Tip Contest Results

Milk Jug Electric Cord Reel

I use the electric leaf blower frequently to blow off the porch and carport. I've just been looping the cord and laying it across the blower for storage and having to untangle it every time I use it.

I told my husband that we needed to purchase a reel to keep the cord on. A reel makes it easier to store the cord and keeps it from getting tangled up. The idea popped into my head to use a milk jug so I gave it a try and it works.

I cut out a section opposite the handle to make some sides to hold the cord. Holding the jug by the handle, I wrapped the cord around the jug. This works, however, I think a heavier jug will work even better. I may not have to spend money on a reel after all.

By Betty from NC

Lemon Deodorant

I have been reading alot of stuff about deodorants and how they clog your lymph system. They are also full of aluminum. I decided to try lemon. I was a little skeptical at first but it works.

Just cut a lemon in 1/2 and put in baggy keep in the fridge. Rub the lemon under each arm, and it will last 24 hours. It is better then deodorants. I will not go back to buying deodorants anymore. Just be sure to tell everyone it's your deodorant so they do not use it as lemonade!

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Prevent Cabinet Doors from Slamming with Glue Drops

Make drops from hot glue as seen in the photo. Let dry. Glue the glue drops to the corners of your cabinet doors. The doors now shut with a soft sound.

By Louella from Billings, MT

Easiest Homemade Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has been one of the most popular decadent foods lately. It's delicious on its own, but also a great way to cut calories and at the same time, boost flavor and protein. It's so much creamier than regular yogurt. but it's also twice the price (not to mention sometimes very hard to find)! Here is a simple way to turn regular yogurt into Greek yogurt.

Materials

• Regular yogurt (full fat, low fat, nonfat, organic - anything will do)
• Strainer/Colander
• Bowl
• Cheesecloth
• Plastic Wrap
• Small Plate

Instructions

Place strainer over a large bowl. Place a few pieces of cheesecloth on the strainer (You can also just fold one a few times). Pour your regular yogurt on the cheesecloth then fold the ends of the cheesecloth over the yogurt so its covered.

Place your small plate on the cheesecloth covered yogurt. This will help press the whey out your yogurt. Sometimes I place something heavier, like a bottle of water, on top of the plate to hurry things up.

Let this drain in your fridge for a few hours. Remove and pour into a container. You can discard the whey or use it in a recipe. Delicious!

By attosa from Los Angeles, CA

Log Bird Feeder

My husband drills various sized holes into a white pine log for me and adds a simple hook so I can put my kitchen food scraps, fat cut from meat, and rolled in seeds or stale bread with peanut butter. I also make my own suet and freeze it in rolls which I insert into the various sized holes drilled around the log.

My newest addition to this is adding a 45 vinyl record through the top hook hardware to discourage any squirrels from climbing down to munch! A larger record would be even better!

If you love to watch or feed the birds, let me know!

By AHA! from Sterling, PA

Seasoning Grilled Meats With Herbs

I watched Rachael Ray recently and saw some really neat ideas. I switched it up and came up with one of my own. Not eating red meat doesn't mean I have forgotten how wonderful a grilled steak tastes. We all know whatever we are eating, it's the flavor that makes the meal.

When grilling, you can baste the food with an array of different herbs tied to end of a wooden spoon. Even if it's just barbecue sauce, spices or the same mixture your family likes, using the herbs transfers the flavor to the food each time you baste. After you get done, just chop up the herbs. Add them to a salad, a garnish or put on the side for extra flavor, if desired. I will be doing this with everything I grill or cook in the oven.

When I cook, I let it set, absorbing the marinade. I have done this since living in the South. Spices, onions, garlic and now olive oil makes everything better. When you put whatever you are cooking on top of chopped onions, herbs or garlic, the meal gets a delightful taste to both sides evenly.

When starting out at a lower temperature, you'll notice how much leaner and moister things taste. I love the crisp of things like asparagus. If you do also, just turn up the heat towards the end. Chicken or steaks can be started slow then turned up, cooking it thoroughly with retaining all of the spices and seasonings added.

The idea on the show was taken to a new leval for me. I season every thing, put it all on a bed of onions, etc. The guest on RR showed what he called "seasoning the board." When he was grilling, he put chopped herbs, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper on a chopping board. He rubbed it onto the board, finishing it with a crisp squeeze of lemon. When the meat was done, he just put it on the board, using it for serving plate. I think you can do this with a cookie sheet also. What it does it allow the food to absorb the seasoning, never drying out! Just chop the herbs used for basting and add it to the mixture. It is taking what I already do putting a whole new twist on it.

I love good food, seasoning it what makes it your own. I hope you also try this. I know my chicken breasts are tender and seasoned to perfection. Grilling with the family would be only thing I can think of to make it better.

By Luana M. from San Diego, CA

Pack Dishes Between Foam Plates

Moving to a new home? To help your plates arrive safely when moving, simply purchase a pack of foam plates. Check your local pound shop/dollar store! Even paper plates would do the job. I will definitely be using this tip when I move this year.

Source: A picture I saw online.

By Monique from Somerset, UK., Weston-super-Mare

Homemade Rug Freshener

Using 1/2 cup of borax, half cup of baking soda, and 20 to 25 drops of essential oil or ground spice cinnamon is good. Mix all together and put into an old container that has holes for sprinkling, like a mozzarella container. Sprinkle on rug, leave for 20 minutes and vacuum.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Keeping Cottage Cheese Fresh Longer

Store the entire container upside-down in the fridge. In case it might leak, I sit it on a whipped topping container lid (who doesn't have one of those laying around.) I've had it stay fresh for longer than a month past expiration date.

By Beth from OH

Collecting Bottle Tops For Charity Event

Guess how many tops. Nearest guess wins a prize! This is a good game or any charity event: summer fete, Brownies, Boy Scouts, Christmas event, etc.

You can collect bottle tops (washed). After counting them, put them in a large see-through container. I use an 8 liter water bottle. Either charge a small fixed amount or just ask for any loose change they may have. You need a pad and pencil. Write down the person's name, number of tops they have guessed and phone number. The one who gets nearest to the actual figure wins the prize. The prize could be a bottle or wine or a box of chocolates.

Keep it for another event and adjust the amount of tops

By Linda M from UK

Use Plastic Bags In Paint Trays

I have been painting the house, so I have had to wash out my paint tray. I found a tip to avoid having to rinse out your tray for the next colour. Just put a plastic bag over your tray and push it down before you dump in the paint. When you're done, just remove the plastic bag.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Camping Tip for Storing Toilet Paper

If your planning a camping trip, use an empty, clean coffee container to store your toilet paper in. Be sure it has a lid, that way if it rains it won't get wet.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Crafts Using Melted Plastic Bottles And Lids

This is a way to use any type of plastic stuff: bottle lids, shampoo lids, prescription bottles, aerosol lids, any type of plastic. You take a cookie sheet and line it with foil. Turn your oven on to 450-500 dergees F. You line up the plastic you want to melt. Put some on their sides or stack a larger one on a smaller one. Put in the oven.

Keep a close eye on them. When they start to melt, they get in different shapes. Don't let them melt to just a flat blob. While the plastic is still hot and semi-molten, you can embed different things in the plastic (small toys, buttons, beads, odd metal pieces) or you can put pieces of crayon or glitter in them.

I keep a baby wipe box marked "Pirate Treasure" filled with these things. Kids love to look through them or hide and find them. Once my nephew was visiting and I had him melt an orange lid with a smaller one of blue kind off to the side. While it was hot, he stuck a plastic dinasaur in the orange. It made a small diaorama. He put metal loop off the side. This made a neat keyring. When it was cool, I added some glitter nail polish on the blue so it looked like waves. I wish I had a picture of it. It looked like the dinasaur was on a beach by the water.

Sometimes if the item won't stay in the melted plastic, you can use a spoon to bring the plastic up over the item to hold it in. Of course this is done with adult supervision. The hot things can be placed in water to cool faster. While I used a regular over, a toaster oven might work better.

By Nightsong from Hay Capitol of the World

Editor's Note: Be sure that you use proper ventilation when melting plastic as it may create harmful fumes.

Organizing Desk with Toothbrush Holders

I find some really cute toothbrush holders at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. I then use them at my desk to hold ink pens, markers, small scissors, etc.

By Penny B. from Mcveytown, PA

Single Use Salve Packs for Camping

If you are camping and going to be hiking or even just traveling, these will come in handy. Place a straw over the opening of the ointment and squeeze a small amount of it, about one quarter of an inch. Hold the end of your straw with your pliers, be sure a small part of the straw is sticking out. Take a lighter and melt the end and quickly pinch the melted end with the pliers to seal it shut .Then turn the straw around and find the point where the oinment went up in the straw. Pinch past that with the pliers and cut off excess. Leave a small piece of straw sticking out to seal off with your lighter.

You can also put toothpaste, aloe gel and sanitizers in them. I thought this was a great idea. So I tried a few and they are really durable.

Source: Some hiking site.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

Save the Money You Saved With Coupons

When I use coupons at the grocery store, I write my check that much over. When I get home, I put it in my flower pot that is covered with a silk Boston fern. If a crook robs my house (heaven forbid), I figure he wouldn't look there!

By Christi-TX from Abilene, TX

Acne Remedies

Try these two methods to treat your acne. Make a thick paste of baking soda mixed with water. Apply on your acne.

Or use soda white tooth paste and put on your zit and let it dry. See how it takes away the zit.

By Batool

Reducing Clutter

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but along with getting rid of clutter, "stop buying more stuff!". That's how you got clutter in the first place. If you've got storage bins full of stuff stored out of the way, you've still got clutter - you've just moved it to a different location. If you don't absolutely "need" an item, do not buy it. Easy.

By Lois Ann from Franklinville, NY