7 Household Uses for Vodka

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS. SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS.

No, Lil Jon, I'm not writing about different shots today. I just know that alcohol has many uses so I wanted to make a list of different household uses for VODKA. Thank you very much. 

First of all, we always have vodka in our house. Is that a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not. The point of this is that when we're not drinking it, which isn't necessarily all that often, it's just sitting and collecting dust on our shelf. So why not make sure that it's using its' full potential?

We don't always buy the best of the best when it comes to liquor. It's not like we're drinking a full glass of scotch or something. We're usually taking shots or making fruity concoctions so it doesn't really matter that it's the crappy stuff.

I'd definitely recommend the crappy stuff for these purposes.

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1. Perk up your flowers.

You've probably heard that by mixing a little bit of sugar to your water will keep your flowers looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for longer. But have you heard that by adding vodka to that mix will make it last even longer? It's true. Just add 1-2 tsp of vodka with a tablespoon of sugar and it will give your flowers the envy that everyone craves.

2. Treat poison ivy.

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This one you've definitely heard before. Rubbing alcohol helps with the itch of poison ivy. And vodka is like rubbing alcohol's brother. Just immediately pour it over the effected area and it will wash away the culprit...urushiol oil. If you don't have rubbing alcohol in your cabinet but have vodka in the kitchen, save some money and use what ya got.

3. Shine all of your fixtures.

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Vodka, like vinegar, is used for many cleaning purposes. It gets rid of bacteria without leaving any funky smells behind. And it also works the same with fixtures. You can polish until your heart is content. Just pour a little on a damp rag and rub, rub, rub until the fixture is as shiny as you would like it to be.

4. Make your hair shiny.

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No, I'm not talking shiny as in greasy looking. I'm talking about a head full of shiny and healthy hair. How, you might ask? Because of it's low pH, vodka can help de-frizz your strands. Add one shot to a 12-oz. bottle of conditioner a few times a month and just watch the magic happen. So rather than vodka making you think people look prettier, vodka ACTUALLY makes people look prettier.

5. My pie has a secret weapon.

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If your pie crust is more crumbley and cakey than moist and flakey, then this tip will serve you well. Adding vodka dampens the dough making it easier to handle. Vodka blocks the dough from forming too much gluten and once it bakes, the flavor and smell will be gone.  Add 1 Tbsp of vodka for every 3 Tbsp of water. Easy peazy.

6. Clear skin.

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This tip was one I found online and was, honestly, the most surprised from it. I tried it and it definitely works so that is why I wanted to share it with you! I'm 27 and have weird skin issues at the moment. Screw you, face! I often use astringent in my face cleaning regimen and it always seems to run out in the most inopportune times. According to Dr. Jeannette Graf, "Brew an 8-oz. mug of green tea, let it cool, then add 1/4 tsp. of vodka." Then you would just clean as normal with a cotton ball. The vodka tightens your skin while the green tea soothes it, clearing up your entire face over time.

7. Ease a toothache.

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Dentists can be booked quite often. And that sucks. So what do you do when you have a toothache but can't get in the office for another two months? Simply swish a shot of vodka in your mouth. It will disinfect the inflamed area and and will numb the pain around your gums. Just know that your breath will probably smell like it afterwards.

Do you have any cool household uses for vodka? Or maybe you have uses for other alcohols on your shelf. Share them! It's always interesting to learn what products have double duties.