Green Drinks Goes Red!

Green Drinks Birmingham, along with YPBirmingham will host a fundraising event to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)'s Light The Night Walk.  Light The Night is LLS's annual walk and fundraising event- and the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.  Teams of friends and families or co-workers raise funds for cancer research and provide services in their communities.  Locally, the Walk will take place on October 14, 2010 at The Summit.

This event is sure to entertain! We will have music provided by Jazz/Neo Soul group, B Natural, prizes, and a special guest, Birmingham's own Last Comic Standing Finalist, Roy Wood, Jr.! 

Each person that makes a donation of $5.00 or more will receive an entry into the drawing for prizes.  YPBirmingham cardholders will receive an additional entry for a donation of $5.00 or more.  Come out and enjoy great music, food, and of course, drinks and support a worthy cause. Ask for the "green drink"- it's tasty and only $4.00!

Here are the details for our September event:

When: Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Where: Rogue Tavern

Time: 6:30pm-9pm


Please visit my Light The Night Walk page to get involved!

    

Cahaba River Fry-Down- A Must-Do Event!

Come by and visit Life The Green Way's booth at the Cahaba River Fry-Down, Saturday, September 25th, starting at 10 a..m.  The Fry-Down is a brand-new event to benefit the Cahaba River Society, which has been protecting the Cahaba River watershed since 1988.  As you may, or may not know, this is very important to those of us in the Metro-Birmingham Area since the Cahaba is the main drinking water source for the Birmingham Water Works Board. Simply put, these people protect the water that comes into our homes, so this is definitely a worthy cause that's close to home!
The Fry-Down is is a family-friendly event with plenty of activities for all ages.  Some of the activities are:
Kids
-Moon bounce
-Rubber duck races
-Water pistols
-Horseshoes
-Fly-fishing lessons

Everyone
-Live music by local artists
-Educational booths providing information about a variety of things- from building a rain garden to conserving  water in your home

Tickets prices for adults and children 13 and up: $20 donation
Your ticket gets you the following:
-Admission into Fry-Down area
-Access to Fry-Down games, activities  learning stations
-Free give-aways from sponsors
-Sampling privileges for Fry-Down competition fish
-Complimentary fish and sides lunch from Ezell's*
-Live music at the Fry-Down stage
*Beer and wine will be available for an additional cost (ages 21+ only)

So come and check us out and have a great time!
For additional information, please visit: www.frydown.com.

Versatile Vinegar: Cleaning the Greener, Cheaper Way!

So, now that I've given you an overview of the facts about vinegar and its various types and uses, let's talk about cleaning.  White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar, is a great inexpensive way to clean your home, as it naturally cleans like your typical all-purpose cleaner.  It is also a greener alternative to chemically-based products because it's better for the environment.
You may begin by buying an inexpensive spray bottle (24-36 oz.) and mix a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water.  You can use this solution to clean all most all areas of your home.  Vinegar is not only a great all-purpose cleaner, but a deodorizer and disinfectant, as well.
Please note: vinegar that isn't properly diluted can eat away tile grout (remember, it is acidic!) and should never be used on marble surfaces.
You may be worried about your house reeking of vinegar.  Not to worry!  The smell disappears once it dries.  Here are some uses of white vinegar for your home, broken down by area.

Kitchen
Use your "all-purpose" vinegar-water solution to clean:

• Stovetop
• Appliances
• Countertops
• Sinks

Other ways vinegar can be used in the kitchen:

• Floor (linoleum and wood)-Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a warm bucket of water.  Remember, the vinegar smell will go away after it dries, but you can add about 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to your bucket for fragrance.  My suggestions are: lavender, lemon, pine and eucalyptus.  
• Garbage disposal- you can make full-strength white vinegar ice cubes by pouring white vinegar into an ice cube tray.  Pour several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.  This will not only clean and deodorize the disposal, but also kill mold and bacteria.
• Microwave- in a microwave dish, add 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar and heat it for 3-4 minutes.  Once you're done, stuck on grease and food should come off easily.
• Coffee maker- this can be done once a month to improve the taste of your coffee and remove residue.
• Add white distilled vinegar to the 6-cup level and water to the 10-cup level.  Put in an empty paper filter.  Pour the vinegar and water solution into the coffee maker and allow it to sit for a few minutes before turning it on and allowing the vinegar to run through.  After you're done, be sure to run clean water through the coffee maker to remove vinegar taste.
• Use warm water and vinegar to remove coffee stains from your coffee pot.
• Dishwasher- you may clean and deodorize your dishwasher by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the empty dishwasher and run the short cycle.
• You may also add vinegar to your rinse dispenser instead of using Jet Dry!

More helpful kitchen tips using white vinegar:

1. Clean the wheel of a can opener by using white vinegar and an old toothbrush.
2. Disinfect dishrags and sponges by soaking them overnight in a bowl filled with just enough water to cover them and adding 1/4 cup white vinegar.
3. Keep fruit flies away by setting out a small bowl of undiluted white vinegar.
4. Get rid of bad food smells from a refrigerator by rinsing the area with soap and water.  Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar and spray the surfaces, then wipe them down with a damp cloth.
5. For smelly and/or stained Tupperware or other plastic containers, dampen a cloth with white vinegar and wipe them down.
6. Cooking odors can be eliminated by boiling 1 tablespoon of white vinegar for each cup of water.
7. Odors from smoke can be eliminated by placing a small bowl of white vinegar in the room.

Bathroom

Use your "all-purpose" vinegar-water solution to clean hard-water stains and soap scum from:

• Bathtubs
• Sinks
• Shower
• Toilet

Other white vinegar cleaning tips for the bathroom:

1. For stubborn stains, you may use full-strength white vinegar.
2. Soak shower heads in a hot vinegar solution (you'll be amazed at how it removes hard-water stains)!
3. To make chrome sink fixtures shine (dulled from lime buildup) use a paste of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
4. Really like scouring cleaners?  Make your own by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon of your favorite eco-friendly liquid detergent.  Add a few capfuls of white vinegar to give it a creamy think texture.
5. For gunky/stinky drains, clean and deodorize by pouring 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of hot white distilled vinegar.  Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then run hot water down the drain.
6. Deodorize the toilet bowl by letting 3 cups of white distilled vinegar sit in it for 20-30 minutes before flushing.
7. Make your toilet bowl sparkle by pouring 1-2 cups of diluted white distilled vinegar and let it sit for several hours or overnight.  Swish with the toiled brush and flush.

Carpets and Floors

For general cleaning of high-traffic/problem areas on carpets or rugs, use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.  Use a sponge to lightly press the solution into carpet, rinse then blot dry with a towel/rag.  Let the carpet dry before using the area.

For carpet stains, white vinegar can be the answer to your prayers!  Here's a list of most common stains and how best to remove them:

• Ketchup:  To remove, use a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 2 cups water and sponge into the rug.  Wring out the sponge frequently until the stain is gone.
• Chewing gum:  Moms will love this one!  To get rid of chewing gum stuck in carpet (or any cloth) saturate the area with white vinegar and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes (you can heat the vinegar for faster results).  Then carefully pull the gum off.
• Crayon: To get rid of crayon stains on carpet or any other fabric/surface, scrub using an old toothbrush dipped in white vinegar.
• Ink:  Immediately treat ink stains by blotting and spraying the stained area with hairspray.  Once the ink spot is gone, use a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water on the area to remove the sticky hairspray.
• Red Wine:  Immediately blot all moisture up from the spill, then sprinkle the area with salt.  Let it sit for about 15 minutes.  The salt will absorb the wine in the carpet (turning the stain pink).  Next, clean the entire area with a combination of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water.
• Coffee: If you clean the coffee-stained area immediately with plain water, it should come out. If you can't get to it right away, mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and sponge into the rug.  Blot up the excess and rinse until the brown stain is gone.
• Chocolate: Chocolate stains can be cleaned with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water.  Sponge the mixture, and blot the stain with lots of clean cloths (or towels) until it's gone.
• Mildew: When mildew gets in a rug, it flourishes and grows.  Kill it with a half white distilled vinegar, half water solutions.  Make sure the rug dries completely.  You can use a hairdryer on the low setting to speed up drying time.

Hard-Surface Floors

You can make hard-surfaced floors sparkle by using white distilled vinegar.  

Check out the following tips:

1. Wood- Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon bucket of water and mop hardwood floors lightly (don't saturate).  You don't have to rinse.  Now your floors will be shiny and greasy buildup will be removed.
2. Ceramic tile- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon water and mop to make these floors sparkle.
3. Vinyl/Linoleum-  You may scrub these floors with a mixture of 1cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of water.  For extra shine, use club soda.  For extra tough stains on linoleum floors, apply full-strength white distilled vinegar and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before wiping it up.  For additional cleaning power, add a sprinkle of baking soda over the white vinegar.

Miscellaneous Household Cleaning Tips

1. Kill germs by spraying full-strength white distilled vinegar on doorknobs and other frequently used surfaces, then wipe dry.
2. Remove film from baby bottles by filling them with equal parts hot water and white distilled vinegar.  Let sit for at least an hour, then scrub with a bottle brush.
3. Clean and disinfect vinyl baby books and board books by wiping with distilled white vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
4. Clean and disinfect baby toys by adding 1/4-1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.
5. Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a water and white distilled vinegar solution, then sprinkle with baking soda and let dry.  After it's dry to the touch, brush or vacuum.
6. For sticky scissors, wipe with a cloth dipped in undiluted white vinegar.
7. Clean your grill by scrubbing it with wadded up aluminum foil with white distilled vinegar spritzed over it.
8. For hardened paint brushes, clean by first soaking then in a pot filled with white distilled vinegar for about an hour. Then heat the pot with the brushes and vinegar to a simmer.  Drain and rinse clean.
9. Get decals off walls or doors by soaking in undiluted white vinegar for several minutes before peeling them off.  Repeat as necessary.
10. Removing wallpaper is a breeze when you use a paint roller to wet the surface thoroughly with a solutions of equal parts hot water and white distilled vinegar.  You can also use a spray bottle to saturate thoroughly.
11. Make your own window cleaner by mixing a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia (non-sudsy kind), 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a gallon of water.
12. Remove those pesky pain splatters from windows by applying full-strength white distilled vinegar with a clean paintbrush.
13. Wipe out dust, mildew and odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or sponge.
14. Clean walls and woodwork using a combination of 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup baking soda added to 1 gallon of warm water.  Use a damp (not wet) towel or sponge to wipe down.
15. Clean up pet accidents by blotting area first, then add a white distilled vinegar and water solution.  Blot until nearly dry, then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry completely.  Vacuum up the area the next day to remove the residue.

Versatile Vinegar: FAQ's

What is vinegar?
We've all heard of or even used vinegar at one point in time, but do we really know that much about its composition?  The Columbia Encyclopedia defines vinegar as a "...sour liquid consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, produced by the action of bacteria on dilute solutions of ethyl alcohol derived from previous yeast fermentation."   In other words, it is a byproduct of either grapes, apples, malt or rice that is fermented with harmless bacteria that use oxygen to extract energy from the alcohol (oxidization), converting it into acetic acid- the main component of vinegar.  The vinegar that is most commonly used contains approximately 4 to 8% acetic acid; the rest is water.  However, natural vinegars also contain small amounts of tartaric acid, citric acid and other acids.

What is the origin of the word "vinegar"?
Vinegar has been used for centuries and is an important element of European, Asian and other cuisines.
The word "vinegar" is derived from the Old French vin aigre, which means "sour wine".


What are the different varieties of vinegar?
Here's a list of the most commonly known varieties and their common uses:

1. Malt (cooking)- made by malting barley, causing the starch in the grain to turn to maltose.  Then an ale is brewed from the maltose and allowed to turn into vinegar, which is then aged.  Light brown in color.  Used mostly for cooking (fish).
2. Wine (cooking)- made from red or white wine and is often used in Mediterranean countries and Central Europe.  More expensive varieties that are made from individual varieties of wine are Champagne, Sherry or Pinot Grigio.
3. Apple Cider (cooking, health & beauty)- also known as cider vinegar, is made from cider or apple must (freshly pressed apple juice that contains the skin, seeds and stems) and is brownish-yellow in color.  It is most often sold unfiltered and unpasteurized and is very popular due to it's perceived beneficial health and beauty properties.
4. Fruit (cooking)- made from fruit wines.  Common flavors are apple, black currant, raspberry, quince and tomato.  
5. Balsamic (cooking)- an aromatic, aged type of vinegar traditionally produced in Italy from the concentrated juices or must of white grapes.  Its flavor is rich, sweet and complex and is very dark brown in color.
6. Rice (cooking)- comes in "white" (light yellow), red, and black varieties and is used most commonly in East and Southeast Asian cuisines.
7. Coconut (cooking)- made from fermented coconut water, is used primarily in Southeast Asian cuisine and is a cloudy white liquid, with a sharp, acidic taste.
8. Palm (cooking)- made from fermented sap from flower clusters of the nipa palm, is used most commonly in the Phillipines, where it is made.
9. Cane (cooking)- made from the juice of sugar cane, is very popular in the Philippines and ranges from dark yellow to golden brown in color and has a mellow flavor.  
10. Raisin (cooking)- is made from raisins and mostly used in cuisines of the Middle East, where it is produced.  It has a mild flavor and is cloudy and medium brown in color.
11. Date (cooking)- is made from dates and is a traditional product of the Middle East.
12. Beer (cooking)- is made from beer and produced in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK).  It has mostly a malty taste with some variation depending upon the type of beer that was used.
13. Honey (cooking)- is rare, especially in the United States, but is produced in France, Italy and Spain.
14. East Asian Black (cooking)- Chinese black vinegar is aged and made from millet, rice, sorghum, wheat or a combination of thereof and has an inky black color and a complex, malty flavor.  A lighter form of black vinegar, made in Japan, is made from rice and is marketed as a health drink.
15. Flavored vinegars (cooking)- are infused with either whole fruit, e.g., raspberries, blueberries or figs, or the flavorings derived from these fruits.  Some exotic fruit-flavored vinegars include blood orange and pear.  Herb vinegars are mostly flavored with Mediterranean herbs such as thyme or oregano.  Sweetened vinegar is made from rice wine, sugar and herbs, e.g., ginger, cloves and other spices.  Herb vinegars are of Cantonese origin.
16. Kombucha (cooking)- is made from kombucha, a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria.  It is primarily used to make a vinaigrette and is flavored by adding blackberries, blueberries, mint or strawberries at the onset of fermentation.
17. Kiwifruit (cooking)- has been produced commercially in New Zealand since the early 1990's.  It is produced from the waste in the form of misshapen or otherwise unacceptable fruit that often constitutes up to 30% of the crop.
18. Distilled vinegar (cooking, preserving, cleaning, medicinal)- is any type of vinegar that has been distilled to produce a colorless solution of approximately 5%-8% acetic acid in water.  This is what we know to be white vinegar, but is also known as "virgin vinegar" or a distilled spirit and is used for medicinal, laboratory, cleaning, as well as in cooking, baking, pickling and meat preserving.  The most common starting material (due to its low cost) is malt vinegar.
19. Spirit vinegar (cooking)- is usually a stronger variety made from sugar cane, that contains between 5 and 20% acetic acid.
20. Sinamak (cooking)- is a variation of cane vinegar from the Philippines and is comprised of cane vinegar mixed with siling labuyo (a chili pepper), onions and garlic.

Does vinegar have to be refrigerated?

No.  Due to the fermentation process, vinegar is resistant to spoilage and because of its acidic properties, it has an almost unlimited shelf-life.

When a funny mold-like growth forms inside a bottle of opened vinegar, does that mean it's gone bad and should be discarded?

No, this is called "mother of vinegar" which is naturally occurring, produced by harmless (acetic acid) bacteria and cellulose.  If it bothers you, it can be filtered out by using a coffee filter, or used to start another bottle of vinegar.  If you don't mind it, you can simply leave it in and ignore it!

What are the various uses of vinegar?

• Culinary: food preparation, pickling processes, salad dressings, including vinaigrettes.  It is used as a condiment and is also an ingredient in sauces, e.g., mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise and marinades.
• Medicinal: 
• Possible cholesterol effects- possibly lowers cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels; has been shown to lower blood pressure in rats, although the effect has not been tested on humans.  
• Blood glucose control and Diabetes- small amounts of vinegar (about 2 tablespoons) added to food or taken along with a meal have been shown by numerous medical trials to reduce the glycemic index (GI) in people with and without diabetes.
• Diet control- several trials indicate that taking vinegar with food increases the feeling of fullness and thereby reduces the amount of food consumed.
• Infections- has been used to fight infections for centuries.  My grandmother "prescribed" it for us as children for common colds and persistent coughs.  I believe it works, but some studies have shown that it is not effective against infections, lice or warts (whether taken internally or used externally). 
• Other medicinal uses- when applied to jellyfish stings, it deactivates the nematocysts (venomous cells unique to jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, etc.).  However, the most effective treatment is putting the affected area(s) in hot water, because the venom is deactivated by heat.
• Cervical screening tool- diluted vinegar 3%-5% has been proven to be an effective tool in screening for cervical cancer.  The vinegar changes the color of affected tissue to white, making diagnosis by inspection possible, which in turn, decreases the mortality rate by 35% in early detection.
• Potential hazards- there have been reports of injuries to the esophagus by the ingestion of apple cider vinegar tablets, due mainly to the fact that vinegar products that are sold for medicinal purposes are neither standardized nor regulated.  This can be dangerous since they can vary widely in content and pH.
• Cleaning- 
• White vinegar is often used as a green household cleaning product.  Since it's acidic, it can dissolve mineral deposits from glass, coffee makers and other smooth surfaces.  It also may be used as an eco-friendly urine cleaner for pets. For safety measures, it is recommended that vinegar be diluted with water .  
• Malt vinegar is commonly used in the United Kingdom to clean grease-smeared windows and mirrors (vinegar is sprinkled on crumpled newspaper).
• Garden/Outdoor- herbicide (weedkiller)- the vinegar will kill top growth but perennial plants will regrow, since the acetic acid isn't absorbed into root systems.  Caution: vinegar solutions above 10% need to be handled with care since they're damaging to the skin because of their corrosive properties.

So, as you can see, vinegar is extremely versatile and inexpensive green product to use in your home.

More posts to come on more specific ways to use vinegar in the home.