation; converting simple sugars to ethanol using yeast and ethanol to acetic acid by acetic acid bacteria. Wikipedia