Is it Monday again?
I'm always looking for ways to save money and make the most of things I have around the house. Some of the household hints below I have used for years, others are brand new.
Also below you can find a few recipes for homemade body scrubs and facial masks. I indulged last year and purchased a jar of Body Sugar Scrub, it was wonderful, although I almost choked on the price! Used the last of it a couple of weeks ago, and starting thinking that I could make it at home. I did and it is WONDERFUL...so give it a try!
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NEWSPAPER
Prepare a garden. In the fall, mow a patch of lawn to make room for a dedicated bed. Cover it with four layers of newspaper, then a four-inch layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch. Hose it down. Come spring, the compost blanket will have smothered the grass roots, and the bed will be primed for planting.
Keep the refrigerator vegetable drawer dry and free of smells. Line the bottom with newspaper.
Preserve antique glass. Some older frames have finishes on the glass that can be damaged by cleaning solutions. Remove smudges by rubbing with newspaper dipped in a solution of one part white vinegar and one part warm water. Let air-dry.
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Use Coffee Filters to:
Diffuse the flash on a camera. When you’re taking a close-up, soften the brightness by placing a coffee filter over the flash.
Clean windows and glass when you’re out of paper towels. Coffee filters leave no lint or other residue.
CLEAN CD'S AND DVD'S. Make sure to swipe in a straight line from the inside out.
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USES FOR COFFEE GROUNDS:
Deodorizer. Dry them out on a cookie sheet and then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer, or rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells.
Plant food. Plants such as rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreen and camellias that prefer acidic soils will appreciate the leftovers from your morning cup. Also, grounds can add nutrients to your compost bin.
Insect repellant. Sprinkle old grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away. Used grounds are also said to repel snails and slugs.
Dye. By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper and even Easter eggs.
Furniture scratch cover-up. Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a Q-tip.
Cleaning product. As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.
Kitty repellent. To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around your plants.
Flea dip. Follow up Fido’s shampoo with a coffee ground rub down, working them down to his skin. Not only are the fleas suppose to vamoose, but puppy’s hair will feel soft too.
Dust inhibitor. Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control.
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Use Olive Oil to:
. Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream.
Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
Remove eye makeup. Dab a little under the eyes and rinse off with a washcloth.
Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder. Rub a thin coat on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Dripped wax should peel away easily.
Care for your pet. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to your cat’s food to help prevent hair balls.
Moisturize cuticles. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the nail beds.
Treat dry skin. Rub a thin layer over the skin after a shower or a waxing.
Unstick a zipper. Using a Q-tip, apply a drop to lubricate the teeth. (Avoid touching the fabric.) The zipper should move up and down freely.
Dust wooden furniture. Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe.
Silence squeaky doors. Lubricate hinges by applying a small dab to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.
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Use Dryer Sheets to:
Freshen smelly shoes. Insert a dryer sheet into the offending pair and let sit overnight.
Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors. Wipe the surface with a sheet. . Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture. Rub a dryer sheet over the spot where Fluffy left her fur.
Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh and clean by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of it.
Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.
Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors. Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase or gym bag so your clean clothes won’t take on the odors of the dirty ones.
Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages of your beloved copy of Pride and Prejudice.
Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage. Rub a dryer sheet over the fine wood particles.
Prevent thread from tangling when sewing. Run a threaded needle through a dryer sheet right before you begin your handiwork.
Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down with a dryer sheet.
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Use Baking Soda to:
Exfoliate skin. Wash your face, then apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, avoiding the eye area; rinse clean.
Erase crayon, pencil, ink, and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces. Sprinkle soda on a damp sponge, rub clean, and rinse.
Unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar after it. Let sit for five minutes (covered, if possible). Follow with a gallon of boiling water.
Remove tough stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel. Scrub enameled cast iron with a soft nylon brush and a thick paste of baking soda and water. Clean stainless steel with a soft cloth and 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
Scrub pans. Sprinkle soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.
Brush teeth. Use a paste of baking soda and water.
Fight class-B fires (flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and grease). Baking soda can be used to smother only a small flame.
Deodorize. Dust baking soda under your arms to absorb body odor.
Clean up minor oil and grease spills on a garage floor or driveway.
Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
Settle a stomach during occasional indigestion. Stir 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/2 cup of water and drink for a safe and effective antacid.
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USE VINEGAR TO:
Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks. Fill a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times. (Be careful not to get any on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too.)
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VELCRO
Keep track of the remote. Use Velcro to attach the remote to the side of the TV when it’s not in use.
Remove pills from sweaters. Use the hook side of Velcro to pull off pesky balls.
. Restrain wayward cords. Keep them in one place with a strip of Velcro.
Keep a pen or paper handy. Place a small piece of Velcro next to a desk calendar and on a pen so you can jot down to-dos ASAP. In the car, stick a notepad to the dashboard or the door of the glove compartment and you’ll always have paper for a brilliant thought or a last-minute errand.
Picnic in peace. Keep a tablecloth from flying away by applying Velcro to the underside of the cloth and to the picnic table.
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USES FOR PEROXIDE
Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe ) No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes use it instead of mouthwash.
Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.
Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day.
Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into tissue.
If you have a terrible toothache and can not get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.
And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.
You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, there is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.
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HOMEMADE BODY SCRUBS
Basic Homemade Exfoliant
1 cup raw sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
Mix sugar and oil together to make a paste. Using your hands, a loofah or washcloth, gently rub mixture into skin, then rinse.
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Brown Sugar Body Scrub
--Use instead of salt scrubs, which can be drying or irritating to the skin if it is dry and/or sensitive.
Materials:
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup honey
3 Tbs. lemon juice
2 tsp. ginger
Steps:
Grate fresh ginger, or use the powdered variety if fresh is not available.
Take into the shower with you and apply handfuls at a time to polish the skin.
* Note: Should keep for several days in the refrigerator in a closed plastic container.
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Anti-Aging Face Mask
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 med. banana - peeled
1 vitamin E capsule
-Mash together cream and banana.
-Stir in contents of capsule.
-Smooth onto face and neck.
-Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
-Wipe off with damp cloth.
Notes: Look younger instantly!
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Biscuits like McDonald's®
Quick and easy, makes great breakfast sandwiches
and goes perfect with sausage gravy.
Prep. Time: 0:30
Serves: 6-8
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tbls. powdered milk
1 Tbls. granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
2 dashes cream of tartar
1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
2/3 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted margarine - divided
-Stir together flour, powdered milk, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl.
-Cut shortening into dry mixture until blended thoroughly.
-Stir in buttermilk and 2 Tbls. melted margarine until well blended.
-On a floured surface, knead dough for 1 minute, or until elastic.
-Roll out dough to 1/2" - 3/4" thick; using a wide glass or round cookie cutter, cut out circles; place biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet.
-Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, until golden
Later Ya'll...^Belle^
