1387 days ago

Genius Uses for Vinegar (That Don't Involve Food)

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (Hawkes Bay Chem-Dry)

More reasons why you should always have a bottle of vinegar on hand.

There are so many different vinegar uses that it is truly one of the most versatile items in your pantry. From cooking to cleaning to personal care, there are endless home uses for vinegar. In fact, there are very few things you can’t clean with vinegar.

It’s important to note that there are many different types of vinegar and each has its own purpose. Balsamic and red wine vinegar are used mostly for cooking and salad dressing. White vinegar, while edible, is best used for cleaning purposes. Cleaning vinegar is dangerous to ingest and should only be used for that purpose. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most versatile types of vinegar, with just as many culinary uses as cleaning and other purposes.

Here are some genius vinegar uses you might not know about.

Vinegar as All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Get rid of your chemical cleaning products and use vinegar instead. Mix one-part white vinegar and one part water in an empty spray bottle to clean everything from wood floors to countertops. To make the smell more pleasant, add 10-20 drops of any essential oil. Lemon is a particularly good choice because it helps to cut grease and odours.

Vinegar as Soap Scum Remover: Having trouble scrubbing that tough soap scum off your bathtub or shower doors? Pour some white vinegar or cleaning vinegar on a sponge and wipe. If you still have trouble removing the grime, put a little baking soda on a sponge and add a little more vinegar. It will fizz, making the dirt come up easily.

Vinegar as Clarifying Hair Treatment: If product build-up is making your hair feel oily, skip the clarifying shampoo and DIY your own using, you guessed it, vinegar. Combine one part apple cider vinegar to two parts water in an old shampoo or empty water bottle and shake it up. After shampooing your hair, towel dry and apply the solution evenly from roots to ends. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing and conditioning.

Vinegar as Candle Wax Remover: Spilled candle wax is easy to remove with the help of vinegar. Just heat up the wax with a hair dryer and then sop it up with a paper towel. Remove any leftover wax with a paper towel soaked in a solution of half water and half vinegar.

Vinegar as Weed Killer: Stop using chemical weed killers in your garden. Vinegar is better for your family and pets. It’s best to use vinegar that has high acidity, such as Pure 20% Vinegar ($23; amazon.com), to apply to weeded areas. You can also combine a gallon of white vinegar with a cup of salt and a tablespoon of dish soap. Mix well and apply to the area.

Vinegar as Flea Spray for Your Pet: Want to treat Fido or Fluffy’s fleas naturally? After shampooing, apply a mixture using one part water to one part apple cider vinegar on your pet’s coat to create an unpleasant environment for fleas to live.

Vinegar as Carpet Stain Remover: Vinegar can help lift odours and get stains out of carpet. Soak the stain with white vinegar, and then sprinkle on some baking soda until the solution fizzes. Wait a few minutes for the stain to absorb and then vacuum up the powder. If the odour is bothersome, apply a drop or two of essential oil over the vinegar.

Vinegar as Stainless Steel Cleaner: No need to buy anything special to make your fridge shine. Spray undiluted white vinegar on stainless steel or chrome, then buff off with a polishing cloth.

Vinegar as Showerhead Cleaner: If your shower spray isn’t what it used to be, it could be clogged with minerals and gunk. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it over the showerhead using tape or rubber bands. Wait at least two hours and then run the water for a few minutes through the showerhead before using. You can also remove the showerhead and submerge it in the vinegar instead. Rinse off before reattaching.

Vinegar as Sweater Fluffer: Fluff up wool sweaters by adding a few capfuls of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Vinegar as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer: To deodorize a garbage disposal, make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.

More: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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More messages from your neighbours
22 days ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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E
1 day ago

Volunteers Wanted

Elsie from Pirimai

Due the retirement of 3 of our long serving volunteers ,We require 3 volunteers to share a co-ordinator role and the preparation and cooking meals, thus to keep our much loved Tait Drive Social Club going which has provided this community service for over 30 years. We provide social connection for many of our senior people. Morning tea, a hearty hot meal and delicious desert every Monday morning except public holidays ( 7.30_ 8am to 1pm ) For further information contact. Elsie 021 2631904

B
1 day ago

What's happening chatgpt response

Brian from Taradale

You’re not imagining it, Brian — the public reporting so far paints a picture of minimal accountability from Stuff, and that’s understandably frustrating for anyone whose data may now be circulating on the dark web.

Here’s what the verified sources actually show.

🧩 What Stuff has said — and what they haven’t
From the reporting:

- Stuff has confirmed the breach and apologised to members.
- They’ve said the breach was “quickly contained” and that services are restored.
- They’ve warned users about scams and phishing attempts.
- They’ve notified the Privacy Commissioner, which is legally required.
- They’ve said they will seek a court injunction to prevent misuse of the stolen data.

But critically:

- They have not accepted responsibility or liability for the breach in any public statement.
- They have not explained how the breach occurred.
- They have not acknowledged any security failings.
- They have not offered support, compensation, or remediation to affected users.
- They have not addressed the seriousness of GPS coordinates and private messages being exposed.

All of this is consistent with what you’re observing — a defensive, minimal, compliance‑only response.

🧠 Why companies often respond this way
Not to excuse it, but to explain the pattern:

- Admitting liability exposes them to lawsuits and regulatory penalties.
- Publicly acknowledging security failures can damage investor and advertiser confidence.
- They may still be in “containment mode” and avoiding statements that could be used against them later.
- Legal teams often control the messaging in these situations, resulting in vague, cautious statements.

⚠️ The gap between the harm and the response
The breach includes names, emails, GPS coordinates, posts, and private messages — extremely sensitive data. Yet the response has been:

- Procedural
- Minimal
- Lacking transparency
- Lacking ownership

That mismatch is exactly why so many people feel Stuff is not stepping up.

If you want, I can help you:
- Draft a formal complaint to Stuff
- Draft a request for clarification under the Privacy Act
- Draft a tenant or neighbour advisory notice
- Summarise the risks in a clear, practical way for people who may not follow the news

Just tell me the tone you want — firm, polite, or strongly worded.