Here is a simple recipe to make a waterproof binding mixture that is good on most fabrics and paper.

To make ¼ pint/115ml

• 6 tablespoons water
• 2 envelopes gelatin
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons glycerin

Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan, then remove it from the heat. Stir in the gelatine until it dissolves, and then add the vinegar and glycerin; stir well. Leave the mixture to cool. Apply the glue while warm. It will keep for many months in a tightly sealed jar, but will gel after a few days. Heat the jar in hot water before reusing.

You can use vinegar to remove wallpaper. First, remove the top layer wallpaper. Put one cup of white vinegar in 1 gallon of hot water and use a garden sprayer or sponge to soak the paper.

Leave to soak in for a minute or two. Then pull the backing away. Scrape the excess glue off of the wall. Wipe the remaining glue off with vinegar and rinse it well with water.

You do not have to use harsh chemicals and this way is much cheaper.

Hot vinegar can be used to remove paint from glass and around windows where you have accidentally got paint on the glass. Just heat up the vinegar on the stove and use a cloth to wipe away paint.

You can also use boiling vinegar with no water to clean hardened acrylic paints from paintbrushes. Do not soak them too long, because it could loosen the hairs from the brush.

White vinegar can also be mixed with water-based inks to make a wonderful stain for wood. The resulting finish is the color of the tint with a silvery sheen. Pour vinegar into a mixing jar, add the ink until the desired color is achieved and apply to wood with a brush or rag.

Wipe off excess and let dry. Since the bulk of the mixture is vinegar, there is minimal wood-warpage.

Here is a recipe to make your own watercolor paints. They make a good children's substitute for the commercial product.

To make 2 fl oz/60ml

• 1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon corn flour
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• 2 drops food coloring
• 1 teaspoon water

Mix the vinegar and baking powder together in a small bowl; add the corn-flour and glycerin when the baking powder stops foaming. Stir in the food coloring and add water if the solution seems too stiff. Store in a tightly covered jam jar or plastic container.

Bumper stickers have their place, but sometimes those stickers have more staying power than you think. To remove an outdated sticker, coat it liberally with vinegar, let it sit until the vinegar has thoroughly penetrated the paper, and then scrape it off.

The vinegar will loosen the glue and make the rest of the job much easier.

If your radiator has a clogged valve, clean it with vinegar. First, shut off the valve then turn it counterclockwise to remove it. Place the valve in a pan of vinegar and boil it on top of the stove for twenty minutes.

By then, the calcium deposits blocking the valve will have dissolved.

Don't throw away those old hardened paint brushes they can often be salvaged.

Soak them in hot vinegar and then comb them through with an old fork.

You can also simmer in boiling vinegar and wash in hot soapy water.

You can lengthen your paintbrushes life by cleaning with hot vinegar after usages. Rinse with warm soapy water and let dry for your next use.

To soften paint brushes place them in hot vinegar, then wash in warm soap suds.

You can lengthen your paintbrushes life by cleaning with hot vinegar after usages. Rinse with warm soapy water and let dry for your next use.

Here is a way to dissolve rust from bolts, nuts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar and the rust will dissolve away.

The trick is to put the metal objects in a container and cover with vinegar, seal the container and shake, let it stand over night or for 24 hours.

Over a period of time wicker furniture and cane furniture can become out of shape. This is generally due to the cane or wicker stretching. Here is a tip for rejuvenating your wicker or cane items:

If your cane or wicker chair is starting to sag then sponge the cane with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry. You will find that the sag will tighten up.

Over a period of time wicker furniture and cane furniture can become out of shape. This is generally due to the cane or wicker stretching. Here is a tip for rejuvenating your wicker or cane items:

If your cane or wicker chair is starting to sag then sponge the cane with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry. You will find that the sag will tighten up.