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. 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. ~ Judith
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.
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. 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
Note: Check for this item at drugstores like Rite Aid, etc. We found it online at: The Fruit Fly Shop
- San Diego, CA 92138. (We are not affiliated with this company).
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 |
