1. Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive.

2. Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)

3. Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

4. For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.

5. Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

6. Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

7. Whenever you purchase a box of S.O.S Pads take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. This would be much more economical. The box of S.O.S pads last longer.

8. Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found a way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar of jam, pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I simply reach into the drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid!

Also when you can't get a jar to open, put a rubberband around the lid, and it works awesome!

9. Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!

10. Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

11. Spray a bit of perfume on the lightbulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on. Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

12. Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

13. To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

14. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

15. Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains. (Key Word:- Tupperware)

16. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake. (or you can sprinkle sugar in the pan and get a "crunchier" crust with no white mess!

17. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

18. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

19. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

20. Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

21. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

22. Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

23. Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

24. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

25. Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets,wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.

26. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

27. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

28. Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.




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- posted by Cyber Tightwad.com @ 8:54 AM

 
A simple homemade paint remover: Mix 2 parts ammonia to 1 part turpentine.

To remove grease spots, wipe down area with newspaper; follow with a raw corn meal scrubbing.

To prevent pancakes or waffles from sticking to your griddle, rub down with salt.

Warm salt water is an excellent cleaner for straw mats or rugs; let dry in the sun.

If you are a morning coffee drinker and love the taste of fresh coffee every time you brew, run some pure white vinegar and distilled water through your machine…repeat with distilled water and cleanse pot. Do this at least once a month. If you have kitchen appliances such as steamer rice-makers, pour white vinegar into cooking apparatus to remove sediments and prevent rust. Do this once a month or when needed.
When the outer skin of a tomato is heated it helps to remove the outer skin easily.

Rubbing carrots with a steel wool pad removes skin easily and quickly.

You may add concentrated lemon juice or freshly squeezed juice to your dishwashing liquid to help cut grease…it also adds a pleasant smell.

I have a friend that recycles all if her bottles by using them as flower holders. You may also use different and beautiful bottles as home décor…great conversation pieces. The same goes for plastic spray bottles or jars. Refill your plastic spray bottles and use your store bought jars of products to store beans, etc.…pretty jars may also be used for drinking as well as kitchen décor with your favorite pastas.

If you're having a tuff time deciding on how to reuse plastic shopping bags, simply by a smaller trash can and insert bags. This will also force you to empty your trash bags sooner and keep a fresher smelling kitchen. You may also use plastic bags to transport items, carry in diaper bags for soiled or extra clothing, use them in place of a lunch pale, or simply reuse them when shopping…they're also excellent on doggie-poop when out for a walk. My mother keeps fresh hung bags on her kitchen door, bathroom door and bedroom door for easy dispensing of dry clean paper trash. Plastic bread bags are also good to keep around if you bake your own breads.
Keep an opened box of baking soda in both your refrigerator and freezer to keep frig smelling fresh. It will also prevent foods from tasting funny. You can clean your refrigerator with baking soda and hot water. It will leave it smelling fresh and shiny.

Add baking soda and water onto your car battery for safe removal of smut and corrosion. Remember to rinse clean.
If a dish has turned out too sweet, squeeze a lemon or lime into it; if the dish contains milk or milk products, simply add salt. Alcohol will also soak up unwanted sweetness.
Cornstarch may be used as a smoother for sauces that have come out either too lumpy or not just smooth enough in texture.

Keep in mind Baking Soda cuts grease and can also be added to foods to reduce grease content.
Keep your salt and pepper shakers working by simply keeping them clean...and never store your shakers or spices near heat.

Liquid Brown Sugar can be purchased at any grocery store; won't harden like regular brown sugar.

If you have fruits and vegetables you wish to eat or cook with but some of it has browned…not to worry; simply cut out the rotted or brown part and commence! Rotting does not spread like most people seem to think. It won't hurt you and no need wasting half of anything.

The colder your onion, the less tears for you.

Apple Cider Vinegar makes an excellent natural meat tenderizer.

If you still find yourself having plants even after you've cleared your surroundings, remember to save your coffee grounds if you're a coffee drinker; it makes excellent food for your plants. Safe for all plants too!

Another thought on white vinegar…add some to your dishwashing to cut the grease!

Plastic ware can be kept odor free as well as disinfected by simply letting them soak in a solution of baking soda and hot water.

Rub a little rubbing alcohol on your stained garments then wash. Alcohol is an excellent heavy stain remover.

To refresh as well as de-stain your automatic dishwasher, run it through with white vinegar.

Wiping your home down with a fragranced baby wipe is a great refresher…because of its mild ingredients basically being that of baby shampoo and water, it should be safe enough to use on most furniture.

Keep gift bags and boxes to reuse for the following year or special occasion gift giving throughout the year.

Cleaned food glass jars can be recycled into drinking glasses, dry grain or pasta storage, decoration, item keepers for such things as mini tools, pencils and pens, or jewelry. Never recycle your jars for canning purposes! Make sure you have specific set of jars & lids for your home canning.

To prevent sugar ants or detour them, wipe down affected area with some white vinegar…not apple cider vinegar!
To detour ants and roaches place a saucer filled with Borax in affected areas.

Borax will also calm down food odors if left in an opened container in affected area.

You may also fill opened containers of White Vinegar to eliminate household odors. Change about once a month.
For any type of protein stains, soak item in cold water immediately for approximately one half day if possible, then proceed with regular washing…excellent for stained panties if soaked in some cold water with a bit of White vinegar…will soften your panties as well after washing…remember, never mix Vinegar and bleach together,they will create very strong FUMES!

BORAX is a wonderful alternative to Bleach!

The safest but not necessarily the quickest oven-cleaner I've found is a mixture of Baking Soda,warm water and White Vinegar applied all over oven and left overnight…then wipe clean the next day.It is not necessary to heat oven when performing this procedure.

Light a candle or a match to quickly eliminate strong odors…especially in the kitchen before guests arrive.

A delightful way to eliminate odors in your home is to brew some of your favorite fragrant Teas. I personally don't mind the smell of a fresh home cooked meal when I walk into a place…I find that very comforting.

A natural air freshener can be made by applying any nonalcoholic fragrance such as Oils on a cotton ball and distribute these throughout your home and or car…remember to refresh at least once a month.Commercial air fresheners affect your nasal passages in a very negative way. You can also wipe down surfaces with your favorite scent to refresh your home. Remember to keep these safely away from children.

The only commercial nontoxic oven cleaner I've found is Arm&Hammer Oven Cleaner. Use according to directions.
I remember my mother disinfecting her home surfaces with Isopropyl Alcohol;please remember to have area WELL VENTILATED!!! Also,wear gloves if you tend to have sensitive or dry skin…follow either way with a moisturizer. I only use this method when I'm out of my other alternatives. Hospitals long ago used this method on everything including bedsheets.
You may add White Vinegar to your wash along with equal parts Borax to replace bleach or use vinegar and borax separate for softening, whitening, and brightening…never mix Bleach with White Vinegar.

To remove black heel marks rub a mixture of Baking Soda and Olive Oil…or simply rub with a dry cloth if the stain is not very heavy.

To clean wood surfaces mix equal parts Olive Oil and White Vinegar.

To clean glass: A mixture of Rubbing Alcohol and Water in a spray bottle, followed up with a rub down of a Chalkboard Eraser to remove streaks.

Clean bathroom and kitchen fixtures shiny with Laundry Softener Sheets.

Boiled Water and Black Tea makes an excellent wood polish.

Here is a list of all of the ingredients you'll ever need for homemade remedies…

Baking Soda

Olive or Vegetable Oil

Borax, Salt, and Cornstarch (I add it to other products for scouring as well as scrubbing agent…can also be used as a facial scrub in some of your homemade creams and lotions.Do not use the borax as a scrubbing agent for skin.

Soda Water (Helps remove stains by soaking with cold water)

Hydrogen Peroxide(Remember if using this product orally…do not ingest)

Steel Wool

Lemon Juice

Liquid Soap (Preferably a naturally based soap such as castille…most of these liquid soaps can be purchased safely at your local health food shops; if not, some dish liquids can be used as soaps-my favorite commercial brand is Sun Light which is biodegradable as well as phosphate free! Keep in mind most automatic dish detergents contain phosphates which are harmful to the environment and some automatic dish washers will not wash away completely-which is why I only do my dishes by hand…I can choose the soap as well as have complete control of rinsing safely. It is not necessary to use hot water for your dishes all of the time…unless it was a terribly greasy meal…a fine washing of soap and water should be sufficient.

Washing Soda

White Vinegar (Apple Cider in an emergency,especially for glass.

Another way to get rid of ants is to rub a clove of garlic in affected area.
The black locust tree root planted along with lilies will help rid rodent visitors.

LEMON JUICE is one of nature's wonders. You should always have some around if at all possible…whether fresh or in a concentrated form. Always remember to dilute any concentrated product.

Uses:

1) Rub lemon halves on kitchen counter tops to brighten and remove odors.
2) To brighten pots and pans rub on lemon halves then wipe clean.
3) To brighten silver jewelry dilute equal parts lemon juice and hot water, let jewelry sit in solution approximately fifteen minutes then rinse and wipe clean.
4) As a rinse for oily scalp, massage in lemon juice then rinse.
5) Fresh lemon-juice may be put into your white or colored wash to brighten and deodorize.
6) Apply lemon-juice on wood surfaces with a touch of olive oil to keep your wood polished, glowing and protected.

WHITE VINEGAR is like a sister to lemons…you should always have a bottle or two handy. White Vinegar works excellent on odor problems.

Uses:
1) Equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle is excellent for glass surface cleaning…may be used full strength for tuff jobs.

2) To remove strong animal odors just spray area, let dry a few minutes then wipe clean…feel free to simply spray and let air dry; vinegar's odor will eventually disappear.

3) White vinegar may be sprayed on bed wetting areas. Let dry with fresh air.

4)White Vinegar and warm water may be used as a wash for feminine itch; if discomfort persists or is followed by odor, please consult a health care provider.

Fires are immediately extinguished by sprinkling baking soda on the fire.

Use cloth napkins instead of paper…you'll save money in the long run…better for the environment.

To refresh your dishwashing sponge, simply pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute and rinse; this will instantly remove odors as well as comes out disinfected and safe to use again. If your sponge is falling apart though; just get rid of it and buy more. The Dollar Stores carry quite an amount for $1.00!

Sprinkle salt in kitchen cabinets to keep ants and bugs under control.

Add salt in your flower vase to help them last longer; you may also add aspirin.

Salt kills weeds.

The non extra virgin olive oil makes the best base for homemade soaps. One good soap that is usually olive oil based with coconut oils and can be purchased at most grocery stores is Castor's Castile Soap…all natural and especially good for oilier skins. Drier skins follow with a face and or body moisturizer.

You can save energy buy simply reducing watt amount in your light-bulbs. Use your appliances such as dryers on off hours like in the middle of the night.

When your jars of pickles or olives are empty, save the juice for cooking sauces, salad dressings or marinades.

Rub skin so soft by Avon on door or window edges to prevent insects from entering.

Keep in mind that ants can't crawl through body powder.

For squeaky doors, simply rub a small amount of bar soap on problem area.

Murphy Oil Soap:

Murphy's Oil is a natural gentle soap which has many more uses than just that of cleaning wood. Here are some other known uses...
1) For cleaning inside of frig.
2) Cleaning baby's room safely.
3) Great for cleaning walls instead of painting.
4) Great as a laundry spot treater.

Added 10/23/00
From Jeremiah - Use plastic bags to wrap breakables during a move; they work just as well as paper wrap.

From Kitty- Add hydrogen peroxide to your wash to remove blood stains.

From Cari - Use common table salt to remove grease clogs from kitchen sinks; also, use vinegar and warm water to brighten linoleum floors.

From Monica and Mark - one part white vinegar to two parts water make a great carpet stain remover.

Fill a cup with water and your favorite splash cologne for a mild air freshener that lasts.

For ants in cupboards soak a sponge in honey and sugar; let ants collect all over sponge then dip sponge in boiling water and repeat as needed.

To prevent milk from sticking to pan while heating, first boil a little water in pan.

One way of making a room look bigger is to change hinges on doorways so they open out instead if in.

Purple Martins act as natural insect control.

Onions and radishes are also natural antibiotics.

Your candles will last longer and retain shape better if cooled in refrigerator first.

A touch of turpentine in boiled water will whiten and brighten your cotton clothes.

Egg whites will remove gum on clothing or hair. Simply apply egg whites, scrub then wash clean.

Simmer paint brushes or art brushes in Apple cider vinegar to soften bristles and make them look good as new; follow with a good washing of warm water and soap.

For a softer bread crust if baking homemade bread, simply put a small dish of water in oven.

A good treatment for fever blisters or skin blisters is to boil oak bark and apply liquid after its cooled.

Bag balm used for sore cow teats makes an excellent treatment for ruff, dry, or chapped hands. This product may be found in farm supply stores.

Layering your fragrance with body lotion first then followed by a little dusting powder will help your fragrance last longer. It works especially well if you've exfoliated.

How To Remove Red Wine Stains : As soon as spill occurs, prepare a paste of borax and warm water and rub gently. Follow with a good rinsing or wipe clean with warm water. ***Borax is a natural product and will not leave bleach stains.***

From Jack of San Francisco: "Cover the spot with salt...dampen it...works great too. I ought to know...I've spilled a lot of wine in my time."

TO PREVENT UNWANTED ANIMAL VISITS TO YOUR HOME: simply lay out some moth balls; works great on snakes and rabbits. It will not harm the wildlife, but the smell will discourage them from visiting again. Caution: small children do not have the instincts of wild animals and moth balls will hurt them, so use your best judgement.


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- posted by Cyber Tightwad.com @ 8:54 AM