Tip 1 If you have a
window air conditioning unit, change or clean the filter every month, or more often if you
own pets that shed. This will reduce the load on your AC & cut costs.
Tip 2 If the screw is loose on your
eyeglasses and you do not have a tiny special screwdriver handy, a pencil eraser will work
in a pinch.
Tip 3 A freezer works less hard when it
is fairly full. So if your freezer is a little low on food, fill in the empty spaces with
plastic jugs filled with water or bags filled with ice cubes. Remember to leave space in
the jugs for expansion as the water freezes.
Tip 4 Recipe for homemade glass cleaner:
24 ounces of water, 4 ounces rubbing alcohol, 4 ounces of non-sudsing ammonia. Add a tad
of food coloring (blue) to make it familiar-looking. Of course, label it well. Pour into
spray bottle as needed.
Tip 5 Our tip for today is really a
reminder. When is the last time you cleaned out that medicine cabinet? Get rid of all
expired medications, vitamins, etc. Replace all first aid supplies & OTC medications
with new.
Tip 6 Warning about plastic or
foam-backed tablecloths. Using a plain plastic or foam-backed plastic tablecloth directly
on a wood table with a finish can ruin the table. The plastic or foam can stick to the
finish and pulling up a plastic tablecloth that has been there awhile can just pull the
finish off the table in patches. In this case, the remedy is to refinish the table. Only
use plastic cloths with fabric backing on your finished wood tables, or put a
sheet or cloth over the table first. **Also beware of those VHS & Audio tape cabinets
& the like. Some "chemical" in the "composition/rubber" feet on
the bottom of those cabinets can eventually eat right through the finish of your
furniture, leaving permanent circular "dents." It can do the same thing to some
"artificial wood" finishes. These "feet" are supposed to protect
your furniture...ha! Glue felt on them.
Tip 7 Tired of your wallpaper? You can
paint over old wallpaper, but you need to apply a primer before painting over it.
Wallpaper primer is sold at most hardware stores. Painting over wallpaper is faster and
easier than removing the wallpaper and repairing the walls, and heavily textured paper can
have a nice effect when painted.
Tip 8 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.
Tip 9 To clean a toilet, drop in two
Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and
effervescent action clean vitreous china.
Tip 10 To determine whether an egg is
fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it
rises to the surface, throw it away. Is an egg raw or hardboiled? Spin it. If it spins
fast & stays in one place, it's hard-boiled. A raw egg will wobble.
Tip 11 Spray your Tupperware with
nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces and there will not be any
stains.
Tip 12 To remove raw onion odor from your
hands, rub your hands back and forth over your metal kitchen faucet. ~ Judith
Tip 13 It is said that ants will never
cross a chalk line. Draw a chalk line on the floor or sidewalk or wherever ants tend to
march. Try powdered chalk for less permanence. Baby powder is said to work, also.
Tip 14 To remove a stain from the bottom
of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Also
vinegar & water will remove it if it is calcium/lime build-up.
Tip 15 To polish jewelry, drop two
Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Tip 16 Beware of pressure washers. They
are powerful enough to force water under the siding where it may encourage mildew and rot.
Power washing is a job for a pro.
Tip 17 Clean the lint from your entire
clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to the exterior vent cap. Lint is extremely
flammable and poses a great fire risk. If that is not dangerous enough for you, if a gas
clothes dryer is not properly vented, it can force carbon monoxide back into your home and
that can be deadly.
Tip 18 Clean your ice-makers. Debris on
or around the condenser coils prevents them from cooling and will cause the condenser to
work harder. This not only wastes energy, it will shorten the life of your ice-maker.
Tip 19 If you own a pool, switching to an
energy-efficient pump that uses less power conserves energy. The initial cost is higher
than a standard pump, but an energy-efficient model will pay for itself in the long run.
Check with your power company. They may offer a rebate, helping to defray the initial
cost.
Tip 20 To unclog a kitchen sink with a
plunger if you have a dishwasher. Most built-in dishwashers have an anti-siphon valve (the
metal cylinder next to the faucet) that will prevent a plunger from producing the proper
suction and pressure needed. You need to block the anti-siphon valve. Find the rubber hose
that goes from the valve to the drain or garbage disposal and pinch or kink the hose so
that air cannot pass through it. Once that is done you are ready to use the plunger.
Tip 21 Central Air Conditioning: Keep the
outdoor condenser unit free of debris at all times. Anything obstructing the unit will
keep it from dissipating heat, making the unit work harder. This wastes both energy and
money. Clean or change the filter once a month. Once a year clean the indoor coil, brush
and vacuum the fan blades and fan enclosure area, and clean the drain line. Stay cool
efficiently!
Tip 22 Care of Window Air Conditioner
Units. Clean the air filter once a month while in use. Clean the exterior fins once a
year, being careful not to bend them. If you find bent fins, your hardware store has a
tool for straightening them. On off-season, keep the portion on the outside covered.
Tip 23 When filling holes in drywall with
spackling compound or waterbase filler, wet the drywall area around the hole first. Wipe
away excess. Apply the filler. This will minimize the drywall from absorbing the moisture
from the filler, causing shrinkage of the filler away from the edges of the hole because
the filler is drying too fast.
Tip 24 To remove dried on food from
inside your microwave, boil some water in a bowl for a couple of minutes. The steam
loosens the dried on food.
Tip 25 Ants dislike peppermint in any
way, shape, or form. Plant peppermint in your yard, especially around the doorways.
Dehydrate some & sprinkle in cabinet corners. Use Dr. Bronner Peppermint Soap as a
spray. Dilute with water until you can still just smell the peppermint.
Tip 26 Get rid of fleas once and for all.
A pest control company insider tip. Mix together 2 cups of salt and 2 cups of borax powder
(available at most hardware stores). Place the mixture in a coffee can with holes
punctured in the top. Sprinkle it on your carpet and brush it in a little with a broom to
get it down into the nap. Leave for 48 hours before vacuuming. One application works for
years. Put a few moth balls in your vacuum bag the next time you vacuum. This will kill
off any remaining live eggs in your vacuum. Use a flea comb to get the fleas off of your
pet. Place a cedar chip pillow in your pet bed or basket.
Tip 27 For cockroaches, use bay leaves in
corners and any place that is dark, such as under sinks, under the fridge, or any place
you suspect they are hiding. They die and will not return.
Tip 28 Moths. Dislike like the smell of
mothballs? Take a long strip of No Bugs M'Lady shelf paper, (twice the length of your
garment). Cut a small hole in the middle for the hanger hook & drape this over your
woolen garment. Then place in a plastic garment bag, or free plastic bag from the
cleaners. ~ Linda
Where to find it: Check for this item at drugstores like Rite Aid, etc. or order
it online here: No Bugs M'Lady
Tip 29 Splinter removal. First try a
piece of scotch tape or duct tape if you have it (stickier). If that does not work, place
a drop of white glue, spread it around the splinter. Make sure it gets at the base of the
splinter. Let it dry, then peel the glue off.
Tip 30 To remove wrinkles from a
flannel-backed plastic tablecloth. Iron with a steam iron at warm setting, on the FLANNEL
side only, or place in dryer at lowest setting with 2-3 damp towels. Check frequently.
Remove and lay flat until cool.
Tip 31 Trash bag tip. Store the roll of
trash bags in the bottom of the trash can. Open the first bag, leaving the rest attached.
When full, lift the bag out, ripping it off from the next bag still attached to the
bottom, and drape it over the edge of the can. Neat trick! ~ J
Tip 32 Wad up a sheet of scented
fabric softener & stick it in the center of your toilet paper cardboard tube before
attaching to the TP holder.
Tip 33: Cut off the tops of cotton socks,
fold over once to create a "cuff." Put on your wrists when washing & rinsing
your face, or other similar activities to keep water from running down your forearms to
your elbows. ~ J
Tip 34 When to prune a poinsettia:
Prune your poinsettia to about 8 inches high in late March or early April. By the end of
May you should see hardy new growth. Prune during the summer months to keep the plant
bushy and compact. Do not prune your poinsettia after September 1. |
