Don't recall who mentioned white vinegar for odors, but I want to give you a big THANK YOU!! I admit, I was doubtful, but didn't have anything to lose...now I find I had a lot to gain! I don't know why or how it works, but its great! Thanks again!!
I have used vinegar since the early Heloise days. I'm sure none of us are smokers..(grin), but I remember reading back decades ago when smoking was commonplace, that after large (smoky) White House Dinners...the house staff would dip towels in white vinegar, ring them out thoroughly, and then walk around and around the dining rooms/social rooms while swinging the towels over their heads. Within a few minutes, they reported all smell of cigarette smoke was removed from the air! Amazing!! Even knowing the magic of vinegar, I spend too much money on other cleaning supplies. Truth be known, I bet Heloise did too!
I use white vinegar to clean the bathrooms. I pour about 1/2 into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a while (while I make the bed or something) and then use the brush. Sparkly clean. We also used undiluted white vitegar around urinals to clean up that awful crystalized urin. Ugh! Took care of that too. And removed the stain if it wasn't left on too long. (I worked as a housekeeper at a retreat camp for a while.) I sure did learn a lot on thata job. :)
Sandi--I had four sons. I know exactly how bad their aim can be. :) A neighbor told me to keep some Cheerios in the bathroom and when I took them to the potty, to put 3-5 cheerios in the bowl. They float and gives those little guys somethin to aim at. You can also buy little plastic or rubber bugs to float in the bowl. Works miracles. ha ha Might even work for womeone's DH who has a little trouble that way. So far, my DH still has a good aim, but I'm sure that won't last forever.
Thank Goodness that my DH started sitting down to pee over ten years ago. I started using vinegar in the rinse cycle back in the day when we used cloth diapers. The diapers were always white and sweet smelling. Never had to use Clorox. Not that any of you need the diaper advise.
For those of us older guys whose eyes have started playing tricks on us,do you wimmins know hard hard it would be to hold a pair of binoculars in one hand an try to aim with the other? A funnel might be more appropriate,then again maybe its just easier to sit an forget about targets
A cup in the rinse cycle is right. It's also good rinse if you have contact allergies. I also buy it by the gallon. I get the house brand. Much cheaper.
You can also use it when you rinse your floors and also good to do windows and mirrors. :)
An article about other uses for vinegar that I saw on att.net
Use Vinegar for All Your Health and Beauty Needs
Everyone knows that vinegar enhances the flavor of foods and cleans windows like no other. But, did you know that vinegar is an excellent health and beauty aid? After reading this article you may want to print it so you can keep it in a handy spot and refer to it often, you are also going to want to check and possibly replenish your supply of vinegar. Here are just some of the many things you can use vinegar for:
Soothe a bee sting by applying full strength vinegar to the area, (just make sure the stinger is gone), this will also help with jelly fish stings.
Relieve a sun burn by rubbing vinegar on your skin.
If dandruff is a problem you can make a solution with 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups warm water to apply after shampooing, then do a final rinse. This will also help with frizzy hair. If your hair is oily, rinse with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water to get rid of the oil. For healthy hair drink a mixture of 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of molasses. To help cover grays stir 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar into a gallon of warm water and use as a final rinse after shampooing.
You can add a ¼ cup of vinegar to your vaporizer to help with sinus problems, chest cold or headache. Gargle a half vinegar and half warm water mixture to relieve a sore throat and you can repeat this method every hour as needed.
You can use vinegar as a diet aid instead of taking pills to suppress your appetite. Just mix 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, some honey for flavor and 8 oz. of water.
Use as a deodorant, just wipe your arm pits with a cloth moistened in vinegar and it will help you smell fresh for hours. If stinky feet are a problem for you soak your feet every night for 10 minutes or more in a solution of 1 ounce of vinegar in a gallon of water.
Apply vinegar to a cold sore to help it heal quickly and relived the pain and discomfort.
Everyone knows that vinegar is a great digestive aid for an upset stomach but it can also helps to relieve gas, drink a glass of warm water with 1 tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
You can treat the varicose veins in your legs by wrapping your legs with a cloth dampened with apple cider vinegar. To get the best possible results drink a glass of warm water with 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar after each treatment.
Drinking a small amount of apple cider daily can help avoid bladder infections.
Fade age or liver spots by wiping every day with a mixture of 2 teaspoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon onion juice.
Get rid of hiccups by sipping slowly a glass of warm water with 1 teaspoon of vinegar. You can sip from the far side of the glass to get rid of them faster. For really stubborn hiccups try sucking on a lump of sugar soaked in vinegar.
A glass of water with 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and honey before going to bed can help with chronic fatigue and nighttime leg cramps.
To help prevent and eliminate facial blemishes steam clean your face by draping a towel over your head and placing your face over a steaming pan of ¼ cup vinegar and 1 qt of water. Please be really careful when doing this, steam can cause really bad burns. Once your pores are open, wipe apple cider vinegar over your face with a cotton ball to clean and loosen dirt and oil then splash your face with a half and half mix of cold water and cool vinegar to close your pores.
Help out your nail polish by cleaning your nails with vinegar before applying the polish. This will help the polish to last longer.
Add 2 or 3 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and soak to relieve tired achy muscles and this will help eliminate yeast infections. Apple cider vinegar will help balance your body's pH levels.
Relieve chapped hands by applying apple cider vinegar several times a day.
If corn's are a problem for you try soaking a slice of onion in vinegar and bind it to the corn overnight or just apply a drop of vinegar to the corn every night.
Try rinsing your teeth with vinegar before brushing to remove tartar and prevent cavities.
If you should happen to get ringworm, apply vinegar directly on the infected area up to 6 times a day.
If poison ivy is a problem for you try daubing equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water to the rash and let it dry.
These are just some of the many uses for vinegar so go ahead, drink it, bathe in it, spray it, splash it or just rub it on, your body will love you for it. Keep in mind that everyone's body is different and results may vary but when you consider that vinegar is really inexpensive it can't hurt to try it before buying more expensive answers to your problems. Vinegar is so versatile that it is definitely worth it to have it around the house and drinking a little everyday can help maintain a beautiful and healthy body.
Today Andrew didn't have anything to do (!) so he started cleaning the kitchen windows, which were filthy. I told him to use read newspaper to wipe them dry. After we got it established that I meant yesterday's news instead of RED newspapers, he said how did you know that? Darned if I could say, it just always worked well! We didn't have any vinegar on hand (except wine vinegar) but that's my favorite for windows too.