Marvelous, Magical Vinegar! Part 1

We've all left something-or-other sitting around with water in it until it evaporated. Those hard water rings left behind are nearly impossible to scrub out. The trick to getting them out without harsh chemicals is vinegar. Fill the container to just past the rings with warm to hot white vinegar. Let sit for a few minutes and the rings come right out. It may take longer for the likes of dog bowls and other items that have very heavy deposits.

Save the vinegar to use in other cleaning tasks and watering.

If you live in an area with alkaline soil and water just dilute the vinegar at a rate of 1/4 cup or less to 1 gallon of water and use to lightly water your plants. I usually do this along with the regular watering on my house plants about once every couple of months. This may be sprinkled on the lawn before watering also. Be careful to do so in the cool of the evening or early morning though. Doing this during the heat of the day seems to 'activate' the vinegar and will burn the grass.

Mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with water, vinegar makes a great glass cleaner! Use on a rag or in a spray bottle and dry the glass with old newspaper. It doesn't streak and is faster than the ammonia cleaners.

Clean steam irons and coffee makers with it too.
_Fill coffee maker reservoir with 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water, use an empty filter in the basket and turn it on. Run a clean fill of water through before using to actually make coffee.
_Fill the iron with water/vinegar mixture, turn to steam setting and place on a cake rack in the sink or other heat and water proof pan. Let steam until the jets operate freely. Shake, empty and repeat if necessary. Rinse reservoir well before letting dry.

Want spot free dishes from your dishwasher without the expense and chemicals of commercial additives? Use vinegar in the rinse dispenser! Works just as well and helps keep the washer build-up free too.

Vinegar is wonderful to degrease that nasty pot left out after the last barbecue. Sponge vinegar on gooey, dried on grease and let sit for a few minutes. Washing with a vinegar soaked scrubby makes the job a breeze.

One of the best uses I have found is documented here, in an article published by Judy Stouffer. She points out that vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, used separately on counters, cutting boards and almost any surface requiring an antibacterial or disinfectant, actually works better than commercially prepared products. They should never be mixed, but kept full strength in their own spray bottles. It doesn't matter which one you use first, but use them both. Works better and without potentially toxic, environmentally questionable chemicals! It costs a good bit less too.

There are so many uses for vinegar around the house and yard that to note even a reasonable portion of them will take more than one post! Once you start using it, you will want to buy it by the gallon. Yes, it is that handy!