My biggest use of vinegar is when I dye Easter eggs and make Good Season’s Italian dressing. But I almost always seem to have it in my pantry.
A few summers ago, a friend of mine called me while on vacation at the beach. Her young son had a painful sunburn on his back and shoulders. Solarcaine was not working. And it was nearing bedtime.
I don’t remember where I got this (ya know I probably read it somewhere), but I immediately remembered:
vinegar.
Best on clean dry skin (NO RUBBING – just pat or air dry). If you have a spray bottle, pour vinegar into it and lightly spray on sunburned skin. Let it evaporate. The sting (and the smell of vinegar) should be GONE. Reapply about 3 or 4 hours later, if needed.
She didn’t have a spray bottle, so I suggested a paper towel, saturated in vinegar, laid gently on his shoulders to apply the vinegar. It worked. He was able to get to sleep – and anyone who’s tried to get a sunburned kid to sleep, knows – that is a huge feat! (The paper towel application is better for faces too – it just stinks a little during application.)
NOTE: If there are ANY open wounds on the skin (bug bites, scratches, etc.) the vinegar will sting and burn in that spot, so DON’T do it!
For a more complete description of the process, check out this epinions.com entry.
Find great recipes and helpful kitchen tips at Kitchen Tip Tuesdays hosted by Tammy’s Recipes! Check out MY past Kitchen Tip Tuesday posts HERE.
Find more ideas over at Works for Me Wednesday, hosted by Kristen at We Are THAT Family. MY previous Works for Me Wednesday posts are HERE.
Works for Me Wednesday posts prior to February 2009 are archived at Rocks In My Dryer.
I cannot tell you how many vinegar sponge baths I have had in my life. Being blond and paler than a slug’s belly, I go from pink to lobster red faster than you can say “put on the sunscreen”. Tylenol helps lower the heat, also.
I can’t believe you don’t use vinegar much at all. White vinegar diluted with water makes a great carpet stain remover. Then again, maybe you don’t have a dog who leaves “happy water” all over the place.
We were just about to go buy some aloe to treat my daughter’s sunburn from yesterday’s trip to the beach.(Reapply often! Lesson learned.) Perfect timing! Now I can try this. Thank you!
I never knew this about vinegar! I’ll have to remember that if we get burnt at all this summer.
I have never heard this, but since I am burnt to a crisp as I write this I will give it a whirl!
🙂