Unique and Creative Ways to Use Vodka

When you think of vodka, you may be thinking of a party, or some sort of get together with friends or family. It has been a popular alcoholic drink for a long time. But it can be used for other things other than drinking. You can use it to keep your flowers fresher longer, clean your crystal jewelry, and even to kill weeds in your garden or yard. These are some of the unique and creative ways to use vodka.

Unique and creative ways to use vodka: Fresher flowers

The pretty boutique that your husband brought home doesn't have to last only a few days, you can keep them beautiful for much longer. Just add a few drops of vodka to the water along with one teaspoon of sugar.

The vodka helps to minimize the production of bacteria in the water, and it provides the much needed nourishment for the flowers, the nourishment that they were getting before they were cut. To keep them fresher even longer, make sure to change the water in the vase every other day, along with fresh vodka and sugar.

Unique and creative ways to use vodka: Clean crystalline jewelry and glass

To clean your diamond ring or glass, just add a few drops of vodka to get them shining again. You can clean your eyeglasses easily by using a few drops of vodka. Do not use vodka on any type of gemstone that is not crystal. This only works on emerald, diamonds and any other type of crystal gems.

Unique and creative ways to use vodka: A weed killer

This only works on weeds that are exposed to direct sunlight, so if you use this solution on weeds that are in shade, it won't work. To mix this weed killer solution, take one ounce of vodka, a few drops of mild liquid dishwashing liquid, and about two cups of water. Put this solution in a spray bottle and spray generously on the weeds.

The best time to apply this solution is in the afternoon on a sunny day. This solution works because the alcohol will break down the waxy cuticle covering on the leaves of the weeds, and makes them susceptible and vulnerable to dehydration.

Unique and creative ways to use vodka: Make vanilla extract

This is a cool trick on how to make your own vanilla extract, but it takes up to six months. So if you have the time, this is how it is done. Take a real dried vanilla bean and cut it open from end to end, and then place the vanilla bean in a jar with a lid with about three fourths cup of vodka.

Seal the lid tightly and put the jar on a safe shelf for about four to six months. Throughout this time, shake it gently every so often. After the time is up, simply filter the extract through cheesecloth into a jar, and you have your own vanilla extract.

Now you know what to do with the vodka that was leftover from your party last week.

Sources: Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things book