by Debra Herring

Created on: January 25, 2008

Vinegar has been made and used for thousands of year. Traces have been found in Egyptian urns dating 3000 B.C. It was prescribed by Hippocrates for many ailments - from skin rash to ear infections. The term "vinegar" is derived from an old French term "vin aigre" which means sour wine. Vinegar is produced from the fermentation of ethanol, yielding acetic acid.

White vinegar is clear and is made by oxidizing distilled alcohol. It is used for culinary and cleaning purposes. Apple cider vinegar is made from cider. It has beneficial health and beauty properties. It is also often used both for culinary and cleaning purposes.

There are numerous uses for vinegar around the home, yard and garden - many of which were discovered long before the production of commercial medicines, cleaners, pesticides or herbicides.

Use equal parts vinegar and water as a disinfectant. Wet a cloth with the mixture and wring it out. Wipe surface.

Use the same proportions listed above to clean window blinds. Put on a white cotton glove and dip fingers in the solution. Slide fingers across blinds with fingers on each side of slats. Occasionally rinse glove in clean water.

To unclog drains, pour a half cup of baking soda and then one cup of vinegar down the drain through a funnel. The mixture will foam up considerably and will unclog the drain. When there is no more foam, flush drain with hot tap water. After five minutes flush again with cold water. The vinegar with also deodorize your drain.

To speed up a slow drain, pour a half cup of salt followed by two cups of boiling vinegar down the drain. Flush with hot water, then with cold water.

When you have burned some food and have a smoky smell in the room, remove by placing a small bowl filled three-fourths full of white or apple cider vinegar in the room where the smell is the strongest.

To rid a room of fresh cigarette smoke, wave a cloth that has been moistened with vinegar around the room to absorb the smell. The vinegar removes the odor instead of covering it up.

To remove mildew stains, apply vinegar full strength to heavy mildew stains or dilute half and half for light stains.

Clean and shine stainless steel and chrome by spraying with full strength vinegar and buffing to shine with a soft cloth.

Shine silverware or jewelry by soaking with 1 cup white vinegar mixed with 2 tablespoons baking soda for 3 hours. Rinse with cold water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Polish brass or copper with a paste of equal parts vinegar and salt or vinegar and baking soda. Use soft cloth to rub on until tarnish disappears. Rinse with cool water and buff to shine with a clean cloth.

Remove ink marks from clothing with white vinegar on a sponge. Repeat until marks are gone.

Clean your coffee pot using a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Run solution through a cycle on the coffee pot, then run three pots of clean water through to remove vinegar from insides of pot thoroughly.

Brighten wood paneling by mixing 1 pint warm water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 4 tablespoons white vinegar in a small container. Seal container and shake to mix thoroughly. Apply to paneling with a clean cloth. Let it soak for a few minutes then polish with a clean, dry cloth.

Bring your carpet back to life by brushing with a broom dipped into a solution of one gallon of water and one cup of white vinegar. No need to rinse.

Many fold medicine use of vinegar are unproven or have been disproved, but some do have preliminary medical research behind them, including diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, blood pressure, heart health and cancer. Before beginning any vinegar based regime for health purpose, consult your health care provider.

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