Perks of Apple Cider Vinegar

Anjie Cho December 10, 2014

I'm a huge fan of white vinegar. I use it in almost every non-toxic cleaner I make and also use it to clean my shoes and furniture. It's a very helpful item to have in your holistic home toolbox. But white vinegar isn't the only kind that can be used for various purposes around the home. Check out these holistic hats for apple cider vinegar!

Dandruff Cure

I've yet to meet the person who is a fan of dandruff, but store-bought shampoos, like many popular hygiene products, can include a huge number of chemicals that, while effective on dandruff, may not be so great for the rest of your body. Instead of bringing more toxicity into your home, try mixing equal parts apple cider vinegar and water together in a spray bottle. After shampooing, spray the mixture on your hair, then rinse after about 15 minutes. Twice a week with this all-natural cure is all is takes!

Sunburn Soother

Though we're getting ready to say goodbye to the sun for a while, at least in New York, it will be back, and it will bring its old friend, Sunburn, with it. There may not be anything worse than enduring the pain after spending a little too much time in the sun and not re-applying sunscreen often enough. Trouble putting on clothing? Check. Trouble turning over at night? Check. Excruciating pain at the lightest touch? Check. Using apple cider vinegar at bath time can effectively reduce sunburn symptoms and actually restore the body's pH balance. Just a cup or two is all you need!

Laundry Buddy

Most of us wash our clothing on a regular basis, but sometimes soap and water alone are no match for smelly clothes. Ever pulled your gym clothes from the dryer to find they still smell like yesterday's squats? Have animals who consistently mark "their" territory? Apple cider vinegar to the rescue! Combine one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water for a natural laundry deodorizer. For an average load, 1/2 cup of this mix is enough.

Vinegar of All Trades

You can even substitute apple cider vinegar for white vinegar in some cases. It works just the same. Try apple cider vinegar as a multi-purpose cleaner, mold-removing agent or coffee-pot scrub. The uses are almost endless!

Are you already an apple cider vinegar user? What's your favorite non-kitchen use for this miracle substance? If you haven't already tried it out, get to the kitchen, grab a bottle and see what good can come!

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com Video: How to Use a Food Processor For Leftover Soap Pieces

Anjie Cho November 19, 2014

Learn how to recycle leftover bits of soap into new, original bars using a food processor

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and this is how to use a food processor for leftover soap pieces.

I love using bar soap, especially super nice, natural soap. Bar soap is more eco-friendly because you can use less of it and it lasts longer. And you don't have the disposable containers. But you do end up with those leftover soap pieces. I'll show you how to recycle your leftover soap pieces using a food processor.

First, you need a processor, some leftover soap pieces, a saucepan, some oil and a soap molder of some sort. First, grease your soap mold, mine is a glass bowl. You can also use a fancy soap mold or a paper cup.

Second, place all your leftover soap pieces in a food processor and pulse until you have grated soap pieces. Place these in your pan over low heat with just enough water to cover. Here's where you can get creative and use milk, tea, coffee, water, it's up to you.

Milk can give a creamier, moisturizing soap. Different herbal teas can add the benefits of the herbs. Such as peppermint, which is tingly and invigorating. Coffee and caffeinated teas can help wake you up and make your skin firmer. And then, there's water for the purists.

Once you have a smooth texture, take your mixture and let it cool a bit. After it's cooled to the touch, at this point you can add other things such oatmeal, coffee grounds. etc. And you can add some scrubbing power. Or you could just add some essential oils.

Pour it into your mold and cover it with plastic wrap. You can leave it out or put it in the fridge. When it's set after a few hours, you can take it out and let it cure, meaning dry and harden for at least a week. Maybe longer if you used a lot of liquid.

This is a great way to use leftover soap pieces and make a special bar that's all your own.

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com Video: Natural Way to Make a Chair Smell Good

Anjie Cho October 22, 2014

Restore used and lived-in chairs to good smell with natural products like vinegar, baking soda and sunlight

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho and this is natural ways to make a chair smell good.

Because upholstered chairs get used, sat on, spilled on, etc. and because they can't easily be cleaned, sometimes they start to smell, well, not so good. But there are natural ways to make a chair smell better. You don't have to use chemicals, you can go the eco-friendly route.

First of all, don't try to cover it up, I think it makes it worse. The best way to go is to deodorize and remove the bad odors. Some ways to do this for upholstered fabric is to sprinkle baking soda and let it sit overnight. Baking soda deodorizes by absorbing the odors. After it has sat overnight, vacuum the baking soda. This should help tremendously.

If necessary, move onto step two using white vinegar. Make a solution of equal parts water to vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Make sure to test an area first. For instance, this will not work for silk. If that area's o.k., then spray the entire chair with vinegar spray. I promise you the vinegar smell will absolutely dissipate and leave the chair smelling better.

Finally, step three, if it still needs some deodorizing. Vacuum the chair one more time and leave it out in the sunlight all day. Did you know that sunlight actually can kill bacteria and a lot of the odors come from bacteria? Be mindful if the fabric has a possibility of fading in the sunlight. Again, do a test of you can.

There are natural and eco-friendly ways to make a chair smell good using baking soda, vinegar and natural sunlight. Net time skip the chemicals and try to do it the green, natural way.

by Anjie Cho