Many natural cleaning enthusiasts have been touting the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar for years, but vinegar's list of uses often ends in the kitchen. You may be surprised to find that there are a number of other ways to use apple cider vinegar in every room in your home. Here are a few of the best.

1. Use it like an odor eliminator. Instead of masking odors with a perfume-heavy scented spray, neutralize odors by letting a dish of apple cider vinegar permeate the air.
2. Clear your sinuses. Sip some warm water with a bit of apple cider vinegar to help break up mucus in your sinuses and even kill the bacteria that causes the common cold. (Be sure to consult with your doctor first.)
3. Soothe sunburned skin. Instead of using a cream or lotion, rub sunburned skin (or bug bites, rashes and poison ivy) with apple cider vinegar to relieve the itch naturally. Do so at the instruction of your physician.
4. Rinse hair. Many people cite apple cider vinegar as the source of their shiny, silky locks. Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water and use it as a weekly hair rinse.

7 Surprising Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar [The Dr. Oz Show]
25 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Will Change Your Life [Mamavation]
15 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day [Mind Body Green]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr cdsessums

At Stanford Grill, chefs have full reign of their kitchen. They personally select the freshest fruits and veggies available to transform into upscale American dishes at the popular Columbia eatery. According to a slew of mostly positive Yelp reviews—more than 300 of them—the chefs' attention to detail pays off.

The rotisserie chicken, in particular, earns raves from happy customers. One of the house's specialties, the rotisserie chicken slow-roasts until it's juicy and tender, then chefs plate it with a side of green beans and redskin mashed potatoes. Eastern shore crabcakes, short-smoked Atlantic salmon, and hickory-grilled tenderloin filet are among your other options. If you're craving something slightly lighter, opt for a burger or sandwich instead. Match your chosen dish with a glass of wine from Stanford Grill's impressive list.

You can also come by for Sunday brunch and dig into one of Stanford Grill's signature Benedicts with filet mignon or crab. Omelets fill plates at brunch, too, and contain ingredients such as goat cheese and tomato or chorizo and black beans.

Stanford Grill
8900 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 312-0445
www.thestanfordgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/stanford-grill-columbia

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr zoomed_in

Centennial Park encompasses 325 acres' worth of the 7,000-plus park acreage in Howard County. That's plenty of space for Columbia's local outdoorsmen and -women to get some fresh air and exercise. Many of them come here to go for a run or a bike ride on the 2.4-mile path. It rings the lake, so no matter which part you traverse, you'll have a view of the sparkling water.

Some folks come just to fish in the lake. Rent a boat and spend a day angling for your dinner or just spend some time sunbathing. You can also explore the sights and smells of the buds that burst into colorful blooms in Centennial Park's designated wildflower space. You'll probably see birds dancing around the blossoms and splashing nearby in the lake. Take the kids to the playground if they're still small enough to enjoy a good slide (or two).

Centennial Park
10000 Route 108
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7271
www.centennialmd.org
www.yelp.com/biz/centennial-park-columbia

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr harum.koh