Portable Clothes Line on Veranda
I got myself a portable clothes line. I stand it out on my front veranda to dry clothes. It's great, saves power and is protected from weather. It can be set up in a garage or carport.
I remember the days when we used a big black 3-legged wash pot over an open fire to wash clothes. If there's anything I learned and remember best, is how to get and keep white clothes clean and the whitest possible.
Bring up the shine on silver by rubbing with a piece of rhubarb.
Outdoor Clothes Drying for Baby Entertainment
Drying your laundry on an outdoors line is not only economical - putting a baby underneath a line of billowing coloured clothes is the best way of keeping them quiet, fascinated and occupied. It works every time.
Craft: Swiffer "Cozy" Pad Replacement
I recently made a Swiffer Cozy for my Swiffer to replace the dry Swiffer cloths I buy. I think it qualifies as the ugliest Swiffer Cozy ever, but it used up leftover yarn I had and, it is very functional.
Use A Net Bag For Clothes Pins
A lot of us still hang our clothes out to dry during the nice days on clothes lines that require you to use clothes pins. A lot of us leave the clothes pin bag hanging on the lines to use the next time and end up with dirty nasty looking bags with dirty clothes pins inside.
Deep Clean Your Hair With Baking Soda
I use baking soda on my hair about once a month to get rid of build up. The small box of soda I keep in the shower kept getting wet and the soda would clump up.
Use Thin Wash Clothes for Swiffer
I bought a basic 'swiffer', not the battery operated kind. Instead of buying the wet sheets, I use thin wash cloths. I wet them with detergent water, and squeeze it out and they fit on perfectly into the little holes.
Using Newspaper to Reduce Paper Towel Use
Save on paper towels by using newspaper to clean, and clean up some things. I save newspapers, and I cut them in half or smaller. You can just separate small sales flyers like you get from CVS, Walgreens, etc.
If you want to use bleach on your laundry, use very little bleach and then hang it outside in the winter sun. The Victorians used this method; in large houses laying out white linen on special "bleaching lawns" on bright winter days.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Fabric Softeners
Many people use commercial fabric softeners or dryer sheets to reduce static cling and maker their clothes feel softer. Ironically, most people that use these products don't realize that they are essentially trading dirty clothes for clothes that are covered in a thin layer of toxic chemicals.
Here you see my family room with a retractable clothes line and a nice fire going to dry my laundry. I mounted the retractable line on one wall and used two sturdy hooks so I can get two lines.
Homemade Automatic Dish Washing Detergent
Here is the recipe for automatic dish washing detergent.
Use Nylon Net Produce Bags for Scrubbers
We all have those nylon bags that potatoes and onions come in. One day after returning from the grocery it occurred to me to cut them in squares and use them to scrub with.
Use dryer sheets to scrub the tub. Wet the tub down, and use an already used dryer sheet. For tough rings, you can use an unused sheet. It works so good.
Soften Line Dried Towels With A Brush
The best way to soften your towels after they have been hung dry is to brush them with a styling type hair brush or similar type of brush.
Natural Treatment for Rust and Mildew Stains
Here is a natural way to remove mild mildew and rust stains from clothing. Use lemon juice (1/2 cup) and salt (1/4 cup). Mix ingredients together, creating a paste like substance.
Winter is coming and with that the windows and doors will be closed up tight and odors trapped inside. Here are some ideas to sweeten the smell of your home without harmful chemicals:
Microfiber Fabrics Save in the Long Run
Microfiber is the economic solution to cleaning, though it might not seem like it. Microfiber materials are more expensive at the initial point of purchase, but they are long lasting and efficient cleaners.
Use Vinegar Instead of Dryer Sheets
Actually this has to do with laundry, I have been told this before, but I tried this last weekend. I was not happy with my dryer sheets; I would rather not use them. Our sons use them so we have lots of them.
Cleaning Products You Already Have
Cleaning products account for a substantial portion of each household's grocery budget. With laundry detergent topping the list as high as $15 per bottle, it isn't hard to see why. One could easily fill a cabinet or two with the bevy of cleaning products advertised on television.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Fabric Softeners
Many people use commercial fabric softeners or dryer sheets to reduce static cling and maker their clothes feel softer. Ironically, most people that use these products don't realize that they are essentially trading dirty clothes for clothes that are covered in a thin layer of toxic chemicals.
Microfiber Fabrics Save in the Long Run
Microfiber is the economic solution to cleaning, though it might not seem like it. Microfiber materials are more expensive at the initial point of purchase, but they are long lasting and efficient cleaners.
Normally when I shop, I don't fill my cart with bright yellow lemons. Until recently, that is. Now, after reading about the versatility of lemons in a grocery store flyer, lemons are at home in my fridge.
