Helpful Hints

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Hi All, I got an email loaded with all these helpful hints, some I had heard of and some that were new. Thought you all might find them useful too! Kim in Indiana :-D

1) Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive. 2) Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...) 3) Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to. 4) For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (wish I had known this for the last 60 years!) 5) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!). 6) Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel. 7) Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way! 8) Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found a way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar of jam, pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I simply reach into the drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid! 9) Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! 10) Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak. 11) Spray a bit of perfume on the lightbulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on. Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen. 12) Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning. 13) To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm! 14) To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop. 15) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains. 16) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake. 17) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks. 18) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. 19) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. 20) Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. 21). To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief. 22) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself. 23) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine. 24) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily. 25) Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. * Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China. * 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 two minutes. * Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). * 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.

-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

Just want to add an addenum to #7 Re: soap pads. If you will wet the object to be scrubbed instead of wetting the soap pad they will last longer.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), November 27, 2001.


Excellent Kim! I keep all my soap scraps in an old tube sock. When a good amount has accumulated I tie them near the water hose in the front and back yard, instant soap on a rope for washing your hands. I also use this out in the barn. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

Great hints Kim!.....except #4....slippery dish detergent on the front steps?....uh....not a good idea.

-- Jason in S. Tenn. (AJAMA5@netscape.net), November 27, 2001.

Excellent tips, but what is (#20) leftover wine?! Thanks for sharing.

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

HaHaHa to Kathy, I thought the same thing when I read that one. :-D

-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), November 27, 2001.


In response to #1: When I lived in the barracks we had flies all the time (South NM), but a decided lack of hairspray. However, we did have Endust and lighters. A new Endust can will produce a flame about 6' long and a foot in diameter at the end, and flies find it difficult to get around without wings or legs. I don't imagine that would be too practical in your average house though...

-- Paul D. (pd-personal@qwest.net), November 27, 2001.

Jason I'm guessing you can dissolve the soap in low proportion to the water. Worth a try.

-- rick K (rick@notmail.com), November 27, 2001.

Another option for opening jars is a big rubber band, like you get when you buy fresh broccoli. Slip it around the outside of the lid, and it lets you get a grip on the derned thing.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), November 27, 2001.

Vicky: If you try useing hose instead of tube socks, you will find the the dirt washes out easier and doesn't accumulate.

If you are going on a camping trip or picnic, this is a nice idea for handwashing. Fill a clean milk jug with water and tie a piece of clean nylon hose with soap scraps in it to the handle. Instant outdoor handwashing faucet. Water even gets warm if you leave it in the sun.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.


1)stuff empty toilet paper cardboard rolls with the dryer lint I save, fold the ends and have fire starters 2) use alcohol to remove ink from clothing 3) put my 1/2 size SOS pad on an upturned plastic berry basket to dry between use 4) use baking soda in the kitty litter box 5) use baking soda to deodorize thermos containers and plastic containers--ad about a tablespoon (depending on size) to container and fill with warm water 6) keep baking soda in the bathroom-- mixed with cornstarch, makes an excellent deodorant powder; brush your teeth with baking soda; good for upset; stomachs; gentle cleanser for faucets and sink; add a cup to your bath water 7) keep cornstarch in the bathroom -- use for an instant dry shampoo (great for invalids) dip your fingers in box/bag run your fingers through your hair and brush out dirt and oil; use as an alternative to baby powder; 8) freeze liquid from canned fruit in ice cube trays, use in cooking, use in fruit drinks, use in party punch bowls 9) clean your refrigerator on Saturday mornings-- take the left overs, throw them in the crock pot and have leftover everything soup and a clean refrigerator 10) wash and reuse zip lock bags and aluminum foil 11) use plastic containers as often as possible, instead of zip lock bags and aluminum foil 12) get used to using cloth napkins and cloth dishtowels, reserve the paper towels for that yucky mess that has to be thrown away 13) if you do use paper towels to dry your hands -- hang them up and dry them again (unless dealing with sickness) 14) wash your windows with newspapers (black and white section only) and vinegar 15) to remove puffiness from your eyes, hold a teaspoon under cold running water, then hold against your eyes 16) prick a vitamin e capsule and rub the liquid on your hands -- swallow the capsule with the remaining vitamein e when you are done 17) when you paint a room - - write down the amount of paint you used, the color, the manufacturer and where purchased -- on the inside of a wall switch 18) check with your county recycling -- sometimes paint is recycled and offered free to those who wish to bring their own containers (little choice of colors -- as they may mix them) 19) use natural elements for floral arrangements, spray paint if you wish to modify colors 20) store doesn't have the color ribbon you want? check the sewing department for hem binding, blanket binding or rick rack 21) find boxes which have lids and cover each piece separately with wrapping paper, the box won't have to be unwrapped and can be reused 22) have a large gift to wrap?- try a seasonal paper table cloth or even inexpensive plastic tablecloths 23) contact local newspaper for end rolls of newsprint and decorate appropriately for gift wrapping 24) try using cloth and yarn to wrap a present in (especially if you wrap the lid and bottom separately 25) if you wrap a box and lid in paper to reuse the box - go one step further - cover in in clear contact paper. 26) at Christmas time you can use these decorated boxes, and then store your Christmas ornaments in them after Christmas

MissJudi (who calls herself Martha Stuart on the CHEAP)

-- MissJudi (jselig@clemson.edu), November 28, 2001.



Tis the season: Use comic strips from the newspaper instead of wrapping paper. Its free and looks good (the colored sunday comics are nicer than black and white) and gives the present reciever something to read.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), November 28, 2001.

If you knit or crochet, make a little soap sack (and run a drawstring through it to hang from the spigot or a hook) for your scraps out of the fluorescent nylon string sold at the hardware store. Easy to see and doesn't break down as fast as other fibers. Allows the soap to drain dry a little more quickly as well.

Also, I think you can leave leftover wine or champagne (lol) out to make vinegar as well--great for salad dressings.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 28, 2001.


Kim, I think they are fabulous! I have one for you. They say if you get a sliver that you can't get out without digging a trench, try cleaning it with peroide first, then wrap apiece of black electrians tape around it and it seems to draw out infections and the sliver with it. I can't say if this works or not. Perhaps it works similar to the black salve that so many of us use.

-- SANDI in NY (sgrund@in4web.com), March 30, 2002.

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