Another piece of useful information

When you think of May, you might think of Spring, Mother's Day, May Day or even Cinco De Mayo. But did you also know that May is National Vinegar Month? You didn't? Well where have you been? Okay, I must admit I had no clue that vinegar was even celebrated let alone given an entire month of recognition. But now thanks to Keeping the Kingdom First I am.

Vinegar is apparently quite versatile. When I googled Uses for Vinegar I came up with hundreds of websites containing useful tips.

Here are a few that I found most interesting and useful:

1. Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.
2. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.
3. Kill weeds and grass growing in unwanted places by pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar on them. This works especially well in crevices and cracks of walkways and driveways.
4. Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
5. Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
6. For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.
7. Get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again. Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring it to a rolling boil and drop in the articles. Let soak overnight.
8. Forgot that you left wet laundry in the machine and it now smells moldy? Pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes in hot water. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.
9. Make nail polish last longer. Wipe fingernails with cotton balls dipped in white distilled vinegar before putting on nail polish.
10. Relieve sunburn by lightly rubbing it with vinegar.
11. Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with vinegar straight from the bottle.
12. Loosen chewing gum stuck to carpeting or upholstery by soaking it in white distilled vinegar.
13. Keep dogs from scratching ears. Clean the inside of the ears with a soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
14. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around door and window frames, under appliances, and along other known ant trails.

So next time you are in Walmart, grab that industrial size bottle of vinegar. You won't be sorry!