Refresh your refrigerator: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and wipe the interior and exterior of your fridge. It will effectively eliminate food smell from the fridge.

Clean your microwave: To clean food residue from your microwave, place a bowl filled with equal parts of vinegar and water and heat for a few minutes. The steam created will soften the mess. Later when the mixture cools, dip a cloth or sponge in it and wipe away the food and grime.

Disinfect cutting boards: To disinfect cutting boards and kitchen shelves wipe them with vinegar after use; the acidic acid in vinegar acts as an effective disinfectant against food bacteria.

Pots and pans: To clean pots and pans prepare a paste of equal amounts of salt and flour using vinegar; rub the paste around and outside the utensils and rinse off with warm water. To clean a kettle of mineral deposits, bring to boil three cups of white vinegar and leave overnight. Rinse off with cold water the next day.

Unclog drains: Clogged drains are no problem now. Using a funnel, pour half a cup baking soda followed by one cup vinegar in your clogged drain; wait for the foaming to subside and then flush hot water. Wait further five minutes and flush cold water. It not only unclogs drains but also washes away odour-causing bacteria, and is much economical than most commercially available drain cleaners.

Clean grease stains: To clean grease stains on your stove, kitchen table or counter just wipe them with a cloth dampened in a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and water. Adding three to four tablespoons of white vinegar in your regular dish washing liquid detergent will increase its grease fighting capabilities. To clean stubborn slicks off your stainless steel pots boil one cup vinegar and water in the pot.

Vinegar is mostly used as a condiment for salad dressing or as a meat tenderiser. But is that all that this pungent, acidic, tangy liquid is good for? No way, though few people know that it can be used in a number of ways.

Furniture: To wipe marks left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and rub with a soft cloth. Polish off with another clean soft cloth. Water marks from leather furniture can be cleaned with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.

Restore your rugs: If your rugs are looking worn and grimy, mix a cup of white vinegar in about 3.5 litres of water and clean the rugs with a push broom dipped in this mixture. You can also remove stains off your rugs or carpets by using more concentrated form of the solution and adding a little table salt or borax for darker stains, rubbing into the stain.

Clean windshield wiper blades: To clean your windshield wiper blades dampen a cloth with some full-strength white vinegar and run it down the full length of each blade. If the blades are too dirty repeat the process. You will see your windscreen will not get blurrier when you turn on the wipers in rain.

Remove stickers and price tags: Want to take off that old sticker off your car bumper? Saturate the sticker by pressing a cloth dampened in warm undiluted white vinegar and wait for 10-15 minutes to allow the vinegar to soak through. Then using an expired credit card or used phone card scrape it off. Remove any remaining stains by pouring on a little vinegar and wiping with a clean cloth. Price tags and other stickers from glass, plastic, and other glossy surfaces can be removed the same way.

Remove mineral deposits: To unclog showerheads place them in a saucepan full of white vinegar, simmer for a few minutes (do not allow it to boil) and then wash off the stains with water. For non-removable showerheads fill a plastic bag half full with vinegar and tape it over the fixture. Remove the bag after about and hour and wipe off the vinegar.

Remove perspiration stains: Sweat stains on underarms and shirt collar are unsightly. Pour or spray full-strength white vinegar on the stain and rub into the fabric before washing. Alternately, scrub the stain with a paste of two parts vinegar to three parts baking soda; leave for half an hour before washing (this also works on ink stains).

Clean crusty paintbrushes: Soak the brush in undiluted white vinegar and leave for an hour; then put the vinegar pot on the stove and bring to a boil and let simmer for 10-20 minutes. Your brushes will be completely paint-free.

Keep flowers fresh: To stop cut flowers from wilting quickly add two tablespoons of white vinegar in the vase before putting in the flowers.

Remove paint fumes: To get rid of the paint fumes from a freshly painted room put a couple of shallow dishes filled with undiluted white vinegar in the room.

Hair conditioner: Rinsing your hair with half a tablespoon of vinegar added to a cup of water removes residue from the hair shaft and closes the cuticles. Rinse out with water.

To get rid of dandruff mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply to your hair after shampoo; leave for about 10-15 minutes and then rinse out. Your hair will smell of vinegar but once it dries out the smell dissipates.

Ant deterrent: Spray a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water anywhere you have spotted ants around your house to make the ants move out. The vinegar also erases the scent trails that they use to indicate sources of food to their brethren.

Hand stink: To remove the smell of onions, garlic, meat, fish and spices on your hands clean your hands with soap and water, and then rinse well with vinegar.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 8th, 2015

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