by DJ Andrews

Created on: January 12, 2009   Last Updated: September 12, 2011

Vinegar has been around for thousands of years. Like many things that have been used by humans since before history was accurately recorded, the origins of vinegar are dubious. One thing that is clearly not in dispute, however, is that vinegar has countless uses. Some uses of vinegar are commonly known, others are not. And some uses of vinegar are utterly amazing.

To clarify, this treatise references white vinegar. Not its much more expensive cousin balsamic vinegar. Unlike the very inexpensive white vinegar, balsamic vinegar can cost hundreds of dollars per ounce. White vinegar is commonly available in grocery stores and discount stores, and can be purchased in gallons. Larger containers are also available at some locations.

White vinegar is an amazing deodorizer. Some great uses of vinegar for deodorizing are:

• Wash out the inside of your refrigerator (or freezer) using a white vinegar and water solution of 2:1. (2-parts water to 1-part vinegar) The vinegar odor will disappear quickly, and along with it the odors.

• If you have lingering smoke odors in your home, place a small bowl in the room with 1-cup of undiluted vinegar in it. Close the room for 24-hours. If the smoke odor is very bad, use two bowls and leave the room closed for up to 72-hours.

• After working with onions in the kitchen, put a few drops of vinegar on your hands and rub them together. Rinse with water onion smell gone!

• When you wash your cat's litter box, use a 2:1 vinegar and water solution to eliminate odors.

• Put some undiluted vinegar into a spray bottle and set the sprayer head for fine mist. Use this to eliminate odors just about anywhere including garages and closets. Spray the mist high, and throughout the area, avoiding spraying directly onto sensitive items such as clothing or lampshades.

• To remove the musty smell (or mothball odor) from stored clothing, wash the clothes using 1-2 cups of vinegar with the water.

• If your dog or cat runs into a skunk, use a strong vinegar and water solution to help make the odor go away. Sometimes it will work in the first treatment, but if the skunk's odor has already permeated the animal's fur, it will take two or three treatments. Sure beats tomato juice!

• If you have battery terminal corrosion, vinegar is the quickest, easiest way to remove it. Simply dribble the undiluted vinegar over the terminal and watch it disappear. You won't need much, so dribble

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