6 Handy Household Uses for Vodka (That Don’t Involve Drinking)
by Hannah B. Slaughter for DIYNetwork.com
It is no secret that we keep a well-stocked bar at our house. In fact, it's kind of our "thing." You know how some people are great gardeners? Well, we're really good at mixing cocktails. So when it was suggested around the office that there are uses for vodka that don't include a martini glass and olives, I was intrigued.
I should start with a disclaimer that no quality vodka was harmed in the making of this post. When using vodka for cleaning, always buy the cheapest stuff. My husband would call using anything else "alcohol abuse."
Keep Your Flowers Perky
Mixing a teaspoon or two of vodka and a spoonful of sugar with the water in your vase will keep your flowers looking fresher longer. I've tried this trick with several different types of flowers now, and it's worked like a charm. I also feel better putting this solution in vases around the house as opposed to that unknown powdery white stuff that sometimes comes with the flowers I buy at the store.
Polish Your Glasses & Sunnies
Use vodka and a cotton cloth to make your glasses and sunglasses sparkle again. I was a little skeptical about this one, but the vodka cut right through that layer of sunblock and gunk that always seems to build up this time of year when we're spending so much time in the river and on the beach.
Use Vodka to Kill Mildew?
This one I'm still not so sure about. I've read that this works like a charm in several different places, but when we tried it on some outdoor furniture, the vodka just didn't do the trick. Have you tried this before? Did it work for you?
Get Rid of That Thrift Store Smell
My husband has an army of plaid jackets that he's collected from thrift stores over the years. The problem with this is that they all have that "vintage" smell (read: moth balls and ickyness). So he found this genius solution that we've used ever since. In a spray bottle, mix 2 parts vodka with 1 part distilled water. Spray on your fabric. The mixture will evaporate quickly, taking the "vintage" and vodka smells with it. Now just take your garment to your dry cleaner, and you're ready to party.
Shine Up Your Baubles
Vodka is great for cleaning sparkly stones. I use it often when cleaning any glass beads or costume jewelry. Just put a little in a spray bottle and polish away!
Remove Sticky Labels
This one addresses one of my biggest annoyances: I love reusing glass containers, but I hate removing the labels from old jars. You can't leave them on or the paper will slowly clog up your dishwasher, right? Well, this is better than any store-bought solution I've found. Simply fill a dish with half an inch of vodka and soak your jar. You'll immediately see the label loosen from the glass. Keep soaking and then just rub the gunk off with your fingers. How easy is that?
MORE FROM HGTV FAMILY OF SITES
Revealed: What's inside Jennifer Aniston's Beverly Hills home
10 flowers that give you the most bang for your buck
