Introduction: 15 Unusual Uses for Cheap Vodka

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Contrary to popular belief, cheap vodka is not only for boozehounds and college freshmen. There are many legitimate ways to use vodka that go beyond mere consumption: cleaning, baking, deodorizing, and even drinking (with a few tweaks for flavor.)

Inexpensive vodka makes an excellent replacement for pricier products that do the same thing. Sure, a cabinet full of McCormick's vodka is more difficult to explain than some Windex. But the savings should make up for the worried looks and shaking heads you'll get for buying the cheap stuff by the case. At your intervention, you can teach them all these unusual uses for cheap vodka. Read on to learn more...

Step 1: Forget Expensive Dry Cleaning Bills

Spritz down your garments with a vodka dilution between dry cleaning to remove odors!

Unfortunately, this does nothing for stains, so once you've spilled red wine on your favorite white coat, you've really got no other option but take it to the professionals.  Or, you know, just soak the whole thing in red wine and make it new again!

Step 2: I Can See Clearly Now

A small spray bottle with vodka and water is the perfect solution for cleaning your glasses.
Don't get ripped off by those greedy optometrists - make your own at home!  One optical employee told me they make their own cleaning solution by combining water, alcohol, and a drop of dish soap.  Give it a try!
(May not be suitable for lenses with special coatings - try and your own risk.  And the tell us how it went!)

Step 3: Goo Be Gone

Vodka is a great solvent for sticky residue.  Maybe you have a tiny spray bottle that used to hold overpriced lens cleaning solution that you've decided to repurpose into a homemade lens cleaning solution spray bottle, but it has sticky residue from the label that used to be on it.  Problem solved!

Step 4: Mouthwash

Kill the germs that cause bad breath!  Combine cheap vodka with a few drops of cinnamon, spearmint, or tea tree oil and let sit for two weeks.  You've got your own high-octane mouthwash.  Just make sure to spit after you rinse.

And next time you've had too much vodka, you can use the vodka mouthwash to freshen your breath!  No one will be the wiser.

Step 5: Keep Flowers Fresh

Add a teaspoon each of vodka and sugar to water to keep freshly cut flowers looking great.  The vodka kills the bacteria that would otherwise grow in the water, and the sugar provides nutrients the flowers need to thrive.

Step 6: Flakier Pie Crusts

Swapping ice cold vodka for water in pie crust recipes ensures a flakier crust.
The liquid makes the dough more pliable to work with, and then evaporates while baking, giving you a lighter result than water.
Try this recipe for the perfect pie crust!

Step 7: Homemade Extracts

Vodka is a perfect base for flavored extracts, including chocolate and vanilla.  Add vodka and flavoring to sanitized bottles and let sit to develop flavor.

Step 8: Window Cleaner's Best Kept Secret

A vodka dilution makes a great window-cleaning solution.  Combine vodka and water in a spray bottle and use newspapers for a perfect, streak-free finish!

Step 9: Odor Eater

Mist stinky shoes with vodka between wears to cut down on the smell.  Feet can also be soaked in vodka to remove odors, as proven on Mythbusters!

Step 10: No More Flakes

A vodka rinse is a great solution for dandruff or dry scalp.  Mix one cup of vodka with two teaspoons of rosemary and let sit for two days.  Strain and use as a rinse to remove shampoo build-up, or as a leave-in scalp treatment.

Step 11: Re-Usable Ice Pack

Combine equal parts vodka and water in a sealable freezer bag for a slushy ice pack to nurse injuries.

Step 12: Hand-Sanitizer

If you're someone who deals with germy kids all day, you know the importance of having hand sanitizer within arms reach.  Vodka is a natural enemy to bacteria, so reach for that small spray bottle and mist your hands generously.  And if the kids are really giving you a hard time, no one will notice a few spritzes down the gullet too.

Step 13: Natural Astringent

Dampen a cotton ball with vodka to use as a facial astringent to cleanse and tighten pores, or dab onto cold sores to help dry them out.

Step 14: Treat Wounds!

Vodka acts both as a local anesthetic and disinfectant, so is perfect for treating open blisters and other minor wounds.  It's even great for treating aching teeth!

Step 15: Drink It!

To enhance (remove) the flavor of cheap vodka, run it through a charcoal filter multiple times.  The charcoal will get used up quickly, however, and if you're using brand-name filters, it may end up costing as much as a nicer bottle of vodka in the long run.  Instead you should refill your charcoal filter at home!

Step 16: Infuse It

If the filtered vodka doesn't do it for you, remember, vodka makes great infusions!  Just add fruits, herbs, bacon or skittles to round out your liquor cabinet with specialty home-brewed custom liqueurs.