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

I dont buy The cleaners like 409 et al I just take Colorox straight from the bottle and mix it with water at about 5 to 1 water to bleach and a small squirt of dish soap ALL IN A SPRAY BOTTLE and Im set. It is as good as store bought and DANG SIGHT CHEAPER. gREAT FOR COUNTERS STOVES FLOORS ETC.ETC...

Originally Posted by pjk5900

Kinda off the cleaning, organizing ideas, but,

When I make meatloaf I make it in muffin pans...<snip>

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Now THAT's an idea. My DH absolutely adores meatloaf, but I won't make it anymore because he will sit down and eat the WHOLE thing (he has absolutely no self-control when it comes to food he likes LOL.) I can do that, freeze the portions, and he can just pull one out to take to work with him. Should be fairly inexpensive, too.

This is a DIY tip our neighbor gave us the other day when he dropped by, although I've not personally used it so I can't vouch for it. He swears that to remove old wallpaper use liquid fabric softener! I've had to remove wallpaper before (although thankfully not in this house) and it's a *itch job. If that'll make it easier it'll be great.

Another DIY tip. When you're painting, put your gallon sized paint cans on paper plates. Heavy duty ones are best. The inevitable drips will be caught by the plate. I usually just leave it to dry on there also, which makes it a permanent drip catcher. Also, when you open a new can of paint, use a largish nail and a hammer to punch holes around the bottom of the little lip on the inside. This will allow the paint to drain back into the can after pouring and again minimizes the mess.

Most of my tips are going to be DIY type stuff . I'll add more as I think of them.

Oh, speaking of DIY stuff. I saw this tip on some show...

If you're going to be painting day after day, wet down the paintbrush, wrap it real good in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer. Next day, just thaw, rinse and you're ready to paint again. No more scrubbing out paintbrushes nonstop!

To keep pants from wearing out at the seams in the laundry, wash them inside out, and hang them to dry. I had a pair of jeans for 8 years this way.

To clean an automatic coffee maker, run it without grounds and put a bit of lemon juice in the water resevour. If you use a fresh lemon, strain the juice so it doens't get caught in the pipes.

Vinegar cleans floors just as well as commercial cleaners, is cheaper, and is safer in households with pets and small children. And fewer people are allergic to it.

If you don't have a foam hanger like OllyExtra05 suggests, you can remove deoderant from your shirt with a dry washcloth or towel. Just rub it.

Running out of shampoo or conditioner and don't have a spare bottle? Add a bit of water, and (if it's shampoo, gently) shake the bottle. Your hair will be just as clean or soft as usual.

Running out of a creamy style dressing? Add a bit of milk to the bottle, and shake it. Can you tell that my mother is incredibly absent-minded about shopping?

Dryer sheets will de-static skirts *and* frizzy hair. Just rub them on the offending fabric. And try not to shuffle your feet when you walk.

WD40 works for removing sticky things, but a product called Goo Gone works better, and smells nicer. It can also be used on more types of surfaces (like carpet and varnished wood), and removes things like stickers and gum (huge issue in my older brother's room).

Carpet makes cleaning a hassle. Replace it with wood and tile.

Wow, these are all great.

I have too many to add, so I will just tell you where I got them from. My mom bought me The Big Book of Hints from Heloise. It includes her two books All New Hints From Heloise and Heloise from A to Z and more!!
There are almost 1000 pages of hints... some of the things you learn are just amazing. I highly recommend the book!

Here is her website! There are so many great, great ideas! Heloise

Originally Posted by Antares

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

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Sure, go ahead and post it! This is an international web site, so I'm sure there are lots of other members who read German who will appreciate it.

Such wonderful tips! Great thread idea!

I just remembered this one since I just had to use it

I only occasionally have use for a brillo type steel wool soap pad. If you leave them out they will rust. Instead, after use I put them in a zipper bag and store them in the freezer. When you need it again, just pull it out and let it sit in the hot dishwater for a few moments and it's ready to use again with no rust!

Another place, other than craigslist, where you can get rid of stuff is freecycle.org. This is good for stuff that you can't necessarily sell, but have just piling up. Old clothes, toys (cat toys they don't play with anymore... and kid toys too) They have email groups for different areas. If you're looking for something, you can also post that you are looking for it. Someone might have one and is willing to part with it. No money is exchanged. Anyone who ask you to pay for something, or offers to pay for somethign you give them, can be booted of the list. The Chicago area has over 10,000 people. (I went looking for an old typewriter, mostly for decorative purposes... posted what I wanted and within days a lady said she had one. Not as old as I would've liked, but it's still older than me!). If you join and it's a large group like Chicago, I highly recommend you either select Digest Emails, or No Emails, and just check the site every so often. Believe me, you get swamped. I get several digest emails A DAY. it's extremely active. But well worth it.

I'll figure out some tips for cleaning stuff... not sure. I do like the meatloaf idea. As a single gal living alone, it's hard to cook for one. I like meatloaf. My mother loves it. We used to have it at least every other week. Now, I haven't had it in ages because I live alone. It's also more of a down home comfort food, and not something you serve guests... well, I don't think I would... though for my last movie night, I did serve mac'n'cheese... *sigh* ... I gotta come up with a "scary" main dish for the next movie night. We're watching a couple of campy horror flicks.

Amanda

Meatload...if you make a good one...is great for company. We have a few sets of friends who try to out-do one another on their meatloafs!

Ball point pen marks on fabric....spray with hairspray. It will look like it is spreading, but then scrub with soapy water and it should dissappear. If not then give it another spray and scrub again. This only works with pall point ink...not perminate markers.

The best thing I have found for cleaning bathtubs is shampoo! (A cheapie from the local dollar store works just fine. Just be sure you rinse well so that you don`t slip in the tub the next time you get in it.

when baking and using real butter, save the wrappers to use to grease the dish. There is the perfect amount of butter left on the wrapper.

I also use baking soda as an abrasive cleanser. I use it in my toliet bowl and to wash down the kitchen sink really good.

Instead of using heavy scented air freshners I use water with lemon juice, or lemon oil, to spray around the house and in musty places like around cat boxes or in closets. The lemon makes it smell fresh and not overly scented. I have heard disolve 1/4 of a teaspoon of baking soda in the water as well and it will help disinfect.

When you are using fresh herbs and they start to wilt, cut them up, put them in ice trays filling the little sections about half way. Fill the tray up to 3/4 full with water (or veggie or chicken broth!) and when frozen pop out and put in freezer bags. When cooking stews or casseroles or even hamburger helper pop a couple in for a fresh flavor. they arent good for salads or anything after that, but so good in cooked stuff. You can do the same with bell peppers, celery, onions, etc.

place a soap powder tab in your hoover bag,will make the room smell nice,but make sure its one of the sented types
very handy thread this ill try the microwave tip

If you have rust on a chrome surface, you can scrub it off with a piece of crumpled foil. It works great!

This is a great idea for a thread!

One I recently learned - coffee grounds - what do you do with them? Mix the used coffee grounds with water and pour into the garden - it really makes plants grow great, especially azaleas! I have been doing this for my little garden here and the plants have grown so well. I did an experiment on my mothers lavendar plant - the one I used the coffee grounds has bloomed early while the other one has just started to bloom. I guess the coffee stimulates growth

This one is for folks who live in an apartment:

If you are grocery shopping alone and will be carrying several bags home, put a laundry basket (the kind you rest on your hip) in your trunk and then put the grocery bags in it to carry your groceries from your car to your front door!

You only need to make one trip and it's not as painful on your fingers to carry the heavy bags!! And I live on the second floor! ugh!

I read somewhere that the tumble drier sheets are good for insect repelants, and for freshening up sports shoes.

But I know from a lifetime of using it that liquid lighter fuel removes sticky labels and the black edging left from sticking plasters on the skin. (My mum used it on me as a kid, 40 odd yrs ago, never did me any harm).

for all you fellow northern people... if you get salt stains in the winter on your boots, bags or clothes, just clean it with some vinegar. It'll come right off.

Used dryer sheets are good for dusting your monitor and TV screen. They get the dust off and don't streak.

Gin and vodka are great glass cleaners (finally - a good use for them).

Boric acid kills roaches.

I use chlorine bleach to clean my toilet. Pour in about 2 cups, close the lid and let it sit for about 1/2 hour. Brush and flush. DO NOT pee before flushing, as the ammonia in the urine mixes with the chlorine and makes a poisonous gas.