How to clean and remove odor with vinegar

Did you know that vinegar has over 175 different uses. Here are a few that will benefit you around the house.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use vinegar to unclog and deodorize drains
   
   To clear sink and tub drains, use a funnel to pour in 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar. When it is done foaming, flush drain by running hot tap water. Wait five minutes, and then flush again with cold water.

2. Use vinegar to get rid of smoke odor
   
   You can remove smoke odor caused by burning food or cigarette smoking by placing a shallow bowl about three-quarters full of white or cider vinegar in the room. The odor should be removed in less than a day. If you have company coming and need to get rid of the smell ASAP you can wet a rag with vinegar and wave it around the room.

3. Use vinegar to deodorize lunch boxes
   
   Lunch boxes tend to hold the smell of food or begin to smell musty. Just wipe the inside of the lunch box out with a vinegar soaked rag. Let it sit a few hours and wipe with clean rag.

4. Use vinegar to freshen a musty closet
   
   Does your closet smell musty? Remove the contents and wipe the walls, ceiling, and floor with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1 cup each of vinegar and ammonia and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon water.
   
   Let the interior dry before replacing everything.

5. Use vinegar to remove carpet stains
   
   For light stains: mix 2 tablespoons salt dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Rub onto stain and let the stain dry for 48 hours, then vacuum.
   
   For larger or darker stains: Add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture above and use the same way.
   
   For tough carpet stains: make a paste of 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. With a dry cloth, rub the paste into the stain. Let the paste set in for 48 hours, then vacuum.

6. ** See more of my articles on uses for ordinary things in the resource section below.

Resources

• How to relieve sunburn pain and more with tea
• How to moisturize dry skin and more with shortening
• How to remove stubborn stains with rubbing alcohol
• How to clean and deodorize with salt
• How to use denture tablets to unclog a drain, clean your shower head and more..

[Psalmist4M]

on 8/16/2008 Great tips. Thanks for the detailed article. cherylgoff.com

[acole]

on 8/16/2008 Lots of uses. Good article.

[soulmates]

on 8/16/2008 What will you come up with next. I see now I am going to have to keep a bottle of vinegar, salt and alcohol handy from this article and your last two articles