- Place the plant in bright light, but not direct sun
- Keep soil slightly moist, not waterlogged
- Feed with a liquid houseplant fertilizer read label for directions on how often to feed.
- When the flowers fade, keep the leaves healthy by watering and feed as you would during the flowering season.
- The flowerless plant still needs bright light
- Prune back during the growing season to control its size and shape so it won't get thin and ungainly.
- To stimulate flowering for next year, start in October to keep the plant in total darkness from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day for four weeks
- Maintain a night temperature of 60 to 67 degrees F.
- Mist leaves daily if atmosphere is too dry
- When your plant begins to flower place the plant in bright light and begin the procedure over again. Good Luck!
Electric clothes dryer
We all know that the heating part of the drying cycle consumes huge amounts of power. During warmer weather or when it is warm inside your house, you can dry your clothes on a drying rack and after they are dry, run them in your dryer's fluff cycle which does not use heat. Tumbling your clothes for 10-20 minutes can make them fairly soft and close to what you would expect from using the dryer.
The advantage here is that you are not engaging the heating element which typically is the equivalent to fifty 100 watt light bulbs! That is a huge amount compared to just tumbling your clothes for a while to get them soft.
Zip Top Freezer Bags... Have difficulty getting them open? Run the a corner of the seal under hot water and the bag will open easily.
Subject: Bleach Smell: To remove bleach smell from hands (and that slimy feeling) pour a little vinegar or lemon juice over your hands then rinse. (bleach is alkaline, vinegar and lemon are acid, so they cancel each other out and balance the pH of your skin.) .
Subject: Recycle Grocery Bags I have recently fixed a pair of 3M Commander hooks - the kind that come off any surface just by pulling the tab - onto the sides of my kitchen garbage bin - the kind that fixes onto the inside of a cupboard door. I put the Commander hooks, one on each side a few inches below the rim and upside down. Instead of buying expensive garbage bags I can now hang a pair of plastic grocery bags from the hooks and tuck the edges neatly round the top of the bin. You know how these bags have an annoying habit of gradually sinking into the bin as they fill up - well, with the hooks they can't do that and when the bin needs emptying, I can just unhook the bag and tie the handles ready to toss down the garbage chute. It's also a great way to use up grocery bags instead of throwing them away.
Carpet spot cleaner. To clean spots on rugs and carpets, use window cleaner. It works as well as the spray-on carpet cleaners and if you buy the store brand (I use Wal-Mart), you can get it for as little as $0.97 for a full quart bottle.
Subject: Stainless Steel Appliances: The folks at the Sears store use "baby oil" to get the fingerprints and marks off stainless steel appliances. Put a small amount on a non- abrasive cloth and wipe the marks away. It will also remove the glue from the tape that is used in shipping.
Smelly hands. I keep the lemons and limes that have been squeezed beside the sink, the main use is to rub on my hands after processing fish or any other foods. You can use them to cut the lime scale around taps and plugholes.
Regular cellulose kitchen sponges tend to get smelly: Every day after washing the supper dishes and wiping off the counter, pour a little bit of Vim Thick Bleach liquid on the sponge, rub and rinse well. This will not only refresh the sponge but it will also destroy the bacteria on it
To bring back the fluffiness in bed pillows, put them in the clothes dryer. The warm air does wonders in just a few minutes.
Broken Glass: Use bread to pick up fragments of broken glass.
Daffodils: Don’t mix cut daffodils in with other cut flowers as the daffodils produce a toxin that kills off the other flowers
Subject: Removing "pills" from clothing. When "pills" develop on clothing (small wads of lint) use a rough piece of steel wool, run it over the material and the "pills" disappear. Very easy to do. Will not harm material .
Mouse Traps. When setting mousetraps, bait them and put them in a brown paper lunch bag. The mice seem drawn to the small place to explore and all you have to do is close the bag and throw it away after they've been caught! No muss, no fuss!
Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Roll each cucumber in a piece of newspaper while storing in refrigerator - it remain fresh for a week.
Wash stale cabbage with salt, water and few ice cubes. It will regain its freshness and kill germs.
APPLESAUCE AS SUBSTITUTE FOR OIL
You may substitute up to 50% applesauce or fruit puree in place of oil when you bake to reduce fat content, i.e.: 1 c. oil called for in recipe, use 1/2 c. applesauce.
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candleholder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients in recipe, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount.
Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away: Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Dripping birthday candles: To keep melted wax fro birthday candles off the top of a cake, place each candle inside a colorful Life Saver candy, then place on the cake. It looks decorative and any wax will drip onto the candy instead.
Sweeter cutting boards: To remove onion and garlic smells form wood cutting boards, scrub the surface with a paste of baking soda and water.
Remove core from head of iceberg lettuce: Holding the lettuce head with core facing towards the floor, bang onto a hard surface such as your kitchen counter and the core should pop right out!
To Keep cushions on wooden chairs in place: Place a no-slip 11 x 12 inch PVC vinyl pad between the chair and the cushion.
To deter raccoons, skunks, pets, etc: Pour a dash of household ammonia into garbage bags before closing them. The scent will deter pesky critters.
Eye de-puffer: Chill spoons in the freezer. Place on lids, directly under eyes or wherever needed. Finish with refreshing eye gel. Or keep spoons in freezer for when needed. If spoon feels too cold, hold in your hand until it warms up a 'little'. Or... try two slices of raw potato over your eyes instead.
Quick Lip soother: Pop open a vitamin E capsule and smooth a few drops over mouth. Leave on alone or under lip color. Perfect solution for dryness and flaking.
Easy Jewelry storage: To Keep costume jewelry pins and brooches organized, hang an old T-shirt on a hanger and fasten all your pins to it so you'll be able to see at a glance what will go best with your outfit.
Another Easy Jewelry Organizer - is a clear plastic shoe organizer (one that fits over a clothes hanger): Store your necklaces and earrings in the pouches so they are quickly accessible. Can also be used for storing/sorting makeup such as lipstick, mascara, blush, facecream jars, belts, etc. Eliminates a lot of clutter from top of dresser, sink, etc.
| Baking Cookies: Preparation Tips | |
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Baking Techniques: Proper Measuring
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Beating Egg Whites
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Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy.
No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants,work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass- the fibers catch ones you can't see!
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
MINE!!!!!
If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. if the bike is stolen and later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof who owns the bike.
Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser!
Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Good-bye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," & can't digest it so it kills them.. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Take Baby Powder to the Beach
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When your ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.
We are always looking for some good tips/shortcuts that you have found to be very successful. Please drop us a line with your tips.
No charge for Directory Assistance
Phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to.
When you need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial
1-800-FREE-411 OR 1-800-373-411 WITHOUT INCURRING A CHARGE
Works on Cell or Home phones!
.Telling your teenager the facts of life is like giving a fish a bath!
A few questions and answers that readers have asked.
When doubling a recipe for cookies, use the same amount of salt that the recipe originally called for. Do not double the amount of salt.
Milk is effective for cleaning ballpoint ink and red juice stains. The enzymes that turn milk sour are the same enzymes that break down stains and help them to disappear.
Oven cleaner or WD-40 removes bottle labels easy. Leave for 2 minutes and scrape.
Cutting a SOS pad with scissors will sharpen the blades.
To prevent milk from burning, sprinkle one tsp. sugar over the milk before heating.
For a perfectly coloured pie crust, combine one-egg white and one-tsp. milk in a bowl. Brush onto piecrust during the last 10 minutes of baking.
When laundering protein stains such as egg, dairy, blood, etc. make sure that you use cold water. Hot water will set the stain.
Slice a potatoe and place it under a cake plate dome to keep the cake fresh longer.
Kitchen Tips:
For a delicious spread, to one pound of butter, gradually cream in one can of evaporated milk and a little salt. Chil. Makes two pounds
To frost grapes: wash and dry and separate grapes into small clusters. Brush with slightly beaten egg whites, place on a wire rack and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Let dry for about an hour.
Save the juice from canned mushrooms (or any vegetables). Reduce it by half, then freeze it. Use it for a flavour boost by adding it to soups and sauces.
If you have a cold dip that calls for fresh herbs but you only have dried, place herbs in a cup of boiling water for a minute or so. Drain and pat dry with paper towels and they'll be ready to use.
If you're out of sour cream, you may substitute low fat or plain yogurt. Or use pureed low fat cottage cheese with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Store mushrooms in a paper bag in the fridge. Do not wipe clean until just before using. Never wash mushrooms in water as they tend to absorb the water and become mushy. Instead, brush them clean or wipe them clean with a damp cloth.
Sprinkle a skillet with salt instead of using fat when cooking hamburgers. They will cook in their own juices and be much tastier.
When washing greens, always lift them from the water, never drain the water off first. This way, any sand or grit will settle to the bottom of the sink.
A thin layer of oil on top of the brine will keep an open jar of olives fresh.
When cooking cabbage, broccoli, or brussels sprouts, place a heel of bread on top of vegetables before putting the lid on the pot and there will be minimal cooking odour. Discard bread before serving vegetables.
If you ever purchase a canned ham, before heating, save the gelatin that comes around the ham. It's delicious when used to flavour beans.
Cheese grates more easily when chilled.
To make the perfect hamburger, tuck a chunk (about 1 tbsp,) of frozen herb butter into the centre of a freshly made hamburger patty. The frozen butter gives it an extra burst of flavour.
For a tastier pie crust, add orange juice instead of water into the crust dough.
Always shake the tin of baking powder before you use it. Chemicals in the powder tend to settle out and drop to the bottom. Give it a good shake to redistribute them throughout the powder and your baking will turn out light and fluffy.
Use wine, tea or beer in stews instead of water. These liquids will help tenderize tough meat.
You can also tenderize meat by marinating it in lemon juice for several hours in the refrigerator before cooking.
Add a slice or two of beets to meat stews to deepen the colour of the sauce to a rich golden brown.
To Sprinkle flour :
Put flour in a large salt shaker. It makes sprinkling easier when you need to flour a pan or a board.
Lettuce loves fat:
Fat can be removed from hot soup by floating a large lettuce leaf on the surface. The fat will cling to the lettuce. Remove and add more leaves if necessary until all traces of fat is gone.
Strong Onion:
To reduce the strong taste of onions, dice them and put in refrigerator overnight.
Spice secret: Keep paprika in the refrigerator to assure freshness.
Garlic piercing:
When cooking with garlic cloves, pierce each one with a toothpick. This makes them easy to retrieve especially in a smooth sauce.
Fresh nuts:
Keep nuts in airtight containers in the refrigerator. They'll stay fresher longer.
Garlic:
No need to peel the cloves if you’re going to use it in the garlic press. Place the clove in the press and squeeze. The garlic will go through the tiny holes, but the peel won’t. Simply remove peel after pressing the garlic.
Removing Corn Silk:
Dampen a paper towel or cloth towel and brush downward on teh corn cob. Every strand should come right off.
Gravy:
To avoid pale gravy to begin with, brown the flour well before adding the liquid. This also helps prevent lumpy gravy.
To make a rich, brown gravy, put some flour into a custard cup and place beside meat in the oven. When the meat is done, the flour will be brown. Add cooking juices gradually, stirring constantly or bring to a boil.
For non-greasy gravy, add a little bit of baking soda.
A quick gravy thickener - just add some instant potatoes.
Small cans:
Save the smaller cans from salmon, tuna, etc. They are good for baking mini cakes, or breads.
Spicier pizza sauce:
add some spice to your homemade pizza sauce by adding medium or hot salsa to it. Easy and tasty.
Aromatic Barbecuing:
Don't throw away all peelings from onions. When using a grill, toss peels on hot coals while cooking. Wonderful aroma.
Mouthwatering aroma:
To make the house smell nice, like you’ve been baking; on medium heat bring to a boil 6 cups of water combined to which you have added 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon of each cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Simmer on low heat until the aroma permeates the entire house. You can also add orange, lemon, lime, and apple rinds to this. Can be stored in jar in fridge to use over again. As the water does evaporate, just add more water, vanilla and spices. Hint: Have some baking on hand for unexpected guests so they won’t be disappointed.
Fishy smell:
To get rid of fishy smell or taste, soak cleaned fish or fish fillets in milk for at least 2 hours prior to cooking.
The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns left!
Applesauce Substitute for Shortening:
To cut down on calories when baking a cake, you can substitute applesauce for shortening 1 for 1 up to 1 c. This means you can use 1 c. applesauce instead of 1 cup shortening. Beyond 1 c., use oil or shortening for the remainder of the amount. So if your recipe called for 1 1/2 c. shortening you would use 1-c. applesauce and 1/2 c. shortening.
To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish detergent and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.
Avoid stains on Tupperware: Spray with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains. (Key Word - Tupperware).
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.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil before putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. To save the nutrients, flavour and time, individually wrap each cob, with the husk, silk and all in a paper towel and cook on high in microwave for 3 minutes per cob. Let sit for a few minutes, then wearing oven mitts, peel corn over trash can with one sweep! If cooking only 1 cob, cook for 5 minutes.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze in ice cube trays for future use in casseroles, sauces, etc. Store in freezer bags.
Freeze left over cream in ice cube trays to use in sauces, soups, or when frying mushrooms. Store in freezer bags.
Clean fruit from pesticide or wax with baking soda
Fish odours:
Mix two tablespoons dry mustard with one half cup of water and wash areas that smell like fish. This also works when washing fishy dishes.
When shopping for sweet potatoes, select the darker skinned ones. They are known to be sweeter and moister than the lighter skinned variety.
Household Tips:
Here are 15 of the best tips submitted for the household hint contest.
1. To clean basked on ashes off of fireplace glass doors, use a damp cloth. Dip the cloth into the ashes. Wipe the doors and rinse.
2. Clean cobwebs from high ceiling by dragging a helium baloon (attached to a string) along the upper edges of the walls. The static attracts the cobwebs to the balloon, pull string and wipe.
3. Carry a package of return address labels with you. It makes life easier when entering contest or leaving your address somewhere.
4. To heat or reheat soup, always use a double-boiler with plenty of water in the bottom. You will not burn your soup and don't need to continuously stir.
5. Sharpen eyeliner pencils with greater success by putting them into the freezer for 15 minutes before attempting to sharpen.
6. To brighten socks, boil them in lemon juice and water for 20 minutes.
7. Oven windows have a bad habit of attracting food that becomes dried on and hard to clean. Spray WD-40 onto the window and scrub with an SOS pad. Rinse the window with dish soap and water.
8. When hanging nylons on a clothesline, put a teaspoon in each foot to keep them from blowing over the line and getting snagged.
9. To hold a corsage in place on a shirt or sweater, cut a one-inch piece of wide elastic band. Lay the elastic onto the clothing and pin the flower throught the elastic. The elastic prevents the pin and flower from sling off of your clothing.
10.To get bloodstains our of already washed and dried fabric, scrub with Head and Shoulders Shampoo and then rewash.. Head and Shoulders is also effective in removing lipstick from clothing.
11. Keep bread fresher longer by wrapping it with paper towel and putting it into a plastic bag. The paper towel absorbs just enough moisture to keep it from drying out but does not become damp enough to make the bread soggy. Adds days to the life of bread.
12. Rub a slice of raw potato on a frying pan before cooking pancakes to keep them from sticking to the surface.
13. When gluing lace (or any thin material) with hot glue, wear a metal thimble to protect your fingers.
14. Next time you are sewing, try taping pattern pieces to the fabric instead of pinning them. You can cut through the tape and don't have to bother removing pins.
15. If you're hanging a picture, heat the nail first with a match. It'll go in easier and won't chip or crack plaster. Before you hang a picture, turn it over and put stick-on rubber bumpers on each corner or a beBad of silicone caulk. Then let it dry well befoe hanging. You can even roll up masking tape inside out and put it on each corner. Then when you hang it and line it up, these items will help keep the frame straight and level.
Hints, Tips Kitchen
Instead of using commercial waxes, shine appliances by using rubbing alcohol.
To whiten appliances that have begun to yellow, apply a mixture of 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups warm water. Let set for 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.
Clean stainless steel burner pans on stoves by putting them in a large pan, adding enough water to cover, and 3/4 to 1 cup baking soda. Simmer on low for about 1 hour, then wash with regular detergent. Any stains that remain can be removed by rubbing lightly with a steel wool soap pad.
Run greasy stove hood filters through the dishwasher.
Blender
To clean the blender, fill part way with hot water and add a drop of detergent. Cover and turn it on for a few seconds. Rinse and drain dry.
Broiler
To clean the broiler pan, sprinkle the hot pan heavily with dry laundry detergent. Cover with a dampened paper towel and let the burned food set for a while. The pan should require little scouring.
When broiling, put a cup of water in the bottom of the broiler pan before starting. Cleanup is easier, and the drippings create instant gravy. This also eliminates smoke.
Butcher Block
Minimize stains and cover scratches by rubbing mineral oil on surfaces. Mineral oil is odour-free and non-toxic.
Can Opener
Loosen grime from a can opener by brushing with an old toothbrush. To thoroughly clean blades, run a paper towel through the cutting process.
Cast Iron
To clean cast iron skillets, clean the OUTSIDE of the pan with commercial oven cleaner. Let set for 2 hours and the black stains can be removed with vinegar and water. After cleaning pan, take a piece of wax paper and, while skillet is still warm, wipe around the inside to prevent rusting. Or, when clean, rub a small amount of oil on the inside of the pan to keep it seasoned.
To remove charred food and burn spots from cast iron skillets, boil vinegar and salt in the skillet.
Put a coffee filter into cast iron skillets when you put them away. The filter absorbs moisture and prevents rusting.
Broken cookies don't have calories.
To remove coffee or tea stains and cigarette burns from fine china, rub with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda.
Coffee Pot
Perk one tablespoon powder dishwashing detergent and a full pot of water through the coffeemaker to get it clean without any scrubbing.
Remove stains from a glass pot by rubbing them with a lemon slice.
Copper
Remove tarnish from cooper cookware by mixing equal parts of salad and vinegar or salt and lemon juice. Rub it into the tarnished area with a paper towel. Restore the copper's shine by scrubbing it with a wet steel wool soap pad. (Avoid abrasives on soft tin linings.)
Wipe tarnished copper with undiluted tomato juice applied with a soft, clean cloth and your pot bottoms and candlesticks will shine! Make sure that you rinse thoroughly.
Crystal
Vinegar is a must when washing crystal. Rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Air dry.
Cutting Board
To rid cutting board of onion, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime or lemon in two and rub the surface with the cut side of the fruit.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
To make a stained cutting board look like new, mix a couple teaspoons of liquid bleach into a dishpan full of warm water. Scrub the board. Rinse the board several times with very hot water.
Deodorizer
Boil a little vinegar or a teaspoon of cloves in a half-cup water to dispel cooking odours.
Dishes
To quickly remove food that is stuck to a casserole dish, fill it with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda or salt.
Use the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar cuts and grease and leaves dishes sparkling clean.
Dishwasher
To clean, use regular powdered laundry bleach instead of dishwasher detergent in an empty machine. It cleans and disinfects.
Before loading the silverware tray, place a sponge in the bottom. It will prevent small utensils from falling to the bottom.
To remove stains from the inside of the dishwasher, set a cup of bleach in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through the entire cycle. Then run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle. DO NOT mix the bleach and vinegar, as it will cause poisonous gases in the dishwasher.
When removing dishes from the dishwasher, unload the bottom rack first so that water that has pooled in glasses or cups on the top rack doesn't drip onto the dishes below.
Disposal
Grind a half lemon or orange rind in the disposal to remove any unpleasant odour. Deodorize it by running lemon, orange or grapefruit peel through it.
Food Grinder
After using a food grinder, get all the ground material out and make the grinder much easier to clean by running a slice of bread through it before dismantling.
Formica
Scrape dried food spills off counters with a square plastic tab such as that found on bread bags. It won't scratch as a metal utensil might.
Polish Formica tops to a sparkle with club soda.
Freezer
A piece of charcoal in your freezer will keep it smelling sweet.
To clean a frost-free freezer, mix 1/2 cup of isopropyl alcohol with a dishpan full of lukewarm water. The alcohol loosens any icy matter. Sponge away the dirt. The alcohol evaporates rapidly, so you do not have to dry.
After defrosting the freezer, spray it with alcohol or vegetable oil spray. It will be less work the next time you defrost.
Grill
When the grate is cool after barbecuing, place it inside a large plastic garbage bag with 1/2 cup powdered dishwasher detergent. Pour in enough hot water to cover the grill; seal the bag, shake it to dissolve the powder, and then let it stand for several hours. Rinse thoroughly.
Before ever using your barbecue grill, spray it heavily with vegetable oil.
A fast and effective way to clean a grill is to use leftover brewed coffee. Pour it on a hot or cold grill. Wipe off and you will be amazed at the results.
Stainless Steel
Use rubbing alcohol or salad oil to clean stubborn water spots off a stainless steel sink or counter. Shine with a sponge dipped in vinegar.
Clean faucets and appliances with vinegar. For stubborn build-up around faucets and fixtures, put paper towels around the fixtures and soak with vinegar, then let stand until the grime comes off easily.
To remove fish odour from stainless steel sinks, fill the sink with warm water and a small amount of vinegar. Swish the vinegar-water around the sink, then drain the water. Remove spots with white vinegar.
Use a cloth damped with rubbing alcohol to remove water spots from stainless steel.
Rub your fingers on stainless steel under running water to remove the odour of onion or garlic. Anything made of stainless steel will work - cutlery, bowls, and also the sink itself if it happens to be made of stainless steel.
*Some fishing supply stores sell an oval bar of stainless steel (shaped like a bar of soap) for fishermen to use after cleaning fish.
Ice chest (Cooler)
Sprinkle a musty-smelling ice chest with baking soda, then close the lid for about an hour. Rinse with clean water and wipe with a soft cloth dampened with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Your ice chest will smell wonderful between picnics!
Meat Grinder
To clean the meat grinder of particles and grease, run a piece of bread through it before washing.
Microwave
To easily clean up a spill over in the microwave, cover it with a wet paper towel and put the oven on HIGH for 10 seconds. The mess will wipe up when the cloth cools.
Odours
Add a few teaspoons of sugar and cinnamon to an empty pie tin and slowly burn over the stove. Your family will think you have been baking all day.
To get rid of the oily film on plastic bowls, make a paste of baking soda and a little water. Rub it on, then rinse and wash as usual. The bowls should be squeaky clean.
Rub your fingers on stainless steel under running water to remove the odour of onion or garlic. Anything made of stainless steel will work - cutlery, bowls, and also the sink itself if it happens to be made of stainless steel.
Pans
To remove badly burned-on food from a pan, scrape away as much of the burned-on food as you can. Fill the pan with cold water, add a cup of salt and let it soak overnight. The next day bring the water slowly to a boil and allow it to boil gently for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the water cool. Pour water out and finish cleaning with a scouring pad. The burned-on food should come off easily.
Refrigerator
Wash the inside of the refrigerator with vinegar and water to prevent mildew.
Be sure to keep the coils at the rear of your refrigerator clean and dust-free. Remember to unplug the refrigerator before cleaning.
Repellents
Put a few bay leaves in your flour and cereal bins. They will keep the bugs out.
To keep bugs away, put several unopened sticks of spearmint gum on the shelves where you store your flour, cornstarch, etc. It has to be spearmint gum.
Scouring Pads
Cut nylon net into four-inch strips and gather into a pompon.
When scouring, hold steel wool in a sponge. The sponge will protect your hands and absorb the water so the job makes less mess.
Sink
If your drain is clogged with grease, pour in a cup each of salt and baking soda followed by a kettle of boiling water. This will usually open the drain.
If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
Chicken Fingers
If your kids are tired of the same old chicken fingers, here is a great recipe to spice it up a bit with flavour for all.
Take one pound of chicken breasts and slice them into 1-inch strips and set aside.
In a shallow bowl or large plastic bag, combine: 1 tablespoon seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon minced onion, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Mix all of the ingredients together well. Coat each of the chicken pieces with the spice mixture and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with foil and greased well.
Broil in the oven for 5 minutes, remove. Turn pieces of chicken over and broil again for 5 more minutes.
SOME USES FOR BOUNCE.
Bouce will repell ants and mice. Place a sheet in the area where these critters frequent.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season. Do Not rub Bounce on your skin.
Eliminate static electricity from your television or computer screen.
Wipe your TV or computer screen with Bounce to keep dust from resetting.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
Place an indiviual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Put a sheet in the vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
Place an individual sheet inside an empty luggage before storing.
To freshen the air in your car - place a sheet under the front seat
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Deodoize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
To keep bathroom mirrors from fogging up, simply wipe them down with a little dab of shaving cream or tooth paste. Repeat when necessary, about once a month.
Empty toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls cut in half to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
Icy door steps in freezing temperatures: Pour Dawn dishwashing liquid in warm water and pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (…wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
The 50 - 50 - 90 rule: Anytime you have a 50 - 50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
Crayon marks on walls:
This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!): Pour some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and wipe mark off. Or spray with hair spray.
SOS Pads:
When you purchase a box of SOS Pads immediately cut each pad in half with scissors. It is much more economical and the scissors get sharpened at the same time!
Open new jar lids:
Use a nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar. Simply give it a good twists and off pops the lid.
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!
Washing Windows:
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.
Vanilla sprayed on a light bulb (or perfume) before you turn light on, in any room to create a lovely light scent when the light is turned on.
Fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers or linen closet and clothes/linens will smell freshly washed for weeks to come.
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning. Overnight is even better.
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!
Cure for Headaches:
Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
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.
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors.
It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine; or pour some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle, spray on mirror, wipe clean.
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.
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.
Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for a few 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).
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.
More hints:
Kool Aid to clean dishwasher pipes.
Just put powder in the detergent section and run a cycle; it will also clean a toilet. (Wow and we drink this stuff?)
Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter.
Crayon on wall - apply Colgate toothpaste and brush off.
Dirty grout - clean with Listerine.
Stains on clothes - rub with Colgate toothpaste.
Grass stains - Karo Syrup
Messy bathroom: Give each member a basket for toilet articles. Bathroom stays neat.
Stale tobacco smoke in a room; let a bowl of water with a little ammonia stand in the room overnight.
Remove Ink from Carpets:
Wash the stain immediately with skim milk.
Trim trees and shrubs:
Autumn is a good time to trim trees and shrubs that touch the house and to remove leaves from gutters.
An African Violet with leaves growing horizontally is telling you that the amount of light it receives is perfect. Leaves growing upward or downward are sending a message to change location.
Let carrots grow until maturity:
Before this time they have not developed enough sugar for optimum flavour.
Flowers in a cut arrangement look pleasantly balanced when buds are at the top of the bouquet, half-opened flowers in the middle, and opened blooms at the base.
Dirty and dusty garden tools need to be kept clean, not for appearance sake, but because pitted metal attracts soil and slows the work. Use rust remover and a wire brush to clean. Pass a hand file over cutting edges. Then sand handles and wipe with linseed oil.
Planting:
It is time to “work” the soil in spring when you squeeze a handful and it crumbles. If the soil forms a ball, it is still too wet to start gardening.
Gardening:
When building a garden, use newspaper under the loam and topsoil. The newspaper will kill all the weeds and grass underneath, plus it will compost into great mulch that roots can grow through.
Natures’ fertilizer is there for the taking. Don’t burn leaves; use them to improve garden soil. Chop the leaves up with a lawn mower. Make a compost pile and store your leaves there. Add to the garden as needed.
Starting seeds in eggshell halves: It’s economical and earth-friendly. Store planted shells in egg cartons so they can easily be moved to sunny spots. Plant both eggshell and plant, into the garden. Roots break through and the decomposed shells act as fertilizer.
Instead of using insecticides, try planting marigolds, basil, savory, horseradish, mint onions, garlic and chives near or in your garden. These plants (and many others) natural root secretions repel some insects.
Flying makes you queasy? Try eating foods high in carbohydrates before boarding. They help to prevent airsickness.
All-purpose ice pack:
Try freezing a wet paper towel in a resealble plastic bag. Use it as a mini-ice pack to keep food cool. Once melted, it will also double as wipe for hands and faces after meals.
Bored kids:
Winter fun for kids; Place some food coloring in a spray bottle filled with water. Then give a few different colors to kids so they can “paint” the snow.
Planting for fragrance?
Try planting the following: Carnations, Pinks, Mignonettes, Lavender, Fragrant Nicotiana, Violas, Ornamental Basil, Rosemary, Sweet William, English Wallflower.
Save your lawn.
To minimize damage to your lawn, mix sand, dirt or kitty litter with salt when putting on your icy walks and driveways.
Plant for butterflies.
To attract butterflies to your garden, plant lots of colorful flowers. Butterflies seem to be especially attracted to purple, yellow, orange, and red. Keep the flowers growing all season by growing different varieties that bloom at different times.
Knots:
Shake a little talcum powder or cornstarch on knotted cords or shoelaces and knots will pull apart rather easily.
Campers/hikers, here’s a tip.
Along with dry matches, pack lint from the clothes dryer into a small plastic pill bottle. It ignites quickly and can make kindling for several fires.
To clean stains on a carpet; mist equal parts of vinegar, lemon juice and salt. It works!
Clean the Grill:
This cleanup trick works while you sleep! Lay a barbecue grill rack on the lawn overnight-the dew will combine with the enzymes in the grass to loosen any burned-on grease. Try it with messy oven racks too!
Shower Doors:
To keep shower doors shiny and clear, use a soft cloth moistened with baby oil. It prevents scum build-up from dirt and soap. And hard water spots won't appear for several months
Silence Squeaking Wood Floors:
Dust talcum powder into the cracks. This is said to work like magic.
Get Rid of Small Moths/Bugs:
Fill a small bowl with white vinegar and a few drops of liquid dish soap. The moths are attracted to it, fall into it and expire. Strip the pantry and wash. Remove paper from cans and wash cans in hot soapy water. Discard anything containing wheat. Store flour and wheat containing products in airtight containers. You can even store in the refrigerator or freeze.
Cat and Dog Repellent:
Bury an empty pop or beer bottle in the ground so that the top is level with the ground and fill it with 2 parts ammonia and 1 part water. This will evaporate so you must refill it periodically.
Drying Sweaters - Use Pantyhose:
Put the pantyhose in the neck of the sweater and run the legs of the pantyhose down through the arms. Now you can hang the sweater up very nicely and let it dry on the line by clipping the clothespins to the pantyhose instead of the sweater. This eliminates any "clip" marks and helps the sweater dry faster.
Removes Mustard Stains from Clothing:
Apply a few drops of glyercine and rub it in with your fingers. Rinse the stain with water and launder as usual; or wet stain thoroughly and place outside in the sun. Repeat until stain has gone. This is also good for berry stains, etc.
Green Up the Grass (Garden Doctor):
Mix 2 T. Epsom salt with 1 gallon of water and spray the lawn.
Pounding Noise from Water Pipes:
(Air/Water Hammer) Turn your main water valve off (this should be located by the water meter). Open all of the "cold" water faucets all the way and let them drain completely. Close all of the faucets after draining. Turn main water valve back on. Go to each water faucet and open each up very slowly (they will "spit and pop") until water is running through again (this will establish an air pocket that should stop the noise). Turn off the faucet and repeat this for each faucet.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Garlic Spray Deer and Animal Repellent:
2 eggs
2 c. water
4 cloves garlic
2 t. Tabasco sauce
Blend until smooth and let stand 2 days. Use with garden sprayer to spray yard and gardens.
Remove Strong Odours in your Refrigerator:
Clean the seals of the refrigerator with a baking soda and water solution (see the box of baking soda for amounts); Or place fresh coffee grounds on a saucer and put in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Remove gum from hair or clothes:
Work peanut butter into the gum until you can see it separate. Continue until all gum is removed, then wash hair with shampoo and warm water. Wash clothes in warm, soapy water. Works on wooden furniture also. You can also rub the gum with an ice cube while removing the pieces, until it has all separated; or place it in the freezer, and wait for the gum to freeze, whereupon you can scrape it off with a knife, or alternatively use vinegar, which makes it easy to scrub off.
China:
Scrub coffee and tea stains off your teacups with equal parts white vinegar and salt.
Fish Bowl:
Rub away the film on the inside of the bowl using a cloth dipped in white vinegar. Rinse the bowl very well before putting the fish back in.
Drain:
Wash away drain odors with 1 c. of baking soda followed by 1 c. of white vinegar. Turn on your hot water full force to wash it down.
Paint Brushes:
To save a good paintbrush that's encrusted with dried paint, bring white vinegar to a boil, pour it over the brush and let the brush stand in the vinegar for 1 hour. Heat the vinegar again with the brush still in it until it comes to a simmer. "Cook" for 20 minutes to soften the paint. Repeat if necessary.
Foot Odour:
Soak smelly feet in 1 qt. of lukewarm water and 1/2 c. vinegar for 15 minutes twice a week.
Dandruff:
After you shampoo, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 c. vinegar and 1 c. warm water and leave it in. Don't worry, the smell will fade.
Lunch Boxes:
Freshen up a smelly lunch box with a slice of bread moistened with white vinegar. Put the bread in the box, close the lid and let it sit overnight.
Remove Ball Point Ink Stain from Clothing:
Spray area with an aerosol (not pump type) hair spray until wet and rub between fingers. Continue until stain is gone. Wash with warm soapy water.
Remove Blood Stains:
Soak in a mixture of 1/2 c. 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 t. ammonia. Rub in Head and Shoulder shampoo over the stain. Wash as normal.
Clean Shower Doors:
If that leftover bottle of white wine has gone sour on you, use it on your shower door instead of throwing it out. Rinse off with water and dry well...even if it's a dry wine. Or you can wipe the shower door with some fabric softener on a damp cloth. Buff with a clean, dry cloth.
How to Unstick Marshmallows in a Bag:
Add confectioners sugar or cornstarch and shake it up in the bag (this dries them out a little bit) and you can pull them apart. Some of them may still be stuck, but you can pull or cut them apart by hand. The next time you purchase a bag of marshmallows, take them out of the bag and put them in a freezer-safe container and freeze.
Remove Wax from Carpets:
Place a paper towel over the stain and draw the wax up into it by placing a warm iron over the paper towel (this is called "capillary action"); repeat if necessary. Sponge the stained area with 1cup isopropyl alcohol and 2-3 cups water if the stain remains. Sponge from the outside to the inside of the stain. Be very sure not to get the area too wet or you can bring up a stain from the padding.
Remove Candle Wax from furniture:
Turn stained furniture upside down. Put a piece of cotton cloth (T-shirt) over the wax stain. Using a hot chrome or metal finish curling iron, heat wax and let it melt into the cloth. This may take several applications to fully remove the wax.
Remove Candle Wax from Material:
This is best done by putting an ice cube on the wax to harden it, then peeling or scraping off the excess wax. Then place an absorbent piece of paper underneath, such as a brown paper bag. Put a white paper towel on top. Place a warm (not hot) iron on top over the paper towel and it should draw the wax up to the towel.
To Clean Microwave Oven and Remove Odours:
Place a bowl of vinegar in the microwave and run on HIGH until it comes to a boil. Wipe the interior clean with a rag dipped in the vinegar
Removing Hair Spray from Walls:
Put a few drops of shampoo and warm water on a sponge or cloth to wipe down the wall. Rinse with clear warm water to remove any residue.
To Remove Vomit:
Cut an aluminum pie plate in half. Using both halves, scrape up excess then discard plate and contents. Treat the area with white vinegar. This will neutralize the acids in the vomit and it will also dissipate the smell. Afterwards you can use bleach to get rid of the stain and any germs.
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth of the hole.
Creaking doors and stuck keys:
Grab a normal lead pencil (it's not actually lead, its graphite) and go over all the joints in your hinges. Work the door back and forward a few times and repeat the whole process. The graphite in the pencil lubricates the brass or iron without corroding it. Graphite is dry and as such it won't promote rust. Work the pencil over the grooves in the key and gently inside the keyhole as well (really gently as you don't want to break off the tip of the pencil in the lock). Then work the key in and out of the lock a few times, and gingerly work the lock with the key. Get up a good 'jiggling' motion - it will come naturally by feel as much as anything else. Graphite also can be found in a 'puffer spray' bottle and is great, but it has exactly the same ingredients as a pencil, and a pencil is more likely to be on hand.
Flowers:
Carnations and pinks last for ages if you place them in lemonade rather then water. Make sure it is proper lemonade rather then the diet variety and change it every four days or so.
Most other flowers will last longer if you put an aspirin or two in the water. Again it should be changed every four days or so.
All flowers will live longer if foxgloves are included in the floral arrangement.
For delphiniums and larkspurs add sugar, daffodils and narcissi add charcoal or camphor.
Put the cut ends of chrysanthemums in very hot water for a moment, then dunk in very cold.
Stand tulips wrapped in newspaper up to their necks for several hours.
Do not mix daffodils with anything else, but if you must, soak them for one hour in separate water, then re-rinse.
Topmost buds should be nipped from delphiniums, gladioli and snapdragons.
Drying Dogs:
If you keep pets, you have to keep them clean. And a fast way of drying your dog is to use chamois leather - not only does it dry them in half the time, but it makes their coats exceptionally soft. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can let your pets dry naturally. The only possible problem with this method is finding large enough pegs to keep them on the washing line.
Entertaining tip.
At buffet parties fill paper nut-cups with dip so guest can have individual servings on their plates or use individual small/medium foil tart shells.
No dustpan:
Cut a used and cleaned foil pie pan in half. Works wonders
Household Tips:
Headache pain:
Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately, without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers.
Burn salve:
Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
Stuffed nose:
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They’ll clear up a stuffed nose.
Aches:
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish in 1/2 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, apply where needed for instant relief of aching muscles.
Sore Throat: Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
Urinary tract infections:
Add two Alka-seltzer tablets to a glass of water. Drink 1 glass in the morning and 1 glass in the evening, (twice daily) to get rid of urinary tract (bladder) infections.
There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
Honey remedy for Skin Blemishes:
Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus:
Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again. (I wonder if this method could be used for fingernails also?)
Easy eyeglass protection:
To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
Coca-Cola cure for rust:
Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca-Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
Splinter remover:
Apply Elmers Glue-all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter should stick to the dried glue.
Hunt's tomato paste boil cure:
Cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
Balm for broken blisters:
To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine; it’s powerful antiseptic.
Heinz vinegar to heal bruises:
Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the discoloration and speeds up the healing process.
Kills fleas instantly:
Dawn dishwashing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas
Rainy day cure for dog odor:
Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
Eliminate pet ear mites:
All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
Vaseline cure for pets’ hairballs:
To prevent troublesome hairballs, apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.
Quaker Oats for fast pain relief:
It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.
Gum in your hair?
Just take the gum-coated hair and dip in a small bowl that has some Coca-Cola in it. Let sit for just a few minutes and the gum will wipe right off.
Tanning:
for someone with very white skin, those that are extremely difficult to tan; apply coke instead of a tanning cream.
Hiccup cure:
Take a good mouthful of Coke and gargle it.
Permanent marker stains:
Coca-Cola removes permanent marker stains as does hairspray.
To stop a nosebleed:
Take some Kleenex or tissue and tear it in 1-inch strips. Take a strip and fold or roll it up so that it is about one half inch thick and then wet it down under the faucet, if it is for yourself you can wet it in your mouth.) Take the wad of wet tissue and place it between the upper lip and gum just below the nose. Now clamp down with your upper lip. These procedure blocks off the vein that runs into the nose and slows the blood flow allowing it to clot after a few minutes.
Boil treatment:
Cover boil with membrane lining of an eggshell. Apply the membrane wet side down, let it dry, and leave it attached to the boil area. If the membrane fell off before the boil dislodged, she applied another fresh membrane. This method should work within a day or two of application of the egg membrane
Boo-boos:
Always make sure to have Freezies or Popsicles in your freezer. When a child (or adult) get a bump, apply to Freezie to the injured area to stop the bump from bruising and enlarging. If the Freezie begins to melt let them eat it and apply a fresh one.
- Or fill balloons with water and freeze…it distracts the child from the pain.
- Or cut different shapes, animal, hearts, etc., out of thin sponges and wet them with water and store in plastic baggie in freezer. When a child gets a boo-boo let them select the sponge to hold on hurt area. Can even apply cold sponge on top of Band-Aid, surprising how quick they get better.
Eczema:
Cover area completely with Crisco 2-3 times a day. The Crisco gets absorbed quickly.
Fever:
If you have a fever that just won't break, take a raw onion, peeled and sliced, and place the slices in the bottom part of your socks so that they are touching the soles of your feet. Then put the socks on your feet before you go to bed and sleep with them on your feet. When you get up in the morning, your fever will have broken. Apparently the way this works is that the onions draw the heat into them and out of your body because in the morning the onions are cool.
Scarless healing:
Carefully crack open a raw egg and remove the skin that's inside the shell. Put the wet side on the cut for speedy healing without a scar
Grazed knee:
Rub the inside of a banana peel on a scrape to ease the pain and help it heal
Heel spurs:
Take a piece of brown wrapping paper (grocery bag is okay) and cut into shape to fit in heel of shoe. Soak well in Apple Cider Vinegar, place in shoe and wear every day resoaking periodically. Within 2-3 weeks the spur should be completely gone.
Homemade ice pack:
Fill a quart-size zip-lock freezer bag with one cup of rubbing alcohol and two cups of water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring if you like and store in the freezer. The mixture won't freeze solid. Easy to shape around sore elbows or knees!
Leg Cramps:
To prevent leg cramps, drink orange juice or eat a banana before going to bed.
Poison Ivy:
Soak a cotton ball in milk of magnesia and apply to the poison oak or poison ivy affected areas. This will soothe and stop the itch. Within 2 days it will be gone. Another good way to get rid of Poison Ivy is to rub Dawn Dish washing soap on the area. Poison ivy is an oil and the Dawn will break it up."
To relief your itching from poison ivy, insect bites, simple spray the area with hair spray. Matter of seconds the itch is gone.
Sunburn:
Soak a wash cloth in vinegar and apply to the burned area. The vinegar is cool and pulls out the heat of a sunburn. It also helps to keep the skin from blistering. The wash cloth can be stored in an airtight bowl for several days and be used repeatedly for the burn.
Warts:
A recent study that proved to work 95% of the time for warts. All you have to do is apply a strip of DUCT TAPE to the wart. Yes, duct tape! You've heard it has many uses now it has one more! Apply a fresh strip to the wart, changing it daily and within a few weeks the wart is gone! This has something to do with the special glue that is in the duct tape. More research is being done on why it works so well.
Bee stings:
For bee or hornet stings, remove the stinger, take an onion and cut it in half. Gently rub the affected area while pressing the onion onto the wound. In less than 5 minutes, the redness, swelling and pain will be gone.
Tape a penny to the bite after removing the stinger if possible, leave it taped on for at least 15 minutes. The penny will take the pain away in a few minutes, and reduce the swelling in a matter of a few more minutes.
Make a thick mud plaster and apply over the bite. Remove the stinger first if possible. The mud plaster will reduce the pain within minutes. A thick plaster of baking soda, if available, also works.
Soap Scum
To easily wipe away soap scum and other junky stuff from your chrome fixtures and even the look alike chrome, simply poor a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a cleaning cloth or paper towel and wipe it away; you don't even have to apply any pressure; it's amazing.
Dusting
Here is a great tip about dusting! Don't you ever get tired of dusting your TV 3 or 4 times a week? Take a fabric softener sheet that has been used in your laundry and after cleaning your TV, rub it all around the area that you don't want to dust anymore. It's a guaranteed success. Instead of attracting dust, your TV will repel it.
Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Fireplace alert:
Do not burn colored newspaper or magazines in your fireplace! They contain lead and when burned will emit dangerous levels of the lead. This can be extremely harmful especially to children!
Bathroom mirror trick:
Spray mirrors with Pledge and wipe clean. When it begins to streak again, wash your mirror and apply another coat of Pledge. It looks like it will streak, but wiping real well takes care of that.
Glass shower doors:
To get your shower door clean, shiny and streak-free rub with a damp sponge soaked in white vinegar
Hardwood floors:
Fill a spray bottle with one part vinegar to three parts water. Spritz the floor and use a sponge mop to clean. The mop doesn't get soggy, but the floors still get clean."
Homemade cleaner:
Take a spray bottle, and mix one third pine cleaner, one third ammonia, and one third warm water. It will clean everything from kitchen counters, to the bathroom floor, and everything in between. For tough grease stains, let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
Longer lasting cut flowers:
"Keep cut roses for 3-4 weeks in a vase! Just put l/2 of water with 1/2 of Mountain Dew in a Or try this tip "Combine two Tbs. of vinegar, three Tbs. of sugar and one quart warm water in your vase. Your cut flowers will last much longer!"
Ring stuck?
Use liquid soap to remove a ring that’s stuck on your finger while holding the hand up with finger bent slightly to tug ring over finger.
No Fade Newspaper Clippings:
To preserve a newspaper clipping, dissolve a milk of magnesia tablet in a pan containing a quart of club soda. Soak paper in the mixture for an hour. Lay flat to dry.
Sliding Glass Door Tracks:
Clean the door tracks with furniture polish instead of a cleaner. It gets the tracks clean and the polish acts as a lubricant.
Sterling Silver:
To clean your silver, use toothpaste. Any kind will do the job but we prefer plain white. Just rub some on and wash off. Instant shine.
Stiff Jeans:
Break in those stiff jeans and make them soft by washing with detergent and a half-cup of table salt.
Squeaks: Use non-stick vegetable spray!
Cleaning walls and wallpaper
Toothpaste is good for stains on walls or wallpaper it acts as a mild abrasive".
Removing Wallpaper
"Put boiling hot water in a spray bottle with about one third liquid fabric softener. Spray wallpaper, wait a few minutes and peel off. This mixture dissolves the paste very fast. I have tried this many times and it works great and smells nice too.
Strawberry aspirin?
Next time you have a headache try eating some strawberries. They contain natural salicylates, an ingredient that's found in aspirin.
Spicier pizza sauce:
add some spice to your homemade pizza sauce by adding medium or hot salsa to it. Easy and tasty.
Better than counting sheep:
Can't sleep? Try some honey and warm milk or chamomile tea before bedtime.
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.
Green tip:
When planting grass, trees, shrubs in your yard, choose only native species. Since they are adapted to local insect species and weather, they won’t require so much watering and pesticide.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
Helpful Tips:
· Beer conditions hair.
· Pam cooking spray will dry fingernail polish.
· Mayonnaise will kill lice, it will also condition your hair.
· Facial: Elmer’s Glue – paint (pat) on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads, if any.
· Puffy eyes – rub Preparation H under the eyes. It contains a vasoconstrictor.
· Chigger bites – Preparation H.
· Shiny dark hair – use brewed Lipton Tea.
· Sunburn – for bad sunburn empty a large jar of Nestea in your bath water. Soak in it.
· Minor burn – apply Colgate or Crest toothpaste.
· Burn your tongue – put sugar on it.
· Paper cut – crazy glue or Chap Stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals).
· Stinky feet – soak in Jell-O.
· Athlete’s feet – cornstarch.
· Fungus on toenails or fingernails – Vicks vapor rub.
· Kool Aid can be used as dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finer paint, your kids will love it and it won’t hurt them if they eat it!
· Peanut butter will get scratches out of CD’s. Wipe off with coffee filter paper.
· Sticking bicycle chain – Spray with Pam cooking oil. Can be used on squeaky doors, etc.
· Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby.
· Heavy dandruff – pour on vinegar.
· Body paint – Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour into an empty film container and mix with the color of your choice.
· Tie Dye T-shirt – mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak.
· Preserving newspaper clipping – a large bottle of club soda and coup of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 minutes and let dry, will last for many years.
· A slinky will hold toast and CD’s.
· To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate Toothpaste.
· Wine stains – pour on Morton salt and watch it absorb the salt.
· To remove wax - scrape of most of it and then place a paper towel or brown paper bag over the wax stain and iron over it with warm iron.
· To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
· In winter months, food for birds and small animals is scarce. Save pine cones from the fall and dip them in honey or syrup and roll in bird seed and hang in trees.
· Save all the lint from your dryer lint filter. Place it in a mesh bag (like the bag onions come in) and when full hang it in a tree outside in the spring/summer and the birds will use it to build their nest. Also, save some bits of string and yarn and put it in this bag also.
· Save all the lint from your clothes dryer for when you go camping. Use it to quickly start an outdoor fire.
· Mayonnaise is wonderful face creams apply - leave on 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then apply alcohol with cotton balls and do not rinse off. The mayonnaise cleans and softens the face and the alcohol tightens the pores.
Honey
· For scrapes, wash the area with soap and water to remove any dirt. For burns, hold the injured area under cold running water until it feels better.
· Apply honey directly to the scrape or burn to help prevent infection.
· Use a bandage to cover the area.
· Reapply honey and bandage for several days .
If you have a problem with deer nibbling in the garden, plant Foxglove around the garden. Foxglove is very poisonous, and deer will avoid it completely.
Mice problems
We used to get field mice moving into the attic when an old-timer suggested put out a couple small bowls half-filled with Pine-sol. (Don't do this if pets or children can get to them!) Replace the liquid when it evaporates (about every 4 or 5 months for me). Evidently the smell deters the mice. We haven't had mice in the attic (or anywhere in the house) since then... about 15 years.
SOME USES FOR VINEGAR
(CHINA:
scrub coffee and tea stains off your teacups with equal parts white vinegar and salt.
FISH BOWL:
rub away the film on the inside of the bowl using a cloth dipped in white vinegar. Rinse the bowl very well before putting the fish back in.
DRAIN:
Wash away drain odors with 1 c. of baking soda followed by 1 c. of white vinegar. Turn on your hot water full force to wash it down.
PAINTBRUSHES:
To save a good paintbrush that's encrusted with dried paint, bring white vinegar to a boil, pour it over the brush and let the brush stand in the vinegar for 1 hour. Heat the vinegar again with the brush still in it until it comes to a simmer. "Cook" for 20 minutes to soften the paint. Repeat if necessary.
FOOT ODOR:
soak smelly feet in 1 qt. of lukewarm water and 1/2 c. vinegar for 15 minutes twice a week.
DANDRUFF:
after you shampoo, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 c. vinegar and 1 c. warm water and leave it in. Don't worry, the smell will fade.
LUNCH BOXES:
Freshen up a smelly lunch box with a slice of bread moistened with white vinegar. Put the bread in the box, close the lid and let it sit overnight.
REMOVE BALL POINT INK STAIN FROM CLOTHING
Spray area with an aerosol (not pump type) hair spray until wet and rub between fingers. Continue until stain is gone. Wash with warm soapy water.
REMOVE BLOOD STAINS
A mixture of 1/2 c. 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 t. ammonia
THE SENIOR SAYING
I'm lost, I've gone to look for myself.
If I should return before I get back...
ask me to wait.
Author Unknown.
HOW TO MAKE CANDLES DRIP LESS WHEN BURNING
Put your candles in the freezer for several hours to overnight before lighting them and it will prevent excessive dripping.
Gum: If something you own gets gum over it, either stick it in the freezer, and wait for the gum to freeze, whereupon you can scrape it off with a knife, or alternatively use vinegar, which makes it easy to scrub off. Or cover gum with peanut butter and rub together. The gum will breakup and can be picked off in tiny pieces.
Flowers: Carnations and pinks last for ages if you place them in lemonade rather then water. Make sure it is proper lemonade rather then the diet variety and change it every four days or so.
Most other flowers will last longer if you put an aspirin or two in the water. Again it should be changed every four days or so.
All flowers will live longer if foxgloves are included in the floral arrangement. For delphiniums and larkspurs add sugar, daffodils and narcissi add charcoal or camphor. Put the cut ends of chrysanthemums in very hot water for a moment, then dunk in very cold. Stand tulips wrapped in newspaper up to their necks for several hours. Do not mix daffodils with anything else, but if you must, soak them for one hour in separate water, then re-rinse. Topmost buds should be nipped from delphiniums, gladioli and snapdragons.
Drying Dogs: If you keep pets, you have to keep them clean. And a fast way of drying your dog is to use a chamois leather - not only does it dry them in half the time, but it makes their coats exceptionally soft. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can let your pets dry naturally. The only possible problem with this method is finding large enough pegs to keep them on the washing line.
· Entertaining tip:
At buffet parties, etc., fill individual paper nut-cups or medium foil tart shells so guests can each have their own dip. These can later be discarded.
· No dustpan: Cut a used and cleaned foil pie pan in half. Works wonders
Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.
THE GREAT MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Mosquitoes are very sensitive to certain scents, Chamomile and Citriodora especially. Both are easy to grow and both are used in dry flower arrangements. Citriodora is also used in potpourri. To make The Great Mosquito Repellent, take 1 ounce of green leaves from both plants and boil in a gallon of water. Strain and place in the refrigerator. Before going outside, splash the mixture liberally over your face and exposed parts of your body. You will enjoy the fresh, citrus smell, but the mosquitoes will stay far away.
NATURAL PESTICIDE FOR PLANTS
Tobacco Dust. This dust is ideal for making a great natural pesticide. Mix 1/8 ounce of tobacco dust with 1 tablespoon of black pepper and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent. Simply apply as you would a chemical pesticide. This dust is also very effective sprinkled around the base of plants.
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.
Pets: DEWORMING CONCOCTION
This is an old time remedy for deworming dogs and cats. Use full amount on dogs and 1/4 amount on cats:
Mix 1 teaspoon of dried, powdered Rosemary and 1 teaspoon of Wormwood with 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground garlic. Mix well and divide into 4 portions. Give pet a portion mixed in with food or treat pet 4 times a day. Repeat this for 3 days and pet should be completely dewormed.
An optimist thinks this is the best possible world.
A pessimists fears this is true
Helpful Hints Kitchen Tips
- Add a little vinegar to the water when an egg cracks during boiling. It will help seal the egg.
- Sprinkle a little salt in your frying pan before cooking to keep the grease from splattering.
- For lighter fritter batter, substitute an equal amount of club soda or beer instead of liquid called for.
- Butter the rim of a pan in which you cook rice or macaroni so it won't boil over.
- "Dredging" in flour is simply when you lightly coat food (meat or fish) with flour in preparation for frying or sautéing. After dredging it in the flour, lightly shake off the excess and proceed with the recipe. You should dredge your ingredients just before you are ready to cook them. Dredging is not the same as breading.
- Spray a bit of non-stick spray on your grater before shredding cheese. It prevents the cheese from sticking to the blade.
- Never have rice boil over again. Put amount of rice and recommended amount of water in a roaster, cover put in cold oven-turn oven to 350F and 25 minutes later, you have perfect rice with no mess and almost no sticking to the roaster. Try it - it really works.
- A marinade should completely cover the food. If needed, weigh the food down by placing a plate on top of it.
- To remove all of the silk from a cob of corn after husking it, rub the remainder off with a paper towel. The silk adheres to the towel.
- To microwave corn, wrap in a sheet of paper towel and cook on high for 6 minutes per cob .
- Quickly discard marinade that was used for raw meat. You don't want someone dipping into the marinade after it's been used!
- A "stick" of butter or margarine weighs 4 oz and is 1/2 cup US. Each 1/4 cup or half stick butter or margarine in US recipes weighs about 50 g. There are 8 tablespoons in 1/4 pound butter.
- Cook the low-fat way, rather than frying -- broil, roast on a rack, back or steam poultry, meat or fish.
- To avoid a mess when cooking thick soups: Pureed soups and other thick soups tend to splatter when they bubble. Protect your stovetop by using a splatter screen or by partially covering the pan with a lid. Or loosely cover the pan with foil that has been punctured in a number of places so that steam can escape.
- To encourage soup to cook more quickly: Cut ingredients into small pieces.
- To rescue a burning stew: Immediately pour the stew into a new pot. Do not scrape any of the burned stew from the bottom of the first pot. If necessary, add more liquid to the new pot.
· If you live in a part of the country where you can get Colorado 's elusive but great Olathe corn (small, whitish sweet kernels), so much the better. If it is corn that has been picked for several days, you might have to cook 30 seconds or so longer as it might be tough. Also add a1 tablespoon of sugar to the water.
- Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of fresh, sweet milk when you need a substitute for sour cream or buttermilk.
- To test whether eggs are fresh, put them in a bowl of water and if they float they are stale.
Herbs & Spices
· The skins from garlic cloves will slip right off if you place the garlic clove in the microwave for 15 seconds.
· For recipes that call for herbs, try this handy tip to bring out the flavor of the herb. Marinate the herbs in 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil for approx. 30 minutes. Then add to the stew or sauce, this will bring out the full aroma of the herbs.
· To peel off the papery skin of garlic quickly, press the clove firmly with the handle of the knife. Or place the cloves in very hot water for a couple of minutes before peeling. Store peeled cloves in vegetable or olive oil in a jar in the refrigerator. They won’t dry out, and the oil will be flavored for use in salad dressings and stir-frying.
· When cooking with garlic cloves, pierce each one with a toothpick. This makes them easy to retrieve especially in a sauce.
· If herbs are a shortage, or you have to buy a whole bundle when you only want a small amount, use what you require for recipe then wash and place the remaining in water and freeze as ice blocks. Then when required all you have to do is thaw out required amount.
· If your hands smell like onions, garlic, fish or whatever, put a few shakes of salt on your palms and rub briskly. They'll wash up fresh.
· To revive wilted parsley or dill, place in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes.
· Dry Mustard will remove onion odors from your hands or cutting board. Rub in, then rinse off.
· Place Bay Leaves in kitchen drawers and in flour/sugar containers to keep crawling insects away.
· For more flavor, crush dried herbs between your fingers before adding them to a dish.
· When freezing fresh herbs or things like cut up green peppers or corn add a little oil (I use olive) to the plastic freezing bag and mix well. The oil helps keep the spaces fresh and foodstuffs frozen this way separate very easily when you wish to use some. No more huge chunk of ice to try and break up.
· To help a cake rise higher: Make sure that all the ingredients are at room temperature before you begin
Cooking with Honey
To substitute honey for sugar in recipes, start by substituting up to half of the sugar called for. With a little experimentation, honey can replace all the sugar in some recipes.
When baking with honey, remember the following:
· Reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.
· Add l/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used.
· Reduce oven temperature by 25 ° F to prevent over-browning.
Because of its high fructose content, honey has a higher sweetening power than sugar. This means you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness.
When measuring honey, coat the measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil before adding the honey. The honey will slide right out.
Storing Honey
To retain honey's wonderfully luxuriant texture, always store it at room temperature; never in the refrigerator. If your honey becomes cloudy, don't worry. It's just crystallization, a natural process. Place your honey jar in warm water until the crystals disappear. If you're in a hurry, place it in a microwave-safe container and heat it in the microwave on HIGH for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Remember, never boil or scorch honey.
All too often opportunity presents itself disguised as hard work.
GO BANANAS!!!
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on your shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.
Love is grand:
divorce is a hundred grand.
Carpet Stains: Baby wipes are miracle-workers on carpet stains from motor oil to blood; they remove almost anything!
Chrome: To remove rust from chrome, wipe it with aluminium foil dipped in Coke . To polish chrome, use a crumbled up piece of aluminium foil and rub.
Dishwashers: To clean mineral deposits from the inside of your dishwasher, pour in a container of Tang ® Drink Mix and run the dishwasher (don't put dishes in the dishwasher for this load).
Kitty Litter: To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.
Microwave Filth: Food splatters all over the inside of your microwave and cooks itself on after time. To easily remove this mess, place a sponge soaked in water in the microwave. Cook on high heat for 2 minutes, then allow it to sit without opening the microwave door, for 5 minutes. The filth is now ready to be wiped right off - no scrubbing - and your sponge is right there!
Mothball Substitute: Take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. You place the bag in with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm, but also they'll smell great when you pull them out.
Smashed Down Carpet: To make the carpet stand back up after moving a piece of furniture, place an ice cube on the spot. As it melts, the piles will go back up.
Shower Doors . SCRUB FREE (soap scum remover works great. Just spray shower doors, let stand for about 5 minutes, run a sponge over it then rinse. Resolve ® spot remover is also good, spray on shower doors, run a sponge over it then rinse. Every bit of the soap scum comes off.
Stains in Plastic Storage Containers: Use a baking soda paste (baking soda and water) and rub into the stain. You can then rinse with vinegar (optional) and wash normally. Another method is to place container outside on a nice sunny day and the sun actually bleaches the stain out. To avoid stains in the first place, spray container with cooking spray before putting things in it that stain i.e. spaghetti sauce.
Crayon on Walls or Washable Wallpaper: Spray with WD-40 ® , then gently wipe, using a paper towel or clean cloth. If the mark is stubborn, sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp sponge and gently rub in a circular motion. If the WD-40 ® leaves a residue, gently wipe off with a sponge soaked in soapy water; rinse clean; blot dry. Another method is to use a hair dryer - it heats the wax and wipes away instantly. If the colour remains, like red usually does, wet a cloth with bleach and wipe.
Bleeding of Colours: Your red shirt got mixed in with other clothes and ruined them? First off, DON'T DRY THEM! Wash again with regular detergent and colour-safe bleach. If that didn't work, Rit ® , the makers of clothes dye, makes a colour remover that works wonders and doesn't cost much. To prevent bleeding in the first place, wash in cold water; I also use a cup of salt OR a scoop of Oxi Clean ® with every load.
Oxi-Clean : Is great for removing stains on clothes, material couches & chairs, carpets, when a pet brings up, etc.
Fabric Softener: Use an old washcloth, or cut an 8 inch square piece from an old towel (or use an old dish towel) as a fabric softener sheet. Pour a couple of capfuls of Downey on it and throw it in the dryer with your clothes. It takes over a year to go through small a bottle of Downey fabric softener. Add more Downey to the towel about every 15 loads or just when you notice a little static. It helps to use a towel that is distinct from the other laundry. I use a green towel, which is a one of a kind in our house.
Linen Closet : In the linen closet, place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favourite scent. Once they are dry, place them in corners and on the shelves .
Gum On Clothing: Use egg whites to remove gum on clothing. Brush egg white onto gum with a toothbrush. Let sit for 15 minutes and then launder on the items normally.
Grease Stains: Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch or baby powder over the grease stain, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then brush the powder off. The powder absorbs the grease and it brushes off with the powder.
Gasoline On Clothing: Gasoline is an oil-based product; therefore, use another oil-based product to pull out the odour (which is left because all the gas oil has not been removed yet). You can use any kind of oil that normally washes out of clothing, like baby oil. Put some of the oil into the washer along with the clothes, let it swish around for a while, then put in the detergent and all should come out okay. Mothball odours: Place item outside in the sun for a few hours. If odour is not all gone the first time, repeat the process. This works well for removing mothball odours from suitcases, trunks, etc.
Stain removal: For hard to remove stains from clothes, wet the item and gently wring dry, then put it outside in the sun. I found it works very well, when I place the item directly on the grass. Repeat the process if the item has dried and there is still a little of the stain remaining.
Washing your hands with toothpaste gets rid of a smelly odor.
A small bedroom will appear larger if you keep the bedspread the same colour as the walls.
Lemon Juice will remove adhesive tape and gum from hands and clothes
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you a mechanic.
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