Daily Thrifty Tips - September 13, 2006

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Recent visitor at my backyard butterfly bush. It's a Red Admiral Butterfly, A dark black, bright orange stripe and white spotted beauty! Hope you all enjoy the photo.

By Evelyn from McHenry, IL

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I decided to repaint my outdoor furniture this summer! They were a charcoal grey originally. I decided to go black, making matching new chair covers easier. Everything goes with black! So I went to Walmart. I used a 1/2" brush. In between the seat straps, I used a kid's paint brush. Those vary in size. It applied nicely. I used Walmart's ColorPlace exterior paint in satin black. This paint can be used on all kinds of surfaces. They mixed the satin color black in their paint dept.

The best part was the price! I paid only $6.44 + tax for a quart. I painted my table and six chairs. I still have more than half the quart left for touch up! The test will be to see this winter how it wears through our foggy winters.

Jennifer, CA

Walmart's ColorPlace Exterior Paint in satin black.

Before

After

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Taz is a 4 year old Miniature Pinscher. I got Taz when he was 8 weeks old.

Taz likes to sleep on anything warm. I have to fight for my heating pad. He can find his way into a laundry basket with the warm laundry from the dryer.

Taz has survived an attack from a pair of mean dogs when he was a year old. He hung on until we got him to the vet. He had a collapsed lung, broken ribs and required 17 stitches. He made a full recovery. Thanks goodness for modern medicine.

By Joyce Mansur from Mesa, AZ

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Uses for Coca Cola, besides drinking it.

To take stains out of clothing, use a 12 oz can of Coke-Cola Classic. Put some on stain, then rest in the wash water along with your detergent. Use COLD water only. If all of stain doesn't come out, BEFORE drying, while stiil WET use some toothpaste (I used cheap from Dollar store) on stain. Rub into material with either fingernail or a toothbrush, checking to see if all of stain is gone, then wash as usual. Then dry.

It took fifth wheel grease out of white tee shirt and left it looking like brand new. It also took out GRASS stains and blood out of white tee shirts too.

By Rosemary from Franklin, Texas

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Use leftover or stale cereal as a casserole topper. Just crumble it up and use in place of or in addition to crackers. Not all types of cereal work well for this. For example, Fruit Loops (or other sweetened cereal) probably wouldn't work well as a casserole topper, but cheerios and corn flakes can taste fantastic.

By Fisher

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I am an optician and have worked with contact lens wearers for many years. In all the practices I have been involved in, we receive many free samples of solutions from manufacturers hoping we will give out their products. Most often, we have so much, we throw away expired solutions as frequently as every 3 months.

Here is my tip: ALWAYS ask your optician, or doctor for free samples, of any/all solutions, tell them you travel and need the small sizes. Most of us have limited space for storing all the samples we receive and are happy to unload.

Also, when using solution to disinfect your contact lenses, remember, you don't have to FILL the contact lens case container with fluid, simply use enough fluid to COVER the contact lens. You can save a lot of solution this way. Hope this helps.

By Kelly from Alaska

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To keep your signature legible on the back of your credit or debit card, just cover it with a strip of cellophane tape! This will keep it like new. A cashier told me this trick and it works!

By Carol from Lancaster, PA

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It's allergy season for me and I have found that the ointment used for styes helps the area inside my enflamed eyellids. (I also put petroleum jelly on my upper eye lid.) Medicated eye drops have to be used sparingly - but you can use regular Murine as often as you like to rinse out your eyes - so check the label.)

By Pam from Los Angeles

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I have been making rice crispies treats a long time. This morning (it's 5 a.m. here) was no exception. I melted the butter, put the marshmallows in, let them melt. In the meantime I poured the rice crispies into a metal bowl and set aside. I stirred the marshmallows until melted and than here's what I did different. I poured the melted marshmallow/butter mixture over the top of the rice crispies that were in the metal bowl. Then I went and put hot soapy water into the pan that I melted the marshmallows in and came back to my metal bowl and WWWAAAALLLAHHH! the melted marshmallows did most of the work for me, it had run down into the crispies. Because it was a metal bowl it stayed warm for me to do a final stir and pouring the mixture into a cake pan was a breeze.

By Laurie from Watertown SD

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To really clean windows and mirrors, fix a solution of 2 quarts water with a squirt of Joy dishwashing detergent, and 1/3 cup blue Parsons, non-streaking ammonia. Wash your window with a washrag and then use a squeegee. Clean your edges with a soft dishtowel.

By Mudger from Guntersville, Al

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Before you buy a product, go to your favorite search engine and type the product, model and "reviews" into the search engine to see what others thought of the products. For example, if you are thinking of buying an iPod Nano, type in "iPod Nano Reviews". Look for review sites that feature reviews and feedback from real people.

By Fisher

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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How can I get paperback books unstuck?

Virginia

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I'm having my son's 7th birthday party a couple weeks early to make it a halloween costume party. It was his idea and he's so excited! My question is what are some party favors I can use? I plan on making up treat bags for all the kids but I'd like to put nice treats inside instead of cheap trinkets. Does anyone have ideas without spending a bundle? I'm expecting about 16 kids under the age of 8 to be there.

Chas from WV

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Our basement has a damp and musty smell and we were wondering if there is anything that we can do to get rid of the smell? We have a lot of boxes and suitcases down there with things in them and they all have a bad odor. Thank you for any help

Vick from Pennsylvania

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I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for re-doing kitchen cabinets.

Patti from Plnvl, CT

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don't know how to get rid of creeping charlie without killing what's left of my grass. This stuff is horrible. Please help me save my lawn.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Trisha from Ontario Canada

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Use a stiff artist paint brush (for oil paint) to clean out stubborn crumbs in your toaster's innards.

By Nancy from Madison, WI

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I was looking at some pictures i found in my purse last night, and the one with my daughter holding my great nephew (2 months old at the time) has some sticky paper residue on it, possibly from a sticker from my Dd (5 years old). I was wondering if there is a way to remove this without ruining the picture? Thank you for all responses. I would really hate to throw this one out.

jmz2005 from illinois

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How do you remove sign writing from a van (self adhesive lettering).

Dave from Chorley

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How do I remove the natural camel leather smell from some puffs I recently brought from Morocco?

Louise from London

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Last year I made all my Christmas cookies trying to make low fat and sugar free. I didn't use any oil, I used soft spreadable margarine for all of them and for the sugar I used Splenda. They all turned out with mold after a month. Was this because of the margarine and not using any oil or the butter? Hopefully someone can help me and tell me what kind of oil I should use. Thanks so much.

Vicky from Canadensis, PA

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Does anyone have suggestions on how to rid my backyard and garage of a cricket infestation that has invaded? I have pets, children and a swimming pool, so I would like to avoid any harsh chemicals or bug killers.

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Thank you!
Jennifer from California

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We have a bad problem with flea's and I do believe that flea's can infest human hair. Also, my 5 year old has fleas crawling and little brownish red speck like thingies in the root area of her head. What remedies will work best and fastest? I waisted so much money, energy and I am at my wits end!

Rhonda from Pennsylvannia

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How do you recover kitchen chairs? The chairs are wood with a fabric covered cushions.

Maime from New York

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How can I remove gum from my new suede sofa?

Milly from Milton

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I have cigarette burns on my formica countertops, linoleum floor in the kitchen and oak hardwood floor. Also, residual adhesive on same wood floors from 2 sided tape. It's sticky and dirty and I'm afraid to scrape it off or to use strong cleansers or solvents. I also need advice on cleaning the hard old dried cooking grease off of maple kitchen cabinets. Any help will be greatly appreciated. My new "old" home has been neglected and needs a lot of attention.

Thanks for any tips or guidance.

Debbie from South Amboy, NJ

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I bought a leather sofa and love seat and the smell is so strong, it burns my eyes. I was wondering why?

Cindi from Harrisburg, PA

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My garbage disposal got jammed with a bone, I removed the bone now my sink won't drain.

Lisa from Salida, CA

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How do you get grease off of jeans?

Natasha from Seattle, WA

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This may or not be a complicated question... but here goes! I use Microsoft Windows XP and have Internet Explorer as my browser. I'm wondering if there is any way, when I load a web page to find out when the web page was last updated or when it was added as a site/ posted?? I know trusted sites like ThriftyFun say when they are last updated, but sometimes when researching for school or need to know research I have no clue as to if its from 2006 or 1996. I look forward for any advice and thank you in advance!

Matt H from Keene, NH

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My daughter wants a Quinceanera with a Phantom of the Opera theme. I need ideas for invitations, centerpieces and party favors. Also, I don't like the red, black theme since it seems very serious, any ideas on colors? I am renting a theater in the local performing arts center and I am thinking of pasta for food just because it is cheap; unless you have any other suggestions.

Thanks, I can use any help

Ellie from San Diego, CA

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I'm trying to remember how to clean a shower head. The spray is going all over due to build up. All I can remember is that you can soak the shower head in a bowl of something, but can't remember what. Thank you!

Sara from Twin Lake, MI

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Where can I buy Shower Power? Not the Oxiclean product, the one I've used since the mid-eighties?

Michelle from Seattle, WA

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How can I get Sharpie marker off cloth car seats?

Mimi from MI

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I have several suits that I would like to try to wash in the washing machine. They are all Petite Sophisticate Collectibles and the fabric is 71% acetate and 29% polyester. Is it safe to wash these on the gentle cycle, just once in a while? I've tried dry cleaning and using the dry cleaning stuff that goes in the dryer but they still smell dirty to me. Are there any other Petite Sophisticate junkies like me out there that have washed their suits in the washing machine? Or anybody else with advice? Thanks a bunch.

Allison from TN

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How does one make his own soil testing kit?

bbleackley from Saskatchewan

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I am looking into buying a piano. I'd like to buy a good used one. Does anyone have any advice on what to look for? I just want something to play for fun at home and maybe, when I have kids, they can take lessons.

Allison from TN

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My aunt will be hosting her own 70th birthday and post retirement party. Any suggestions on entertainment, speech, etc.

Shopper from Honolulu, Hawaii

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Does anyone have a recipe for a Cape Verdean pastry called GooFong? How about another dish called Munchupa/Cachupa (depends on your pronunciation of this delicious dish).

Beverly from New Bedford, MA

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How do you remove nail polish from cotton sheets?

C. Bainbridge from Toronto, Canada

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I keep hearing that commercial food coloring is harmful to hummers. No one can tell me why. Is there scientific basis for this? Thank you for your time.

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Free Firefox Web Browser

"The award-winning, free Web browser is better than ever. Browse the Web with confidence - Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware and pop-ups. Enjoy improvements to performance, ease of use and privacy. It's easy to import your favorites and settings and get started. Download Firefox now and get the most out of the Web." You can download Firefox with or without the Google Toolbar, both versions are free.

More Information:
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My daughter, who just married, was given a handmade book of recipes handed down by the bridesmaid's mothers. This recipe was the first my daughter prepared and it was wonderful.

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