Another use found for vinegar

[MajorChode]

My home has been invaded by fruit flies. My wife put out some fly paper and was lucky to catch half a dozen per night and it was clear we were losing the war of attrition. Even though I keep my kitchen spotless for the most part they were still finding ways to multiply. I did a bit of searching online and found a better solution. I filled a mason jar with about 1" of cider vinegar mixed with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid. Then I put the lid on and punched several small holes in the lid. The next morning we found a hundred or so of the little beastards on the bottom of the jar. The concept is pretty simple. The cider vinegar attracts them because they sense rotting fruit. The dishwashing liquid breaks the surface tension of the vinegar so they sink instead of lighting on top of the surface. Supposedly beer works as well, but the beer I keep around is considerably more expensive than cider vinegar which I buy by the gallon anyway.

There's still a few stragglers flying around today, but I think the rest of them will fall prey to my fruit fly hotel in the next night or two.

[CTyankee]

1. What else do you use cider vinegar for since you buy it by the gallon?

I buy a fair amount of wine vinegar because that and olive oil is all that I use on my salads, and I use some of it in cooking but not much. I don't clean with it altho I understand it's great for windows...

[MajorChode]

2. Mostly I use it for brining

For salads and such I use higher quality vinegar. I used to use white vinegar for cleaning in the kitchen, but I haven't since I bought an ozone generator that makes ozone water for cleaning. I do use white vinegar for other things like deodorizing, cleaning my cordless kettle, laundry, and anything else I can find.

[CTyankee]

3. What does it do for laundry?

[MajorChode]

4. It's an effective and cheap way to pretreat stains

It does a great job on coffee stains, which I seem to collect regularly. There are also other laundry uses for vinegar, but that's all I use it as.

[CTyankee]

5. I'll have to try that! Thanks.

[Monique1]

6. I use vinegar rather than use clothes softener.

The vinegar takes the soap out that rinsing does not get rid of. The towels are more absorbent. My clothes are brighter and look cleaner.

No, my clothes and towels do not smell like vinegar. I just add less than a 1/2 cup, usually place it in one of those balls that one put clothes softener.

[grace0418]

7. It's a great deodorizer for laundry. Especially for towels or anything that's been wet

and gotten a musty/mildewy smell. A little vinegar in the wash is fabulous for that.

Vinegar is amazing, there are a million uses for it. I buy it by the gallon as well.

[Warpy]

8. I live out west where the water is alkaline and full of minerals

I toss a cup of vinegar into one of those water softener balls to release into the rinse water and acidify it just enough to remove mineral and soap residue, especially on dark clothing.

I also rinse my hair with it after shampooing for the same reason.

I also use it with Kosher salt and baking soda to clear drains.

I buy the cheap white vinegar by the gallon and a half at Costco.

Cider vinegar is too tasty to waste like this. That's my basic salad vinegar.