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April 2010

Use Vinegar to Clean Black Powder
ehow.com provides a tip related to using vinegar to clean black powder.  The step-by-step process can be viewed using this link.

Hints from Heloise

In The Washington Post, a reader provides Heloise with a hint related to the use of vinegar in cleaning bird cages.  The hint is noted below:

Dear Heloise: I read the article about cleaning bird cages. I use regular vinegar in a spray bottle. The ratio I use in a 32-ounce bottle is half water and half vinegar. It is safe and refreshes the room, leaving it smelling feather-fresh. To be sure my eight parrots are not subjected to harsh chemicals, I also steam the cages clean monthly and use a steam mop for the floor. This has worked for me for years. -- Parrot Lover in Jacksonville, Fla.

In The State.com (South Carolina's Home Page), Heloise provides a tip to use vinegar to clean spilled milk. The tip is noted below.

MILK SPILL
On my way home from the grocery store, I managed to spill some milk in my car. As you can imagine, the smell is pretty bad. What can I do to get rid of it? - M.S. in Arizona

Our old friend vinegar should help. After cleaning the spot, pour the vinegar straight from the bottle onto the area (just enough to cover the stain). Wait about 10-15 minutes and blot with a clean, white towel. The smell should be gone, but you may need to repeat the process the next day. - Heloise

Vinegar Has Many Uses

The Springfield News-Sun (Ohio) offers a variety of money saving tips using vinegar, ranging from laundry to housecleaning.  To view the tips, use this link.

Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables

The Star.com (Malaysia) offers readers tips to clean fruits and vegetables, including the use of vinegar.  The tip noted below:

Add 2 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar to one pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables, according to The Vinegar Institute.

Use Vinegar and Distilled Water to Clean Laptop Screens
An article on www.itworld.com shared tips on laptop maintenance, including the use of vinegar and distilled water to clean the screen. The tip is noted below:
Clean the screen when it needs it. If you can't see the email for the dirt, it's time to do a little cleaning. Start with a dry, microfiber cloth--the sort you get at an optometrist's office (you can also buy them at photo and computer stores). Move it in circular motions. Be gentle, but apply slight pressure on particularly stubborn spots.

If that doesn't clean the screen, make your own cleaning solution by mixing distilled water (make sure it's distilled) and white vinegar in equal proportions into a spray bottle. Turn off your laptop. Spray this mixture lightly onto the microfiber cloth, not onto the monitor. Wipe as described above, then wait ten minutes before booting up.

Use Vinegar to Clean Salt Off of Shoes and Car Carpet

Karen Youso of the Star Tribune (Minnesota) offered readers tips on how to remove salt from shoes and car carpet after those winter months are gone. She suggests a mixture of water and white vinegar to clean both. To view the tips, use this link.

Type of Wood Impacts Sensory Qualities of Red Wine and Balsamic Vinegar

A study published in the March 2010 issue of Journal of Food Composition and Analysis reports that wood used for the aging of vinegar (balsamic and red wine) determines both the chemical composition and sensory properties. The research, titled "Effect of wood on the phenolic profile and sensory properties of wine vinegar during ageing," was conducted in Spain. To read an online abstract of the study, please use this link.

Vinegar as an Insect Weapon