From Grumpy's Gathering Place - https://www.angelfire.com/co4/grumpynam/grumpy2nam/pages/household.html
Mail - When I open my mail it goes in one of two places...most of it goes into the trash immediately!!!! Bills of course don't....but all those inserts that come along with our bills get filed away in the trash can. The remittance stub and the return envelope goes into my mail holder for bill paying day. I throw away junk mail and sales flyers from stores I never shop from.
I'm a basket nut ..... I have two baskets on my refrigerator. One is to hold coupon flyers from the newspaper - the other to temporarily keep small junk items that I want to save but am not quite ready to put away. I also have baskets in my drawers to organize stuff, baskets under the sink to hold similar items.
Windows - the easiest way I have found to clean my windows is take a big pail and fill with very warm water...then add ONE drop of Dawn dishwashing detergent. I then take a waffle washcloth and completely soak and then wring out as much of the water as I can. I then wipe the window and follow with a cloth diaper or other lint free cloth and dry. This leaves the windows crystal clean.
Wastebaskets - for all the little wastebaskets I have throughout the house I use a hotel maids trick...I keep folded liners underneath the liner being used. That way I don't have to track down another liner after I empty the basket.
Hair - About once a week I clarify my hair with baking soda. To do this I first suds my hair with shampoo and before I rinse I use about 3 Tablespoons of baking soda and rub it into my hair. This removes all the hair spray and styling gels that have accumulated.
Counter tops & Sink - I never use those sterilizing sprays - about all they are is bleach and water. I just pour some bleach into a spray bottle and add water and spray my counter tops and sink with this solution and let set for ten minutes then wipe off. We also use this in the bathtub and shower, just spray it on and let it set and it removes mold.
Chewing gum stuck in hair - The easiest way to remove is rub with peanut butter, then wash hair.
Crayons on walls - rub an art gum eraser over the markings, it comes off pretty easily.
Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hair spray and they will take a quick dive.
Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.
Kids riding shotgun in car - At the beginning of the year I take a small calendar and use a different colored highlighting marker for each kid. I highlight a different color for each week. The kids each have their own color and know immediately who's week it is to ride up front. This has worked real well for my kids.
Toilet training a boy - Don't laugh, this really works. When I was potty-training my son we put a square of toilet paper in the bowl. I'd tell him to sink the ship. He learned to aim directly in the bowl. Wonder if this will work for husbands too?
Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords in. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to
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.
The steering wheel in my truck gets terribly cold in winter and doesn't warm up. I used regular foam pipe-wrap, taped the joins (took two pieces) then ran tape around the entire steering wheel, making my wraps about 21/2" apart. It just doesn't get cold. And it's cheap. (Thanks Joan!)
Keep that nasty dust off your TV and computer screens!!! After using your dryer sheet with your laundry, run it over your screens. The anti-static left in the dyer sheet repels dust and dirt. (Thanks Debra aka Candelrose)
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes of with little effort (elbow grease that is!). Thanks Prince Family
Permanent marker on appliances /counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) - rubbing alcohol on paper towel. Thanks Prince Family
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!
Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found a way to make it the easiest thing to do (and I don't need my fiance's help!). 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!
Tired of removing band-aids the painful way? Well, no longer must that be a problem. Simply apply a little baby oil directly on the band-aid, wait a moment for the oil to loosen it up, and viola! It will simply peel right off with no pain whatsoever.
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 ever time!
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.
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb 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.
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
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!
Occasionally cleanse hair with white vinegar to rid hair of build up of shampoo and other styling fixatives.
Instead of using the usual box of baking soda in the fridge, you can also eliminate odors by putting a piece of cotton dipped in vanilla extract. This really works!
To create a fresh, clean aroma in the washroom, place a sheet of fabric softener in the wastebasket. You can also do the same with the wastebaskets around the rest of the house, such as the one at your desk.
To prevent dust from accumulating on artificial flowers and plants, lightly spray with hair spray. This saves a lot of dusting and washing.
To make stainless steel sinks really shine, use white vinegar. The results are fantastic!
Soften your legs as you shave by using hair conditioner.
Cold tea is great food for your house plants.
Add vinegar to the water when boiling eggs as the vinegar prevents the shells from cracking.
If your nylons get a small hole in them, simply apply a thin layer of clear nail polish around the hole to prevent them from running.
Tomatoes last longer if you store them with the stems pointed down.
Have your roses last a lot longer by adding a capful of hydrogen peroxide to the water and repeat as you change the water often. Don't forget to cut the stems on a slant under running water.
For thicker, shiny hair, massage an egg into your hair for 5 minutes before rinsing and shampooing it out.
For dry hair, massage mayonnaise into your hair and leave in for up to an hour before washing it out. You can also use honey, yogurt and aloe vera gel.
Baking soda works wonders for pet odors. Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda onto the carpet and vacuum it up. Repeat every time you replace your vacuum bag.
For the best moisturizer possible, use 5 parts aloe vera gel, 1 part pure vegetable glycerine, and mix into a glass jar. Both ingredients are available at any health food store.
Soak or massage your nails with baby oil, vitamin E oil, olive oil or a gentle dish detergent at least twice a day to stimulate growth and prevent cracking and chipping.
For the softest feet possible, apply a thick layer of of petroleum jelly on your feet then wear a pair of socks overnight. You can do the same with your hands by wearing cotton gloves. Do the same with the rest of your body using petroleum jelly or thick cream and wear an old pair of pajamas to bed. Don't be afraid to apply petroleum jelly or vitamin E oil to your face overnight also. Do this at 1-2 times a week and your skin is guaranteed to be baby soft!
For dry hair, apply vitamin E oil to your scalp and split ends at night and shampoo in the morning.
Make your own anti-wrinkle cream inexpensively. Beat a few egg whites (no yolks!) into a meringue and apply all over your face. Remove after a half hour with cool water (don't use hot water or you'll have scrambled egg on your face!). Pat dry and you'll immediately notice the difference. Also great for shrinking pores.
Never throw away the water eggs have been boiled in as it's full of minerals. Of course it's not suitable for humans to drink, but after cooling the water, feed it to your house plants. They love it and will grow at a much faster rate!
Apply ice cold vinegar right away to skin burns to prevent blisters
Pour boiling vinegar down drains to unclog and clean them.
To keep fabrics from bleeding, add 2-3 teaspoons of salt to wash and rinse cycles.
Sour milk actually cleans copper! Pour the milk in a flat dish, soak the copper for about an hour and clean and usual.
Remove pen ink from clothing or carpet by spraying area with hair spray and after leaving on for a few seconds, wipe away with a damp cloth.
Set out white vinegar in open dishes to destroy odors.
Add vinegar to your deep fryer to eliminate a greasy taste.
Fill film canisters with water, freeze and use anytime you would use an ice pack or ice cube. They won't drip and make a watery mess.
Rinse glasses and dishes in water and vinegar to prevent spots and film.
There is no need to buy expensive conditioners to make your hair shiny, soft and radiant. Simply wash hair and massage regular hair conditioner into damp hair and leave in overnight. Protect your pillow by using a shower cap and if you don't own one, make do with a plastic bad tied carefully around your head. You certainly do not want to wake up suffocated and dead if you don't do it right! :)
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