Vinegar is not just reserved for your salad dressing. It’s actually a highly versatile household item that serves a number of purposes. And it’s both affordable and 100% natural so you don’t have to break the bank or tamper with hazardous household chemicals when using it.

Here are some handy and effective uses for white vinegar in your home.

1. Get Rid of Clothing Stains

Before you toss the laundry into the washing machine, there will probably be an article of clothing or two that will have a stubborn stain that might not disappear after a regular wash. Certain organic stains and dirt can be removed from clothing with white vinegar first before adding them to the wash. You can also use the vinegar to remove stains from upholstery, window drapes, and other textiles as needed.

2. Soften Up the Laundry

Fabric softener is typically added to the wash in order to keep clothes and towels soft and smelling fresh. But white vinegar can do the same! Instead of using fabric softener, add some white vinegar to the dispenser to act in its place.

You’ll be left with soft laundry that actually won’t smell like a tossed salad. For towels that are particularly prone to being stiff and harsh to the touch after being washed, soak them in vinegar for about half an hour first before adding them to the laundry load.

3. Ward Off Fruit Flies

If you’ve got a bowl of fruit out on display or have a compost container in the kitchen, fruit flies might be an issue. If that’s the case, pour about 1cm of white vinegar into a mason jar and add a drop of dish soap. Then cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke some holes in it to give the fruit flies access to your concoction. They’ll be too distracted by the jar of vinegar and dish soap to bother you anymore.

4. Unclog Drains

Instead of pouring toxic chemicals down the drain to unclog them, you can use a natural and non-toxic vinegar mixture to do the trick. Combine 1 cup of white vinegar with half a cup of baking soda together and pour it down the drain. The mixture will start to foam up as it unclogs the drain.

When the foam dissipates, turn on the hot water for a few seconds to flush it. A few minutes later, turn the cold water on to get rid of any remnants left behind. You’ll notice the drain will not only be unclogged, but it will smell better too.

5. Eliminate Bad Odors

Whether it’s cigarette smoke, your dog, or last night’s fish dinner, certain smells are pretty strong and can linger for a long time. Instead of lighting scented candles all over the house, just put out a bowl with white vinegar out in spaces where the smell is strongest. Leave the bowl out for a day or so until the smell is gone.

6. Shine Up Stainless Steel Pots, Pans, and Appliances

Instead of using harsh chemicals to shine up all your stainless steel items, just use white vinegar, baking soda, and a clean cloth to wipe away greasy fingerprints, buff up the surface, and leave these items as shiny as they were when you first brought them home. While you’re at it, polish up your silverware and even your jewelry, too!

7. Remove Sticky Goo

Removing price stickers off of items you first purchase is enough of a challenge, but getting rid of the sticky goo that’s left behind is a lot tougher.

Not for white vinegar, though. All you need to do is soak the affected area with vinegar for a few minutes until the residue slides right off.

8. Remove Limescale in the Bathroom

Showerheads and faucets tend to accumulate limescale in bathrooms which often require harsh cleaning solutions to get rid of. But if you’ve got white vinegar handy in your home, that may be all that’s needed to clean, disinfect, and polish up these components.

For best results, soak these areas in white vinegar first for about an hour or so. You can do this by spraying them or filling a Ziploc bag with vinegar and placing the affected items inside, then rinse them off.

9. Brighten Up Glass and Windows

If your windows and mirrors are full of streaks, put the glimmer back into them with a few sprays of white vinegar and wipe them down with a clean cloth or paper towel.

10. Use it in the Dishwasher

Glasses and silverware tend to be left with water stains when washed and dried in the dishwasher. You can alleviate this problem by adding a little bit of white vinegar in the rinsing dispenser.

The Bottom Line

From laundry to silverware, to odors and beyond, white vinegar seems to have a number of uses in the home. Give any one of these tips a try to keep your home clean and smelling fresh the natural way.

Advertised rent rates aren’t necessarily written in stone. You can always try to wheel and deal with the landlord of an apartment you’ve got your eye on to see if you can shave a few bucks off the monthly rent price.

Whether or not the landlord is willing to budge is another thing, but at least you can try. Attempting to negotiate the rent price is always advised, as it can help you pay less per month than you have to. The worst the landlord can say is no.

But the rent price isn’t the only thing on your lease that can be negotiated. There are several other components of your lease that you can work with the landlord on to sweeten the deal.

1. Security Deposit

Landlords typically request a security deposit in order to cover costs associated with any damage you might cause while living there. Security deposits are usually one months’ worth of rent, but some landlords can ask for much more than that.

If you think that what the landlord is asking for is far more than what’s typical in the area, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to request a lower amount, especially if you’ve got a good track record of being a solid tenant.

2. Parking Spots

Depending on where the apartment that you want is located, parking spots may or may not be included in the lease. If parking spots are available, they may come with an extra fee. If the unit you’re looking at doesn’t come with a parking spot, try negotiating with the landlord to include one at no extra charge. If the landlord is willing to throw in a spot, it will make the unit more worth it.

3. Aesthetic Changes

Landlords will usually let renters paint the interior, but they might have restrictions on certain upgrades that you might want to make. For example, they might have a problem with you making a massive hole in the wall to accommodate a TV mount. You might have other ideas in mind about how you’d like to upgrade the place, but your lease might specify restrictions on what you can and can’t do.

But just because such regulations are in place doesn’t mean you can’t ask the landlord to strike them out to provide you with a little more freedom with what you can do to improve the place.

4. No Pet Policies

Property owners have the right to include a no-pet clause in their lease agreement. If they don’t want pets on their property, they can legally disallow pets with tenants. Some pet policies might allow pets but may restrict the type of animal and size.

For instance, a property owner might allow dogs, but only up to 40 pounds in size. And they have the right to kick tenants out for violating these clauses, too.

If you’ve got a furry friend, you’ll want to find a place that allows pets. But you might also want to try negotiating a no-pet policy for a place that you have your sights set on. If your pet is small, quiet, and has a history of being well-behaved in previous rental units, you may be able to sway the landlord in your direction. This won’t necessarily always work, but it’s worth a shot.

It should be mentioned that landlords who rent out units located in condominiums may not have a full say in whether or not pets are allowed. The HOA might have its own rules about pets. Even if the landlord is OK with you having a pet living in the unit, the HOA might not allow it if there is a no-pet policy in its bylaws.

5. Washer and Dryer

Many rental units come with washers and dryers right in the units themselves, while others only provide access to a common laundry facility. Others don’t have any laundry appliances on site at all and instead require renters to take their dirty clothes to a local laundromat.

If the apartment is missing these convenient amenities, ask the landlord if they’d be willing to add a washer and dryer to the unit in exchange for a slightly higher rent price.

6. Property Maintenance

If the rental property you’re looking at is a single-family home or townhome, your lease might stipulate that you’ll be responsible for cutting the grass. If you’re particularly busy or simply don’t want to have to tend to the landscaping, you may be able to negotiate with the landlord to have such services taken care of the landlord themselves. Just be prepared to be asked for a higher rent price in order to cover such services.

The Bottom Line

Your rent price can and should be negotiated when you’re looking for a new rental unit. But there are so many other things you can barter on to make the deal much more attractive for you and make your living arrangements more enjoyable and convenient.

Don’t be afraid to ask. If the landlord isn’t willing to meet you halfway, then you can ask yourself if the lease is still worthwhile or if you should keep looking.

I’m often wary of a buffet- especially for brunch- but this week changed my mind. I found myself at Stella Barra Pizzeria, located at 1954 N Halsted St. First of all, the space is magnificent. The restaurant is lit with industrial fixtures and Edison bulbs, giving it both warmth and an edge. The dark hardwood flooring is beautiful and the center bar is a sight to behold. Even though the restaurant was busy on a Sunday morning, we were seated right away at a table for two. After looking at the printed menu for the buffet, my mouth was already watering. On my first pass through, I could barely fit half the things I wanted to try on my plate. I knew I had to try the Roasted Corn & Poblano Egg Enchiladas, topped with Oaxaca cheese and a charred tomatillo salsa. These were fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever had breakfast enchiladas and the flavors were incredible. Next up was a Salmon Tartine with scallion mascarpone, diced cucumber, and radishes. I love smoked salmon for brunch and this did not disappoint. I was particularly pleased with the combination of the rich mascarpone and the spicy radishes- yum! Another favorite of mine was the Italian Sausage Hash- fennel, onions, garlic, red pepper, and roasted potatoes. I’m a sucker for a good breakfast hash and this hit the spot. The sausage was spicy (without being overpowering) and the vegetables were roasted to a delicious crisp. I’m usually much more of a savory (rather than sweet) breakfast person, but I had to try the Cinnamon Roll Bread pudding. Topped with a vanilla bean glaze and cream cheese frosting, this was to die for. I also had to try the Biscuits and Gravy, which were fantastic. The biscuits were perfectly fluffy and I loved the sausage gravy. With so many incredible dishes to choose from, how could I not love this brunch buffet? They also had scrambled eggs, egg whites with kale, caramelized French toast, bacon, sausage, yogurt parfaits, mini waffles and pancakes, bacon mac and cheese, and more. I will absolutely be back!

Stella Barra is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. Featured brunch drinks (bellinis, mimosas, and Bloody Mary’s) are just $5 apiece. Stella Barra’s regular hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 4 pm to 10 pm, Fridays from 11 am to 11 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 11 pm, and Sundays from 10 am to 10 pm. Happy hour is from 4 to 6 pm Mondays through Fridays. Find more information here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

After a real estate deal has been negotiated between a buyer and seller and an agreement is reached, it’s time to go through the steps to actually close the deal.

Buyers may have spent a lot of time and effort searching for the perfect home and visiting many listings, and sellers may have done the same by marketing their home and holding open houses. But the work is not over yet. In fact, there are still several tasks that need to be done before a real estate deal can close.

Whether you’re on the buying or selling end of a real estate transaction, the following steps will need to be completed before the deal is sealed.

1. Escrow is Opened

After a real estate contract is signed by both the buyer and seller, the escrow process will start by opening escrow with a neutral third-party. The escrow company will handle the money and contracts involved in the real estate deal.

The purpose of escrow is to make sure that each side is acting in accordance with the contract and to ensure that the money involved is dealt with appropriately and securely.

2. A Title Search is Conducted

A title search is important because it provides the buyer with the chance to verify whether or not the seller is actually legally allowed to sell the home. For example, the seller might be trying to sell the home on their own, but an ex-spouse is also on the title, which means they would both need to be part of the transaction in order for it to go through.

There could also be clouds on title, such as liens, which can make the transfer of title much more complicated.

A title search will find issues like these so they can be rectified before the sale goes through. Title insurance can also be obtained in order to legally protect the buyer from any long-lost owners from popping up in the near future and claiming the home as theirs.

3. Contingencies Are Fulfilled

There can be any number of contingencies that both the buyer or seller can include in the contract. The most common are financing and home inspection contingencies.

A financing contingency gives the buyer some time to apply and get approved for a mortgage to finance the home purchase. If they are unable to secure financing, the contingency will provide them with a way out of the deal so they can get their earnest money deposit back and protect themselves from being sued by the seller.

A home inspection contingency is designed to give the buyer some time to have a professional inspector investigate the condition of the home to see if there are problems that could spoil the deal.

4. Final Mortgage Approval is Provided

It’s highly recommended for buyers to get pre-approved for a mortgage before the house hunting progress starts. This will help buyers determine how much they would be able to get approved for and narrow down their search for homes that fall within their price range. It also helps get the process moving along once you find a home and an offer is accepted.

But the actual final mortgage approval process cannot start until after offer acceptance. The buyer’s lender might already have all the financial information they need, but they will also need a copy of the purchase agreement to find out exactly how much was agreed to be paid for the property.

The lender will then have a professional appraiser determine the precise market value of the home to make sure the lender isn’t dishing out more for the home than it’s actually worth.

5. Contingencies Are Removed

Contingencies such as the ones just mentioned will come with their own respective expiry dates before which they must be either fulfilled or waived. Your real estate agent will help you determine the appropriate amount of time that will be required to fulfill these contingencies.

Once the contingencies are fulfilled or waived, they will need to be removed from the contract in writing.

6. Final Walk-Through is Conducted

The buyer should have the opportunity to conduct a final walk-through to make sure the home is in the same condition as it was when they first agreed to buy it. It will also give buyers the chance to ensure that all items that are supposed to be left behind are still there and that all other items are removed according to the contract.

7. Final Papers Are Signed and Keys Are Handed Over

On the day of closing (or even the day before), the buyer will sign a number of documents in order to seal the deal. The paperwork can be quite lengthy but is all part and parcel of closing a real estate transaction. If everything is as it should be, the title will be transferred, the money will be distributed appropriately, and the buyer will be given the keys to their new house.

The Bottom Line

Real estate deals go through a pretty lengthy process from the time an offer is accepted between a buyer and seller to the time the buyer actually has the keys in their hands. Considering how in-depth the process can be and the number of steps involved, it’s always advised for both buyers and sellers to be represented by a seasoned real estate agent to make sure that each step is completed appropriately and the closing process can be completed without a hitch.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Meet People Chicago presents Board Game Night! On Friday, September 7, you can go back to the days of college with a good old fashioned game night. Meet People Chicago will provide board games and you can bring your favorites as well. Each table will have a board game, so pick your favorite and play away! Once you’re done, switch to a new table and a new group of friends. The event begins at 8 pm at Pint in Wicker Park. Pre-sale tickets are just $5, regular admission is $10, and late tickets are $15. Register now here.

Lincoln Park: Join Chicago Autism Project for Chicago Trivia Night on Friday, September 21 from 6:30-9:30 pm. Test your knowledge in rounds of Chicago history, landmarks, music, and more! Funds raised benefit the Chicago Autism Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and families affected by autism. Your $40 ticket includes trivia entry, a three hour drink package (house wines, crafts, and domestic drafts), and appetizers. The event is at Lizzie McNeil’s Chicago. Purchase your tickets here!

Lakeview: Mark your calendars for Chicago Canine Rescue’s biggest fundraiser of the year- the 15th Annual Mutt Strutt! On Saturday, October 20, from 11 am to 3 pm, hundreds of dog lovers will fill the streets of Southport Corridor for a fun-filled, 80s themed block party and a 1.5 mile walk. Chicago Canine Rescue has rescued and rehabilitated over 6,000 dogs. Their mission is to save the lives of injured, neglected, unloved, and homeless dogs in the Chicago area and around the Midwest. Parking is limited, so please allow extra time if arriving by car. One adult pass is $49 and includes access to the event, an event t-shirt, goody bag, complimentary snacks and beverages, and entry into contests and ability to win fundraising prizes. Kids and doggos are free! Find more information and buy your tickets here.

River North: It’s that time of year again- that’s right- it’s SeptemberFest at Eataly! On Friday, September 21, Eataly is throwing their third annual all-access party. From 6 pm to midnight, the most celebrated restaurants and bars in Chicago will be serving their top food and drink! Eataly’s best chefs will be serving up your favorite dishes, as well as creations from restaurants such as Blackbird, Bohemian House, Pacific Standard Time, and more. You’ll also enjoy beer, Italian wine, and cocktails from Eataly’s beverage experts and local partners, including CH Distillery, Half Acre Beer Company, and more. Tickets are $78 and you have unlimited, all-night access to food, drinks, and entertainment. Tickets are already going fast- get yours here!

Edgewater: Are you ready to get into the fall spirit? You’ve got to check out this spooky event! It’s the 7th annual Crypt 5K Run/Walk at Rosehill Cemetery. This huge 350-acre Victorian-era cemetery opened in 1864 and is the largest cemetery in the city of Chicago (and the second largest in Illinois). The race is on Saturday, October 6 and begins at 7 pm. You’ll run/walk on scenic paths past monuments, mausoleums, and famous graves; including Oscar Mayer, John G. Shedd, Cubs’ announcer Jack Brickhouse, Sears founder Julius Rosenwald, and more. There will also be a post run party! Find ticket pricing and purchase yours here now.

Oak Park: Enjoy a late summer evening at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park Home and Studio. Take a load off and relax with music, wine, beer, and light refreshments, while exploring the historic site at your own pace. Trained docents will be on site to tell you about the rich history of the building, Wright’s family, and his architectural career. Guided walks of the surrounding historic neighborhood will also be offered throughout the evening. You’ll take a leisurely walk down Forest Avenue, home to a variety of architectural styles and some of the most well known Wright-designed private residences; including Heurtley House, Beachy House, Thomas House, and more. This delightful evening has two dates: Thursday, September 6 and Thursday, September 20 from 6-8 pm. Tickets are $40 for Trust members and $50 for non-members. Purchase your tickets here now, space is limited.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO