Draxx writes:  

Vodka is made from either grain, rye, wheat, potatoes or sugar beet molasses as the primary ingredients combined with yeast in order to generate alcohol. After distillation, the product is almost pure ethyl alcohol and is watered down before bottling, after which it usually has an alcohol content of between 35 - 50%.

 Aside from drinking, vodka has many other uses, some that can replace environmentally harsh chemicals we use around the home.

 Thanks to its basic mixture of pure alcohol and water, vodka can be used as a strong household cleaner, pesticide and so much more. Bonus: it's a non-toxic alternative to many traditional products and chemicals

Given the lack of ingredients in unflavored vodka, it can be used as a substitute for many cleaners with an alcohol, caustic or solvent base, without leaving the item smelling like liquor.

 Of course, good vodka isn't cheap; so many of the the following ideas I found around the place are based on the assumption you have lost the taste for the stuff; or if you find yourself in a spot of bother and don't have anything else to use... or if you have a good supply of dirt cheap vodka :).

 Remember to always spot test before going all out with any of these suggested uses.

 

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves the adhesive.

  

2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean.  The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.

 3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean cloth dampened with vodka. The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.

 4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

 5. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, then blot dry.

 6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

 7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

 8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or wasps to kill them.

 9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziplock freezer bag, and freeze for a slushy, re-freezable ice pack for aches, pain, or black eyes..

 10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

 11. Make your own mouthwash by mixing nine tablespoons powered cinnamon with one cup vodka. Seal in an airtight container for two weeks. Strain through a coffee filter. Mix with warm water and rinse your mouth. Don't swallow.

 12. Using a Q-tip, apply vodka to a cold sore to help it dry out.

 13. If a blister opens, pour vodka over the raw skin as a local anesthetic that also disinfects the exposed dermis.

 14. To treat dandruff, mix one cup vodka with two teaspoons crushed rosemary, let sit for two days, strain through a coffee filter and massage into your scalp and let dry.

 15. To treat an earache put a few drops of vodka in your ear. Let set for a few minutes. Then drain. The vodka will kill the bacteria that is causing pain in your ear.

 

16. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.

 

17. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.

 

18. Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.

 

19. To remove cigarette smoke in your home or office mix one part vodka and three parts water and spray the clothing, then launder and let dry.

 

20. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.

 

21. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.

 

22.  To increase the life of cut flowers, add a few drops of vodka vase water along with 1 teaspoon sugar.

 

23.  Use it undiluted to remove ink stains from fabric (dab, don't rub).

 

24.  Use undiluted vodka to remove paint from clothes.

 

25.  Vodka sprayed on areas where cats have peed or sprayed will remove the odor.

 

26.  A healthy splash of vodka in old water storage containers will help kill bacteria.

 

27.  Spray vodka on clothes to remove lingering odors.

 

28.  A few drops of vodka will clean jewelery.

 

29.  Vodka can be used as a glass cleaner. Dilution recommendations vary, 25 - 50% vodka and the balance being water seems to be the general guideline. Use in a spray bottle.

 

30.  Use it to make vanilla extract. Place 4 vanilla pods in a jar and add a cup of vodka. Use an airtight lid and then place in a cool dark spot. Shake the jar occasionally and after two months you'll have vanilla extract. Top up with vodka as you use it and only add more vanilla pods when it starts to lose potency.

 

31.  Spray onto old potpourri to revitalize the scent.

 

32.  Use vodka it to remove hair dye from your skin.

 

33.  Vodka can help to remove tree sap from car paintwork.

 

34.  Use undiluted as a weed killer spray.

 

35.  Spray undiluted into your washing machine to neutralize odors.

 

36.  For ink and grass stains, dip a clean cloth in vodka and rub spot. Rinse thoroughly. Lipstick on your collar? Blot stain with vodka, then launder in your regular wash.

 

37.   Preserve Fresh Flowers-Plants all produce ethylene, a ripening gas that promotes maturation. Vodka stunts ethylene production, thereby helping flowers stay wilt-free longer. To keep store-bought flowers fresh, snip an inch off of each stem, add two teaspoons of vodka and one teaspoon sugar. Stir well and repeat this process every few days.

 

38.   Chemical-Free Weed Killer-With help from the sun's heat, the alcohol content in vodka destroys unwanted broad-leaf weeds -- such as dandelions, chickweed and wild onion -- by breaking down their waxy-cuticle coverings. This action dehydrates and dries plants out. Remove weeds by filling a spray bottle with an ounce of vodka, several drops of liquid dish soap, and two cups of water. On a sunny day, spritz weeds with the solution until dripping wet.

 

Tip: Direct sunlight is needed for this technique to work, as weeds in the shade won't dry out.

 

39.  Clean Chrome, Glass and Jewelry-Vodka is effective at making dull bathroom fixtures, chandeliers, eyeglasses, windowpanes and even precious gemstones (only stones that are a crystal, such as diamonds) sparkle like new.

 

- For chandeliers: Moisten a clean microfiber cloth with vodka and rub over dusty surfaces. Alternatively, you can spritz the chandelier with a solution of one cup water and one teaspoon of vodka in a spray bottle. Lay a drop cloth on the floor to catch drips.

- For chrome: Soak a soft, clean cloth with vodka and shine.

- For eyeglasses: Dip a clean, lint-free cloth in vodka and rub each lens (back and front) until clear.

- For jewelry: Measure out one-fourth cup vodka in a shallow drinking glass or bowl. Drop in jewelry and let soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse and dry. Tip: Do NOT clean pearls, opals and other porous stones via this method.

- For windowpanes: Mix one cup water and one teaspoon vodka in a spray bottle. Spritz on windows and wipe clean with paper towels or a clean microfiber cloth.

 

40.  All-Natural Pesticide-Also known as plant lice, aphids are tiny soft-bodied insects that suck the nutrient-rich sap from the stems of plants. To keep aphids off of plants add four cups water, four teaspoons of dishwashing liquid and four teaspoons vodka in a large spray bottle. Shake well and spritz areas where you spot infestations.

 

41.  Use Vodka to Eliminate Odors-Vodka eradicates foul stenches -- and doesn't leave a scent when it dries. For an odorless air freshener, mix one part vodka with three parts water in a small spray bottle. Spritz area and let dry.

 

42.  Eliminate swimmer's ear-If you don't have rubbing alcohol, fill an eardropper with vodka, and squeeze it into the affected ear, then let it drain out

 

43.  Kills bugs in Food storage-Dry food such as rice, wheat, beans, etc. often contains insect eggs and often insects can creep in to eat what is in your "airtight" containers. To keep out the bugs and to kill any that might already be in the food, wet a clean washcloth with Vodka and place it in the container with the food. The Vodka evaporates in the container and kills anything inside but the food remains fresh and no taste is given to the food. Replenish every few months, works great!

 

44.  LCD screen cleaner-these days everyone seems to have bigger and bigger LCD or LED television screens which are better and brighter to look at, but much harder to keep clean. Water-based cleaners will leave spots and streaks, harsher chemicals may etch the plastic. Try a little cheap vodka on a very soft cloth instead. It's perfect for cleaning dust and fingerprints without damaging the fragile surface.

45.  Sand flea bites-A couple of years ago in Antigua on the beach mu legs were totally bitten with sand fleas. Back at the condo we had no first aid items, but we did have a bottle of Absolute Vodka in the refrigerator. So for three whole days I would wet paper towels with the vodka and rub it on my legs. It dried up the sand flea bites just as well as anything else from the pharmacy would have.

 

46.  Coolant ingestion- When a child or animal ingests automobile coolant, (ethylene glycol,) it will kill them! It tastes sweet and many suc*****b to it each year! Forcing them to ingest alcohol, (vodka, for example,) will save their life until you get them to the hospital or the ambulance gets there! The body processes the grain alcohol in preference to the coolant and shunts the coolant on through instead of metabolizing it in the liver and having it crystallize and kill them!!! (This is what actually causes death! It crystallizes in the liver.)

 

47.  Fill a clean, empty jar with fresh lavender flowers. Pour in vodka, seal the lid and set it in the sun. After 3 days strain the liquid,and apply to aches and pains.

 

48.  Make herbal tinctures-in a mason jar, add vodka to dried or fresh cut herb- 80 - 100 proof to pour over the herbs, Have on hand 7-10 ounces of chopped fresh herbs for every quart of vodka.  Try to utilize fresh herbs when creating tinctures. When using dried herbs, use 4 ounces of herbs to one pint of the vodka used.

 

 

Article Sources:

http://www.tummyfluff.co.uk/news/vodka.htm

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/354/1/Uses-for-vodka.html

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/vodka-uses-460424

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.divinecaroline.com%2F33672%2F45476-uses-vodka%2F2%23ixzz1ENJbZTJb&h=4e832

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/makeyourowntinctures