Daily Thrifty Tips - March 16, 2009

A quick note for people planning on submitting Easter crafts to the Crafts for Fun and Money program. The deadline for submitting Easter crafts is Saturday, April 4th. That will give us time to get as many crafts as possible published before the holiday. For more information about Crafts for Fun and Money visit this page:

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

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Craft Project: Beaded Socks

Socks that have beads around the top.

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Mop (Himalayan)

Mop. Sometimes Mop-a-lop-a-gus. We aren't sure how old she is. We guess she is around 5. She is a Himalayan. I got her from a shelter. I went to get a orange tabby because I wanted one so bad. Mop was the only cat there surrounded by dogs.

She enjoys eating your hair and sitting on the back of the couch. She will be lovey dovey to you and as soon as you say "Awww Mop what a sweet kitty" she bites your ear. It never fails LOL. Other than that, she enjoys being a mouser. Shes the coolest!

By Becca from NY

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Craft Project: Jelly Bean Chicks

Create these cute chicks to hold jelly beans or other Easter candy. Give as gifts or add to your child's Easter basket.

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Video: Plants Poisonous to Pets

Just received this information from the ASPCA via email. I was surprised to know that some of these plants are poisonous to our pets, and thought I should share it with the ThriftyFun Community!

If you're like me, there will be a couple varieties that you had no clue could cause injury to your babies! I am blessed that my Rachel doesn't like to chew on plants because it turns out I have two of them in my home.

There is a written list plus a video which shows what the plants look like (yep, there are plants we don't know the name of so the video is quite enlightening) and other links to navigate for other general information from the ASPCA. Here's the video:

By Deeli from Richland, WA

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Compare Soil Enhancer Compositions to Find the Best Bargain

We're encouraged to use raised garden beds for our veggies here. Aside from our incredible compost bin, Chris wanted to mix Black Cow with the soil he'd bought. He chafed at the price specially after deciding he needed one more bag. He then spent the time to read ingredients on the store brands, and found a much cheaper Earthgro mixture in the same composition. Since we no longer can buy the separate ingredients at our local stores, this saved money and time.

By Betsy G from Orlando, FL

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Card Collages

I save photo Christmas cards and birth announcements through the year, then collage and frame them in one big poster frame. They decorate the kid's playroom. This way, I don't have to toss the photos, and I can see how the families have changed from year to year. Plus, it's a great way to have lots of colorful images up for the kids' wall!

Source: One of my mom's club friends told me about this.

By Erin from Blue Bell, PA

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Temporary Fix for Audio and Game CDs

If you have a small scratch in your CDs and don't want to have to have them repaired right away or buy new ones, try this trick. Stick them in the freezer for about five minutes. The cold causes the scratch to contract making the CD usable again. I don't know how many times I would try this, but it definitely has worked for me in the past. I would do it once and then get the CD fixed at the Radio Shack like store (I lived in Japan where they don't have Radio Shacks).

Source: This was shown in a Japanese Television show called "Itokei no Shokutaku". Every week they awarded the best tip with a $10,000 prize. Every televised tip was given a award of money or a prepaid telephone card depending on how many of the family members voted on the tip. It was a lot of fun and educational.

By Middlekid from Science Hill, KY

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Use Dresses for Shirts on Growing Girls

When my daughter's dresses are too short to wear, instead of giving them away, I sometimes use the dress as a very cute and frilly shirt paired with nice leggings or even jeans. Depending on the dress, a lot of summer dresses are cute enough to get away with this and people never notice it was a dress. I get extra wear time for my daughter, especially as fast as kids grow. And it looks adorable.

By Chris from Ohio

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Use Laundry Detergent for Soap Scum

Remove the ring of soap scum from your tub with liquid laundry detergent. For a really bad case mix dry laundry soap with water into a paste and apply to scum. Let it set for a while. It should come off very easily. Works on showers as well.

By Walton from Mesa, AZ

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Saving Small Amounts of Leftovers

Using leftovers can be tricky. The hardest leftovers to use are those in the in-between size. It's too much to add to one's own dinner portion, too much to throw away, yet not enough to make a full-sized meal portion.

I save them anyway, using in a zip-top baggie or a baby food jar if I don't have a container of the correct size for the portion. I freeze them if the food is freezable, too.

Later, I can take them out and prepare a mini-serving in whatever container makes sense. Soup stays in the baby food jar or tiny Rubbermaid-type container, while a thick spread may be put on a tortilla or lettuce wrap (use a flexible leaf, steamed in the microwave, so it won't break apart when wrapped); anything solid can be put into a baggie or a reusable silicone cupcake mold. (I also make meatloaf in these sometimes, just to have tiny portions.)

Then when it's time to prepare a box lunch for myself or DH, I take out several mini-portions of everything: meatloaf, tortilla, tiny lasagna slice, itty bitty leftover pizza circles that I've cut from a full-sized slice with a biscuit cutter, a teeny portion of salad, one or two fish sticks or chicken nuggets... anything that's small, or can be made small. I fill a bento box (do a net search on 'bento box') halfway with this sort of thing, then fill the empty spaces with grapes, berries, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, slices of cucumber, and so on.

Tiny, cute food is fun to eat, and you can pack in a lot of good variety and good nutrition if you focus on smaller portions of good foods instead of bigger portions.

By Chayil from USA

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Save Money on Plants

Tips for saving money on plants as suggested by the ThriftyFun community.

Buy Plants in The Fall

I use the fall to add any plants or shrubs when the nurseries are having 50-75% off. Last year I wanted to add a Magnolia tree to my yard and normally they are expensive but I went in September and bought one for half the cost. The person at the nursery told me it is fine to plant, you just put in ground but don't fertilize to promote new growth. My tree came back beautifully in the spring. Our nursery also guarantees all their plants for a year no matter what time of year you plant. I went this weekend and bought several plants and shrubs all for half off.

By Bulandd

Save Seeds

The best ways I know of to save money on plants is to save your own seed and to spend wisely when buying plants. I spend good money on fruit trees, they are a wonderful investment. It is worth saving seed from vegetables to re-use. Why buy new seed when your plants will make it for you?

I save parsnip seeds and sprinkle it around, also turnip, radish, carrot, lettuce and rocket. I also keep broad bean, scarlet runner beans, green beans, pumpkin, cucumber. In fact, now that I think about it, the only seed I need to buy is corn, I do like the flavor of hybrid corn best and if I run out of seedd or forget to save it. I need to get more Turks turban pumpkin as I didn't plant it last year.

I love finding little surprises all over the place, like lettuces growing in between the pavers on the back veranda and parsnips down the driveway. If you throw around enough seed you will rarely have to buy seed, or plant it. I grow wallflowers and let them seed, also sweet peas, nasturtiums, cornflowers, and foxgloves. That's about all the flowers I have, just because I mostly love vegetables and they also have magnificent flowers. The carrot flower is spectacular.

The other way to save money is to take cuttings. I have successfully planted lavender, rosemary, thyme and geranium cuttings. Every now and then I have a success with daphne. I take cuttings from cape gooseberries, runners from strawberries and pepino cuttings, also raspberry and loganberry as well as globe artichoke starter plants.

If you know someone who is successful with taking cuttings it will be much cheaper. I think it is a great idea to swap too. If I have an excess of anything I will offer it to someone in exchange for their excess. It makes it OK to ask for someone else's excess if you have something to offer. It will save you an unbelievable amount of money. This year I have swapped dried tomatoes and zucchini for day old bread, potatoes for chestnuts, pepino cuttings for horse manure, potatoes for grape cuttings, broad beans for fresh fish, potatoes for plums and music for wine. It's very addictive, this bartering thing and will save you heaps. Good luck!

Forage For Seeds

My mother used to pocket handfuls of deadheaded flowers, seed pods and cuttings from any yard or park she would visit. She then would scatter them in her yard and wait to see what would happen.

By Jess

Check The Dollar Store

You can get little plants at the 99 cent store! Good for inside and out in our climate. The 99 cent store occasionally has bare root roses, which my old landlord used to plant a rose garden around the front wall.

By Pamphyila

Tomatoes and Beans From Seed

I throw out tomato seeds into the garden and they make beautiful plants and produce all of our tomatoes. It is a cheap and inexpensive way to grow tomatoes. I also plant pinto beans for they grow like crazy. Hope this helps!

By Robyn Fed

Growing Geraniums Year to Year

We live in Zone 4, it gets well below zero. I buy and plant geraniums and pull them up in the fall. I store them in large cardboard boxes in the basement. Do not water, I leave them alone until early February . I take them outside on a mild day and clean off all the dead stuff then cut them back to about 1 inch. I dip the roots in a pail of water to soak them up, then re-pot them in gallon tin cans, with drain holes, and set the cans in something to catch the water. Give them a window and water and replant them outside in May. They get bigger every year and I get lots of compliments on them. Best of all, they are free! Seed geraniums do not work for me, only Zonal, so they cost a little more in the beginning but look what you get. I've been doing this for 10 to 12 years.

Grow Poinsettias Year Round

Save your poinsettia plants after the holiday season. They are native to Mexico and can be replanted outside to eventually form a bush, or for greenery inside. We have nice non-hot house blooms on a poinsettia in the front piece of garden. Not as flashy as the forced blooms, but quite nice in their own way.

By Pamphyila

Share With Neighbors

Contact your neighbors and share extra garden plants with them. How many times have we all weeded our gardens and have thrown out numerous plants.

By MCW

The Arbor Day Foundation

I was recently looking for prices on dogwoods and came across the Arbor Day Foundation. They have very reasonable prices on trees and will make sure they are suitable for your region. Best of all, if you become a member (I think it is $10), they will send you 10 trees for free. I know that there was a flowering tree package with dogwoods and other pretty trees.

• http://www.arborday.org/

By Jess

Creative Ways to Acquire Plants

I have nursed plants back to health that I have found discarded by gardeners, you can also try discard piles of nurseries. There just was a documentary on Sundance TV about a man who made his garden bloom with discards.

You can also get cuttings. Any kind of succulent will root from a simple cutting. So you can trim a jade plant from your garden (or a friend's) and then just stick in the ground to root! Spider plants are also extremely easy to propagate as you can root the little "baby" spider plants in pots or in the ground, both inside and out (I am in balmy Southern California).

I have also gotten cuttings from geranium plants which flourish here. I also read about the fabled old Afro-American sisters who put the ends of all their cut flowers into the garden - as some of the seeds actually took. An interesting idea.

There are also plants like mint which are very invasive, so you can take cuttings from when they are trimmed.

By Pamphyila

Start From Clippings

For indoor green plants, like Golden Pothos, sometimes you have to clip them, as the stems may get too long. Use these stems (with leaves still attached) and place in a clear container with water or plant directly into a pot with pot soil. Over time, the clipping will grow new roots and create a new plant! I have 5 beautiful Golden Pothos plants in my home that started from just one.

By Go2jared

If you have any more ideas to share, feel free to post them below.

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Make Emergency Hamburger Buns

I found that is quite a lifesaver to keep frozen bread dough in my freezer (it's found in the freezer aisle of your grocery store and usually comes in 2, 3 or 4 packs of uncooked loaves). I made a large pot of Sloppy Joes and did not have hamburger rolls. I knew they were basically white bread shaped into buns, so I pulled out 2 loaves. Once they were thawed, I molded into hamburger rolls. I let them rise a bit (about 10 - 15 minutes) and baked at 425 degrees F for about 10 minutes. You can brush an egg white on top and sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds if you like.

By Carol from Landisville, PA

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Save Bags for Sack Lunches

When we send our child to school with lunch, he uses a reusable bag. But, when he goes to summer camp at the school, they prefer lunches to be in bags that can be thrown away. To make the best of this, we save bags from the deli and also from fast food places, and reuse with the camp lunches. When I use a deli bag, I often will draw a picture on the front, or write a nice message to my son on the bag!

By Erin from Blue Bell, PA

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Removing Poop Odor from Garden

I live in a country house with 2000 sq. meters of garden, no plants, just trees and earth. I have lots of dogs and collect their poops regularly, nevertheless some of them skip my attention. When it rains or when there's excessive heat in the summer, some unpleasant odor can be smelled.

I desperately need some liquid or powder that can be spread to the ground and without harming dogs, cats, birds or anything to disinfect my garden from that odor. Thanks a lot.

VT

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Cigarette Burn on Carpet

My mother has cigarette burns on her carpet. How would one go about getting those out?

Theresa from Euclid, MN

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Computer Isn't Doing Updates

My Microsoft icon is in my lower right hand corner of the screen. It says it is downloading updates but it isn't happening. Is there some way to find out why not and get these important updates? I've tried a few things but no luck. Thanks.

Pattie from Bridgton

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Removing Liquid Fuse from Pants Hem

I used a liquid fuse for a temporary hemming job on a pair of suit pants. I used too much. How can I safely remove it to properly hem the pants? Thanks!

Pattie from Bridgton

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Throw Rug Stains On Linoleum

I mopped my linoleum floor and put my rug back down before the floor had totally dried. It was an older rug and had started to yellow a bit on the bottom. Now the area where the rug was is yellowed too. How can I removed this?

imaqt1962 from Illinois

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Dish Soap for Aphids

Will a soap and water spray get rid of aphids on plant leaves? Mary from Laredo, TX

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Paint Color Ideas for Bathroom with Green and Beige Tile

I would like some advice on what color to paint a small bathroom with green and beige tiles on the floor and bath stall. Also I need to know how to tie it together with curtains on one small window, bath fixtures, shower curtain, etc.. Thanks.

Ana from Chicago, IL

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Car Flag Holders

Does anyone know where I could purchase about 10 to 20 plastic flag holders? The kind that clip on to a car window. You usually see sports teams or national flags displayed this way. I am trying to have some flags made for a charity that takes disabled children on trips and travels in vans "caravan-style".

Often the vans get separated traveling on highways. This would be a good tool to keep the group together. I have checked online and only found vendors that sell very large quantities. I cannot find any distributor locally either. Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

Kathleen from Chicago, IL

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How Do You Keep Hair Out of The Shower Drain

How do I stop my hair from clogging the drain in the shower? My hair that comes out in the shower is continually blocking the drain in the shower of our family bathroom? Cleaning it out is hard and often involves cleaning out some of the pipes too.

Emily from Melbourne, Australia

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Tomato Blossom End Rot

I had a container garden last year with tomato plants and developed "blossom end rot". Does anyone have a solution to prevent this? I was told it was from a lack of calcium, so I bought Green Light Blossom End Rot Spray and sprayed the tomato plants. I didn't have much luck with this and lost nearly half my crop. I love homegrown tomatoes! So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Debbie from St. Louis, MO

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Picking at a Glued Cut

My daughter got her cut glued a couple of days ago. Now she is picking at it constantly. Is it going to be harmful to her cut?

Lou from Palm Desert, CA

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Updating My Kitchen Cabinets

I need other ways to update my kitchen cabinets. I made the mistake of painting them brown. I will welcome any ideas.

Iliana from Chicago, IL

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Recipes Using Leftover Turkey

I'm looking for good recipes for leftover turkey. I have good ones for chili, soup, enchiladas and tacos, but want some variety. I bought a big turkey breast when Kroger had them for $1 a pound and want to make the best use of it without having to buy lots of other ingredients.

Cheryl from Phoenix

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Used Dryer Sheets for Bird Nests

Are used dryer sheets safe for birds to use for nests?

Sharon from Canada

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Cornmeal For Ants

Has anyone ever heard of cornmeal killing ants?

Lorig from Tucson, AZ

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Removing Burnt Smell From Microwave

How do I get the burned popcorn smell out of my microwave oven?

Sharon

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Crocheted Casserole Carrier Pattern

I'd like a crochet pattern for a small and large casserole carrier. Thanks in advance.

Arlene from Albany, OR

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Ink and Marker off of Vinyl

My 5 year old wrote her name and her brother's name on the back of my Caravan's vinyl seats. I have tried hair spray, shaving cream, nail polish remover, all kind of cleaners, rubbing alcohol, Mr. Clean Eraser, etc.. Any suggestions?

Victoria

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Child Support Payments and Social Security

My ex-husband owes over $16,000 in back child support. He lives in GA and currently receives SSDI. Does anyone know what percentage they can take for child support? This is an interstate case and it will take at least 6-9 months before I receive any monies. Also, why can't SSI checks be garnished for child support?

debra1111 from Silver Spring, MD

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Military Ball Theme Ideas

I am with the Bryant, Arkansas AFJROTC and we are having a military ball in April. We don't really have a theme or anything of that sort. I didn't know a military ball did that kind of thing. I am in charge of the decorations and all that stuff. We are also trying to think of a trinket type thing to give out to the dignitaries and cadets. Can you please help me?

Shawna

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Getting Rid of Armadillos

I have two problems, armadillos and Japanese beetles. I know the armadillos love the beetle grubs but how do I get rid of both of them without using poison?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Viki from Abbeville, AL

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My Dog Won't Eat Dog Food

I have a year old pup that won't eat dry dog food. She doesn't like canned dog food either. She likes treats and canned cat food. Any help would be appreciated. I really want her to eat dry food. I have tried four kinds.

catbuttons from Kansas

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Removing Strong Odor from Moldy Refrigerator

We had to store our items in storage for about 3 months. My refrigerator was stored with the doors closed and it is overrun with mold and smells terrible. What is the best way to clean this?

KH from Ellabell, GA

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Removing Mothball Smell

How do you get rid of mothball odors?

Donna from Ontario, Canada

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Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

What are your thoughts on sending invitations to the wedding party/guests that will be invited to the rehearsal dinner of a formal wedding? Is a verbal invitation enough, or do formal ones need to be sent out?

Mary from Illinois

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Carpet Stain Remover - Tips and Recipes

Does anyone have a good homemade spot remover recipe for carpets? Woolite does pretty good, but I was wondering if anyone had a better one.

Tammy from Herrin, IL

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Painting Walls Red

I want to paint the wall above my chair rail deep red. The wall was previously wallpapered. After steaming off the wallpaper we spackled and sanded any imperfections and primed with gray primer. Now two coats of Lowe's expensive red paint later it seems like every little imperfection shows. I am wondering, is it the red or the satin finish of paint causing this. I used a light cream color below the the chair rail and have not had any of these problems. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Diane from PA

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Installing Peel and Stick Tiles

I'm using peel and stick tile in my kitchen. I'm putting it over existing square tile. Is there anything I need to do before sticking down the tile?

Rachel from Holtsville, NY

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Name For New Baking Business

We are starting a baking business and need a name. We have cupcakes, cakes, pies, breads, etc., all baked goods. We also provide gifts in a balloon and birthday party services with a clown. We live in a very small town. Please help with a name. (Our names are Rebekah and Heather.)

Rebekah from Mohawk, TN

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Weight Watcher's Quick Start Menu

Does anyone have Week One of Weight Watchers Quick Start program? Thanks.

Judy from Vernon, BC

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Energy Tax Credits Are Back!
By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

The energy tax credits are back! Earned credits for Energy Star home improvements expired last year, but they have been reenergized for 2009 and 2010. Now, home improvements that create more efficient energy use can rack up nicely sized deductibles on next year's taxes. Not only that, but the energy savings credits have been improved as well as extended.

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Ice Skates Recalled by Pronto Sports Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Hazard: Surface paint on the ice skates contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

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Electra Bicycle Company Recalls Bicycles with Front Trays; Trays Can Come Loose and Pose Fall Hazard to Riders

Hazard: The front tray on the bicycle can come loose and contact the front tire, posing a fall hazard to riders.

Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96657344.tip.html

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Kidde Recalls to Replace Fire Extinguishers Due to Failure to Operate

Hazard: The pressurized cylinders in the recalled fire extinguishers could lose pressure and fail to operate. In the event of a fire, this failure could put a consumer and property at risk.

Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52545362.tip.html

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Tippmann A-5 Paintball Markers Recalled for Repair Due to Risk of Injury

Hazard: The end cap assembly on the rear of certain A-5® markers can break and eject during use, posing a risk of injury to the operator.

Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30927618.tip.html

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