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1464 days ago

Genius Uses for Vinegar (That Don't Involve Food)

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean at Whakatane ChemDry

More reasons why you should always have a bottle of vinegar on hand.

There are so many different vinegar uses that it is truly one of the most versatile items in your pantry. From cooking to cleaning to personal care, there are endless home uses for vinegar. In fact, there are very few things you can’t clean with vinegar.

It’s important to note that there are many different types of vinegar and each has its own purpose. Balsamic and red wine vinegar are used mostly for cooking and salad dressing. White vinegar, while edible, is best used for cleaning purposes. Cleaning vinegar is dangerous to ingest and should only be used for that purpose. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most versatile types of vinegar, with just as many culinary uses as cleaning and other purposes.

Here are some genius vinegar uses you might not know about.

Vinegar as All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Get rid of your chemical cleaning products and use vinegar instead. Mix one-part white vinegar and one part water in an empty spray bottle to clean everything from wood floors to countertops. To make the smell more pleasant, add 10-20 drops of any essential oil. Lemon is a particularly good choice because it helps to cut grease and odours.

Vinegar as Soap Scum Remover: Having trouble scrubbing that tough soap scum off your bathtub or shower doors? Pour some white vinegar or cleaning vinegar on a sponge and wipe. If you still have trouble removing the grime, put a little baking soda on a sponge and add a little more vinegar. It will fizz, making the dirt come up easily.

Vinegar as Clarifying Hair Treatment: If product build-up is making your hair feel oily, skip the clarifying shampoo and DIY your own using, you guessed it, vinegar. Combine one part apple cider vinegar to two parts water in an old shampoo or empty water bottle and shake it up. After shampooing your hair, towel dry and apply the solution evenly from roots to ends. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing and conditioning.

Vinegar as Candle Wax Remover: Spilled candle wax is easy to remove with the help of vinegar. Just heat up the wax with a hair dryer and then sop it up with a paper towel. Remove any leftover wax with a paper towel soaked in a solution of half water and half vinegar.

Vinegar as Weed Killer: Stop using chemical weed killers in your garden. Vinegar is better for your family and pets. It’s best to use vinegar that has high acidity, such as Pure 20% Vinegar ($23; amazon.com), to apply to weeded areas. You can also combine a gallon of white vinegar with a cup of salt and a tablespoon of dish soap. Mix well and apply to the area.

Vinegar as Flea Spray for Your Pet: Want to treat Fido or Fluffy’s fleas naturally? After shampooing, apply a mixture using one part water to one part apple cider vinegar on your pet’s coat to create an unpleasant environment for fleas to live.

Vinegar as Carpet Stain Remover: Vinegar can help lift odours and get stains out of carpet. Soak the stain with white vinegar, and then sprinkle on some baking soda until the solution fizzes. Wait a few minutes for the stain to absorb and then vacuum up the powder. If the odour is bothersome, apply a drop or two of essential oil over the vinegar.

Vinegar as Stainless Steel Cleaner: No need to buy anything special to make your fridge shine. Spray undiluted white vinegar on stainless steel or chrome, then buff off with a polishing cloth.

Vinegar as Showerhead Cleaner: If your shower spray isn’t what it used to be, it could be clogged with minerals and gunk. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it over the showerhead using tape or rubber bands. Wait at least two hours and then run the water for a few minutes through the showerhead before using. You can also remove the showerhead and submerge it in the vinegar instead. Rinse off before reattaching.

Vinegar as Sweater Fluffer: Fluff up wool sweaters by adding a few capfuls of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Vinegar as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer: To deodorize a garbage disposal, make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.

More: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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More messages from your neighbours
4 hours ago

Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?

The Doctors

Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctor’s appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.

For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.

Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care.
Find out more

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How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?
  • 27.6% I prefer booking online whenever possible
    27.6% Complete
  • 41.4% Online booking is helpful but not essential
    41.4% Complete
  • 27.6% I prefer calling the clinic
    27.6% Complete
  • 3.4% I didn’t know online booking was available
    3.4% Complete
29 votes
14 minutes ago

A reminder this hunting season

The Team from New Zealand Police

As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.

Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.

Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”

Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.

The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”

Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?

“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.

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8 days ago

Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?

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Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
  • 76.4% Inside!
    76.4% Complete
  • 23.6% On top!
    23.6% Complete
1206 votes