Clean it with vodka!

Wondering what to do with the cheap vodka left over from Uncle Oleg’s last visit? Don’t toss it out! The same virtues that make vodka a favorite drink everywhere from St. Petersburg to spring break parties—it’s easily mixed and high in alcohol content—make it perfect for a number of household uses, and it’s less toxic than most chemical alternatives. Here’s a quick list of vodka’s lesser-known uses.

As a cleaner: Mix vodka and water in a 50/50 solution and keep it in a spray bottle to use for common household cleaning and disinfecting. In greater concentrations, it can be used for anything from shining chrome, glass and porcelain (dab some on a cloth and scrub) to removing mold (spray on mold, let sit for 15 minutes, then scrub away with a toothbrush).

As a laundry freshener: Spritz some vodka/water mix on your clothes instead of Febreze or similar chemical cleaners, then hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. Like vinegar (another excellent cleaning alternative), vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, but doesn’t leave a scent when dry.

As a pain reliever: Aside from its obvious pain-killing usage and effects, you can make a soothing, natural herb salve to mellow your aches and pains without imbibing. Just put some fresh lavender flowers in a jar, fill it with vodka, seal and let sit in the sun for three days. Strain the mixture through a coffee filter and you’ll be left with a homemade tincture. Vodka also is reputedly effective in healing poison ivy, and soothing jellyfish stings. Go to www.cleaningwithvodka.com for more precise uses and directions.