If you were hunting this weekend and got lost, would you know what you could eat? Knowing what plants are edible and which ones are not, can be the difference between life and death.

Identifying edible plants
The first rule to follow is that if you can’t positively identify a plant, don’t eat it. A plant could be poisonous and if you identify it incorrectly, that could be  a bad end.

To complicate things, some plants are fine to eat when they are young but become poisonous later on in their growth. Some plants are poisonous during certain seasons. Others just have certain parts of the plants that are poisonous.

While some of the plants below will not fit these descriptions, as a general rule of thumb, avoid plants that have:

Where to find edible plants
If you are in a humid region, most of the plants will be in sunny areas. If you are in a dry region, the majority of the plants will be found near water sources.

It’s a good idea to locate a local plant guidebook and familiarize yourself with it before you go out. You might also consider making it a part of your pack.

Asparagus
Wild asparagus is common in many parts of North America, Europe and West Asia. It is very similar to asparagus that you find in your grocery store but has a lot thinner stalk. It typically resembles a cluster of green fingers. The mature plant is fern-like with red berries. The plant’s flowers are small and green in color.Wild asparagus is most common between March and June. It is a great source of Vitamin C, thiamine and potassium. You can eat it raw or boil it.

Cattail
These plants are known as cattails or punks in North America. They are known as bullrush or reedmace in Europe. They are typically found near freshwater rivers and ponds. They are tall plants that have a brown or bright yellow hot dog-shaped flower on the end.Most of the plant itself is edible. The best part of the plant is the stem near the bottom where the stalk is white. You can boil or eat them stem raw. Boil the leaves to eat them. If you want to eat the hot dog-looking part of the plant, you need to get it at the right time. During the early summer, while the plant is still developing, you can break off the top and eat it like corn on the cob.

Clovers
Luckyfor you, clovers are edible! However, if you find a four-leaf clover, you might want to keep it instead of eat it.They are typically found in an open grassy area and are better when boiled. You can also eat them raw if you need.

Chickweed
The chickweed is most common in temperate and arctic zones. The leaves are pretty thick and usually have small white flowers on the head. They are most common between May and July.Chickweed is very high in many vitamins and minerals. You can eat the leaves raw or boiled.

Dandelion
It should be pretty easy to identify dandelions. They are the ones that keep popping up in your perfect lawn! Your kids use them to draw with. Dandelion leaves have jagged edges, grow close to the ground and typically grow in bright areas.The great thing about them though is that they are entirely edible. You can eat the leaves while they are still young. The mature leaves aren’t bad but they will taste bitter. To get rid of the bitter taste, you can boil the leaves. You can also boil the roots before eating. You can also drink the water after you boil it.

Fireweed
Fireweed is a pretty purple and pink plant that is common in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be identified by it’s unique structure of the leaf’s veins. The veins are circular instead of ending at the edge of the leaf.It’s better to eat younger fireweed plants. Mature fireweed is a lot tougher and more bitter. You can eat the stalk of the leaves. The flower and the seeds have a pepper taste.

Green Seaweed
If you are trapped on a deserted island, seaweed might be your best friend. Seaweed is found in oceans around the world and is very common. After you pull the seaweed from the water, rinse it with fresh water and let it dry out.You can eat the seaweed raw or even include it in some type of soup.

Plantain
Not to be confused with the banana-like plant, the plantain plant has large spinach-like leaves. You can usually find plantain plants near marshes and bogs. They also tend to sprout up in alpine areas.The leaves tend to grow close to the ground, be large, oval and ribbed. They will also be short-stemmed. The leaves tend to grow 4 to 6 inches wide. Like many plants, the leaves are better the younger they are. Upon maturing, they grow more bitter.

Prickly Pear Catctus
This “Bear Necessity” of Baloo the bear in “The Jungle Book,” is most commonly found in the deserts of North America. It has a great taste and is very nutritional. The fruit of the prickly cactus is typically red or purple.Before you eat the plant, remove the small spines on the outer skin. You can also eat the stem of the prickly pear cactus if the plant is younger.

Elderberry
Elderberry is most commonly found in wet areas like marshes, rivers, ditches and lakes. They are very common in North America primarily the eastern United States.You can identify elderberry by it’s many stems. It has a compound leaf and grows about 20 feet high. It’s flowers are very fragrant, white and grow in flat-topped clusters.

The flowers and the fruits of the elderberry are edible. All other parts of the plant are dangerous and should be not be eaten. You can soak the flower heads in water for eight hours to make a drink. Discard the flowers and drink the water.

What others do you know of?
We’ve only listed 10 weeds that you can eat. What others do you know of? Comment below to share your wealth of knowledge.

When you’re outside and encounter a wild animal, what should you do?

Thankfully, this infographic can help you know! Whether it’s a bear, snake, shark, cougar or wolf, this helpful graphic will help you easily figure out if you’re at danger and what to do to stay away from danger. Many times, the animal will only approach you instead of attack you. This infograhpic also helps you know what to do in each of those encounters.

Share the knowledge, and share this infographic with friends. Also, comment below to tell us what helpful tips you’ve found in avoiding animal encounters in the wild.

Thanks to hellawella for creating this infographic.

So, what methods have you used to avoid animals in the wild? Share your knowledge below.

Preparation is all about being able to use the tools and knowledge that you have available. The sun can be a great tool because isn’t going anywhere!

You can use the sun for cooking, navigation, power, heating, cooling, cleaning and more. Provide your comments below and we’ll provide the best tip from our readers with a $10 gift card.

Start a fire (with chocolate)
Who knew that you can polish with chocolate? Use chocolate to polish the bottom of an aluminum can. It should be reflective. (Don’t eat the chocolate after.) Now, use the concave bottom of the can to fragment the light to a point and light away!

Pasteurize water
Now be careful, you can pasteurize water with some help from the sun, but that’s different than sterilizing the water. Use glass jars and paint the outsides black. Make sure you have a thermometer to double check the temperature. Make sure the water gets to 150 degrees at the bottom of the jar – not just the top. Usually about 3 hours in direct sunlight should do it.

Cook
Many people use the sun to work solar cookers. They can harness the power of the sun to cook meats, boil water, and more. The great thing about a sun oven, is that they don’t burn food. They cook evenly and won’t burn things to a crisp.

Power
GoalØ provides a lot of affordable solar panel power options. You can easily charge phones, emergency radios, portable sterios, lights and more in a matter of a few hours. Simply lay the solar panels out, go for a hike and by the time you come back, you’ll have the power you needed.

Navigate
If you’re lost without a compass, map or GPS, you can simply use your watch to show you which way north is. Face the hour hand of your watch toward the sun. The line between the hour hand and 12 o’clock will direct you south. The opposite is north.

Whiten your clothes
Are you spending a ton of money on bleaches and whitening products? Well the sun might be the best way to naturally lighten your clothes. Get the clothes wet and lay them out in the sun as flatly as possible. Lay them for a few hours and repeat if necessary. If you need an extra boost, water down lemon juice in a spray bottle and squirt a few sprays on them.

What else?
So what have you used the sun for? Know of any neat tricks or tips? Share them below! If we think you have the best comment, we’ll give you a $10 gift card to The Ready Store.

Create a shelter

If it’s going to rain or the sun is sapping your energy, you can use your knife to cut large bushy branches off of a tree. Lean these branches against a trunk or fallen log to make an impromptu lean-to shelter shielding you from the elements.

Call attention to search parties

Most blades when clean can reflect a good deal of light. If you find yourself without your signaling mirror wipe it clean and practice reflecting light on targets. Once you feel good about your aim use the standard SOS signal of 3 short flashes, 3 long flashes, followed by 3 short flashes towards the rescue teams to get their attention.

With West Nile virus and mosquitoes being prominent in the news lately, we’ve had a lot of requests to talk about how to avoid the incessant insect.

In order to help you stay safe and have an enjoyable outing on the patio, we’ve put together a list of ways to avoid mosquitos. Take a look and comment below to tell us what you have done to avoid the buzzing pests.

Avoid beer
It turns out that mosquitoes are attracted to people who drink beer. So, avoid drinking beer but instead use it as a trap. Place open cups away from your party and they’ll be attracted to it.

Make your own natural repellent
All you need is a candle, water, and some essential oils like lemon eucalyptus, lavender or catnip. The heat of the candle will evaporate the oil into the air a combination of heat and oil should give you a 2-3 meter radius.

Fabric softener sheets
Rub fabric softener sheets on your skin. Apparently, this helps detract mosquitoes but can irritate the skin of some people.

A well-placed fan
Place fans strategically around your outdoor party or at entries to your home to deter mosquitoes. They don’t fly very well in winds so you can easily keep them away from your party with the occasional gust of wind.

Avoid dark clothing
Wearing dark clothes will make you warm and sweat more. Mosquitoes are attracted to warmer bodies so it’s best to avoid dark clothing. Also, avoid blue and red colors. It’s also best to avoid perfumes and colognes that will attract the pests.

You can do some amazing things with duct tape! Its uses range from house repair, hunting, space travel, clothing and more! People have used duct tape for every purpose imaginable. That is why duct tape is such a versatile tool to have in your emergency supplies!

Check out 15 of these uses for duct tape that could save your life! Comment below the article to tell us what amazing uses you’ve found for the shiny tape!

Catch flies and mosquitos
Flies and other insects can be annoying and, at times, can spread dangerous by spreading diseases. Sometimes it’s easier to get rid of flies instead of continually swatting at them. Place down strips of duct tape sticky side facing up. The flies will land on them and be trapped.

Short-term auto hose fix
Until you can get to your mechanic, duct tape is a dependable and strong repair for broken water hoses in your car. By no means is this a permanent fix. Duct tape will usually only stand up to 200 degree temperatures. Duct tape can also not be used to repair gas line leaks. The gas will dissolve the duct tape adhesive.

Temporarily hem your pants
Need to make your jeans a little shorter but don’t have a thick enough needle to pierce through the material? Fake it with duct tape! Fold up the jeans to where you need them and apply the duct tape to the inside of the pant. It should last through a few washes too!

Keep a secret key
One of the great things about duct tape is that it can stick to nearly anything. You can use it to keep an extra key under your car, in your yard or some other secret place.

Roofing shingle
If you have shingles missing and you know a storm is coming, you’ll need to act quickly. Place duct tape around a piece of ¼-inch plywood. Wedge the plank into place and it should repel storm water until you can get it repaired properly.

Make clothes waterproof
We’ve all seen people make purses and prom dresses out of duct tape. But one of the great things about duct tape is that it’s water resistant. You could repair waterproof clothing and even create your own line of waterproof clothing.

Extra insulation
Make your shoes or boots a little warmer by taping the inside of the boots with duct tape. Place the shiny side of the duct tape towards your feet and it will reflect the heat back towards you!

Repair tent poles
Have a busted tent pole or fishing pole? Quickly and easily repair it with duct tape.

Make rope
Stick one edge of the duct tape to something, pull out long pieces and then start twirling. You’ll create a sturdy piece of duct tape rope in no time!

Make/repair a boat
I remember in high school physics class we were assigned to make a boat purely out of cardboard and duct tape. (I’m proud to say that we passed with flying colors!) Like we’ve mentioned above, duct tape is a great waterproofing material. You can repair small holes and leaks in a boat.

Protect yourself from ticks
If you’re out hiking, working in the yard or just have a lot of ticks around the house, strap some duct tape around your pant cuffs to keep those blood suckers out!

Cracked toilet seat
Now, this might not be a life-or-death situation, but it can seem dire. If your toilet bowl seat is cracked, you can repair it with duct tape to give yourself a temporary relief and solution to your toilet troubles.

Homemade band-aid
Have a smaller cut but no band-aids? Simply use a piece of duct tape to strap across your sore!

Create a splint or sling
Use duct tape and a solid object to prevent your broken arm or leg from moving too much. Don’t tape too tightly though, you don’t want to cut off circulation. You can also make some duct tape rope with duct tape padding to create an emergency sling.

Make a spear
Tape an arrowhead or shard piece to a stick and you have a spear ready for hunting and helping you find that perfect emergency dinner.

What other ideas do you have?
There are tons of things that you can do with duct tape! This is only a list of 15. For example, you can also make your own shoes with duct tape! So, we know there are tons of ideas out there.

What have you used duct tape for? Comment below and share the knowledge!

Trade in your swimsuit and sunscreen for a backpack and school books. For many across the nation, school is starting this month!

Since your children spend so much time at school, it’s important for them to know what to do in an emergency if they are in class when it occurs. For example, would they know where to meet you? How to contact you? How to avoid danger?

All of these items are important aspects of emergency preparedness and as a parent, you can help your children be prepared for any situation that might come their way. Here are a few tips that can help you prepare your kids for the coming school year:

1. Meeting Place
Does your family have a meeting location? Choose a location that is well known to your family that they could meet in after an emergency. Choose a place that they could walk to. If there were a natural disaster, the school would most likely keep track of your children until they could guarantee that you were picking them up.

You might also consider placing an emergency two-way radio in a pocket of your child’s backpack that they would use only for emergencies. That way they would be able to get in contact with you directly.

2. Communication
Many times a disaster will knock out parts of the communication network. Even if the network hasn’t been knocked out, it’s often bogged down with the majority of people checking in on their loved ones. A text message is an easy way to let others know that you are OK. A text message will send easier during an emergency than a phone call.

3. Stranger Danger
Not all emergencies are natural disasters. Be sure to review with your children rules about talking to strangers. They should know the 1-2 designated people that you trust. They should also know how to say no to a stranger.

Often, malicious strangers will pose as authoritative figures to persuade children. Be sure that your child understands that they can trust their teacher and school officials. Make sure you trust them too.

4. Illness
If hand sanitizer commercials have taught us anything, it’s that germs spread at school. Consider purchasing a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer that your child can attach to their backpack. Also consider sending them with a water bottle so they don’t have to use the school drinking fountains.

5. Emergency Pack
Prepare an emergency bag of contents for your child. Encourage their teacher to organize the students to all do the same. Included in the bag would be some light emergency items like a pouch of water, some freeze-dried food, extra medication they might need and some identification and contact information.

6. Identification Pack
Work with the school staff to keep some identification at the school. For example, include a family photo in your child’s file so that if a stranger tries to pose as a parent and take your child out of school for the day, the staff will easily be able to notice. Make sure that your contact information is up to date so that if the school needs to contact you, they can.

7. Make It Fun
There are many online resources that you can use to teach your children about emergency preparedness. FEMA has a webpage with comics, crosswords, wordsearches and more that each teach children about emergency preparedness.

What have you used?
How have you taught your children about emergency preparedness? Comment below and share your insights and how to teach children!

I remember going swimming as a child in the many lakes that were around our city. My imagination would run wild whenever a weed would touch my foot. I would imagine that it was some type of deadly animal or a shark. Yes, a shark in a mountain lake. I realize how dumb that sounds but I had quite the imagination as a kid.

That got me thinking, this week is Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week. If I were in the ocean and encountered a shark, what would I do? (Or even if I found myself in an encounter with one of those fresh lake mountain sharks.)

Actually, shark attacks are pretty rare. Statistically, you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning and dying. In 2011, there were only 75 shark attacks worldwide.

However, here at The ReadyNation, we always want to be prepared and ready! So, we decided to highlight some things you could do to survive an encounter with a shark!

Where to swim
According to the International Shark Attack File, the majority of shark attacks occur in the United States in Florida, Hawaii, California, South Carolina and North Carolina. It’s best to avoid drop off areas – that’s most likely where sharks are found. Also, avoid areas where there are a lot of commercial fishermen. They tend to throw leftovers into the water which attracts a lot of sharks.

But it’s my favorite color!Be a safe buddy
When you go swimming, go with a friend. Avoid swimming at dusk or at night. Sharks don’t have the best vision, so when it’s dark, they might mistake you for dinner.

Sharks vision depends on contrasting colors. So, if you have a brightly colored swimsuit, you’ll probably stand out more.

You’re going to have to hold it
Avoid peeing in the water. Just like blood, your fragrant urine will give off a scent that can attract sharks.

Is this a friendly shark?
Great whites, tiger and bull sharks are those most responsible for human attacks. A hammerhead shark is less likely to attack a human.

Bull Shark

Tiger Shark

Great White Shark

Tune into the animal kingdom
If you see fish and turtles quickly leaving the area, that’s a good sign that danger is around. You should probably get out of there too.

Circling and Zigzagging
If the shark begins to circle you, it’s time to get defensive. That means it’s about to strike. If the shark is swimming in a zigzagging motion that means it’s trying to find an angle of attack.

Remain calm
You probably won’t be able to outswim the shark. So instead of freaking out and splashing everywhere, try to calmly swim to safety.

Keep your eye on the shark
An attacking shark may try to sneak up on you. At times, they may even retreat and come back when you’re not expecting it. Try to keep an eye on the shark to make sure you know what it is doing.

Get defensive
Try and reduce the angles that the shark can attack you from. Use a rock or reef to defend a side of your body. You can even go back-to-back with another swimmer so that they won’t be able to sneak up behind you. Interestingly, sharks don’t really like bubbles so if you have scuba gear, try and make bubbles with your air.

Fight back
Make sure that the shark sees you as a strong threat. If you feel like the shark is going to attack you, try and hit it in the eyes, gills or nose.

Get out of the water
This seems like a “no duh” comment but try and get out of the water. Try and swim quickly yet smoothly toward a boat or the land. If a boat is near, call out calmly but loudly that you need help and ask them to come to you. Once the boat is next to you, quickly get on board. If you have to swim toward the boat or the shore, avoid thrashing. The erratic behavior might give the shark the idea that you are wounded.

Medical attention
Shark attacks will typically create a lot of blood loss. So, if you get bitten, take immediate measures to stop the bleeding. Even if the wound appears minor, make sure to get it checked out.

If worse came to worse and the world was in chaos, where would you go?

Many people already have determined where they would go – a bug out location – a spot where they could lay low and live for a while if things got pretty bad. If you haven’t decided where you’d go during an emergency, or you already have an idea, here are a few points to consider.

1. How far away?
How far away is your bug out location going to be from your home? With some disasters it doesn’t need to be very far away. For example, a flood zone might only take up a few miles and you might be able to walk to your bug out location. Other disasters, like an economic disaster or nuclear one, might require you to get a little further away from your home.

2. What kind of shelter?
Once you get to your bug out location, what kind of shelter are you going to live in? Is there a house on the property? Are you going to be staying in a tent? The type of shelter that you have might affect how long you are able to stay in the location. If you have to go to your bug out location in the dead of winter, you might be moving if your only living in a tent.

Many people even considering purchasing land in a more remote location so they don’t have to worry about living on someone else’s property. This would allow you to build a home and place supplies there.

3. Do you have a emergency bag?
We’ve talked previously about what kind of items you’d want in an emergency bug out bag or 72-hour kit. Depending on what are you’re in, your emergency items might differ. For example, if your bug out location is right next to a river, you might want a water filter instead of large water containers.

4. Water
Speaking of water, it’s important to know where you will have access to water during an emergency. If man-made water sources aren’t working, you might need to choose a location that has it’s own natural water source. You might want to choose a location close to a lake, river, stream or natural well. Mind you, if man-made water systems are out of service, a lot of people are going to be looking for water in these locations. You’ll also need to consider how susceptible those sources are to contamination.

5. Nearby food
Depending on how long you plan on staying at your bug out location, food might be a major consideration. Are you going to have enough animal or plant life around you that you can just live off the land? Are you going to be packing in all your food? Is the ground suitable for planting?

6. Popular for other people
If you think you’ve found the perfect place for you, there might be others that think the same. While at times, preparing to defend yourself is necessary, you might have a leg up if you know how to barter and maintain a good relationship with other people who are also bugging out in the same location.

7. How are you going to get there?
Like we mentioned above, this really depends on how far away your location is from your home. If it’s close to your home, you might consider walking or riding a bike. If it’s far away, are you going to be driving? This also has an impact on your ability to prepare with food and water. If you are going to be packing in a lot of water and food, how far you have to travel might be a big decision.

8. How many people are you planning for?
Is it just going to be you? Your spouse? Your children? Friends? Extended family? Many times, people will join with a family friend to buy property and build a home on their bug out location. This is probably one of the first things you’ll need to determine because it has a huge effect on your food storage, water storage and other emergency supplies.

9. Communication
How are you going to get in contact with others? Going to bug out location doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t need to communicate. Are you going to be too far away that you don’t get cell phone coverage? Are you going to get radio and/or TV coverage? Staying in contact with people will help you know what is going on and help you stay prepared.

10. Medical Care
Are you going to have the right supplies at your bug out location? While you might have enough food and water, what if you have a large cut and can’t heal yourself? You might consider a bug out location that is close enough to civilization that you can go to a hospital or find the right drugs that you need but is also far enough away that you can escape if you need to.

What else?
What do you think? What other considerations did you take into account when you were determining your bug out location? Please comment below and let us know. Share your knowledge!

Part of being prepared is being able to repurpose and re-use items. That’s why vinegar is such a great thing!

You can use vinegar for cleaning, emergency situations, food storage and more! Take a look at 20 uses below. You can also comment below to tell us what you have used vinegar for.

1. Clear dirt off PCs and electronics
Your computer, printer, fax machine, and other home office gear will work better if you keep them clean and dust-free. Turn off your machine and wash with a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water. Wash with a cloth, not a spray bottle. You can use cotton swabs for tight spaces.

2. Get rid of smoke odor
If you’ve recently burned a steak or can’t get rid of that cigarette smell, remove the lingering smoky odor by placing a shallow bowl about three-quarters full of white or cider vinegar in the room where the scent is strongest. To get the smell out of the air, moisten a cloth and wave it in the air.

3. Wipe away mildew
Use undiluted vinegar to wipe away heavy mildew stains. Mix it with water to clean light mildew stains. You can even use a vinegar mist in a spray bottle to prevent mildew stains from forming in rugs and carpets.

4. Clean chrome and stainless steel
To clean chrome and stainless steel fixtures around your home, apply a light misting of undiluted white vinegar from a recycled spray bottle. Buff with a soft cloth to bring out the brightness.

5. Unglue stickers, decals, and price tags
Don’t you hate when you peel a sticker off of your new furniture or product and it’s still sticky from the glue? Worry no more! Use full-strength white vinegar and gently scrape it off the product. Use an expired credit card to scrape. You can also uses this solution to get glue off of glass, plastic and walls.

6. Brighten up brickwork
Have dingy bricks around your fireplace? Use 1 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of warm water to scrub the area. Your bricks will be looking shiny and nice!

7. Revitalize wood paneling
You can also use vinegar to shine up your dull wood paneling. Mix 1 pint warm water with 4 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Let the mixture soak for a few minutes and then polish.

8. Remove carpet stains
You can lift out many stains from your carpet with vinegar:

• For light stains, mix 2 tablespoons salt with ½ cup white vinegar. Rub into the stain, let try and vacuum.
• For tough, ground-in dirt and other stains, make a paste of 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and rub it into the stain using a dry cloth. Let it set for two days, then vacuum.

9. Keep car windows frost-free
Vinegar is a great way to keep frost from forming on your car windows. Spray the outside of your windows with a mixture of 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part water.

10. Refresh your refrigerator
Have you ever smelled a refrigerator that hasn’t been used for a long time? It’s gross! You can freshen up your fridge with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. You can use the solution to wash the interior and exterior of the fridge.

11. Steam-clean your microwave
Fill a bowl with 1 cup water and ¼ cup vinegar. Set the bowl in the microwave and cook on high for 5 minutes. Once the bowl cools down, use the solution to wipe off the walls of the microwave.

12. Disinfect cutting boards
Use full-strength white vinegar to clean wood cutting boards or butcher block countertops. This is a great alternative to dishwasher detergent because it can weaken surfaces and wood fiber. It disinfects against E.coli, salmonellsa and staphylococcus.

13. Clean china, crystal, and glassware
Have soap spots and dingy spots on your dishes after you put them in the dishwasher? Simply add a few ounces of vinegar to your dishwasher. It will prevent those hard-water stains from showing up.

14. Trap fruit flies
Did you bring home fruit flies from the market? You can make traps for them that can be used anywhere around your house by filling an old jar about halfway with apple cider vinegar. Punch a few holes in the lid, screw it back on, and you’re good to go.

15. Tenderize and purify meats and seafood
Soaking a lean or inexpensive cut of red meat in a couple of cups of vinegar breaks down tough fibers to make it more tender. You can also use vinegar to tenderize seafood steaks. Let the meat or fish soak in full-strength vinegar overnight.

16. Control your dandruff
Can’t wear those black shirts because your dandruff will show? Vinegar to the rescue! After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture  of 2 cups apple cider vinegar and 2 cups cold water.

17. Ease sunburn and itching
Gently rub a sunburn or rash with cotton balls or a soft cloth soaked with white or cider vinegar. Try to apply this before the sunburn begins to sting. You can use this to help treat insect bites or rashes from poison ivy or poison oak.

18. Clean your eyeglasses
When it’s more difficult to see with your glasses on than it is with them off, it’s a clear indication that they’re in need of a good cleaning. Applying a few drops of white vinegar to your glass lenses and wiping them with a soft cloth will easily remove dirt, sweat, and fingerprints, and leave them spotless. Don’t use vinegar on plastic lenses, however

19. Stop reds from running
Unless you have a fondness for pink-tinted clothing, take one simple precaution to prevent red washable clothes from ruining your wash loads. Soak your new clothes in a few cups of undiluted white vinegar for 10-15 minutes before their first washing. You’ll never have to worry about running colors again! This also works with other bright colors that you worry might run.

20. Speed germination of flower seed
You can get woody seeds, such as moonflower, passionflower, morning glory, and gourds, off to a healthier start by lightly rubbing them between a couple of sheets of fine sandpaper-and soaking them overnight in a solution of 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 pint warm water. Next morning, remove the seeds from the solution, rinse them off, and plant them.

(Hat tip  to Reader’s Digest for help with this article)

Your solutions!
What have you used vinegar for? Comment below and share your knowledge!