Vinegar Fridays

Photo courtesy of Anna Cervova

TGIVF!

Today I thought I'd just share some random tips with you. No theme...other than Vinegar Rocks!!

This hasn't happened recently, but for years whenever we would go to visit my mom, my husband and I would be woken up much earlier than we wanted to be by the screeching of the smoke alarm. Since her alarm was electric, there was no way to pop the battery out. And, for some reason unbeknownst to me, there was no switch either!  So, we had no choice but to get out of bed to be greeting by crisp bacon in the broiler. While she would never admit it, we always knew that was her plan.

Too bad I didn't know about this trick back then. The next time you burn your toast, char your steak, or over-crisp your bacon, simply pour some vinegar onto a dish towel and swing it around in the air. This will not only keep the smoke alarm from sounding, but it will also quickly absorb the smoke and its smell.  Plus, it will amuse your kids if they're watching!

If the smell of smoke has already permeated your house, here's a remedy for that, too. Just soak some bread in vinegar and place it in bowls in various rooms. The smell will be gone in no time.

If your clothes or furniture has residule smoke odor (from smokers in the home, an evening in a smoky location, or time spent at a fall bonfire), skip the Febreeze and just spritz the fabric with vinegar. Don't worry about smelling vinegary -- it dissipates quickly.

If other odors are a problem, don't reach for the chemically-laden, cancer-causing, aerosol spray air freshener!! Use your homemade, eco-friendly and health-friendly alternative:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups water

Mix together in a spray bottle and spritz the air as needed. Will your home smell like a meadow or spring rain or pine forest? Nope. But it will smell fresh and the air will be safe to breath!

Have you ever had chewing gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe or worse, in your kid's hair? Super vinegar to the rescue! Heat up some vinegar (it doesn't matter which kind) and then saturate the area with it. Stickiness gone!

Speaking of kids...any of your kids playing football these season? If so, you know all about grass stains. Once again, vinegar's the answer! Just soak the stained clothing in undiluted distilled white vinegar and voila! Stains are gone. (This works for other stains, too, like coffee, tea, wine and fruits, including berries.)

After the big game, does your son (or cheerleading daughter) come home complaining of aches and pains? Fill the tub with very warm water and add two cups of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar is packed full of potassium and will soothe those aching muscles.

The bath thing isn't just for athletes, either. As a matter of fact, I hear a hot bath summoning me right now -- something has to work to ease this fibromyalgia-wracked body from its pain. So I think I will obey the summons. Hoping to spend this Vinegar Friday in less pain.

Keeping it green with vinegar,

Hana