Somewhat inane questions about spray bottles of vinegar H2O

[littlebird]

So it's definitely been pounded in my head by the veterans around here that you need vinegar, vinegar, vinegar when washing your body, hair, or really anything else that you want to clean while on the playa in order to counteract the alkaline properties of the dust. I'm planning on bringing a spray bottle for mixing vinegar and water; I was wondering what the ratio of water:vinegar should be? Also, should I add a little bit of liquid soap to that mix?

I've also heard that you can use lemon juice instead of vinegar. You see, I'm a cheap bastard (can women be bastards?) and happen to have an unopened gallon-sized bottle of vinegar that I bought several months ago (not for the intention of use at BM). I figure, hey, that's a buck or two that I don't have to spend right now on BM preparation! To use lemon juice instead would entail (gasp!) spending more money. But does using vinegar mean that I'm going to smell like a bag of salt and vinegar chips for the whole week? I happen to LOVE salt and vinegar chips, but that doesn't mean I want to smell like them. What a dilemma. Decisions, decisions.

[Drawingablank]

Well I personally use just water, but lemon works as well as vinegar if you are goijng for the acid thing and smells way better.

Really just a matter of choice.

Personally I have no proibl;em with the playa dust as long as I stay fairly dry. That being said - my hands suffer horribly from going into the cooler all day. But your mileage may vary.

[ranger magnum]

Fwiw, Ive never used/needed vinegar on playa. I use it after I get home for general cleaning though.

Dr. Bronners 18 in 1 hemp soap is great for playa use.

[FIGJAM]

I wash with a pint of vinegar in 2 gallons of water and a hand towel, then rince with 4 gallons of water and a hand towel.

This is a two bucket system useing the same water all week.

[Savannah]

You're not going to smell like salad very long, Trilo likes to say.

I'm a lemon juice user. One 16oz(?) bottle for my skin, 1 bottle for drinks/in case I run out.

Soap and water works great, mind you; lemon or vinegar just help with the correct pH balance or whathaveyou.

Also, you can use just-lemon, or just-vinegar, on a baby-wipe (saturate it) if you don't have time or energy for a soap/water shower or wash. Like when you're cleaning your feet before bed, and a shower is a bit much. Clean those feet, pat dry, lotion em up, and put some clean socks on. In the morning, put your boots on. Feet still clean.

[gaminwench]

I bring a gallon of vinegar. I put it in a spray bottle 1:4, for use on hands, dishes, and the windshield at Exodus.
I put some in the 'weed sprayer' water, along with a few drops of tea tree or lavendar oil, for spritzing my campmates and dusty strangers (I always ask, first) and for quick playa 'showers'.
I put 1/4 cup in a tote sized bin, along with my (clean) cooler run off for a footbath every day; you can share this goodness if each user cleans their feet with wipes before dunking.

The smell evaporates quickly; after footbaths, lotion is in order, so that usually overrides the vinegar smell right away.

So much YES! out of a gallon of vinegar!

I drink a lot of lemon juice on the playa, same goodness for my insides! Pickles rock, too.

[Eric]

Also - the thing about vinegar is that you don't know how your body will react to the dust. I have almost no problem with it (except the cuticles on my fingers), and never use vinegar or lemon juice. I just use straight baby-wipes to clean. However, I brought vinegar my first year because I didn't know which way it would go. It seems most people do have some reaction, even if only a minor one, and the way your skin can crack (the dreaded playa-foot), you definitely want to be safe rather than sorry.

[Ugly Dougly]

My Grandmother used to cook sauerbraten a lot. Her kitchen always smelled of vinegar. So if you want to remind me of my granny...

That was helpful, huh?
Okay, I am going to bed.

[littlebird]

My Grandmother used to cook sauerbraten a lot. Her kitchen always smelled of vinegar. So if you want to remind me of my granny...

That was helpful, huh?
Okay, I am going to bed.

Well, the question now, Ugly Dougly, is do YOU want me to remind you of your granny? Was she kind, or just an old misynthropic woman with bad breath and a limp? I think what I really don't want to be is reminiscent of salt and vinegar chips, because then I, not to mention others with a hankering for such chips, may start licking myself and then try an occasional nibble.

[gaminwench]

nibbles can be fun.

[Elliot]

nibbles can be fun.

Maker Faire? (Sorry. Inside joke. Carry on.)

I use a "dash" of vinegar in my wash water. Have no comparison with not using it, but my impression is that it is perhaps helpful.

On a related note, I swear by Flexitol Heel Balm. Best skin softening cream on the Planet.

[Sham]

I guess everyone does things differently. All work well I guess.
I don't use any vinegar in my shower water, but do use a few cap fulls to soak my feet a few times during the week. Playa foot seems to be my only problem (aside from the obvious unrelated issues). This year, I packed a travel bottle with just a few ounces of vinegar in it. I also packed a good cream for my delicate tooties---Udder Cream. It's worked well for me for many year. You can also put a little baby powder in your socks before you put them on.

While I'm talking feet--bring plenty of pairs of socks. You may want to change them twice a day. (you can wear the same underwear for a week, but socks are important)

[ygmir]

My Grandmother used to cook sauerbraten a lot. Her kitchen always smelled of vinegar. So if you want to remind me of my granny...

That was helpful, huh?
Okay, I am going to bed.

Well, the question now, Ugly Dougly, is do YOU want me to remind you of your granny? Was she kind, or just an old misynthropic woman with bad breath and a limp? I think what I really don't want to be is reminiscent of salt and vinegar chips, because then I, not to mention others with a hankering for such chips, may start licking myself and then try an occasional nibble.

I love chips.

[illy dilly]

So it's definitely been pounded in my head by the veterans around...

I read that as "veterinarians" possibly because of your pic with your dog.

I love chips.

For the Motorcycles right?


Personally I find that lemon water stings in cuts/scrapes a little more than vinegar water. Also, the vinegar smell seems to disappear very quickly. As mentioned a bit of nice smelling lotion will probably cover any remaining odor. A little perfume goes a long way too. Plus there is nothing like giving someone a hug and smelling nice when you're out in the desert with a bunch of dirty burners.

FWIW, I only use vinegar water for my legs above my socks. Something I found easier, is just don't walk around with out at least socks on. I don't do a whole lot of walking around with out my boots on. If I'm chilling in camp, I might wear just socks.
By almost never walking around completely bare foot I found I get ZERO playa foot. I will walk around barefoot when I'm in camp in the process of foot care, since Playa wont be on my foot for more than a minute or two.

We'll bring both lemon and vinegar, just because we happen to have both from previous years. We've thrown away more half used gallon jugs of vinegar each year than I like to admit. In a camp of 5 or 6 people its not necessary for every other person to bring a gallon of vinegar.

Which makes me wonder if Vinegar or Lemon Juice go bad?

[ygmir]

I love chips.

For the Motorcycles right?

*pats Illy on the head*

No son, that's not what I meant...........

[Elliot]

...

We've thrown away more half used gallon jugs of vinegar each year than I like to admit.
...

Which makes me wonder if Vinegar or Lemon Juice go bad?

Why?
...
Vinegar doesn't seem to. I'm still using the gallon I bought in 2006.

[FIGJAM]

Vinegar does'nt go bad, so get some with a screw top and use it year after year.

[Elliot]

There is an echo in here.

[FIGJAM]

in here.

[Asquared]

uh....?

Varieties
1.1 Apple cider
1.2 Balsamic
1.3 Beer
1.4 Cane
1.5 Coconut
1.6 Date
1.7 Distilled vinegar
1.8 East Asian black
1.9 Flavored vinegars
1.10 Fruit
1.11 Honey
1.12 Job's tears
1.13 Kiwifruit
1.14 Kombucha
1.15 Malt
1.16 Palm
1.17 Raisin
1.18 Rice
1.19 Sinamak
1.20 Spirit vinegar
1.21 Sherry vinegar
1.22 White
1.23 Wine

[Savannah]

I like white vinegar, with a dab of coconut vinegar behind each ear.

[Elliot]

uh....?
...

Any slightly acidic liquid that is not toxic. The acid counteracts the alkaline of the Playa dust. Mine is a generic jug of "Distilled White Vinegar, 5% Acidity", available in pretty much any grocery store. I think I paid something like a buck or two.

[Savannah]

No need to toss your vinegar afterwards. Leftover vinegar (about a cup of it) is handy in your post-playa laundry (& other laundry). It removes stubborn scents. And it doesn't go bad.

[The Rod]

Also, if your concerned about smelling like vinegar you could try fish sauce, which is pretty acidic and has a different aroma than vinegar.. Soy sauce works as well...

[maladroit]

Special Sauce Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 11 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup salad dressing (like Miracle Whip®)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp French salad dressing
• 1/2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
• 1 1/2 tbsp dill pickle relish
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp dried, minced onion
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp ketchup
• 1/8 tsp salt

Preparation:

• Mix all ingredients, and stir well in a small container.
• Microwave on high for 25 seconds, and stir well again.
• Cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
• Spread generously on toasted buns.

[illy dilly]

...

We've thrown away more half used gallon jugs of vinegar each year than I like to admit.
...

Which makes me wonder if Vinegar or Lemon Juice go bad?

Why?
...
Vinegar doesn't seem to. I'm still using the gallon I bought in 2006.

Because one person can only store so many half used gallons of Vinegar.
After we get home and unpack everything our camp mates don't seem to want their half used gallon. I know if at least 1 new gallon, 1 used gallon, and 1 new half gallon in our garage right not. Plus who knows how many more stashed and stored in other Burn gear.

[Elliot]

Bring them all this year and set them out in front of your camp with a FREE sign.

[FIGJAM]

Vinegar is a pretty good weed killer and dog repellant!

[ade2013]

what is vinegar good for at la playa?

[winterdream28]

what is vinegar good for at la playa?

Read above ^^^