TIP OF THE WEEK

09/06/10	If the cat passes out every time you take off your sneakers, it's time to act. Fill a couple of old socks with scented cat litter, tie them shut, and stuff them in your sneakers overnight.
08/30/10	Whether you love or hate the smell of coffee, used grounds attract and trap unwanted odors, without imparting that unmistakable coffee scent. After you have dried them, preferably on a cookie sheet or foil, place your coffee grounds in old pantyhose. Tie the hose off, and then simply place them in any closet or area that needs freshening up. Results should last for a few weeks or even an entire month.
08/16/2010	Who knew toothpaste could me used on more than just your teeth? Deodorize your hands - you know that smell of garlic or onion you can't seem to wash off, now you can! Squirt a blob of toothpaste on your hands and rub together, rinse and smell is all gone.
08/09/10	Fertilize your houseplants - Most plants need nutrients like magnesium and sulfur to stay in good health and Epsom salt makes the primary nutrients in most plant foods (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) more effective. Sprinkle Epsom salt once weekly to help nourish your houseplants, flowers and vegetables.
08/02/10	Repel moths. Pesky kitchen moths seem to come out of nowhere! Send them back to wherever they came from by washing your drawers, pantry shelves, or cupboards with 1/2 cup ammonia diluted in 1 quart (1 liter) water. Leave drawers and cabinets open to thoroughly air-dry.
07/26/10	Use Baking Soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
07/19/10	If you are in the market for a new washer or dryer, you may have choose between electric or gas-operated machines. Gas installations may cost more to begin with, but they will turn out to be cheaper in the long run. According to the California Energy Center's Web site, it may cost 30 to 40 cents for each load of clothes you dry electrically, compared to 15 to 20 cents if your machine runs on gas.
07/12/10	Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, swish it around, then rinse with cold water.
07/06/10	Pour 1 cup of Baking Soda into the dishwasher and run it through the rinse cycle. It will help get rid of some of the grime that collects on the inside of the machine, as well as freshen the smell of the dishwasher.
06/28/10	To remove blood and urine stains--spray hydrogen peroxide full strength directly on stains, let sit, rinse and repeat but let it sit even overnight. Like magic, stains will be totally gone.
06/07/10	Cleaning Power From Your Shower!! The best time to de-gunk the bathroom mirror is in the morning after everyone has their showers. Once the mirror steams up, wipe it off with a towel. The dirt comes off easily, and you'll save money on cleaners and paper towels!!
06/01/10	Lemons - a fruit with a wonderful fragrance, great in food and beverages, but also very handy for multiple purposes around the home! Heat a bowl of water and lemon slices in your microwave for 30 seconds to a minute; then wipe out the microwave. Stains will be easier to remove and old food odors neutralized.
05/24/10	Instead of harsh chemical sprays, get those windows clear with a simple solution of white vinegar, newspaper and a little elbow grease. You'll also save money and the hassle of needing to stock more cleaning supplies. It's simple: mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.
05/17/10	Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener. Use 1/4 cup for lighter weight fabrics, like cotton shirts, sheets, etc., and 1/2 cup for heavier fabrics like denim, bedspreads, towels, etc. Vinegar is way less expensive than fabric softener, too, and never leaves any residue on your laundry. Don't worry....the smell goes away as the clothes dry.
05/13/10	Switch to CFLs.: Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They're more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but it only takes about 3 months to make up for the higher sticker price in energy savings.
05/03/10	Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.
04/26/10	Many of us have hydrogen peroxide in our medicine cabinets. Adding a bit of hydrogen peroxide to your houseplants’ water can perk them up and help them grow stronger and healthier. Just add a tablespoon or two of peroxide to your watering can when you water your plants. Rainwater has naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide which is what makes your outdoor plants so much happier than the indoor variety.
04/20/10	White distilled vinegar provides many safe and natural ways to protect and enhance your garden. Not only will you feel good about keeping children and pets away from pesticides, you’ll feel great about the low cost of vinegar. Kill weeds and grass growing in unwanted places by pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar on them. This works especially well in cracks of walkways and driveways.
04/06/10	Deodorize garbage disposals and sink drains with baking soda. Instead of throwing out that old box of baking soda that's been sitting in the refrigerator or freezer, gradually pour it down the drain and flush with water. Or better yet, pour two tablespoons baking soda down the garbage disposal every week.
03/29/10	Drain clogged again? Get almost instant relief: Drop a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets down the opening, then pour in a cup of vinegar. Wait a few minutes and then run the hot water at full force to clear the clog. This is also a good way to eliminate kitchen drain odors.
03/23/10	White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical.
03/17/10	Clean the hoses and unclog soap scum from a washing machine. Once a month pour one cup of White Vinegar into the washing machine and run the machine through a normal cycle, without clothes.
03/10/10	Spring Cleaning????? If your Latex paint is unusable, here is how to dispose of it: Add Clay-Based Kitty Litter or sawdust to the paint. Stir the mixture and keep adding kitty litter/sawdust until it gets thick. Allow the mixture to air dry until hard. Once paint is completely dry, you may dispose of it in your regular trash. Don't put the lid back on.
03/04/10	With Spring fast approaching................ Clean oil spots from a driveway. Pour a can of Coca-Cola on the oil stain, let sit overnight, and hose clean.Coca-Cola works as a non-toxic degreaser. If the oil stain has been there for twenty years, you may have to use a six-pack—one can of Coca-Cola at a time.

TIP OF THE WEEK

If the cat passes out every time you take off your sneakers, it's time to act. Fill a couple of old socks with scented cat litter, tie them shut, and stuff them in your sneakers overnight.

Who knew toothpaste could me used on more than just your teeth? Deodorize your hands - you know that smell of garlic or onion you can't seem to wash off, now you can! Squirt a blob of toothpaste on your hands and rub together, rinse and smell is all gone.

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