Why does white vinegar get the smell of cat urine out?
Q. I had to clean up after my cat sprayed on the rug. And I used white vinegar and the smell has disappeared. So how does it work, and why is it one of the only few that will work?
Asked by Chris - Wed Nov 18 22:48:23 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I think the reason is due to the pH of urine and vinegar... urine is an acid and vinegar is an alkaline (base?), so the alkaline neutralizes the acid. Baking soda is also useful to neutralize acids. Sorry... it's been over 30 years since I took chemistry, so I may be a bit fuzzy on this.
Answered by sagacious_ness - Wed Nov 18 22:55:33 2009

What is a good recipe for olive oil and vinegar(regular white) salad dressing?
Q. I accidentally bought plain white vinegar to make salad dressing. I can't find a recipe that calls for that kind of dressing. Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I add sugar? Thanks!
Asked by chelle_138 - Mon Jun 29 23:28:31 2009 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. * 2 tablespoons sesame seeds * 1 tablespoon poppy seeds * 1/2 cup white sugar * 1/2 cup olive oil * 1/4 cup white vinegar * 1/4 teaspoon paprika * 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce * 1 tablespoon minced onion directions 1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking furiously! Cover, and chill for one hour. Tastes best with spinach salads, but it's good on anything. Doesn't really store well, so best to use it while you can. Be careful with the poppy seeds - you can leave them out if you like. Sometimes eating poppy seeds the day before a drug screening can show up since it is an opiate.
Answered by Lindsay W - Mon Jun 29 23:38:06 2009

Can you substitute rice vinegar or sushi vinegar for plain white vinegar for pork/chicken adobo?
Q. I want to make it a little more special. I read that some use sherry vinegar to make it more special. I don't have any of that. But I do have a bit of rice vinegar and a whole bottle of sushi vinegar. Would either of those be better than plain white vinegar? I want a nice subtle taste, not TOO overpowering with the tanginess.
Asked by Aimee B - Sat Jun 20 01:14:06 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. If you prefer the flavor of the rice vinegar, then it might taste "better" to you. I would try going half plain vinegar and half rice vinegar if you are worried about overpowering the dish. Personally, a higher quality soy sauce, fresh garlic, and free range chicken (or local farm chicken) will go a long way towards making it "better" because it will add depth to the flavor. Browning the chicken skin in butter initially also adds richness to the dish.
Answered by rachiti - Sat Jun 20 02:28:36 2009