Monday, April 23, 2012

Re: 5 Tips to Add Sparkle and Shine




Hope you all had an eco-friendly Earth Day!

This week, I thought I'd share a few easy tips on how to make your reclaimed and vintage finds sparkle and shine without using harsh chemicals or soaps. These tips are so simple! They all make use of an inexpensive, all-natural and common household staple: distilled white vinegar.






#1--

For that vintage glassware you bring home despite its cloudy appearance, soak a soft cloth in full-strength distilled vinegar and wrap the cloth around the inside and outside of the glass. Let it stand awhile before rinsing clean and drying.

#2--

To remove the unsightly film and some stains from the narrow necks of bottles or vases, fill to the top with undiluted distilled vinegar and let sit overnight. Add a little sand or rice and shake vigorously to loosen more stubborn stains and deposits. Rinse and repeat, if necessary.

#3--

To prevent your glassware treasures from being further  etched by hard water minerals, spray with full-strength distilled vinegar after washing, then rinse with hot water and dry with a soft towel. 


#4--

Remove the tarnish from copper, brass or pewter pieces by making a paste of equal parts distilled vinegar and table salt. Rub it on, remove with a soft, damp rag and polish with a soft cloth.

#5--

Doesn't it just make you nuts when your local thrift store or estate sale vendor uses adhesive labels that leave behind that thick, gummy residue?  Removing that gooey mess is generally very easy if you cover the label with a vinegar-soaked cloth and let it sit overnight. The label should slide right off.

Now, go grab your bottle of vinegar and shine, shine, shine.


Make it a great day!

14 comments:

  1. Great tips, I have some vases that could use your vinegar treatment. Thanks for sharing, Laura

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  2. Hello!
    I'm your newest Linky follower :)

    What great tips! I know I have several items that will benefit from doing this treatment. Thank you so much for sharing, I'd be thrilled to have you follow back!

    Have a great night!
    Aledia @ Plum Perfect

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  3. Thanks -These are great tips. I have copied them and have hung them in my workroom. I really could use some sparkle and shine.

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  4. Thanks for these great tips! I hope you are having a wonderful day! Visiting from CHS

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  5. Thanks for the great tips, will be using my vinegar!

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  6. good tutorial. I need to get busy and try it now.
    Debbie

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  7. Love all these ideas especially since they are all natural products. Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday
    Mary

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  8. It really is amazing what a versatile product vinegar is. Thanks for reminding us at Your Cozy Home Party. Next time I need to remove the sticky glue from labels, I will use vinegar.-------- Shannon

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  9. I can remember my mother always telling me that vinegar was the answer to everything. And she used it on everything....and it worked. You have added some things to her list. I just bought the cutest spiral bound book about the uses of vinegar and am going to give it to my DIL for Christmas this year. She is a caterer, and has lots of uses for the stuff. Loved your post. genie

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  10. Great tips! I also like the no chemicals and try to use naturals because of my chemical allergies. Great post!
    Ruth

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  11. Wow, I never knew there were so many uses for vinegar!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Leticia

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  12. That is amazing. Thank you for these great tips. Pinning them for future use. :)

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  13. great tips. I usually forget to use vinegar!! Lovely pieces you cleaned up by the way!! Happy VTT

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  14. Hi Ann, I am so glad you visited and these are excellent tips. I just heard this and used it today. A solution of Dawn dishwashing liquid and white vinegar cleans and shines that bathroom tile right up. Works great!

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