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37 Unusual Uses for Vodka (WWII Series)

September 16, 2013 by Robin 8 Comments

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This week my family and I are adding vodka to our growing list of frugal living tips. I have to confess, when I was reading my families uses for vodka, I couldn’t help but think, hmmmm, I drink this and it can be used to kill mold, clean windows and remove stains. I don’t know if I will ever be able to have a drink that contains vodka again without thinking about that. Before I share all of the fabulous household tips that we came up with, let me make a small but frugal suggestion, don’t use premium vodka, use one of the bottom shelf brands, they are a lot cheaper and work just as well.

household tips
Image from: Liquor.com
Healthcare
Always consult a doctor before using vodka as a treatment
  1. Aches – to soothe, fill a
    jar with fresh lavender flowers and top it off with vodka. Let it sit in the
    sun for a few days and then rub the liquid on your achy areas.
  2. Bandage – to remove
    painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka.
  3. Cold Sores – to heal faster,
    dab vodka on the sore.
  4. Cuts – to clean and
    disinfect minor wounds, apply vodka.
  5. Earache – to treat, place a
    few drops of vodka into your ear and allow it to remain there for a few minutes
    before draining.
  6. Fever – to relieve, place a
    soft cloth saturated in vodka on your chest.
  7. Jellyfish Stings– to soothe,
    pour vodka on the area.
  8. Poison Ivy – to minimize the
    stinging, apply vodka to the skin immediately after contact.
  9. Sore Throat – to treat,
    gargle with 1 tablespoon of vodka mixed into 8 ounces of warm water.
  10. Toothache – to numb the
    pain, swish an ounce of vodka around in your mouth.
Beauty
  1. Hair – to fight buildup, add an ounce of vodka to your
    shampoo.
  2. Hair – to shine, add 1 ½ ounces of vodka to 12 ounces of
    shampoo.
  3. Hair – to control frizziness, add 1 ½ ounces of vodka to 12
    ounces of conditioner.
  4. Hair – to stimulate growth, add 1 ½ ounces of vodka to 12
    ounces of shampoo.
  5. Dandruff – to treat, mix one cup of vodka with 2 teaspoons
    crushed rosemary. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple of days, then strain
    the mixture and massage into your scalp.
  6. Skin – to make your own toner, add ¼ teaspoon vodka to 8
    ounces of brewed green tea.
Cleaning
  1. Eyeglasses – to clean, wipe
    the lenses with a soft cloth that has been dampened with vodka.
  2. Glass – to shine, clean
    glass with a soft rag dipped in vodka.
  3. Jewelry – to clean
    gemstones, soak them inn vodka for 5-10 minutes, then rinse and dry.
  4. Laundry – to remove stains,
    treat the stain with vodka before washing.
  5. Mold – to clean, spray vodka
    on the surface and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush.
  6. Mouthwash – to make your
    own, place 3 cinnamon stick in a cup of vodka. Allow it to sit in an airtight
    container for two weeks before using.
  7. Porcelain – to shine, clean
    porcelain with a soft rag dipped in vodka.
  8. Razors – to make them last
    longer, place your razors in a glass of vodka after shaving.
  9. Soap Scum – to remove, scrub
    the area with a soft cloth soaked in vodka.
  10. Sticky Residue – to remove,
    soak the area for a few minutes and wipe away.
  11. Windows – to clean without
    streaks, make your window cleaner using equal parts vodka and water in a spray
    bottle.
  12. Wine Stains – to clean,
    spray vodka on the stain. Scrub and blot dry.
Cooking
  1. Pies – for flakier crusts, use
    vodka instead of water. The vodka evaporates leaving you with a flakier pie.
  2. Vanilla Extract – make yourown.
Miscellaneous
  1. Bees and wasps – to kill,
    spray them with vodka.
  2. Cut Flowers – to make them
    last longer, add a teaspoon sugar and a few drops of vodka to the water. Change
    water daily.
  3. Feet – to clean and
    deodorize, soak your feet in vodka.
  4. Insects – to repel, spray
    vodka on your skin.
  5. Odors – to eliminate, spray
    the item with vodka and allow it to dry in a well ventilated area.
  6. Shoes – to remove odors,
    spray a little vodka in them and let them air dry.
  7. Weeds – to kill, mix 1 ounce
    of vodka and a couple of drops of dish soap in 2 cups of water. Spray the weeds
    and watch them disappear.
Do you have any unique household tips using vodka?
* If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI in the 1980’s and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please Contact Me. The notebook is a small (aprox. 6″x9″) black leather, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes and household tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips, Save, WWII Series Tagged With: how to, two cents'

Comments

  1. Linda @ With A Blast says

    September 16, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Great list, Robin! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
  2. JoAnn Hutcheson says

    September 20, 2013 at 1:21 am

    Wow what a list! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Brianna @ CraftThyme says

    September 20, 2013 at 5:43 pm

    I have never heard of soaking your feet in vodka to deodorize. Interesting.

    Reply
  4. Amber Galore says

    September 20, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    I would have never known vodka had so many uses! Thank you for sharing!

    If you have time you should totally link this up at our Blog Strut! We would LOVE to have you!

    Amber

    Reply
  5. Angel Allen says

    September 24, 2013 at 1:33 am

    wow, who knew Vodka was that talented. Great post. Thanks for sharing with us at our Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
    Angel

    Reply
  6. Denine says

    September 24, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    I use Vodka to keep my Paperwhites from getting to leggy. It works!!

    Reply
  7. Kathy A Delightsome Life says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    I did go, 'hmmm' wonder what's in it to allow it to be used in so many ways?"
    I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    Reply
  8. Kent says

    February 19, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    Vodka, or any other strong alcoholic drink, is used to make decoctions and tinctures in herbalism. You mentioned a couple of specific ones above but really it can be used for just about all of them.

    Reply

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