Tip of the Day #252: Maintaining a Clean Refrigerator

1. Stop fridge odours by lining the vegetable drawer with a sheet of newspaper.

2. Clean fridge seals by using a toothbrush and toothpaste or baking soda with water to form a paste.

3. Get in a habit of cleaning out your refrigerator every time you bring home groceries. Dispose of any food that is no longer edible or your family is not going to eat.

4. Wipe down shelves once a week or so with white vinegar to remove stains and eliminate funky smells.

5. Many of us are guilty of not doing this--ALWAYS wipe up spills or drips as soon as they happen! In the cold fridge, they become even more difficult to remove later!

Tip of the Day #251: Natural Floor Cleaner

FLOOR CLEANER- 1/4 cup vinegar,1 tbsp dish soap, 1/4 cup washing soda (not baking soda) and 2 gallons water (use less if you want a smaller amount)

**This is safe enough for ALL types of floors!

To make your HARDWOOD really SHINE, boil 3 black tea bags in the kettle--the natural tannins will leave those floors sparkling! ;)

Tip of the Day #250: Battery Storage

 Since recently moving, I promised myself I would do something with all the loose batteries lying around! So, once testing out if they worked or not, I took a trip to the dollar store to pick up a plastic tackle box (usually found in the 'craft section'). I then categorized all sizes of batteries and placed them in separate slots. SO MUCH BETTER! Now, if I can remind everyone in the house to keep it like this! ;)

Tip of the Day #249: Homemade Fabric Softener

FABRIC SOFTENER- 6 cups HOT water 3 cups white vinegar 2 cups Hair Conditioner (I used Suave, but you can use any that you like the smell of!)

Whisk the hot water and conditioner together. Make sure that the conditioner is completely mixed with the water and there are no clumps.Then mix your vinegar in--this is actually the softener, the conditioner is just for scent :) Use the same amount as normal fabric softener when doing a load!

Recipes for Homemade Dishwasher & Dish Soaps

DISHWASHER DETERGENT- 1 cup Borax 1 cup Baking Soda 1/4 cup Table Salt 2 packets Lemon Kool-Aid Mix all the ingredients in a tightly sealed container and use 1-2 tablespoons per load of dishes.


LIQUID DISH SOAP -1 ½ cup of hot water -½ cup liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bonner's) -1 tablespoon of white vinegar -1 tablespoon of Arm&Hammer’s Super Washing Soda (used to thicken the soap) -1/8 teaspoon of tea tree oil (optional) MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER, THEN ADD THE HOT WATER--WHISK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL WELL-BLENDED. THEN ALLOW TO COOL BEFORE USE.

Tip of the Day #248: Weed Killer Recipe

WEED KILLER- One gallon of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup table salt, 1 tsp dish soap. Mix and pour into spray bottle. If you dont need as much, just half the recipe. Spray directly on weeds.

DIY BUBBLEBATH!

Nothing makes me more excited than DIY projects--especially quick and INEXPENSIVE ones since all the ingredients you already have in your home!

Try this one out!

Homemade Bubble Bath:

1/2 cup shampoo
3/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a bowl, mix the shampoo and water until well combined.  Add salt and stir until it thickens slightly.  Use a funnel to pour it into a bottle.And that’s it!

This bubble bath costs pennies to make and makes a wonderful gift or stocking stuffer.  Add a personalized label to make the gift even more special