Helpful Tips (wisdom from moms, friends, etc.)

I thought it would be nice to start a thread with some helpful tips.

For example, I have had an ant problem since August, and I just wanted to let folks know that sprinkling Johnson & Johnson's baby power around the perimeter of a room really prevents ants from coming out of their crevices. The baby powder works because the ants can't breathe! I have also put my kitties' food and water bowls in trays and sprinkled some baby powder around the perimeter of the tray. Doesn't bother the kitties and no ants in the food anymore! (I don't sprinkle too much, so that the kitties get pawfuls of it - I try to do a very LIGHT sprinkling.)

Another thing a friend suggested is to find where the ant trail leads, and then put tape over the hole. I did this with clear packing tape around my kitchen sink (yes, there is amazing enough space for ants to crawl out from the space between my metal sink and the counter, space which I can barely see!) and sure enough, found a couple of dead ants, stopped in their tracks, stuck to the tape. Yuck....

My friend owns a house, so she says that you have to kill them outside, because that's where they're coming from. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment complex and I can't spray anything outside since that's up to our apt. managers (and it would be almost impossible to get all of them with the large number of plants and trees we have around here). So I have to find creative ways to kill the little buggers and avoiding use of sprays, to protect the kitties!

Anybody else have any helpful tips (can be kitty-related or anything else that's useful to know)?

Great tips!

I can't think of anything right now, but I will be sure to come back when I can think of some!

Great idea!!

Okay, here's a couple for those of you who have kids.

To remove stickers from windows, or any non-fabric item that your kids stuck them to: spray them with WD-40. Now, you will have to thoroughly clean the area afterwards, but it does make removing the sticker easier.

Got pen marks on your clothes? Simply pat the pen mark with rubbing alcohol and it comes right out!

Originally Posted by emmysamson

Got pen marks on your clothes? Simply pat the pen mark with rubbing alcohol and it comes right out!

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I don't have kids but I do occasionally mark myself accidentally with ballpoint pens (I'm klutzy that way)! I never knew rubbing alcohol could get pen marks out, but I'll be sure to try it - thanks!

Keep 'em coming!

Great tips.

I heard if you put a Bounce dryer sheet in your garbage can, it will smell less.

1) Baked on black crud in the bottom of your cooking pot? Put some baking soda and water, bring it to a boil, let it cool down, and then clean it. The baking soda helps to loosen the crud.

2) Clogged up drain? Pour some baking soda down the drain, follow with some vinegar, let it sit for a minute, and then pour boiling hot water down. The drain should be clear, but if not, just repeat until it is. This is a nice safe alternative to Draino, etc.

3) Have a whole slew of empty shampoo bottles that you have been "meaning" to rinse out and recycle, but you just haven't gotten around to it? The fastest and easiest way to do this is to just do it after you shower in the bathtub. I turn my shower to the faucet part, and then rinse out the bottle just before I get out of the shower.

Wow, I have so many more, but no time!!!

Great thread!

Cleaning your microwave. Place a soaked sponge in the microwave, cook on high for 2 minutes, do not open the microwave door, let it set for 5 minutes. It is nice and easy to clean, with no scrubbing.

Originally Posted by WeLoveEllie

Great thread!

Cleaning your microwave. Place a soaked sponge in the microwave, cook on high for 2 minutes, do not open the microwave door, let it set for 5 minutes. It is nice and easy to clean, with no scrubbing.

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Great tip...never heard of that.....going to have to remember that!

Originally Posted by WeLoveEllie

Great thread!

Cleaning your microwave. Place a soaked sponge in the microwave, cook on high for 2 minutes, do not open the microwave door, let it set for 5 minutes. It is nice and easy to clean, with no scrubbing.

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Add a little lemon juice to the sponge as well - works well.

This is a "gross tip" but still... it works, so here goes.

(Cat related, too!)

For barfed up hairballs, let them dry out for a day or two, then run a vacuum up over them OR pick them up w/ a paper towel. To get the watery-now-dry puke-spot out of the carpet, wet it with carpet cleaner (I use a cheapo brand from Lowes) and scrub w/ a washcloth.

The hairball is way easier to clean up once it's hard!


House-related:
for stinky garbage disposals... cut a lemon up & put the wedges down into it. Run it as it grinds up the lemons, with hot water running into the disposer. Lemons work miracles with stinky stuff.

On the garbage disposal line - a few ice cubes down there and chopped up with sharpen the blades and clean any crud off of them.

Also - Borax is a good way to kill ants - if you have a house, you can sprinkle it around the foundation. As far as I know, it isn't innately harmful to humans or pets.

Originally Posted by darkeyedgirl

for stinky garbage disposals... cut a lemon up & put the wedges down into it. Run it as it grinds up the lemons, with hot water running into the disposer. Lemons work miracles with stinky stuff.

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I do the same thing with Oranges!
(they both smell wonderful!)

Originally Posted by journey

2) Clogged up drain? Pour some baking soda down the drain, follow with some vinegar, let it sit for a minute, and then pour boiling hot water down. The drain should be clear, but if not, just repeat until it is. This is a nice safe alternative to Draino, etc.

Click to expand...

How much baking soda and vinegar?

Here are the few tips I have:

Got deodorant on your shirt? Grab some foam from the top part of a wire hanger (the kind the cleaners give you) and rub it--it'll take it right off and you don't have to wet your shirt!

Microwave cleaning: Fill a small microwave safe bowl with some warm water, the juice from one lemon, and the cut up pieces of the lemon itself. Microwave on high for 5 minutes til the water is bubbling bot not boiling. Carefully remove the bowl of water, dip a sponge into the bowl and all the greasy crud will wipe right off the inside of the microwave (esp. good at removing that bacony greasy nastiness from microwaving bacon)

Organizing Closets: Organize your shirts and pants in the closet so that the shirts are right above the pants you wear them with. Or, you can organize your shirts like this:
I organize my shirts (I have a lot of em!) In this order:
Casual sleeveless, then dressy sleeveless, then casual short sleeve, dressy short sleeve, casual long sleeve and dressy long sleeve. I leave small spaces in between each "category" so that I can just grab what I need without much thought.

Another home tip: Have a bunch of crap you want to get rid of? Don't want to pay ebay seller fees or go through the hassle of a yard sale? Go to craigslist.com and hold a "virtual" yard sale. Show pictures and prices for the items you want, and have interested parties email you to haggle and get the details. Then, people come to your house (or another location to feel safer), pay you in cash, and take the item off your hands. I've sold purses, a vaccuum cleaner, all kinds of stuff. Most major metro areas have a local craigslist.org site. So much easier than ebay because you don't have to pay seller fees or ship the stuff.

Kinda off the cleaning, organizing ideas, but,

When I make meatloaf I make it in muffin pans.
Perfect portion size and cooks a lot quicker.
Put your pinky finger or the end of a wooden spoon into the
center an fill with catsup before putting into the oven.
When done, and cooled, put them in baggies for quick lunch bag making.

#2
If you have nothing in the house and have a superficial(sp?) type injury, (paper cut, cuticle, toenail, etc...) keep a bottle of plain ol' cheap aspirin in the medicine cabinet. In a shot glass or similar add a few drops of water and one aspirin. Make a pastey substance and use it on the affected area to get rid of the ache or sting of it.

I came across this when I was desperate for something to stop my toes and fingers from throbbing when I get nervous, or watch an end of your seat movie, and obsessively pick at them.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

How much baking soda and vinegar?

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I just throw a bunch in.....probably, 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar and a whole lot of boiling water....

My mom taught me this one..to clean out the coffee maker and the kitties water dishes soak them in vinegar and hot water..just be sure to rinse them really well after!

Originally Posted by WeLoveEllie

Great thread!

Cleaning your microwave. Place a soaked sponge in the microwave, cook on high for 2 minutes, do not open the microwave door, let it set for 5 minutes. It is nice and easy to clean, with no scrubbing.

Click to expand...

That is great!!!

Hi, I know a very, very helpful site, but unfortunately in German language. Shall I post it?

Originally Posted by journey

I just throw a bunch in.....probably, 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar and a whole lot of boiling water....

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Thanks. I just had to use the plunger in the tub!