Cats and Dogs in the Garden?
When cats or dogs urinate in your garden or on your outdoor plants and flowers, it could kill all your hard work and cost you money! A simple and effective strategy that will not harm the offending pet is to mix the following formula: Put 4 garlic cloves and 4 red hot peppers (6oz. of hot pepper sauce can be used instead) in a blender and blend at high speed until liquified. Add this mixture to a gallon of water along with 8oz. of liquid dish detergent. Mix well. Fill garden sprayers as needed and spray the soil around the plants after watering. Another method is to buy medium sized bark chips from your gardening store and spread them throughout your flower beds (leave a few inches around the flowers bare). Critters don't like the bark chips as it can give them splinters.
*********************************************************
Carpet Stains and More!
To freshen up a carpet, lightly sprinkle baking soda and leave for 10 minutes before vacuuming. To remove most stains right after they have happened, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and place immediately on the stain. Put a heavy object on the towel. Leave for 20 minutes and remove. To remove old stains, mix 1 part vinegar and 2 parts baking soda into a paste. Apply to stain and leave for 24 hours. Brush clean (works great, we have tried it!)
*********************************************************
Grass in the Cracks?
We all know that pouring boiling water on grass and weeds growing in your patio cracks will temporarily solve the problem. If you add 1 cup of salt to every gallon of boiling water, it should kill the grass and weeds.
*********************************************************
A Great De-Scaler
There are many commercial de-scalers available on the market to remove hard water scales in coffee makers and water stains in sinks and tubs. White vinegar is all you need to use. Just fill your coffee pot half full of vinegar and run through. Then run through a pot of water to rinse the vinegar taste away. For sinks and tubs, place a paper towel over the water stains then pour white vinegar on the towels until soaked and let sit for a few hours. Repeat if necessary. To clean your shower head, fill a plastic baggie with white vinegar and then fast onto your shower head with a twist tie. Let stand 24 hours then remove the baggie and wipe the shower head clean. This works great!
*********************************************************
Extend the Life of Your Panty Hose
Store unused panty hose in the freezer to extned their life by 25%. A simple hint that works!
*********************************************************
Copper Cleaner
To clean copper pots and other copper untensils, clean and polish with Worcestershire Sauce. Use a soft cloth and rinse in cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel. Grandma says that this hin is over 100 years old!
*********************************************************
Fabric Softener Sheets
Instead of buying those expensive dryer sheets, why not make your own? Not only will your laundry come out soft but also static free. Cut small cotton towels to size then soak in a liquid fabric softener and wring out. Leave to dry. Use and re-use them as needed. These special towels also make terrice venetian blind dusters, you'll find you have to dust them much less.
*********************************************************
Homemade Cough Syrup
A simple cough syrup you can mix as needed that works to alleviate the cough as well as acting as a natural immune boaster. Mix 2 Tbsp. of liquid honey with 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice. You can add 1 Tsp. of frozen fruit concentrate for your own special flavour!
*********************************************************
Salt Stains on Shoes
Salt stains on shoes and boots are quickly removed by wiping the offending stains with white vinegar. If you want to protect your shoes from salt, put a light coating of petroleum jelly on the surface of the shoe or boot and rub in.
*********************************************************
All Purpose Spray Cleaner
Great for cleaning counters, stove tops, glass tables, cupboards and more. Mix equal parts of liquid dish detergent and white vinegar. Once mixed, add 3 drops of almond oil. Put solution in a spray bottle and you're ready to go!
*********************************************************
Home Made Hair Spray
This spray conditions your hair and gives it shine while holding it in place without the alcohol and harsh chemicals. Chop one whole lemon, put the pices in a 2 quart pan and cover with hot water. Boil the mixture down to half the volume. Let cool then strain the mixture through a cheese cloth or a very fine strainer. If the resulting mixture is too thick, mix in a little water. You can add a few drops of your favourite perfume as a preservative or store it in the fridge in a spray bottle and use it as needed.
*********************************************************
Quick Wrinkle Removal
Want to wear something and don't have the time to iron it? Put it in the dryer with a damp towel. This should remove most of the wrinkles in 3-4 minutes.
*********************************************************
Outdoor Furniture Polish
This special hint is for plastic outdoor furniture. Simply use your favourite toothpaste, apply and polish. You will see that it also removes most scratches as well! For vinyl cushions, wash with a mixture of 4 parts warm water, 1 part baking soda and 4 Tbsp. of liquid dish detergent.
*********************************************************
Save That Lettuce!
Don't throw away that wilted lettuce! Revive it! Put 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice in a bowl of freezing cold water, add lettuce. Make sure the lettuce is totally submerged then put the bowl in the fridge for 15 minutes, drain then serve. Remember this bonus hint when it comes to salads, "never mix tomatoes in your salad until the last minute, the acid in the tomatoes will wilt your lettuce"
*********************************************************
Save Money on Roasts
Want to buy a little less expensive roast but worried about its tenderness? Put 1 slice of canned pineapple in the roasting pot for every 5 pounds of roast. Apparently, the naturally present enzymes in the pineapple will act as a tenderizer for beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey.
*********************************************************
Home Made Mouthwash
No added sugars, alcohol, artificial colouring or chemicals we can't even pronounce! Yet it fights plaque and cavities and is a natural teeth whitener! For every 8 ounces of water, add 4 Tbsp. of lemon juice (the reconstituted variety is good) and 2 Tbsp. of peppermint oil (your local grocer will have this). Best to keep it in the fridge though.
*********************************************************
Colourfast Bleach
Add 2 Tbsp. of regular white salt to your wash cycle. It works just like those colourfast commercial bleaches. Your clothes will always come out bright and fresh.
*********************************************************
Home Made Air Freshener
To make your own air freshener and deodorizer, simply mix 2 cups of water, 2 Tbsp. of baking soda and 2 Tbsp. of peppermint extract (you'll find this in the baking section of your market). Put the solution in a spray/mister bottle. You can also revive potpouri by spraying the mixture right on the chips. Spray lightly on your car floor mats for a fresh scent as well.
*********************************************************
Laundry Spot Remover
Commerical spot removers can be expensive. Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol (you can find this in any drug store) and 2 parts water. Spray the spot or stain then wash as usual. Works on most stains.
*********************************************************
Got Bags Under Your Eyes?
Everyone knows cucumber slices help decrease bags under your eyes, but you just can't walk around with cucumber slice under your eyes, it's just not practical! Why not try Grandma's Cucumber Moo Moo, you love it! Finely mince one cucumber, skin and all. Cover it with 1/3 cup of boiling water in a pot. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes on low heat. Strain the mixture into a bowl. Add 1/3 cup of petroleum jelly and mix to a light cream. Store in the fridge and use as needed. Can also be used as a make-up base or as a night cream.
*********************************************************
Suntan Lotion
This special suntan lotion will speed up the tanning process, thereby limiting your exposure to ultra violet rays. Beat 1 egg until lemon coloured. While continuing to mix, gradually add 8 ounces of vegetable oil. Whip until thickened. Add 1 Tbsp. vinegar and 1 Tbsp. of wheat germ. Mix well. (By the way, yogurt is great for relieving sun burns).
*********************************************************
Textured Ceilings
The best way to clean ceilings that have a highly textured finish is with a vacuum cleaner. Use the dust-brush attachment to avoid damaging the surface. Sweeping the ceiling will also work, but use only a soft bristled floor brush.
*********************************************************
Stainless Steel
To clean those stainless steel untensils, boil them for 15 minutes in water to which 1 Tbsp. of liquid amonia has been added. To clean and polish your stainless steel sink, spray and wipe with a solution of 1 cup of warm water and 1 Tsp. of amonia. Grandma's dish detergent also works well!
*********************************************************
Ice Cubes Pop Out!
Before adding water to your ice cube trays, Grandma says to dip your finger in vegetable oil and run your finger over the pockets. Next time you need ice cubes, they should pop out with little effort!
*********************************************************
Measuring Shortening Made Easy
When you need one cup of shortening and you need to be accurate, try this: Fill your measuring cup with water to the 8oz. mark. Put enough shortening in the cup to bring the level to the 16oz. mark. Discard the water and what you have left is exactly 8 ounces (1 cup) of shortening.
*********************************************************
Bacon Extender
Bacon curls when frying and we all use too much as a result. Rinse your bacon in cold water before frying. The bacon won't curl and you'll find yourself using less!
*********************************************************
Dissolve Those Warts
A tried and true way to dissolve unsightly warts is to use 1 part glycerine (available at your drug store) and 1 part white vinegar. Mix to a lotion and apply with a cotton swab daily until the wart is gone.
*********************************************************
Great Facial Scrub
Here is a safe facial scrub you can mix up as you need it. Mix 1/3 cup of corn meal, 2/3 cup of petroleum jelly and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice. Put it on washed skin and massage gently. Use warm water to remove. Pat the skin dry. The massaging will remove the dead skin, the jelly moisturizes and the lemon tones.
*********************************************************
Save On Energy
To save 25% off of your energy bill, when operating your oven put a sheet of aluminum foil at the bottom of your oven. Your foods will cook faster and clean-up is a snap.
*********************************************************
Bubble Bath Anyone?
Mix 4 Tbsp. of corn starch, 15 Tbsp. of cream of tartar and 18 Tbsp. of baking soda. Store the mixture in an air-tight sealing glass jar. 2 Tbsp. of the mixture will give you a tub full of bubbles.
*********************************************************
Non-Chemical Drain Cleaner
Got a stubborn drain clog but don't want to use harsh chemicals? (Especially if you are on a septic tank system). Take 1/4 Cup of Baking Soda and 3/4 Cup of White Vinegar (keep in seperate containers) and pour the baking soda down the drain, then pour the vinegar down. Let stand about 15 minutes then follow with 2 kettles of boiling water (don't use boiling water in your toilet bowl, the combination of the cold porcelain and hot water would cause your toilet to crack). This should take care of your clog, you may repeat if necessary.
*********************************************************
