Daily Thrifty Tips - March 6, 2006

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I just wanted to show off my baby Kohl. He is a two year old Doberman Pincher. He is the love of our life.

Oreokitty from Calgary

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Birds eating on the porch.

By eastbutlertammy from Pennsylvania

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I use these things for A LOT of different cleaning needs.

For baked on food and burnt food stuck on pans, the stove burner drip pans,the inside of the microwave, even cleaning the crud on the floor under the major appliances - it's magic!

For cleaning pans, drip pans, etc... just fill the sink with hot water, a small squeeze of regular dishwashing liquid and a couple of spoonfuls of the dishwashing crystals - let it soak a little while; then, using a dish rag or a plastic scrub pad wash just like you were washing dishes normally - rinse well...Presto!

For cleaning the crud under the appliances when you move them, and the inside of the microwave, and other kinds of kitchen cooties...I fill a trigger spray bottle with a couple of spoonfuls of the crystals and warm water - shake well then use it like any other cleaning spray. Works like a charm!

The enzymes in the crystals are what works the magic. It's cheap too. (Be sure it's the crystals not the liquid type.)

By Pat K from Athens, AL

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For cleaning the very dirty bathroom tiles, bath tubs or sinks I use scratch free COMET. It is a powder. I just sprinkle it for some time on the spots to clean or sometimes I make a liquidy paste and apply that with a stainless steel pad (with thicker fibers). I wait for a few minutes then give it a light scrub with the stainless steel scrub pad and rinse it with water or wipe it clean. You end up with a sparking clean white tubs, tile etc.

I've used it on my stove which is white and it has cleaned the dried, burnt residue as well with no scratches. I also use it on my porcelain kitchen sink.
You get it at Walmart for less than a dollar for one 25 oz bottle.

By BGK from Milpitas, CA

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Cleaning products: save from $25 a month to 40 cents. Grated, Ivory becomes Ivory Flakes, discontinued in 1978. I use a tablespoon in the washer. I use one bar over two weeks. Cost: 15 cents per week. I also use a wet bar to clean stains before they go in the wash. Eliminates stain pretreaters.

Want to clean counters?: Sinks? Bathtubs? Floors? Try some swished soap in very hot water. Use a scrubby pad to clean bathtubs or greasy build-up areas. Then wash down with damp cloth.

Body care: Ivory can be used for every bar soap in the house. Dilute shampoo in half. It's not the toothpaste that cleans teeth, it's the brushing. Use just a tad to freshen breath. One 6 oz. tube lasts 6 months that way.

Paper products: Don't buy them. All round the world people use cloth to clean. Use squares of flannel or old t-shirts for cloth TP. Handkerchiefs are for noses. Trees are for forests.

Savings so far: approximately $40 to a whopping $75 per month depending on how often you buy your cleaning and paper products and what brands you buy. Wouldn't you rather work one day less per month?

By Allison Dey from Tucson, AZ

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Brian had invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, his mom couldn't help noticing how beautiful brian's roommate, Stephanie was. She had long been suspicious of a relationship between them and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two react, she started to wonder if there was more between them than met the eye.

Reading into his mom's suspicion, Brian volunteered "I know what you are thinking Mom, but I assure you, Stephanie and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Stephanie came to Brian saying, "ever since
your mom came to dinner, I've been unable to locate the beautiful silver gravy ladle."

"You don't think she took it do you?" Brian said. "I seriously doubt it but to give you peace of mind, I will email her.

So Brian emailed his mom saying, "Dear Mom, I'm not saying that you 'did' take a gravy ladle from the house. I'm not saying that you 'did not' take it either. But the fact remains since you came to dinner the gravy ladle has been missing.
Love, Brian"

Several days later, Brian received this response from his mom, "Dear Son, I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Stephanie and I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with her either but the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love you too! Mom"

Lesson of the day...NEVER lie to your mom.

By imaqt1962 from st joseph,illinois

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I didn't know you could make your own evaporated milk! I tried this in a pumpkin pie and was surprised at how well it worked. The filling was not dry, but moist enough to retain that "just made" taste for several days. I won't be buying commercially canned evaporated milk again when this is so easy and SO inexpensive to make.

To make your own evaporated milk:

2/3 cup skim milk powder and 1 cup water OR 1 cup dry whole milk and 2/3 cup water. Mix well and use as directed in recipe.

2/3 cup evaporated milk = one 5 oz. Can.
1-1/2 cups evaporated milk = one 12 oz. can

By ronsan from southwest Missouri

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Save the plastic bags in which you bring produce home from the grocery store.
They are perfect to store homemade bread.

By Harlean from Arkansas from Hot Springs, Arkansas

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For you frugal shoppers, JCPENNEY is having an on-line sale of 30% off regular priced items, and 10% sale items. Go to: http://www.jcpenney.com after you have everything in your shopping bag, select "YES" under "discounts", then type in the promotion code: SHOPBIG in the "promotional code" box during checkout. This offer ends on March 10th.

Also, every Wednesday, they have on their website "Wednesdays Deals" where they will have 2-3 pages of deep discounts on many items. It's fun to be frugal!

By Marnita from Cumming GA

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What's the best way to clean fiberglass tubs and showers?

Thank you!
Michelle Jenkins from Swan Lake, MT

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I stored my car for over a year. To keep varmints out we used mothballs in and around the car. I know now that this was a bad idea. Inside the car reeks, and it clings to clothes. How do I get rid of the stink that's in the seats and upholstery?

Charles from IL

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I would like some ideas for a 3rd birthday party with a number "3" theme. She wants a cake shaped like a 3. I'll have to figure out how to make that.

Thanks!
Nancyec from Milton, FL

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Can I grow anemone in containers as indoor plants?

Hardiness Zone:

Wider from England

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Does anyone know how to get onion smell out of bowls? Washing does not take all the smell out and I would like to remove it all. Any ideas would be helpful.

Thank you,
Maryetta47 from Michigan

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I have a popup camper that has been closed up for a while and after opening it up I see lots of mold and mildew on the canvas. It is a newer camper with the blue and white canvas, I want to clean it up and need help in finding the right cleaner to make it look nice again.

Thank you for your time!
Max from Bent Mountain VA

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I think someting might be wrong with my prakeet. His feathers are gone on his head. It's sort of like the feathers are gone and only the little stick that holds the feather is there. On his chest, the blue feathers are going away and the white feathers are starting to show. I have to sweep almost every night because of all of the feather loss. Does anyone know what's wrong with him?

Jitterbug from Oneonta, AL

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We are trying to stay clothes/pantry moth-free since an infestation in September of last year. We are really scared of finding holes in our clothes again. Is it true that spray starch attracts and nourishes larvae? Can we use spray sizing on our clothes instead? Any cleaning secrets that moth-infestation survivors have to share?

We will not breathe a sigh of relief until we have one pest-free year. So far, so good. Any additional assistance is most appreciated. Also, is it safe to put whole cloves in the pockets of clothes? Is is truly safe to use lavender to repel moths? We've read that moths like herbs, spices and plants, too.

NewYorkParis from NYC

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Does anyone know why my coffee is coming out cloudy lately? I use Folgers, cold city water and I also wash my coffee pot daily. Why is it cloudy?

kathleen48 from South Portland, Maine

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I purchased the home I'm now in three years ago. One bedroom is tripping a circuit breaker (Arc Fault) in a deteriorating fashion where within a 24 hour period it is now unable to maintain service. Anything plugged in and turned on causes a fault; including fans, lights or a clock-radio. So far the only thing that does not cause a fault is the small LED circuit tester. I changed circuit breakers, but no joy. If a screw on an outlet were to become magnetized, could this be a source of the problem? Any ideas? No nails have been used on the walls recently.

Bill from San Antonio, TX

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How can I remove grease from the control panel on my oven? It is black and grease has built up on it and I have tried a lot of different things. It is not a slick smooth surface, the surface is somewhat textured.

Pat Branch from Asheville, NC

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I need to know what I can use to clean my computer monitor (I know they make wipes you can buy) but does anyone know of something you would normally have at home that would work? Also, what can you use to reduce the static and dust that the TV tends to attract?

imaqt1962 from St. Joseph, Illinois

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I am in need of some ideas for inexpensive but fun ideas for a family of 5. My husband, kids (girls 5, 8 and 13) and I are trying to make a once in a lifetime trip to California. We will fly into Orange County, go to San Diego and try to drive back up the coast to San Francisco. I would appreciate any ideas for inexpensive hotels, entertainment or things of interest. Our budget is pretty limited, but we want it to be one they can remember.

Dee from NE

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I just got a grape vine for my edible garden, even though it's a small 8" vine, it has aphids. I know the homemade recipe for killing them but will it harm the vine when it's this young?

Thanks!
Kuke from Baltimore, MD

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I am an experienced gardener, however, I am a recent Texas transplant, and now have very limited space in which to grow things. I would like some recommendations as to things that would grow well in containers, and that would do well with limited eastern light.

I am currently growing lettuce and grew tomatoes last summer, but they didn't do as well as I would have liked. I have some ground space that I would like to use, but the location is such that the drainage is really poor, and thus far, any grass seed that has been planted there hasn't grown. I would like to plant something that would cover the bare ground. I am used to growing things in zone 5.

Hardiness Zone: 8b

SKbeal from Temple, TX

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I have maple cabinets with a coffee glaze on them. I am trying to find a good brown color or colors to go on the kitchen walls and livingroom area that go well with the cabinets.

Jo from Sacramento, CA

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How to clean stain left on fabric by sticky tape?

sgogarty6 from UK

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We are planning to relocate and I want to plan furniture placement at our new home. I am looking for furniture templates drawn to scale that could be cut out and placed on blueprints of our new place? Anyone know where I could find such a thing? Thank you for any help!

Patti Colba from Normal, Illinois

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I unfortunately am stuck with a brick pathway that goes some distance around and about my backyard. It gets covered in what I presume is a moss or mossy substance, making the walkway slick and dangerous. Can anyone provide a way to keep the moss from growing on the bricks, short of a blowtorch? I'm worried about slipping down myself, and certainly if I have guests or even the bug guy walking around.

Thanks!
Tripleb from Greenville, AL

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I colored my hair with a light auburn (I have brown hair naturally) and I was hoping that the color would be brighter and shinier. Instead it is a dull dark brown. What's up with this?

Paula from GA

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