Daily Thrifty Tips - June 29, 2009

Vol. 8, Num. 126, June 29, 2009 (Read It Online) We hope everyone had a nice weekend. Do you have any tips for organizing tools to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit them here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml There's still time to rate last week's contest contenders, you can view all the posts here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml?contest=14468 Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Scenery: Edna Allen House (Virginia) Garden: Tulips Holly (Shetland Sheepdog) Shadow (Husky/German Shepherd) Today's Tips: Organizing Useful Tips Firewood for Cat Scratching Posts Control Static Electricity With Spray Fabric Softener Cold Drinks for Working Outside Use Bleach Once a Month to Keep Drains Clear Use Two Dish Drainers for Handwashed Dishes Joke of the Day New Requests: Getting Help With Vet Bills Coffee Stains on Carpet Purple Rainbow Tea Ideas Help for Kerosene or Gasoline Smell in Car Interior Parade Float Ideas for Veterinary Clinic Covering a Bathroom Window Can You Mix Lysol with Rubbing Alcohol? Mower With a Briggs & Stratton Engine Won't Start Diabetic Uses for Aloe Vera Getting Rid of a Brown Pigment Spot on Face Cleaning Dry Erase Boards Mold Problem With Front Loading Washing Machine Pooling Money for a Birthday Gift Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table Instructions for Pillsbury Bread Machine #1021 Making a Money Tree Anyone Used the Shark Steam Mop? Preserving Antique Christening Gown Replacing a Mailbox Post BBQ Side Burner Blackens Pots Storing Clothes in a Damp Basement Starting a Thrift Store Dog Always Has Body Odor Cleaning Aluminum Cookware Mixing Cough Syrup with Milk Creative Uses for A Broken Computer Mouse Preventing a Knife from Getting Rusty Puppy in Heat Started to Pee in House Getting Enough Fluids in Diet More Reading: BPA: Why Reusing Plastics May Be Dangerous Today's Sponsor: 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 Today's Photos: Scenery: Edna Allen House (Virginia) This is a picture of the Edna Allen House in Virginia. This was where one of the last hangings took place. By busdrivr from Clemmons, NC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59159459.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Garden: Tulips Our tulips are doing very well this year. My husband, Bryan, is our bulb gardener. He does a very good job. By kflocey from Gladwin, MI Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80050845.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Holly (Shetland Sheepdog) Holly is a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) shown at 10 months old. Holly was a gift from my husband. Holly enjoys following me outside, but her favorite sport is chasing a laser light "Dot" across the floor! By Sheltie Mom from Eastern Shore of Maryland Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68404595.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Shadow (Husky/German Shepherd) Shadow is a 3 year old Husky/German Shepherd mix. My husband took him in when he was 4 months old from a friend of a friend. He was very skinny he had worms. He looked very bad. He like to run around and be chased By ruby1152001 Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11520608.tip.html Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Organizing Useful Tips I have found so many wonderful tips on ThriftyFun and know I can't remember them all so I came up with an idea. I print and cut out the tips that I like and place them listed by category in an old recipe box. Then I have them at my fingertips when I need them. By Gee from Benton, AR Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10605830.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Firewood for Cat Scratching Posts Logs for firewood make a great scratching area for cats and kittens, also you can roll a ribbon rug from the dollar store around one and tie it with a sash making sure there are no loose ends. Lay this around to scratch on. A square carpet patch can be put on a log with a large sash and it can make a good scratching post too. I like providing things for the kittens to do to get them more socialized. By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74340255.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Control Static Electricity With Spray Fabric Softener If you have a problem with static electricity while walking on carpeting and touching items, mix 1/3 fabric softener and 2/3 water in a spray bottle and spray the carpet. Where my sister worked, they did this in the electronic room where the computers were located. This process will last a good while but will need to be repeated. My sister gave me this tip and said it works. Source: From my sister Diane. By bdon1 from Praireville, LA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46611146.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Cold Drinks for Working Outside Living in the southeast we get accustomed to working outside in the high heat and high humidity. Today isn't too awfully bad, 89 Degrees F and 53% humidity. But I thought I'd pass along a tidbit to help cope with the heat. I found some plastic drinking jugs at Wal-Mart for $1.50 each. They come in different colors. They hold about 24 ounces of liquid, have a handle to grip, and a pop up spout. Each night I fill them no more than 1/3 full with drinks, and freeze them overnight. Right now I have one with water, one iced tea, and one lemonade. Then the next day when I want a good cold drink to take outside with me (I have a very strict house rule; nothing glass goes outside!), I just take one, finish filling it up with whatever is in it, and take it with me. With the solid ice in the bottom it stays cold much longer than with ice cubes, plus the ice doesn't dilute the drink! One jug will usually last me most if not all afternoon. And it stays icy cold the whole time! By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18323726.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Bleach Once a Month to Keep Drains Clear We recently paid a plumber $95 to clean a clogged bathtub drain. All our home remedy tips did not free the clog. In fact, we even had to have them get the "snake" that we had used out of the drain because it was lodged in and we couldn't get it to move. He shared a tip that will help keep drains clear. The problem we had was that hair had clogged it up. He said to pour a half gallon of Clorox in there once a month to keep it flushed. He also said never to use those liquid drain cleaners in a situation like this because they would just stop at the blocked up place and make the situation worse. By Sandy from Elon, NC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43684213.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Two Dish Drainers for Handwashed Dishes Living with a house full of guys who all are allergic to dish washing and lacking an automatic dishwasher, I find myself daily washing mountains of dishes by hand. The best thing I have found to help speed this chore along is to use not just one but two dish strainers. This enables me to wash the whole shabang and leave them all to drip dry. I used to wash a batch, dry and put away, wash another batch, dry and put away. All that stop and start seemed to make it take forever to finish the job and lots of time I would get distracted between batches and end up with a job half done. Now I keep zipping along washing them, and complete the job fast. By Kathy from North Scituate, RI Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68615453.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Two women are discussing marriage, and one says, "We've been married 10 years, and every night my husband has complained about dinner. Not one night without complaining about the food." "That's awful," the other woman says. "That must really bother you." "No, not in the slightest," says the first one. "You must be a saint," her friend says. "Why should I object?" the first one says. "A lot of people don't like their own cooking, but I like his cooking just fine." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Getting Help With Vet Bills My baby boy, Ace has had it rough. We rescued him from the Humane Society 4 months ago. He is now 9 months old. We found out right away that he had Giardia (he was a stray). We are on the third round of medication for him, and he still has it. Our vet says they have never seen it take this long and it is taking a toll on the little guy. Now he has been limping for 3 weeks, fluctuating between his right and left hind leg. Come to find out he has Luxating Patella, which is a knee problem that can lead to severe arthritis. I will not put him down. I took the responsibility of getting him, and he is my little boy. The only problem is it is at least $1700 a leg. I refuse to lose him. I just lost my childhood dog 6 months ago, and I can't lose the puppy that fills that void in my heart. I live in Chandler, AZ. Any ideas on what I can do to find it cheaper or get some type of donations? By blondyprinzess from Chandler, AZ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65592756.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Coffee Stains on Carpet How can I get coffee stains out of my carpet? By Rossville Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53497210.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Purple Rainbow Tea Ideas I am the captain of a rainbow tea for church we are having in August. My color is purple. I would like some ideas on food and decorations. Thanks in advance. By pprimer from Lumberton, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85940828.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Help for Kerosene or Gasoline Smell in Car Interior How do I get kerosene stains and smell out of car carpet? By shaysid from Halifax, NS, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78686246.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Parade Float Ideas for Veterinary Clinic I am looking for ideas for a small town parade float with the theme "Old Values New Ideas" for a veterinarian clinic. By michael72501 from WY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91952393.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Covering a Bathroom Window I have a window in my shower/bathtub area and its starting to mold and mildew. How can I take that out or cover it without it looking trashy inside and outside? By porkbubbles from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94027539.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Can You Mix Lysol with Rubbing Alcohol? Can you mix Lysol with rubbing alcohol? By 412billie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13715369.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Mower With a Briggs & Stratton Engine Won't Start I have a Briggs and Stratton motor on my riding lawn mower that will not spark. Thought it might be the magneto and replaced it. No joy. How do I know I am not getting a spark? I pulled the plug wire and turned over the engine and put the wire next to the block hoping to see a spark, but I did not. Is there anything else to check to see if a spark is there? By vincentb from Lakeland, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14752090.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Diabetic Uses for Aloe Vera Is homemade Aloe Vera Juice good for diabetes? By gebru from Annandale Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf470167.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of a Brown Pigment Spot on Face What can I use to get rid of or diminish a large brown streak on my forehead? By Teressa A. from Bismarck, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64853752.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Cleaning Dry Erase Boards Does the spray eyeglass cleaner you buy and then get free refills from Walmart work on dry erase boards? It would be bargain if it does. Does anyone know? By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf826012.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Mold Problem With Front Loading Washing Machine How to clean mold from a front load washing machine? By llaurab from Stafford, CT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55969744.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Pooling Money for a Birthday Gift We are planning a combined 80th birthday party for my parents. We would like to put on the invitation that instead of a gift, would they like to contribute to a combined expensive gift that we are planning to get them. Any suggestions on how to word this? By grandpup from Morganville, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42960995.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table What products can I use to clean old butcher block? By cleda Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf142239.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Instructions for Pillsbury Bread Machine #1021 I am looking for a manual for a Pillsbury Bread Machine #1021. By Dee38 from Baraga, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23320498.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making a Money Tree I need to make a money tree for our Pastor, for Pastor Appreciation Day. Can someone help me out? By Terry J from Goshen, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf864928.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Anyone Used the Shark Steam Mop? I'm thinking about getting a Shark cleaning mop and I'd like to know if anyone else has one and do they like it. I'm not sure about cleaning with just water. By Mshelly from Hephzibah, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18947396.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Preserving Antique Christening Gown Our family christening gown is over 100 years old. I am noticing that the fabric, cotton, is getting "fatigued". Does anyone know of a way to strengthen the fiber? I am hesitant to use a starch of any sort, because when stored, the starch may attract vermin or mealy-type bugs. Thanks. By hettyw from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73322190.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Replacing a Mailbox Post I accidentally knocked over my neighbor's mail box when I backed out of a driveway. It snapped it off at the base. How do I remove the cement and post from the ground? It's a wood post in a round tube of metal set into the sidewalk, with rocks cemented into it. If I do it, it will have to be without a jackhammer, that's more than I can handle, too old for it or a pick-axe. There must be some other way, even if it just removes the wood post. By nekocat from OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80386439.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | BBQ Side Burner Blackens Pots How do I stop the BBQ side burner from blackening pots? By Sarginson from Oshawa, ON Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80738995.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Storing Clothes in a Damp Basement How do I keep clothes dry in damp basement? I want to pack them away, but am not sure how to keep out mold and mildew smells and dampness. Every time I pull something out it smells and feels damp, or it's plain moldy, especially leather. By pattygene from Alton, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54836409.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Starting a Thrift Store Do I need a donation license to receive donations for a thrift store? By extended from CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96444744.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Dog Always Has Body Odor I have a dog who always smells. I have tried almost every kind of shampoo and nothing works. What can I do? Help. By jessica4smith from Syarcuse, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70032284.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Cleaning Aluminum Cookware How do you clean burned stuff off of an aluminum pan? By handicapped91 from Peabody, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39569750.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Mixing Cough Syrup with Milk Will cough syrup still have an effect if you mix it with Stawberry milk or Chocolate milk? By jazzy774 from Pasadena, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77587592.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Creative Uses for A Broken Computer Mouse I have a broken Apple Pro Mouse, that is a computer mouse. I would like to find some use for it, rather than sending it to a landfill. Any ideas? By Valya7 from Buffalo, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54331427.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Preventing a Knife from Getting Rusty How do you prevent rust from returning to a knife? By spydede from MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19402656.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Puppy in Heat Started to Pee in House I have an 8 month old, female Lab puppy who has just came into heat. Since then she just seems to be peeing in the house all the time. I am wondering if this has got anything to do with it? I am stressing out, because it just feels like we have gone right back to the beginning. Could you please help. I don't know what else to do. Thanks. By jacquixlx from Glasgow Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90135975.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Enough Fluids in Diet I need some good compact ideas for adding more fluid to my husband's lunchbox diet. The temperatures are soaring here and he just is not getting enough liquids. I've been sending stuff like watermelon and canned fruit, to eat along with his sandwiches. The sandwiches are coming back uneaten, but the fruit and watermelon are disappearing. By notwrong Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97733002.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Today's Sponsor: 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 More Reading: BPA: Why Reusing Plastics May Be Dangerous Did you know your plastic is killing you? Sorry for the dramatic title, but I had to get your attention because it's true. Being a thrifty person, especially in the kitchen, I have always reused plastic food containers from the grocery store. I buy lunch meat, butter and desserts that come in the "perfect looking" reusable container. The lid snaps well, it's clear (which I like) so I know what's inside, if I give it to someone and it doesn't make it home, it's ok. So why should I recycle it away when it still has so much use left? Let me share with you why. Recently, I started an eco friendly, organic website and have had the pleasure of doing tons of research and learning so much and I really learned something VERY important about BPA, which is found in everyday things like water bottles, baby bottles, milk cartons, and water pipes. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22531037.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.