4 unexpected uses for vinegar

Got any lingering vinegar around the house? You're in luck: use it as the solution to these four common issues.

If you struggle with static electricity around the house in winter, try this simple, cheap vinegar cure.

1. Mix 250 millilitres (1 cup) white vinegar with 250 millilitres (1 cup) water in a 500 millilitre (16 ounce) spray bottle.

2. Spritz a dust cloth with the solution and wipe plastic tabletops, venetian blinds, and upholstery to remove dust and discourage it from coming back on static currents.

You don't need to buy small bottles of expensive glue removers — you can wipe stubborn adhesive tags from store-bought products with a little household staple.

1. Dip a clean cloth into white vinegar and rub it over glue spot until it loosens. Remove the glue with a dry corner of the cloth. Use a plastic spatula to lift any stubborn spots.

2. Rinse spot with a clean, damp cloth, and polish with a dry cloth.

There is nothing more irritating than a strong fish, onion, or garlic smell that sticks to your hands. Here's the cheap and easy answer.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water as usual, pour vinegar over your clean hands, and rub it in for a few seconds.

2. Rinse and dry hands as usual.

If you live in an area with hard water, sooner or later you'll notice that your coffee maker takes longer to brew and the coffee doesn't taste as good, your rug steamer doesn't work as well as it did, and your steam iron may stop steaming. Here's how to make them all like new again.

1. To clean coffee makers, steam-cleaning machines, and steam irons, pour 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) (or more as needed to fill reservoir) white vinegar into the water reservoir, turn the machine on, and allow it to run until all of the vinegar passes through.

2. Follow up by filling the reservoir with clean water and running the entire reservoir of clean water through the machine to rinse out the vinegar residue. Repeat with a coffee maker, if needed.