1. To cut down on pet shedding in the house, staple strips of Velcro around the pet's flexible door. When the animal brushes against the strips, loose hair will stay behind.
2. Use a wading pool, lined with newspapers, as a kennel for new puppies or kittens. The mother can reach them, it's waterproof and the sides are high enough to keep them in---for awhile!
3. Use vinegar to get animal urine stains out of carpet. Blot up as much of the puddle as possible. Flush with several applications of clean, lukewarm water. Then apply a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and cool water. Blot up excess liquid, rinse with clear water, let the spot dry. If stain remains, apply vinegar solution and allow to remain on the stain for about 15 minutes. Blot up, rinse, and dry.
4. Remove stubborn smells from hands with toothpaste--it even works on fishy smells!
5. Line a sieve with a coffee filter when straining oil after deep-fat frying.
6. To stabilize fabric when doing machine embroidery, place a filter on the wrong side of the material and stitch as usual. When the piece is completed, trim away excess paper.
7. Give outdoor treats to toddlers in a coffee filter, you won't worry about lost or broken dishes!
8. Use coffee filters to cover bowls or small dishes in the microwave - no splatters!
9. Make odor eaters for tennis shoes by filling the feet of knee-high hose with kitty litter, tie the ends, and leave in shoes overnight.
10. Keep a large bag of kitty litter in your car during the winter, and sprinkle litter generously around tires of a car stuck in the snow to give traction.
11. Kitty litter is a good covering for the bottom of rabbit, gerbil or hamster cages to keep them odor-free.
12. To remove badly matted fur on long hair cats, use a seam ripper to loosen the matted hair before brushing.
13. To prevent matted hair: Brush fuller's earth or talcum powder into the fur; immediately brush it off.
14. To remove skunk odor if your pet gets sprayed Combine 1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (available at pharmacy) 1/4 cup baking soda 1 teaspoon liquid soap (such as Ivory) Apply to pet and rinse in clean water Note: this preparation causes a chemical reaction that removes the odor. It can NOT be made in advance or stored. If placed in a closed container it will explode.
15. 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.
16. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy. I also have a wonderful under the cabinet lid opener and a hand held one given me by a friend.
18. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
19. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
20. 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.
21. Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
22. 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.

Alka Seltzer

1. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
2. 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.
3. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
4. 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).
5. 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.