Not all bites are equal. Fire ants and wasps hurt differently—they burn, then itch. For these, vinegar can actually help because it neutralizes the venom. Dab a cotton ball in white vinegar and hold it on the sting for a few minutes. You’ll smell like a salad, but the pain fades.
If you get stung by a bee and the stinger is still in, scrape it out with a credit card. Don’t use tweezers—you’ll squeeze more venom in. Then apply a paste of meat tenderizer (yes, really). It contains papain, an enzyme that breaks down the protein in the venom. Weird, but science.
