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Today's Tips
Wash hairbrushes and combs by soaking them for a few minutes in a sink of water to which has been added a tablespoon of baking soda and a drop or 2 of household bleach or other antiseptic. Swish a few times, then rinse.
By joesgirl
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Take Leftovers from Large Celebrations to Homeless Shelters
Since our big Italian family has grown in the last few years, we now hire a hall to have a Christmas celebration in December. We all make and bring our favorite foods; lasagna, meatballs, pastries, etc.
At the end of the night there are so many leftovers and how much can you eat? After everyone has made themselves a "plate" to take home rather than toss the remainder of food out I take it to a homeless shelter in my town. They are always so thankful to receive the nice variety of home made food and I receive so many thank yous and God Bless yous.
It really makes you feel good to share with those less fortunate than you. So during your holiday gatherings if you have any extra food that you would like to share, remember the homeless.
By joesgirl
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Plastic food storage bags make great shoe covers when you're working in the muddy garden. Slip 2 bags over each shoe and secure them with rubber bands around your ankles. Instead of dealing with muddy boots, just discard the bags when you're done outside.
By joesgirl
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Taking Pictures When Your Travel
If you're traveling with an untried camera, take advantage of a 1-hour film developing service and test a roll of photos. This precaution may spare you the disappointment of learning only after returning home that your camera was malfunctioning.
By joesgirl
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When I was a surgical assistant, my hands used to get very dry from the surgical scrub and powder from the gloves. This is a trick I learned that works great to make your hands feel wonderful! You will be amazed at the results, however temporary they may be.
Mix in your palm one each of the following:
1. Something oily (vaseline, olive oil, baby oil, etc)
2. Something grainy (sugar, salt, etc)
3. A touch of liquid soap (hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, etc)
Now wet your hands and simply rub your hands gently together (as if you are washing them) for a minute or so, then rinse with warm water. Be gentle! Finally, follow with the lotion of your choice. Your hands will be silky smooth!
By Leann D
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High Humidity for Winter Comfort
Keep the moisture level of your home relatively high during the winter, either with a humidifier or with lots of plants. Higher humidity makes the body feel warmer.
By joesgirl
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Save Money on Heat, Put on a Sweater
I've noticed that many people who complain about being cold automatically turn up the thermostat instead of putting on slippers, a sweater, etc. I've found I can set the thermostat a few degrees lower by simply keeping my feet and arms warm.
By Leann D
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So you're wicked happy with your new chrome edged kitchen. It's modern, it's beautiful - it's rusting! Here's an incredibly EASY, CHEAP way to take care of all your worries. Wrap aluminum foil around your finger, shiny side out, and rub until the rust disappears. Then wipe the surface with a damp cloth. PROBLEM SOLVED! And all with what was already in your kitchen. Hope this helps you. Take care of you and those you love.
By Suzanne S.
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Got a stain on your tub or sink? Clean them quick and easy. Add cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide and make a paste. Spread the paste over the stain and scrub lightly with a brush. Let the paste dry and then wipe or rinse it off. That's it you're done. No back-breaking work here! Hope this helps. Take care of you and those you love.
By Suzanne S.
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Make a game out of seeing how many times a "disposable" product can (safely) be reused. I have been using the same sheet of paper towel to clean my bathroom mirror for over 2 months! I have used a paper plate to eat a sandwich on, brushed off the crumbs when finished, used it to cover a bowl of soup in the microwave, and finally drained bacon on it. My disposable paper products (well, except toilet paper!) seem to last a very long time!
By Leann D
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Keep a running inventory on the door of the closet where you keep gifts purchased throughout the year. If the item is stored elsewhere, note where you have stored it. Beats the "I remember buying it, where did I put it?" syndrome at gift-giving time.
By Linda
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Scrapbooking Tip - Storing Stickers
I know a lot of people who do scrapbooks. I love to make them, but have a limited budget, so I've come of with some ways to make my money go further. Instead of buying expensive sticker binders, I use the envelopes that come with my credit card offers. They come every day and are all shapes and sizes. I just write on the outside what category they are and when they wear out, I just get a new one. They're free and my stickers aren't around long enough for me to worry about the envelopes not being acid free.
By Mandi Merrill
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Cheap Gifts From Root Cuttings
Root several plant cuttings in soil in empty sour cream or cottage cheese containers, yogurt containers or cut down plastic bottles. Drill or punch a few drainage holes. Pick up a few cheap pots, large mugs or whatever at yard sales and you have an "almost" free gift.
By Linda
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If a recipe calls for 2 eggs, and you find you only have 1, you can use 2 Tablespoons of regular mayonnaise instead. This doesn't effect the taste at all.
By Linda
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Keep all "disposable" containers (juice bottles, margarine tubs, peanut butter jars, etc). They are great for taking to lunch for work, on picnics or to send leftovers home with dinner company. The advantage over store bought containers (besides the fact they're "free") is that you won't feel guilty if you choose to toss them instead of taking them back home!
By Leann D
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Dry place mats by hanging them over the side of the bathtub. They dry flat and straight and don't need ironing.
By Linda
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To get and keep your white laundry the whitest you can, soak the load overnight in the washing machine with your normal detergent and additives. Agitate the load for a few minutes, turn off, and let soak. In the morning you simply have to turn the machine back on to finish the cycle. It really makes a noticeable difference!
By Leann D
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Cookie Cutters as Napkin Rings
Inexpensive cookie cutters make cute seasonal napkin rings.
By Linda
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I use a potato masher to mash hard cooked eggs, avocados for guacamole, butter that is still to hard to use for baking cookies.
By Linda
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Recycling Mail - Use it to Write On
I do not throw out envelopes from mail I get - especially from large envelopes. I use them as my writing paper and correspondence. I have not bought writing paper in about a year!
By Cynthia Roman
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Oxyclean to Remove Gel Ink Pen From Clothing
I accidently washed a blue gel pen in with a number of dark pieces of clothing. Not seeing the ink stains I even dried them in the dryer. Needless to say, I was ill when I saw 4 of my husbands favorite work shirts stained beyond repair, I thought. I tried alcohol, Goo gone, and Shout... nothing touched the stains.
I figured I'd get the ink out or die trying. I did it! With Oxyclean.... yep... I soaked them in hot water with double the amount of Oxyclean, overnight in the washer in HOT water. In the morning I finished filling the washer with hot water, and ran them through the cycle with detergent, as usual. AMAZING! There are NO stains left. I will be writing the company singing the praises of their product.
Vicki from OH
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Really Quick Halloween Costume
Go to Office Max and get a pack of the "Hello, My Name is __________" stickers (usually used for parties and business gatherings. Fill them out with various names and put all over your clothing. When people ask what you are for Halloween. simply state that you are going as an ....
Identity Crisis!
-Laura Lange
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Liquid Dishwasher Gel for Stains on Plastic
Rub some liquid dishwasher gel on spaghetti sauce stains on plastic containers, high chair trays, plastic plates, etc. Let it sit for a while. The bleach in the gel lifts the stains.
By Linda
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New Requests:
Cleaning Tomato Stains Off Plastic
I wonder if anyone knows how to get tomato stains off plastic. I cooked tomato rice in a plastic pot and know it is stained .. any ideas how to remove it.?
Thanks,
Wonderfulone from Hamilton
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Oxyclean to Remove Gel Ink Pen From Clothing
I accidently washed a blue gel pen in with a number of dark pieces of clothing. Not seeing the ink stains I even dried them in the dryer. Needless to say, I was ill when I saw 4 of my husbands favorite work shirts stained beyond repair, I thought. I tried alcohol, Goo gone, and Shout... nothing touched the stains.
I figured I'd get the ink out or die trying. I did it! With Oxyclean.... yep... I soaked them in hot water with double the amount of Oxyclean, overnight in the washer in HOT water. In the morning I finished filling the washer with hot water, and ran them through the cycle with detergent, as usual. AMAZING! There are NO stains left. I will be writing the company singing the praises of their product.
Vicki from OH
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I am looking for a pattern for a mechanics cap. I had made a few quite a while ago and have lost the pattern and hubby is running out of them with all the dirt and sweat, they only last so long. If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You
Trish
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Calming Down Your Pets With Comfort Oil
Has anyone used a product called comfort zone? You plug it into a wall socket, it has some kind of oil in it. To help calm down your pets.
Ruthann
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I'm in the process of building a crate style sofa. I have a major back and leg problem and this is the only style I can sit on and be comfortable. I have all the measurements for the outside frame, 76"L x 32"W x 25"H. However I don't have the seat height.
I built the whole living room set back in the 80's following a pattern from "This End Up". The seat cushions measure, 24"L x 29"D x 6"H, with the back cushions being 24"L x 15"D x 5 1/2"H. I was thinking 7 1/2 " from the bottom of the frame plus the 6" seat cushion would make it 13 1/2" high making the back cushion extend over and above the 25" frame by 3 1/2". Does that sound right?
If anyone in your group has a "This Ends Up" sofa and knows the exact seat height, I would appreciate them letting me know.
Sincerely,
Adriana from N.H.
View Article: Click Here
I own a small Coach purse, it's not big enough for a make-up bag, so I thought nothing of it to put my eyeliner (pencil) in there. When I went to look in it, there was eyeliner marks all over one side, so I got a Q tip and put water on it, I then began to notice that it was coming off, so it started to use a towel to get the marks out, it didn't help. Did I ruin this purse? Is there anything that I can do to get it off?
thank you
Friend
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I need a recipe for sour dough starter. I had a starter that used potatoes, the dough set out for eight hours, then the rolls had to rise for about that long. I think the starter used yeast and potatoes. I have a problem getting my starter to grow. It wants to just sit there.
Mary Hutson
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Cleaning Bleach Stained On An Old Claw Tub
We have an old claw tub (50+ years old) in our apartment. In an attempt to clean and brighten it up we used Bleach! I know now this was a HUGE mistake! Does anyone know to to remove brownish bleach stains?
acruz
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Does anyone have any good ways to fix beef cube steaks? I bought 10 packages at a good sale a few weeks ago, but I only know one way to fix them (pan fried w/ gravy).
MB in WY
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I'm currently in the redecorating mood and I am in love with two things: stars and the color pink. Do you have any cheap and easy ways I can make my room pretty?
- Kiersten
P.S. My room is tiny.
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Who Wanted Toast for a Polish Wedding?
A while back someone requested ideas for a toast at a Polish wedding. I forwarded the request to a Polish entertainer and he offered some phrases.
But now I can't find out who needed the info and if they still do.
Whoever wanted this, please let me know.
Thank you pats/AZ
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More Reading:
Halloween Painted Rocks
By Amanda Formaro
If you are looking for some inexpensive, easy crafts for your kids this Halloween, head out to your backyard to start the fun. Have the kids hunt around for different shaped rocks. Long, slender rocks for ghosts, oval shapes for spiders, and just about any stout rock will make a great pumpkin!
View Article: Click Here
Save Time in the Kitchen. Cook Pasta the way Restaurant Chefs Do
By Skip Lombardi
Have you ever wondered how a restaurant can get a dish of pasta to your table in about four minutes when you know it takes ten minutes just to cook the pasta? Does the water on their stoves boil at a higher temperature than the water on yours? Do they know a trick that you don't? As a matter of fact, they do.
View Article: Click Here
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