Saturday, February 16, 2013

Tip of the Day #224: Cleaning Shower Door Tracks

These tracks can fill up with so much 'guck' quickly! So, to clean--plug the drain hole in the door track with a little bit of paper towel made into a ball. Pour in undiluted white vinegar. Let this soak for about 30 minutes, unplug the holes and rinse track with a spray bottle of water, then run a rag down it. This will flush the accumulated build-up out of the track.

Tip of the Day #223: Cleaning Plastic Shower Curtains

Put the shower curtain in washing machine with one cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of your laundry detergent and several old, light coloured towels. Fill the washer with warm water and run through complete wash and rinse cycle. Remove from water and hang on shower rod immediately.

Tip of the Day #222: Keeping Buttons Secured

I cannot tell you how many times my daughter has come home from school missing buttons from her clothing, and of course, she has no idea where that button may be! :p
So, from now on, I always place a thin layer of clear nail polish on her buttons to keep them in place--the polish hardens and 'glues' the threads to the buttons!
I have even used this tip on a few of my blouses that have a some loose threads! ;)

Friday, February 15, 2013

Tip of the Day #221: Keeping your Trash Safe

Keep animals (like raccoons, dogs & cats) out of your garbage and avoid a huge mess by spraying your bags with insect repellent. The spray will deter, but not harm, the animals.

Tip of the Day #220: Preserving foods in Jars

If you have leftover sauces, soups or other foods in jars, place a double layer of plastic wrap under the metal lid to avoid a chemical reaction happening between the metal and the contents--thus, ensuring the food tastes better for much longer.

Tip of the Day #219: Ripening Fruit

To perfectly ripen your fruit, place in a brown paper bag, in a dark place for a few days!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Power of Chalk

Chalk isn't just for kids and teachers--there are so many useful benefits to those little white sticks!

Lifts Stains

Grease stains can benefit from some chalk treatment! Rub a piece of white chalk into any grease or butter stain and let it soak up the mess for a few minutes. Then, dust off any excess chalk and launder as usual. The chalk dust will get into the fibers and absorb the oils, making the stain easier to wash out.

Absorbs Moisture

Moisture and humidity can cause silver to tarnish. To slow the process, store a piece with your silver to absorb excess moisture and keep silver from tarnishing. This same method will work in your toolbox to keep your tools from rusting!

Stabilizes Screwdrivers

Rub some chalk on the business end of a screwdriver, and it's less likely to slip as you turn the screw.

Combats Mustiness

Hang a bundle of chalk in your closets and cabinets to keep them from getting damp and musty. The chalk will absorb excess moisture from the air -- humidity that otherwise leads to mustiness.

Repels Ants

To keep ants out of your house, draw chalk lines around your doorways and windowsills. Ants won't cross a chalk line. Why? It's not entirely clear, but some say the ants don't like the particles sticking to their feet, while others say they're averse to the calcium carbonate in the chalk. Whatever the reason, this nontoxic solution will keep ants outside where they belong!