Household tips info

HOUSEHOLD TIPS

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

ANTS

To prevent ants from coming in the house, sprinkle dried mint or red pepper where they can enter, or around foundation.

To kill ants, use a 50/50 mix of borax and confectioners’ sugar. Place mixture on cardboard near ant hills or infested areas.

Leave a melon pieces in the yard away from house, they will be drawn to the melon not your home.

Sprinkle tansy leaves in the covers of your kitchen and windowsills it will repel 100%.

To keep ants from getting in your potted plants, just place lard, Vaseline, butter etc.. around the base.

Put a bowl of cream of wheat where the ants can easily reach it, after they eat it, the cereal will expand and the ants will explode.

Fresh mint will send ants packing.

APHIDS

Mix 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 4 drops of ivory soap and 1 quart water into spray bottle, and spray plants from top to bottom.

To keep them off your roses, mix tobacco, powdered garlic and compost, mix into the soil at the bases of the roses bushes.

Boil a pint of water with the grated rind of 1 lemon, let it steep overnight, strain and put into spray bottle. Spray plants.

APPLIANCES

Keep white appliances white and prevent yellowing, by using a mixture of ½ cup bleach, 8 cups water and ½ cup baking soda to wash, then rinse. Then rinse again with 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice, buff and shine.

To keep stainless steel appliances free of fingerprints, try wiping surface with baby oil, rinse with club soda.

AUTOMOBILES

To control odors, place fabric-softener sheets under seats.

Clean windshield with baking soda and water.

White vinegar will remove grease film and give a streak free shine.

Remove tar with linseed oil or olive oil.

To remove bumper stickers by heating the sticker with blow-dryer and use credit card to peel up. Remove residue with nail polish remover.

Homemade car wax: 1 cup carnauba wax, 1 cup beeswax and ¼ cup olive oil. Melt together and put in a tin.

B

BABY

To wash/ disinfect rattles and teethers use the dishwasher.

BANANA

If bananas are ripe, place them in the refrigerator. The skin will darken but they will be good for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze bananas in chucks for smoothies.

Over ripe bananas are perfect for banana bread. You can mash and measure into bags for later use. Just freeze and use when you’re ready to bake.

BEES/WASP/YELLOW JACKETS

To catch yellow jackets, place a 2 liter bottle of sweet soda (half full) out they will go in and not come out.

If you are being chased run in a zig zag manner to confuse them.

A dish of pet food will attract them.

Do not wear perfumes around bees.

Wasps are attracted to yellow light.

Use spray insulation foam to eliminate the nest ( only do this at night and be careful).

BEE STING

Scrap stinger out with credit card

To draw out stinger, use paste of baking soda and water or Epsom salt and water.

BICYCLE

Store your bike on a wall, great storage and a work of art.

BLOOD

For fresh bloodstains, apply foamy shaving cream immediately and rinse off.

For stubborn bloodstains, make a paste of meat tenderizer and water. Apply to the stain, let it dry and vacuum.

For bloodstains, try hydrogen peroxide and rinse with cold water.

BOOTS

Stuff boots with newspaper to keep their shape and absorb odor.

BRASS

Use a mixture of lemon juice and salt, wipe until clean then rinse and dry.

BRONZE FITTINGS

Buff with, brown shoe polish

To clean, wipe with a little boiled linseed oil.

BROOM

Screw a magnet into the broom handle about halfway down and you can store it stuck to the side of refrigerator.

BOOKS

Use soft white bread to clean books.

To clean, use art gum eraser gently

BUBBLE FUN

Mix half water and half mild dishwashing liquid to make the perfect bubbles solution. Dip different rings and shapes into solution and have hours of fun with the kids.

BUG DETER

Apply undiluted white vinegar to skin with cotton ball, they ate the taste and the vinegar odor disappears quickly.

BURNED FOOD SMELL

Boil of few lemons in a pan to clear the air of the smell of burned foods.

C

CACTUS

Use old carpet scraps to help hold cactus when replanting.

CARE LABEL TIPS

Keep a file or log of any labels removed from garments, fabrics and furniture. This will assist you, if you must remove stains at a later time.

Read labels before cleaning any garment or item in your home to prevent causing damage.

CARPET/RUGS

To remove red pop or Kool-Aid, use club soda and blot. If that doesn’t work use hydrogen peroxide or undiluted lemon juice, let it soak 15 minutes and blot. Be careful not to lighten your carpet.

To remove red wine, pour salt over stain and follow it with club soda.

To remove mud, cover it with baking soda, let dry and vacuum.

To remove coffee and tea, first blot up as much as possible then use club soda, and blot. If stain is still visible try hydrogen peroxide.

To remove tar, work glycerin (available at drugstores in hand cream section) into spot, soak 30-60 minutes. In a lifting motion use paper towels to remove spot.

To remove candle wax, put ice in plastic bag and let it freeze, then pick off all the wax you can. Next lay a brown paper bag over wax and press with hot iron. Move the paper as it absorbs the wax.

To remove soot, sprinkle with salt, wait 2 hours then vacuum.

To remove gum, freeze with a bag of ice, and chip off what you can. Next work a little petroleum jelly into the gum and scrap up.

To remove glue, use undiluted white vinegar, work in an upward motion to remove.

To remove ink, spray hair spray and blot or blot with rubbing alcohol.

General carpet cleaner: 1/3 cup soap flakes, 3 ½ cups boiling water, 2 teaspoons washing soda, 6 drop vanilla essential oil, 6 drop peppermint or wintergreen essential oil.

Dry carpet cleaner: ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup cornstarch and 6 drops of your favorite essential oil.

CELERY

To crisp up limp celery, put in cold water

Don’t throw away soft celery, cut it up and freeze it for soups.

CERAMIC SINK

To remove greenish marks, wet cloth with white vinegar and dip it in salt, rub and rinse.

CHILDRENS IDEALS

Make a garden of their own, their size. So, they can see where food comes from.

Have patio/lawn furniture their size.

Safety while on outings, always have a meeting place or plan if they get lost. Get a whistle on a necklace, they can blow if lost.

Keep a current picture on hand always.

Make sure your child is finger printed.

Keep an activity bag packed with crayons, books, small toys, coloring book, snacks, stuffed animal, small blanket and juice box. So they are always entertained.

Include children in cooking and preparing food. They will be more willing to eat what they made.

Emergency kit: current pictures, finger print cards, names, address and phone numbers of friends. Hopefully you will never need it, but in case. It’s better to be prepared.

CHOCOLATE

To remove stain, place garment in cold water for 30 minutes, rub detergent into stain and rinse. Repeat as needed.

CLAMS

When soaking clams, add ¼ cup of cornmeal to the water. The irritated clams should get rid of any sand or grit with the cornmeal.

COCKROACHES

To keep out of the cupboards, place bay leaves on the shelves.

To Kill cockroaches, use a mixture of 1/3 borax, 1/3 cornmeal, 1/3 flour and a dash of powdered sugar. Sprinkle mixture anywhere they like to hide.

To kill, use a mixture of borax, powder sugar, cocoa powder and salt, sprinkle anywhere they are.

Use catnip to repel cockroaches.

COFFEE FILTERS

Use to cover bowls and food in the microwave.

Grab one to clean windows, mirrors or silver polish.

Place between plates, saucers, good china, between non-stick pan to prevent starches.

COFFEEMAKER

To clean fill reservoir up with undiluted white vinegar, run through. Then run water through to rinse.

To clean glass coffee pot. Use lemon and salt scrub and rinse with hot water.

To clean, fill reservoir with hot water and add regular denture tablet to it, run through a cycle, then repeat with clean water.

COUNTERTOPS

For stains massage a paste of cream of tartar and lemon juice into stain, let it soak, then rinse.

To clean, fill spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and 1 teaspoon of salt, shake well to dissolve salt. You can use lemon juice instead of vinegar.

To clean, use paste of baking soda and water or lemon juice, rub, leave on 15 minutes, then rinse clean.

For bacteria prevention, wipe countertops with white vinegar.

COMPOST

To cut down on odor, place dry or brown material, like straw, dried grass or dried leaves.

Add a large bottle of cola to compose once a week, and turn often. This should decompose material faster.

Place a 2 inch PVC pipe into your compose pile, it will ventilate it and make it easy to add water if needed.

CONCRETE

To clean up oily spills, use cat litter.

COOLER

To eliminate odor, put baking soda inside after use, and before storing. Dump and rinse before using.

COOKIES

Use a large melon ball scooper, so all the cookies are the same size.

Holiday cookie cutters make cute napkin rings.

When you make cookies, make a double batch and freeze one for later.

Use plastic fork to make crisscrosses, so it doesn’t stick.

To cut calories use smaller chips.

CORKS

Use them to protect points of knives, ice picks and knitting needles.

Color for craft projects

They can hold safety pins, pins and thumbtacks.

Place at bottom of planters, to help drainage.

COLD SORE

Rub cold sore with raw garlic to keep it at bay.

COPPER

Rub with ketchup or Worcestershire sauce until clean, then rinse and dry.

To clean a discolored copper pot, use a paste of 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon floor. Then wash, rinse and buff.

CRAYON

To remove from hard surfaces, use baking soda and a damp rag.

CROME

Equal parts white vinegar and hot water.

Rub with a dry used fabric -softener sheet.

To buff and shine use lemon juice.

D

DECK

To kill mildew/mold, use 1 part bleach to 1 part hot water. Spray on areas affected and scrub with brush, let it soak for 15 minutes then hose off.

To clean decking, use ¼ cup of any household cleaner, 1 gallon of hot water, 1 tablespoon dish liquid and ½ cup of borax. Mop the deck down and rinse well.

To remove sap, apply mineral spirits to old rag, scrub and rinse off.

To clean moss, use apple cider vinegar.

DENTAL FLOSS

String beads for necklaces.

Sew on buttons.

Cuts cake layers.

Lace up chickens, turkeys and hens.

Household repairs

DISHWASHER

To clean dishwasher but a bowl of vinegar on bottom shelf and run a full cycle.

For odor scrub with borax and water and run full cycle.

Add 3 tablespoon of white vinegar to hot water with regular dishwashing liquid to cut grease on dishes and crystal.

To rid those yellow stains, add a package of orange or lemon crystals (the kind you make drinks from) to empty dishwasher and allow to wash and rinse cycle to complete.

To rid yellow stains, rub inside with mineral oil, then run it through a full cycle.

To eliminate odor, run wash cycle for 30 seconds, then add 1 cup of baking soda to the bottom of washer, let stand for one night, then run full cycle.

DOWN/FEATHERED FILLED COMFORTERS AND PILLOWS

To remove musty odor, put items in dryer with tennis ball and fabric sheet, using air but no heat.

DUST

Use lamb wool dusters attract dust.

To keep dust off blinds, refrigerators and glass-top tables, mix a solution of 1 part liquid fabric softener to 4 parts water. Spray on and this will repel the dust.

Use cornstarch to remove extra furniture polish and wipe off fingerprints on wood furniture. Shake a little of the surface and polish with a soft cloth.

E

EYE GLASSES

Use coffee filters to clean lenses

F

FINGERNAILS

Superglue can fix a chip or tear. Once dry file down and cover with polish.

Repair runs in stockings with clear polish.

Mend small holes in screens with clear polish.

To keep fingernails clean, dig fingernails into bar of soap before messy chores like potting plants. The dirt will wash right off.

FIREPLACE

Burn pine cone in the fireplace, keep screen up because the can spark.

Line fireplace with foil, for easy ash clean up.

FISH

To eliminate fishy smell from hands, apply lemon or lime juice to hands, then wash with soap.

FLASHLIGHT

Put a strip of glow in the dark tape on flashlight, so you can find it when the lights go out.

FLEAS

Wash dog houses with salt water.

Scatter fresh pine or cedar shavings under pets sleeping pad.

Wash your pet with green soap, fleas supposedly don’t like the dye that turns soap green.

FLOWERS

Keep cut flowers fresh longer with a solution of 1 quart water, 2 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon sugar.

When watering hanging-plants use ice cubes, they melt slow avoided water leaking on floor.

To remove stains, sponge stain with 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water and rinse. Also, can use mild detergent. Repeat as needed.

FRUIT

To clean, rinse with a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part cold water.

To remove berry stains, soak cold water 30minutes, solutions you can use are white vinegar, baking soda paste, hydrogen peroxide and detergent. Rub into to stain and rinse. Repeat as needed.

FREEZER

To eliminate odor, place fresh bread in freezer and leave it there for 3 days.

FURNITURE

Keep leather furniture clean with saddle soap, glycerin soap or dove soap, then dry.

Use paste wax to seal, clean and polish leather table or tabletop.

Homemade furniture polish: 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/3 cup turpentine, 1/3 boiled linseed oil, add 4 teaspoons of almond extract for pleasant fragrance. Bottle it and shake well before use.

Homemade polish: 3 parts olive oil and 1 part lemon oil.

Apply polish with a damp cloth, it will go on a lot easier.

G

GARGLES FOR SORE THROAT

Warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt added to 1 cup warm water)

Hot Toddy (2oz bourdon or whiskey, 1 tablespoon honey, 4 oz hot water, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon, gargle or drink)

Apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 cup hot water)

Cayenne (1 teaspoon cayenne, 1 cup boiling water, 1 tablespoon honey, gargle or drink)

Baking Soda (1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 baking soda, hot water, gargle)

Honeysuckle (2 cups fresh honeysuckle flowers and leaves, 1 quart water, boil 10minutes, stain, add honey, fresh lemon, gargle)

Pomegranate (1 pomegranate, 4 cup water, boil rinds 15mintues, gargle or drink)

Mix and Match to make gargles

Salt: It draws the water out of your swollen mucus membranes, reducing swelling and pain.

Honey: Comforting and soothing honey helps coat the throat when it is dry, scratchy and painful. It also kills bacteria. It should not be given to children under 2 years of age.

Lemon: Cuts through unwanted mucus, kills bacteria, and can help dull the pain in sore spots. Often used with honey.

Apple Cider Vinegar: It’s a major germ-buster, and while it may seem counter-intuitive, ACV can really help relieve your sore throat.

Baking Soda: Due to its PH levels it can help soothe minor skin irritations, and also helps rid your body of bad bacteria that could be lurking about and making things worse.

GARAGE DISPOSAL

To clean, Mix 1 cup of baking soda and 3 inches of water. Drain with disposal running.

To clean and freshen up, cut up a lemon into pieces and drop in, then turn on.

To eliminate odor, add 3 tablespoons of vanilla essence (or another scent).

To eliminate odor, freeze vinegar and water into cubes, then run cubes through disposal.

To eliminate odor, place a few drop of essential oil (scent of your choice) into disposal.

GARLIC

To eliminate smell, boil some white vinegar in a container on the stove, should cut down smell of garlic.

GARDEN

Keep pets out of your garden, by sprinkling coarse black pepper in the garden bed.

Natural fertilizers:

Mix 1 gallon cow and chicken manure together, let it sit for 30days someplace warm. Pour the liquid into large container and mix with enough water to turn light brown. Use this to water plants three times a year.

Mix 2 cups coffee grounds, ½ cup bone meal, ½ cup wood ash in plastic bucket, sprinkle shrubs and perennials.

GLASSWARE

To remove stubborn stains, soak in solution of 1 part salt to 8 parts white vinegar, rub gently if needed, rinse well and dry.

To remove white film, try laying potato peels on stains overnight, rinse well.

To clean crystal, use solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 part warm water, wash and let air-dry.

GOLD

To clean, use non-gel toothpaste and a small soft brush, rub and rinse well.

To clean, use paste of cigarette ash and water, rinse and buff.

GREASE

To remove stain, gently rub talcum powder, cornmeal or cornstarch into stain and let set, rinse. Then wash with detergent until stain is gone.

GRILL

Prevent food sticking to grill by spraying it with non-stick spray.

To clean the grill surface, wrap with foil and heat on high for 10 minutes, afterwards the old drippings will fall right off.

Keep a container of salt near the grill, so if grease splatters put salt on top to soak up grease.

GUM REMOVEL

Rub a small amount of peanut butter on gum, and the gum should slide off.

Rub with ice to harden gum and scrap off

Place wax paper over excess gum and iron lightly over wax paper, changing paper as the gum sticks to it.

H

HAND PRODUCTS

Remove stains from hands with lemon juice.

I

INSECTICIDES

Fill a mason jar with marigold flowers and leaves, 4 mashed garlic gloves, cover with boiling water, let solution cool then strain. Add ¼ cup dishwashing liquid. Pour solution into spray bottle and soak down plants. (helps with aphids, beetles and squash bugs).

Mix 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil in spray bottle. Apply to vegetables as needed.

IRON

To unclog the vent holes, use a pipe cleaner.

To clean the inside, use a mixture of white vinegar and water, steam and let sit for 15minutes, then rinse with clean water.

To keep the iron board cover clean, spray the cover all over with starch and iron the starch in well.

J

JEANS

To prevent fading: before the first washing, help set the color by soaking them in a few gallons of water containing either 1 box of salt or 1 gallon vinegar-not both.

K

L

LAMP SHADES

To clean, dunk shade into a tub of sudsy water ( mild dish washing soap), rinse by dunking in clean water. Let air dry or use hair dryer.

LAWN

Keep animals from leaving deposits on your lawn, by spraying problem areas with a mixture of water, cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce.

LEATHER APPAREL

To remove water spots, rub a ball of fresh bread over spot until gone.

To remove salt stains, dab a solution of 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part water, then dry.

To remove ink stains, use cuticle remover, dab it on spot and rub gently with soft cloth, wipe and buff.

To remove dark spots from light colored leather, dab a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar, massage in and wipe with damp cloth.

To remove mildew, apply a coat of petroleum jelly, allow it to sit for 5 hours, then rub off.

Making your own HIDE FOOD by mixing 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts linseed oil in a jar with lid. Shake well and apply to leather with soft cloth. Make sure to buff well after using hide food on leather.

LEMONS

Get more juice from the lemon by microwaving for 30seconds before squeezing.

LETTUCE (WILTED)

Put lettuce in a bowl of cool water with a few slices of lemon or some lemon juice, and put bowl in fridge for an hour.

LIPSTICK

To remove lipstick stain, spray with hairspray and rub with bar of hand soap or laundry soap, then laundry as usual.

LUGGAGE

To help locate your luggage, ties a bright color ribbon or rope to bag.

Keep musky odor out of luggage by placing fabric sheet inside, while not in use.

M

MARBLE

To clean use a soft cloth with a mild soap and warm water.

To remove spots, use borax or baking soda

To clean use, 1 part fabric softener to 2 parts warm water.

To restore old marble, cut up 4 bars of ivory soap or grate it, and dissolve it in hot water until you have a thick consistency. Paint this on the marble and let it sit for a week, if it starts to dry out just add some water to it. After the week rinse the solution off and dry with soft cloth.

to remove unknown stains, use a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and some cream of tartar and rub with soft cloth until removed.

MICROWAVE

Fill a bowl with water and fresh lemon slices or lemon juice. Run for 5 minutes. The stream will loosen and deodorize. Then simply wipe clean.

MIRRORS

To clean hairspray, wipe mirror down with rubbing alcohol.

Use newspaper to clean without streaks.

MOLD/MILDEW

To make a mildew treatment, 1 quart of chlorine bleach, tablespoon of laundry detergent and 3 quarts of warm water. Spray solution and scrub area until the discoloration is gone and rinse clean. Use protective gloves, mask and googles.

MOTHBALL

To eliminate odor, spray evergreen-scented spray and leave items in fresh air for a day.

MOSQUITOES

Place catnip in sachets to repel mosquitoes.

Place fresh basil in muslin bags and place them around the house and porch.

Plant lemon grass, castor bean plants, bamboo plants, tomato, basil, germanium, citrosa, lemon thyme and eucalyptus around the yard and garden to repel.

Place a bat house in your yard, bats eat them.

Place birdhouses around your garden, birds will decrease the population.

Bounce fabric sheets repel

Device called a Mosquito Magnet, uses propane and keeps them 100% away.

N

NAILS

Use a magnet to up pick nails/screws.

O

ONIONS

To remove onion smell from your hands, simply take hold of a stainless-steel spoon and while holding the spoon, run your hand under cold water for 30 seconds. The smell will vanish.

To prevent eyes from watering, put onion in freezer for 30 minutes, before cutting.

To eliminate odor from hands, work a little salt into hands and wash.

P

PAINT

To store a paintbrush during a project, place in a plastic bag and place in the freezer.

To protect hardware from paint, coving with petroleum jelly, if paint splashes it can be easily wiped off.

To clean oil-based paints off hands, use vegetable oil.

When you are done painting a room, label the can so you know which room it came from.

To cut smell in oil-based paints, stir a spoonful of vanilla extract into each can of paint.

When tiny spots need paint touch ups, use a cotton swab

To keep paintbrushes soft, rinse them with a solution of fabric softener and water.

PASTA

To end boil overs and pasta sticking to the bottom of the pan: grease the pot or spray the pan with non-stick spray before putting the water into boil.

Add a pinch of salt and a bit of olive oil when you first boil the water, then add pasta. To prevent pasta sticking together.

PATENT LEATHER SHOES

To shine rub petroleum jelly with soft clothes and buff.

PERSPIRATION

To remove stain, place garment in a bucket of warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup salt. Soak for a 1 hour, and wash.

PETS

To remove pet hair from fabric: dampen sponge and wipe over furniture, using tape, wipe with a used fabric-softener sheet.

To keep cats out of your indoor plants, place a cotton ball dipped in oil of clove right below soil line.

To keep animals from eating indoor plants spray them with a product called Bitter Apple, it’s safe for everybody.

To keep fleas out of doghouse, sprinkle salt in the crevices.

Skunk bath: 1 box baking soda, juice of 1 lemon, 1 cup vinegar, 6 drops of vanilla essential oil and small amount of shampoo. Mix in large bowl, then pour in tub of warm water. Repeat as needed.

Flea and tick repellent bath: 1 cup liquid castile soap, 2 cups warm water and 3 drops of each citronella, thyme, rosemary and cedarwood oil. Mix together and wash twice and rinse.

To repel insects, Mix ½ cup distilled water and 24 drop lavender essential oil in spray bottle. Spray on cats and dogs to repel flies, gnats and fleas. (avoid eyes)

PEWTER

To clean, rub with a paste made of cigarette ash and olive oil. Buff well.

To clean, use outer leaves of a head of cabbage to rub pewter clean, rinse and buff.

PIMPLE

Use a dab a toothpaste to dry the pimple right up.

PIZZA CUTTER

Will cut pancakes, waffles and any other soft foods.

Great for cutting homemade noodles.

PORCELAIN TUB/SINK/TOILET

To polish and remove stains make paste of powdered alum, lemon and water.

To clean use borax and water.

To remove rust, try rubbing area with automotive rubbing compound on a cloth.

POTS/PANS

To remove residue from aluminum pots, pour in ½ cup white vinegar and ½ cup hot water, let soak for 3 hours, then wash.

To remove stains from nonstick finishes, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, ½ cup bleach and 1 cup water, boil for 10 minutes, wash and dry, then rub a little vegetable oil on the surface.

To remove caked-on food from pans and baking sheets, pour in a little hot water and add denture tablet, soak overnight and wipe off the next day.

To save scorched pans, cover bottom of pan with baking soda and 1 ½ cups water, soak overnight, use plastic or wood utensil to scrap clean, wash and dry.

To clean a copper bottom, use a mixture of salt and vinegar or salt and lemon juice, rub lightly and wash.

To clean wok, wipe with damp cloth, then rub down with vegetable oil.

To clean glass baking dishes, use baking soda and damp cloth, use a little salt for tougher jobs, wash and dry.

PLASTIC CONTAINERS

To remove odor, fill with water and ½ teaspoon of dry mustard, let soak for an hour, then rinse.

For stains use lemons juice, scrub but in sunlight and rinse.

PLUGGED DRAINS

Pour 1 cup of salt (any kind) and 1 cup baking soda down the drain. Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. For best result, don’t use for a few hours.

To keep drains free flowing, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1 cup white vinegar, once fizzing and bubbling stops, follow with kettle of boiling water.

To unplug drain, try pouring 2 or 3 cans of coke cola down the drain.

POT HOLDERS

Spray pot holders with spray starch to help prevent grease stains, reapply after each wash.

Q

R

REFRIGERATOR

Use white vinegar to wipe down inside, to clean and prevent mildew.

Dab cotton with peppermint, orange, lemon or vanilla to keep refrigerator smelling fresh.

Place an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors. (replace every 3 months)

To keep fresh, use a mixture of club soda and a little salt, apply with soft cloth.

For tougher cleaning jobs, use a paste of baking soda and water, scrub and rinse.

Line shelves with plastic place mats to make cleaning spill easier.

RECIPE CARDS

Use a photo book with plastic holders, to place recipes cards in.

RING AROUND THE COLLAR

Rub ring with hair shampoo or detergent, let soak for 30 minutes, rinse and repeat.

RODENTS

Keep critters out of your garbage cans, by soaking a rag in ammonia and tie it to the handles and the lid.

Keep yard clean and garbage stored properly.

Use dried peppermint, peppermint essential oil or peppermint teas to banish mice/rats/spiders. Place peppermint around in corners, holes anywhere needed.

RUST

Remove rust from baking pans by rubbing with cleanser and cut raw potatoes.

Remove rust by rubbing a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then rise and polish.

Remove rust from utensils by sticking them in an onion, let the juice do its job.

RUST ON CLOTHING

Apply undiluted lemon juice to rust and lay in the sun, it will disappear.

Apply cream of tartar to rust spot, and dip in hot water, soak for 5 minutes, and wash.

S

SCORCHED PAN

Fill with water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda, boil until scorched parts float to top, then wash.

SHOES

To eliminate shoe odor, place baking soda in shoe, place in plastic bag, place in freezing overnight, then remove from freezing, dump out extra baking soda.

To remove salt stains off leather boots/shoes, cut onion in half and rub away.

SHOWER

To clean, use solution of white vinegar and warm water, rinse well.

To clean, use a paste made from baking soda, lemon juice and hot water.

SILVER

Put strips of aluminum foil in large bowl, place silver items on top, cover the silver with boiling water and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Soak 10 minutes, rinse and dry.

To polish silver use dry baking soda on damp cloth

Keep a few sticks of chalk in drawer to prevent tarnish.

SLEEPING BAG

To prevent musky odor, place fabric sheets inside bag before storing.

SOAP SCUM

Lemon oil or plain mineral oil will remove it quickly and easy. This will also help it from returning.

Warm white vinegar and put in spray bottle, spray on and let soak for 20minutes, scrub and rinse as needed.

SKUNK ODOR

Wash with vinegar or tomato juice.

SPICE BOTTLES (EMPTY)

Fill with cinnamon and sugar

Use as tooth pick holder

Store glitter for crafts

Mix your own spice blends

Fill with your own dried spices/herbs

SPLINTER REMOVAL

Apply a thin layer of white glue over the splinter, spread around the area and let dry. Then peel off the glue, and off comes the splinter.

Use duct take to grab the splinter.

Use paste of baking soda and water, to draw out splinter.

Use drawing out salve, can be bought at drugstores.

Use a paste of Epsom salt and water to draw out splinter.

SPIDERS

Place hedgeapples around the house or anywhere spiders are. They repel all types of spiders.

Place cedar chips in pantyhose and hang in rooms.

Sprinkle pennyroyal in area that spiders frequent and they will never come back.

Fresh shelled chestnuts repels spiders.

SPOTS/SPILLS

Use club soda to remove red wine, coffee, pop, Kool-Aid and other spills. Pour club soda on spill and blot with old rag until stain is removed.

STAINLESS STEEL SINK

Clean with a paste of baking soda and water paste, then rinse with hot water.

To polish use a tablespoon of dry flour, rub with soft cloth, rinse and dry.

To remove rust and water spots use white vinegar, scrub and rinse.

For stains try 3 parts of cream of tartar to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, apply to stains, let dry, scrub and rinse.

To shine rub sink with a few drops of lemon, almond or baby oil, wipe off with paper towels. Repeat as needed.

STOVE

To clean window, use a paste of baking soda and water, coat window and allow to soak for 15 minutes or until dry. Then rub off with clean water.

SUN BURNS

apply aloe to take the burn out

Use a thin layer of plain yogurt to take the sting out.

SUGAR

Make colored sugar, by adding a few drop of food coloring in a glass bowl. Mix well and let dry. Store in air-tight containers for cookies and cakes.

T

TAR

To remove tar, use olive oil.

TERMITES

Use (DE) diatomaceous and borax in water and paint it anywhere they are and spray same mix in the crawl spaces.

Remove the effected wood and replace with new.

Vetiver and clove bud essential oils will repel termites.

THERMOS

To remove stains and odors by dropping a few denture tablets in thermos filled with warm water, let soak for 30 minutes, and rinse.

To brighten up, use warm water and 2 tablespoons of water softener, rinse well.

To remove odors, add ¼ cup salt, let sit for 2 days, rinse well.

TIES

To prevent stains, before wearing a new tie, spray it with fabric stain repellent.

TILE/GROUT

To clean, combine 2 parts baking soda, 1 part borax and 1 part hot water. Apply to tile and grout and use brush to scrub and rinse with water.

To clean, use baking soda and warm water to make paste, scrub with brush and rinse.

To clean, use solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water in spray bottle.

To cover stains on grout, use white shoe polish.

TIRES

To clean, use baking soda and water.

TOILET

To remove stains, drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets in toilet, let sit it sit overnight, then use brush to scrub then rinse.

To clean, use equal parts white vinegar to water, scrub and rinse.

To remove stains, use 1 cup borax and white vinegar, soak on the stains for 2 hours, scrub and rinse as needed.

To clean, use baking soda.

TOOLS

Rust proof storage: mixed some used motor oil with sand in bucket, and put garden tools in sand when not being used.

To store tools, use pegboard and hooks. Outline all the tools with marker so you know where each tool goes.

Paint tools bright colors, so they never get lost in the yard.

TUBS

To clean, heat white vinegar scrub and rinse with water

To clean use paste made of baking soda and water, scrub and rinse.

U

UNDERARM STAINS

Spray white vinegar on the underarms of clothes, let soak for 15-30 minutes, and wash.

Apply a paste of baking soda and water to stains, let it soak for 30 minutes prior to wash.

URINE

To remove urine stain from mattress, blot with paper towels, then sponge the stained area with a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part hot water to clean stain.

V

VACUUM

To freshen up a vacuum bag, put a handful of spiced tea, a couple drops of essential oils or herbs. Each time you vacuum your house will smell nice.

VASES

To remove stains, add 2 denture tablets to hot water, let soak for 1 hour, wash and rinse.

VEGETABLES

To wash, use solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part cold water.

To keep vegetables crisp, place a dry sponge in the drawer to absorb excess moisture and help keep vegetables fresh.

VINYL FLOORS

To clean use ½ white vinegar to 1 gallon warm water.

To clean use 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of borax. No need to rinse.

W

WALLS

For an all-purpose mark remover use art gum eraser.

Baking soda on a damp cloth to remove marks.

For a spot removal use non-gel toothpaste.

To remove crayon marks you can use a magic eraser, WD-40 spray, a little mild soap and rub in a circular motion.

To remove ink or marker, use hair spray or rubbing alcohol.

To cleanse walls, use 1 gallon warm water, ¼ cup white vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda. Wash walls with a natural sponge and rinse as needed.

WALLPAPER

Erase marks with an art gum eraser.

To remove old wallpaper, apply solution of fabric softener and water, and or steam.

Wall murals can make a small room feel larger.

WASHING MACHINES

Add ½ cup white vinegar to final rinse to soften clothes and remove lint.

WATER RINGS/MARKS

Massage mayonnaise into the marks and leave overnight, then wipe off with soft cloth.

Massage petroleum jelly, butter or margarine, wipe off with soft cloth.

WEEDS

To kill weeds in cracks of sidewalks, mix a solution of salt and boiling water, then pour on the weeds.

WICKER/RATTAN

To clean, rub wicker with stiff brush dipped in warm salt water with mild soap, the salt should prevent yellowing.

WINDOWS

Mix ¼ cup vinegar to 1 quart water in spray bottle.

WINE

To remove stain on fabric, blot the fresh spill with club soda, rinse.

WOOD FLOORS

To clean wood floors, use a brew of 1 quart of boiling water with 2 tea bags. Let it come to room temperature. Damp a soft cloth with solution to wash floor. Do not over wet the floor. This will clean the floors and cover many imperfections, buff as desired.

To fill scratches, use a crayon to match the floor. Wax crayons for floors are available at hardware stores. Work the crayon into the scratch, then heat with blow-dryer and buff with rag.

Wood floor polish: ½ cup beeswax, ¼ cup linseed oil, 2 tablespoon wheat germ oil and 1 cup turpentine. Mix in pan and bring to boil. Lower heat and stir and simmer 10 minutes, cool and store in jar.

To eliminate pet odor, use solution of ½ cup water and ½ cup white vinegar.

To eliminate squeaky wood floor, try using talcum powder. Get powder into the cracks around the squeaky area.

To fill dents in wood floors, try using clear nail polish or shellac.

WOOD POLISH

To make use ¼ cup white vinegar and 1 cup olive oil in clean container, apply with soft cloth.

To make use 1 cup mineral oil and 3 drops lemon extract, shake well before use, apply with soft cloth.

To make use 2 ounces of grated beeswax into jar and cover it with 5 ounces of natural turpentine, mix well, apply with soft cloth.

WOOD

Dab petroleum jelly on soft cloth and polish to restore dry wood.

To clean dirty wood furniture, mix a solution of 1 quart warm water and 4 drops of dishwashing liquid. Wash furniture with soft cloth, rinse and buff dry.

To erase scuff marks from furniture, rub area with furniture oil, lemon oil or almond oil, rub in and buff dry.

To remove stickers, tags, decal and price tags pull up as much as possible, then dip a cloth in vegetable oil or baby oil and gently rub the area until the adhesive is gone.

Preserve wooden bowls, by wiping with cooking oil, then wipe dry.

to clean and freshen up wooden cutting boards, rub slices of fresh lemon or lime, rinse with cold water, air dry.

To clean tough stains from wood cutting boards, use paste of baking soda and water, scrub, rinse with water and white vinegar.

To remove burns on woods, mix vegetable oil with powdered pumice to make paste. Apply to burnt area only, rubbing gently into the grain. Wipe the area clean. Also, boiled linseed oil and petroleum jelly often works well.

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