K.I.S.S.

I have this little motto K(eep)I(t) S(imple) S(ister). It helps me to prioritize what is important. Imagine how delighted I was to come across this book the other day. I've been practicing the 3R's since I was waist high to a grasshopper, and we were good stewards, fixers, savers, and re-users long before it was chic and trendy, but in my quest to "get back to the basics" I'm really intrigued by the amazing versatility of vinegar. In this book there is a whole chapter dedicated to "nature's most practical liquid".

Did you know vinegar can:

• Erase Ball Point Pen Marks- pen ink (or crayon) on the wall? dab on full-strength white vinegar using a sponge, repeat until the marks are gone


• Unglue Stickers- to remove a sticker or decal saturate with full strength white vinegar (i've used rubbing alcohol for this too)


• Remove Water Rings on Furniture- to remove white rings off wood furniture, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. use another socft cloth to shine it.


• Clean Your Microwave- fill a glass bowl with 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water, zap for 5min and then dip a rag and clean off the splatters


• Stop Reds from Running- soak new brightly colored garments in a few cups of undiluted white vinegar for 10-15min before first washing


• Remove Pit Stains- pour undiluted vinegar on the stains and rub gently before laundering


• Ease a Sunburn- to cool a bad burn dab with a cotton ball soaked with white or cider vinegar


• In the Garden- vinegar can treat rust, black spot and powdery mildew~mix 1tbsp cider vingar in 4 cups water into a recycled spray bottle and mist in the early morning or evening until the condition is cured

There are countless other uses, but in general it seems to really be good at removing odors. Everything from garlic breath, to cigarette smoke, to pet accidents. If you are interested in a D-I-Y spot and stain remover follow this recipe:

Fill a spray bottle with 5parts water to 1part white vinegar

Fill another spray bottle with 5parts water and 1part ammonia

Saturate the stain with the vinegar solution, let it set for a few minutes, then blot and dry

Next spray on the ammonia solution, and blot. Repeat until the stain is gone!

If you use any of these and they work let us know. Good Luck, and thank you, Reader's Digest for Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things.

~Sarah