and it appears under a couple of different titles. I think it's Miracle Cleaning spray, but you can toss the kitchen and bathroom cleaner and use this everywhere!
You'll need:
a sturdy spray bottle
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons Borax
1/4 cup liquid soap
32 ounces hot water
20 drops lavender essential oil (or other if desired)*
Mix vinegar and Borax together. Add this and warm (not hot) water to bottle and shake until mixed well. Add liquid soap and lavender essential oil. Smells great! Spray and wipe with a paper towel or, keep a container of inexpensive, non-scented baby wipes in the bathroom for "disposable" cleaning wipes used with this miracle spray. A fraction of the cost of other cleaning wipes. Lavender is antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial naturally. My favorite all-time cleaner!
By Missy W
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Cheap Entertainment (aka Thrifty Fun!)
Tips for having a good time without spending a lot of money. Post your ideas.
Setting Limits for Entertainment
Set a dollar limit on what you are willing/able to spend on entertainment. The number of high quality concerts, plays, demonstrations, and community events is completely amazing. Check newspapers, get on mailing lists, and above all, volunteer for non-profit organizations--you'll have an active social life for free (or cheap!)
By Margaret Sasse
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Sterilizing Sponges
Love sponges in the kitchen but not the spread of household germs? Keep your sponges neat and clean simply! Each morning, rinse your sponge with a little soap. Leaving it wet, microwave it for three minutes. Be careful as it will be steamy!
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Composting Tips
You'll have free organic rich soil and it costs nothing! Rodale has some great composting guides for beginners. I keep a sturdy container with a lid (it's an old one-gallon plastic ice cream bucket with a handle and lid) by the sink. Into it I put all fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, and rinsed egg shells. Add this to your compost heaps with some dry browns or shredded newspaper or dry leaves or dryer lint and soon you'll have compost (whether you stir or not). This is a cheap and easy way to keep garbage out of your trash can and into your garden or flowers for FREE!
By Missy W
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Protection for Transplanted Seedlings
I take the plastic soda bottles when empty and cut the bottom part of the bottle off, then I put it over my most tender, recently transplanted seedlings.
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Keeping Track of Sales
Maintain a notepad with sale items you need so it's handy when you go shopping.
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Keep a Copy of Your License and Insurance Handy
In case of leaving the house in a hurry for one reason or another and you do not have your purse, clip a twenty to the inside of the sub visor and a xerox copy of your licenses and insurance in the glove box for those terrible panic stops by your local law enforcements, it helps to keep you free of a ticket, if the explanation is reasonable enough.
By Tina Hill
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Koolaid Stains on Counter Tops
A paste made with Baking Soda and water will take Kool-Aid stains out of counters.
By Tara Anderson
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Removing Stains from Pots and Pans
To get any kind of stains off of pans use bar keepers friend it will take away all the goo that gets on there from cooking. It works great for cleaning tubs and toilet also. You can get it at Walmart for $1.67 for a fairly good size can.
By Jennifer Brown
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Giving Your Dog a Bath
Tips to help you when giving your dog a bath. Post your ideas.
Easy Dog Bath
I have two dogs that love to swim. I throw a stick for them in the lake and get them nice and wet. Then I lather them up with dog shampoo and throw the stick in the lake to get them rinsed. There you have any easy dog bath.
By christine rogalski
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Use a Coffee Filter For Dry Ingredients
Use coffee filters to hold dry ingredients when you are baking. You can get everything ready and it doesn't take your entire countertop. There aren't extra bowls to wash!(you just throw the filters away.)
By Angela
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Saving Energy in the Kitchen
Use a toaster oven or small electric pans for your small meals rather than a large oven or stove. A toaster oven uses 1/3 to 1/2 as much energy as a full sized oven. Microwave ovens and pressure cookers reduce cooking time, as well. Using a lid with a pan uses less energy.
By Terri H.
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Meal Planning Tips
Tips to help with meal planning. What do you do to make your meal planning easier and more cost effective? Post your ideas.
Plan your meals so you can cook several items at a time, while using the same temperature. While baking tonight's pizza, have a casserole ready to bake for tomorrow's lunch and maybe a few baking potatoes for tomorrow's breakfast home fries. Not only will you be saving energy on your power bill, but time you can spend with your kids or that good book, you've just started.
By Terri
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Recycling Aluminum
Try to remember to recycle when possible. Recycling just 2 aluminum cans saves the same amount of energy required to power a personal computer for an 8 hrs. work day.
By Terri H.
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3 Ways To Get Something Done
There are 3 ways to get something done:
1. Do it yourself.
2. Hire someone to do it for you.
3. Forbid your kids to do it.
By Terri H.
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Saving Money on Clothes When Dieting
When you are on a diet and have lost some, but not all the weight you want to lose, buy yourself some "new" clothes at second hand shops, to save money until you get to your desired size.
By Christine
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A Shaker of Baking Soda in the Kitchen
I buy a 99 cent clear plastic drink "shaker" at Wal Mart with a detachable lid and flip top and fill it with a box or two of baking soda.
1) Sit it on the countertop next to the stove. It's great for cleaning our ceramic top (and other tops) and also...
2) in case of a fire, it safely extinguishes flames! 3) A shake from this and I can safely and cheaply scour the kitchen sink, countertops, or microwave (just a dab will do)
4) If I need baking soda for a recipe, it's right there to quickly measure into a spoon.
5) When taking out the trash, sprinkle some into your trash can and then add your trash bag for cheap deodorizer.
6) Sprinkle some on your hands at the kitchen sink for a gentle scrub that removes cooking and food odors. Baking soda is very cheap and versatile to use in the kitchen this way!
By Missy W
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Homemade Drinkable Yogurt
My kids LOVE the Danimals brand drinkable yogurts, but they are such small servings and quite expensive. I make my own drinkable yogurt in a glass or plastic drink shaker. Combine 2 cups of any yogurt (blended, fat free, sugar free, any kind!) with enough milk to smooth it out and shake a few times. This will serve 3-4. Add more milk to get desired consistency. Serve or store in refrigerator. I put this on the table and the kids LOVE to see what kind of "Danimal" I've made.
To pack for a lunch, use a sturdy plastic beverage container, or save those single-serve chocolate milk bottles with lids, run thru dishwasher, and serve in those.
Finally, here's a super hint: You can FREEZE this drinkable yogurt in ice cube trays. Add a toothpick and you have a yummy popsicle or fun cubes to use in milk or more yogurt drinks or shakes. Enjoy!
By Missy W
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Other Active Topics
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in the following categories!
Tip Contest Prizes!
- Best Gardening Tip
- Best Recipe
- Best Food Tip
- Best Home Improvement Tip
- Best Gardening Tip
- Best Craft Recipe or Tip
- Best Money Saving Tip
- Plus 2 tips chosen at random
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Photo Contest Prizes!
- Best Pet Photo
- Best Party Tip, Craft Recipe or Craft Tip with Photo
- Best Gardening Tip with Photo
- Best Home Improvement or Decorating Tip with Photo
- Best Organization Tip with Photo
- Best Wedding Tip with Photo
- Best of the Rest
To enter, visit:
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Contest ends July 15, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests:
Nasty Old Pet Stains
I just recently moved into my cousins house and I am in the process of cleaning this house from top to bottom. There is 40 plus years of nicotine on the walls (using bleach and water to clean, works great, if you can handle the smell. lol). But my problem is the pet stains on the carpet! The smell is out of this world. I have tryed everything I can think of but to no avail! I do not have the money for new carpeting, I have shampooed. It looks a tiny bit better, any helpful tips would be awesome!
Thanks,
Donna
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Developing Old Film
I am looking for a source to have old black & white negatives developed into prints. Also, I have a Kodacolor-X (color negative film) CX 135-20 Film, that I would like to have developed but can't find a place where they will develope it. Can anyone help me? Thank you.
Anna from Maine
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White Mark on Shirt
i accidently got handwash on a nice new shirt and then washed it hoping it would come out. It didnt. Now there a white mark on my shirt and im sure the shirt is bleached. Is there any possible way of getting the colour back, I really need this shirt! Help,
Sean
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Hairspray on Digital Camera
I'm not sure if this has been posted before so forgive me if I am submitting this twice... Hairspray accidentally got sprayed onto the top of my digital camera and it has stuck. The little zoom button will not slide back and forth. Is there anything I can use to loosen it?
Thanks!
Jeri
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Carrot Juice Stain
How do I remove a carrot juice stain from my nice light blue excercise pants?
Johanna
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Electric Razor Reviews
Can anyone recommend a good electric shaver? One that shaves closely and doesn't break?
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More Reading:
Seafood Appetizers for the Baby Shower
By Anika Logan
The baby shower is fast approaching and you've chosen your main course but you find yourself at a loss as to what to serve your guests for appetizers? No problem! If your guests enjoy seafood (and have no allergies) consider a variety of appetizers from the sea to whet appetites and tempt taste buds.
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