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sarah gilbert
Vinegar is an acidic liquid produced by the fermentation of fruit juice, or ethanol, due to the oxidation activity of acetic acid bacteria. Vinegar is ancient, dating back to at least 3,000 BC, and can be made from any liquid that contains alcohol. Vinegar can be produced naturally through the "slow" method (essentially leaving juice to ferment for a period of weeks or months, during which a slimy combination of acetic acid bacteria and cellulose forms on the top, called the "mother of vinegar") or the "fast" method (in which the mother of vinegar is added to the liquid, and then an air pump is used to promote speedy oxygenation). Distilled vinegar is so named because the ethyl alcohol (typically made from corn) used to produce it is distilled in a two-step process in which alcohol and other volatiles are separated from the non-volatile components.
Vinegar can act as a substitute for a huge variety of personal care, cleaning, medicinal and agricultural products whose production processes are harmful to the environment, or are themselves toxic. Distilled vinegar is an excellent cleaner and can be diluted to clean and disinfect surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, to clean windows, and to remove chewing gum, rust, limescale, mineral deposits and odors. Mixed with baking soda, distilled vinegar can unclog a drain; mixed with salt, vinegar can clean stainless steel. Cider vinegar is commonly suggested as a substitute for shampoo, to relieve heartburn, to treat sore throat, dandruff, yeast infections and together with sugar for hiccups. Stronger (greater than 5%) vinegar solutions can be used as organic herbicides, and are particularly effective on corn crops, as corn is not affected by a 20% vinegar solution.
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