ALUMINUM FOIL USES
Static Removal -- Fold foil in a ball and put in dryer with clothes, it removes static and drys clothes as usual.
Scissor Sharpening -- Fold several layers of foil, cut with scissors several times and it will sharpen your scissors
Ironing -- Fold over ironing board beneath cover and it retains the heat
ANIMALS IN GARDEN
Place lemon slices or slivers of deodorant soap around, they don't like smell and should leave.
APPLES FOR HEALTH
Apples are good for you -- protect your heart -- prevents constipation -- blocks diarrhea -- improves lung capacity -- cushions joints (not the smoking kind)
APPLIANCE CORD STORAGE
Use empty toilet paper rolls to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
BEACH SAND REMOVAL
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When your ready to leave the beach, sprinkle yourself with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.
BUG KILLER/MOSQUITO ITCH
If menacing bees, wasps, hornets or yellow jackets get into your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you should experience instant relief.
BURN STINGS...MINOR
Colgate or crest toothpaste will stop sting. Did you know that colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?
CANDLES...MAKE THEM LAST
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer at least 3 hours prior to burning.
Scented Candles -- Add a drop of essential oil to melting wax just next to wick. Consider cinnamon, frankensence, myrr and pine.
CAULIFLOWER
Did you know that cauliflower protects against breast and prostate cancer, strengthens bones and gaurds against heart disease.
CHINA PROTECTING HINT
Prevent china plates from being scratched when stacked by inserting used jar rings between them.
CHINA PROTECTING HINT 2
Separate your good china by putting a coffee filter between each dish. For you guys who might be reading this, remember these are not used coffee filters.
CHRISTMAS DECORATION...STORAGE
Use egg cartons to store your Christmas decorations
CHRISTMAS TREE
Add a little lemon-lime soda to the tree water to give your evergreen a lift. To water the tree without spilling, place ice cubes around tree base. If you have curious cats or dogs at home, hang tinsel out of their reach.
CHRISTMAS TREE...MAKE SURE IT IS FRESH
Make sure Tree is freshly cut by striking the stump down on a firm surface, if needles fall off, tree is too dry.
CHRISTMAS TREE...WATERING
Real Christmas trees can absorb as much as one gallon of water the first day. Place the tree away from heat sources and of course sparks and open flames. Use miniature or LED lights as they produce much less heat.
CLOTHING BLEEDS
Prevent brand new red clothes from bleeding all over your other laundry by soaking them in vinegar before the first wash.
COLD CURE
Finely chop a few garlic cloves, cover with honey and leave for 2-3 hours. Take a teaspoon full several times through out the day.
COLD...STOP IT IN IT'S TRACK
Eating a whole onion at the first sign of a cold will stop infection(friends too).
COUGH...STOPPING IT
If you have a bad cough, take a dose of laxatives then you will be afraid to cough.
CRAFTS...GOLD SPRAY PAINT
Spray pasta shapes for children to string and use as a garland anywhere in the house. Spray large flat pebbles or chunky stones to catch the light sitting amongst your candles.
CUCUMBER CURES
Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day.
Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a cucumber before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.
Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snaking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
CUFF LINK...EMERGENCY
You packed a nice shirt with French cuffs for a wedding, but forgot your cuff links so here's what you do. Take a twist tie (that you never leave home without) and pull the twist tie through so twist is discreetly inside cuff.
DIGESTION HELP
Try a cup of basil tea after dinner to help digestion.
DRY SKIN PROBLEMS
To soften dry skin, add 1 cup powered milk to your bath (It worked for Cleopatra). Also try adding lemon juice or vinegar to your bathwater. Soap, being highly alkaline, may make your skin feel itchy. Forgo all skin products that contain alcohol, which is drying (alcohol goes inside not out).
EAR MITES
Elimate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Oil in your dog or cats ears....massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cats skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
EAR WIGS
If you have a problem with earwigs, just roll up a newspaper and leave it in the area overnight. When you wake up the next day, the earwigs will be inside the paper. Put it in a plastic bag and throw it away.
EYE GLASSES BROKEN...TWIST TIES
Whoops--Your specs slip off because the tiny screw that holds the earpiece fell out. Secure the earpiece temporarily with a twist tie. Trim the edge off the tie so you have only the centre wire. After you insert and twist, snip off the excess with scissors.
FAUCET DRIPPING
A dripping faucet adds dollars to your water bill, so be sure to get it fixed. In the meantime, tie a string to the faucet and let it dangle into the drain. The water will run down the string without that annoying drip sound.
FEVERS IN THE FALL, EAT MODERATELY, DRINK SPARINGLY
Do not lay down on damp earth, do not overheat yourself, keep your temper even, change clothes when the weather changes (who do you change with?) Drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, eat correctly, fruit, vitamin c, veggies and grains which cleanse your system.
FIREWOOD TIPS
One large log last 2-3 times longer than the same volume of smaller logs. For the prettist flame, burn Birch or maple.
Burn only seasoned wood (seasoned logs seem light in weight and have dark ends with cracks). Wood warms you thrice: when you chop it, when you stack it & when you burn it.
FLIES...SHOO THEM AWAY
Place pennies and some water in a plastic bag and hang over patio table to shoo away flies.
FLOWER BOXES CREATIVITY
For flower window boxes, create an impressive display by planting containers that are similar in style, made from the same material and grouped together.
FLOWER CUTTING -- HOW AND WHEN
Cut garden flowers in the morning or early evening. Use vase large enough to provide plenty of room for all the stems, with a mouth opening that is wide enough for circulation. Always use a sharp knife to cut stems, avoid using scissors.
FLOWERS...EXTEND THE LIFE
Extend the indoor life of cut flowers by putting them in a solution of one part water, one part clear soft drink such as: (sprite, 7up, gingerale etc.), and a few drops of clorine bleach.
FLOWER...PICKING
Flowers should be picked early in the morning or late in the afternoon and immediately placed in water
FROST IN GARDENS
If your daffodils or tulips bulbs are visible and frost threatens, cover with an old sheet or some lightweight fabric.
FRUIT FLIES
Pour apple cider vinegar in a glass, they will smell the vinegar and fly in the glass and drown.
FRUITS..GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
BANANAS..Protects your heart, quiets a cough, strengthens bones, controls blood pressure and blocks diarrhea
CHERRIES..Protects your heart, combats cancer, ends insomnia, slows aging process, shields against alzheimer's
FIGS..Promotes weight lost, helps stop strokes, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer and controls blood pressure
FURNITURE SCRATCHES
Remove scratches on furniture by mixing equal parts of lemon juice and salad oil, rub gently with a soft cloth.
GARBAGE DISPOSAL SMELLS
To eliminate the smell from garbage disposal units, scour food particles from the walls and blades. Then, combine 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Remove the cubes and grind them in the disposal. Then flush with water for one minute, grind some lemon or orange peels for a pleasant fragrance.
GARDEN...CLOSING TIPS
Give compost pile a good turning before winter sets in. Apply lime to lawn, as long as there is no snow. Work a trowelful of cornmeal into soil around rose bushes and hill up around base.
GARDEN...MUDDY
If you'll be working in a muddy garden and have to keep running into the house, set two grocery bags at the door, step into them from the garden, go into the house without tracking dirt, then step out of them and go back to the garden
GARDEN...PLANTING LOCATION TIPS
Basil: plant with tomatoes, repels flies and mosquitoes. Mint: plant near cabbage and tomatoes, deters white cabbage moths. Garlic: plant near roses and raspberries, deters Japanese beetles.
GARDEN...WEEDING
Prefer to sit while you weed? Nail a small board to an old paint can. Instant portable seat.
GARDEN...WINTERIZING
Before the ground gets too hard, remove all the weeds and debris and eliminate over wintering sites for insects and disease.
Once garden soil is exposed, till gently and add manure, compost,leaves and lime
GERANIUMS
Geraniums like to be fertilized with rinsed coffee grounds once in awhile.
GLASS (BROKEN CLEAN UP)
Use a wet cotton ball or q-tip to pick up small shards of glass you can't see easily.
HAIR CONDITIONER
Mayonnaise will condition your hair in 15 minutes (while you are making potato salad)
HAIR CONDITIONER (2)
To condition and moisturize dry brittle hair, mash an avocado and apply to damp clean hair, leave about 20 minutes wrapped in a plastic bag, heat with a blow dryer then wash and rinse. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to palms of hands and work into hair.
HANDS...HURT BY CLEANERS
Cleaning can play havoc with your hands so protect your nails by dabbing petroleum jelly beneath them to keep dirt out. Dot more on cuticles to stop them drying out, roughening or splitting. Wear rubber gloves when dipping hands into hot water or they will redden and become dry
HEADACHES?
Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.
HEAT...BEAT THE
Cool your house down by opening your windows to the breeze after sunset and leave them open until dawn. Draw shades before the temperature starts to rise
HERBS...DRYING
If you have an abundance of parsley, dill or chives, dry and store them. Wash and drain fresh herbs well, then place between paper towels in the microwave for ten mins. on medium setting, cool herbs, then crumble or chop in a blender. Store in an airtight jar.
HONEY AS A HEALTH AID
Stir a spoonful of Honey into a hot drink to promote relaxation and sleep. Chew a bit of Honeycomb if your body is overheated. Use a touch of Honey on chapped lips as a healing balm
HOSE HOLDER
If your hose knocks over plants in the corner of your garden as you water try this: Drive a heavy stake in each corner, drape the hose around the stakes towards outside of garden to keep the hose off plants.
HOT WATER BOTTLE...SUBSTITUTE
For a substitute hot water bottle, use a large plastic bottle from dish washing liquid, fill with hot water, screw the cap on tightly, wrap a dish towel around it and you've got your bottle.
HOUSEPLANTS...LOOKING TIRED
For houseplants that look ill, give them a bit of Geritol on a regular basis for about 3 months. It sounds crazy, but it works.
ICE CHEST...PRECOOLING
Prechill the interior by filling the chest with ice. Let stand for 15 minutes, then drain and cover the bottom with plenty of fresh ice cubes, or if room, put chest in freezer for awhile
INSECT...REPELLANT
On your skin, rub baby oil or vanilla extract to ward off mosquitios or blackflies. If bitten, rub lemon juice, white vinegar or meat tenderizer on bite.
JEANS...MAKE THEM SOFTER
To soften new jeans, wash them several times, or soak them 12 hours in a small tub filled with cold water and plenty of fabric softener. Then wash as usual.
JEANS...PRESERVE NEW COLOUR
To preserve the colour of new jeans, wash them inside out. The first wash should be without detergent.
KNOBS WON'T STAY PUT
Dip the screw end of the knob into shellac or clear fingernail polish. Screw it back in. When it dries, it will be set.
LAVENDER
Lavender adds a sweet flavor and fragrance to dishes
LAWN...MISSING TURF
Patches of turf mysteriously torn up over night? Quite likely the work of insect-seeking raccoons or skunks. A sprinkling of moth crystals may help to persuade them to dine elsewhere.
LAWN...MOWER STORAGE
Before putting your lawnmower away for the season, be sure to empty out all the gas. Wrap an old towel on a wire coat hanger and insert into the gas tank to wipe up the last of the gas. You'll prevent any gummy residue from forming during the winter.
LAWN...NEED WATERING
You can tell your lawn needs watering when your footsteps stay on the lawn. Well watered turf springs back, dry grass doesn't.
LAWN...WEED REMOVAL
Remove weeds and crab grass from your lawn with a beer can opener. Insert the opener under the root of the weed and pull it out.
LEG SHAVING...CUT THE COST
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth.
LEMON...FACE LOTION
Equal parts of lemon juice and a beaten egg can be boiled briefly and scented with rose water to make a natural face lotion.
LINEN CLOSET OVERHAUL
Store bed linen inside of their own pillowcases, and there will be no more hunting through piles of linens to find match.
LIPS...CHAPPED
Plain honey is excellent for chapped lips.
LOCKS FROZEN
When the weather is cold enough to freeze a padlock on a shed or garage, slip a plastic sandwich bag over the lock to avoid frozen tumblers.
MAILING LABELS...PROTECTING
When sending parcels on rainy days, put clear nail polish over the address information to make sure your parcel gets to the right place.
MEASURING GUIDE
Need a handy measuring guide? A $1 dollar bill is almost 6 inches long.
NAIL POLISH (MAKE IT LAST)
Dip your fingers into solution of one half cup water and two teaspoons white vinegar. Pat dry, then apply polish. You'll get an extra bonus with this. Vinegar softens cuticles and conditions nails.
NAIL POLISH (TESTING)
Put a light coating of hand cream on, then wrap a piece of cellophane tape on your fingertip. Paint on the new nail colour. A great way to audition a colour and see how it looks on you.
NAME TAGS...EASTER DINNER
For place name tags at Easter, decorate Easter Eggs, put names on them and place them in decorated egg cups. For a centre piece, take a basket, put straw in the bottom and fill with chocolate eggs, fruit and spring flowers.NECKLACE KNOTS
Gold chain in a knot again? Dust it with a little talcum powder and then try and unknot it. If the knot is really stubborn, place a drop of baby oil on a sheet of waxed paper. Lay the knot in the oil and work it with two pins, then clean in ammonia or warm sudsy water.
NEEDLE THREADING
If your finding it difficult to thread a needle (and who isn't), apply a bit of hairspray or spray starch to end of thread. Always keep a small magnet in your sewing box in case the pins spill.
NEWSPAPER...RE-USES
Use as a fire starter then use the ashes to raise the pH of garden soil.
PACKING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
Store your shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clean clothes. (you can find shower caps in most hotels)
PAINTING TIPS
Rub petroleum jelly or skin cream on all exposed skin before you start painting. The paint will wash off easier once you have finished.
Start by dusting windowsills and ledges. Wash down any really soiled walls. Be sure especially to wash off any grease marks or they will show through the paint . (WORK WORK WORK)
If you have ever painted woodwork, you'll know that paint soaks into knots more than it does elsewhere. Apply a coat of varnish over the knots before painting.
When painting a room, cut down on the smell by cutting an onion in half and place both halves in the room you're painting cut side up. Be sure to throw them away once the paint job is finished.
PAINT BRUSH...STILL WET
A wet paint brush or roller can be left for 1 or 2 hours as long as you wrap it in tin foil or a plastic bag to keep out air and keep paint from drying.
PAM COOKING SPRAY
Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
PANTYHOSE QUICK DRY
If you need to dry panty hose in a hurry, hang them on a line and and blow dry them with a hair dryer.
PAPER TOWELS OUTSIDE
Hanging a roll of paper towels outside is a cinch. Use a wire hanger that has a narrow paper tube bottom bar. Just pull the wire out of the end of the paper tube, insert the roll of paper towels, then push the wire back into the tube.
PAPERWEIGHT...DECORATIVE
A clock that doesn't work can be transformed into a decorative paperweight. Remove the hands, then put your favourite picture up against the inside of the glass, or against the numerals.
PEPPER SHAKER...CLOGGING
Add a few peppercorns in pepper shaker to keep holes from clogging while giving a more fresh ground pepper taste.
PET CARE
Give your pet a full body rubdown, check for lumps, bumps or flaking skin as well as unusual weight gain/loss or swelling.
Check the pulse under left front elbow. Get the beats per minute by counting the heartbeats in 15 seconds then multiplying by 4. Cats should be 120 beats per minute, and dogs 60-160, depending on breed.
PHOTO...FAMILY GALLERY
A family gallery photo arrangement on your wall is made this decorative way. Pick up a variety of inexpensive frames. Paint to your taste, use all sizes and shapes. Formal photos and snapshots can be mixed together. You will have a nice family gallery wherever you want it.
PICTURE ARRANGING
You have a great picture arrangement, but you need to repaint ---- Keep that wonderful grouping by inserting toothpicks into nail holes and paint right over top of them. Simply remove the toothpicks after the paint dries and your ready to rehang.
PILLOW COVERS ...PUTTING A PILLOW BACK IN ITS COVER
Your going bonkers putting a pillow back inside its slipcover. Wrap it inside in Plastic, (a large garbage bag works well) and slide into the cover. Than gently pull the plastic out, leaving the pillow inside.
PILLOWS...FRESH AND FLUFFY
Make your feather pillows fresh and fluffy by putting them in a cool dryer and allowing them to tumble for about 15 minutes. Check first that there are no holes in the pillows.
PING PONG BALLS...RENEWAL
Give old ping pong balls new life. Drop them in boiling water.
PLANTS...BUG ELIMINATOR
Something "buggin" your plants? Experiment with your own homemade organic pest control spray. Mix together 1 TSP liquid dish soap, 1 cup vegetable oil and 1 gallon warm water. Water with watering can or sprayer.
PLANTS...KEEPING THEM MOIST
Gardeners - To keep plants moist, use lots of organic matter in soil. Mulch your beds well with compost or whatever you have on hand such as newspapers, old carpets, stones. Apply when soil is wet. Reduce evaporation by watering in the late afternoon or early morning.
PLANTS...TRANSPLANTING
Transplanting plants from indoors to outside. During the plants last week indoors, lower temperatures a bit, withhold fertilizer and water often. Do not leave outside if a danger of frost.
POPPIES LOST
Are you always buying poppies just to lose them. Well, take the back of an earring stud and use it to hold your poppie in place.
POULTICE
Soak a piece of bread in hot milk, then bring a boil or a pimple to a head. Press excess liquid from bread and spread over affected area and cover with a clean cloth. Remove when bread poultice gets cold. Repeat if necessary.
RABBIT PROBLEMS
Dust a little talcum powder around plants to keep away rabbits and flea beetles.
RAZOR NICKS...COFFEE FILTERS
Keep coffee filters in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers".
ROMAN SHADES
You love your Roman shades but hate the cords hanging down ---- Braid them together. Its safer and looks better.
ROSES...KEEP THEM BLOOMING
Roses will keep blooming if you snip off old flower clusters from rambler roses.
ROSES...PLANTING
Plant your rose bushes where they will receive 5-6 hours of full sun a day. Diligently water roses - soak entire root zone at least twice a week in dry summer weather.
ROSES...PUT TO BED FOR THE WINTER
Water regularly through out the fall. Remove any dead or diseased canes. After frost, mulch plants with compost to joints just above the swollen point where stem joins the rootstock.
SALT...USES
Cleans teeth and freshens breath, Reduces under eye puffiness, Reduces insect bite pain, Treats Poisin Ivy
SCENTS IN THE SUN
Don't dab perfume directly onto your skin before going into sunlight as some ingredients may cause pigment spots to appear. Instead apply to hair, inside of your wrist, or on clothes it won't stain,
SHOPPING WISE
Avoid eye level items on shelves, they are easier to get to, that's why grocers put them there. Better buys are usually found on lower or higher shelves. Only shop on a full tummy, an empty one makes everything look good and you will buy items you don't need.
SKIN...SENSITIVE
Use baking soda instead of fabric softener in the rinse cycle if family members have sensitive skin.
SKIN...SOFTENER
To soften dry skin put 1 cup of powdered milk in bath water
SKIN...WINTER DRY
For dry winter skin, rub olive oil in prior to your bath or shower.
SKIN...WINTER PROBLEMS (2)
Winter is very hard on your skin. Put some lemon juice or vinegar in your bathwater.
SLEEP HELP WITH PUMPKINS
A taste of Pumpkin before bed, will help you sleep. Pumpkin protects the heart and boosts memory, helps with weight loss and lowers cholesterol.
SLEEPING BAG / TENT FRESHENER
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
SLEEPING TOO QUICKLY
Don't fall asleep immediately after eating. The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. This will lead to gas & infection in our intestines.
SLIVERS...REMOVAL FROM A CHILDS HAND OR FOOT
A child has a sliver and won't let your tweezers near it. Try a blob of white glue on the sliver. When the glue dries, peel it off and the sliver might come too.
SNOOZE BUTTON...TURN IT OFF
A mousetrap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. Do you think?
SORE THROAT
Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
SOS PAD DOUBLE LIFE
When you purchase SOS pads, take a pair of scissors and cut each pad in half. A box of SOS pads will last you a long time. Second benefit to this is that the scissors get sharpened by cutting the SOS pad.
SQUIRREL AWAY
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle plants with cayenne pepper, the cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plants and the squirrels won't come near it.
STRAWBERRY HEALTH BENEFITS
Strawberries are in season now so enjoy them. They combat cancer, protect your heart, boosts memory, calms stress.
STREET ADDRESS
Make sure your address is clearly visible from street at night as well as in the daytime.
SUNBURN RELIEF (7 OPTIONS)
1 - Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave on until the area has cooled.
2 - Rub with cider vinegar.
3 - Rub with cool tea or cold wet tea bag.
4 - Apply calamine lotion to the burned area.
5 - Apply a paste of baking soda and milk.
6 - Apply cider vinegar, witch hazel or cold pepperment tea.
7 - Bathe a sunburnt face in buttermilk
SWEET POTATOES HEALTH BENEFITS
Sweet Potatoes helps save your eyesight, lifts mood, combats cancer and strengthens bones.
THREADS...TANGLED
Bounce, prevents threads from tangling by running a threaded needle through a sheet of bounce before beginning to sew.
TIME NOT WASTED
In 5 minutes you can: 1. make an appointment, 2. file your nails, 3. water houseplants, 4. sew back a button
In 10 minutes you can: 1. write a short letter or note, 2. pick out a birthday card, 3. exercise
In 30 minutes you can: 1. work on a craft project, 2. polish silver and brass, 3. vacuum three or four rooms, 4. weed a flower bed
TOILET FRESHEN
To quickly freshen up your toilet, drop in 2 Alka Seltzer tablets, wait 20 minutes and then brush (avoid wire brushes as they may scratch) Flush with lid down to avoid a fine spray all over the bathroom.
TUMMY TROUBLE
Try a cup of black tea or drink fresh lemon or lime juice mixed with water to ease the stomach ache.
TWO TOOLS
You only need two tools in life - WD40 and Duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS
Protect young vegetable seedlings from cut worms. Wrap the lower stem with a tight collar of wet newspapers that extends an inch into the soil and at least an inch above the soil.
WEATHERSTRIPPING OR CAULKING
How do you know where you need weatherstripping or caulking? Clip a piece of paper tissue to a coat hanger and hold in front of windows and doors. Bring it up along all edges. If the paper flutters, that's where you need weatherstripping or caulking.
WICKER WOBBLES
Try moistening with water. The wicker will swell and then tighten, taking away the wobbles.
WINE CORK BROKEN
When opening a bottle of wine and you break the cork, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
WINDOW CLEANING (GOOD WEATHER)
You may think lovely weather makes a good day to tackle outdoor cleaning, but strong sunlight can cause window cleaners to dry before you can work it off. This may cause streaks. See which way the sun is moving around your house and work accordingly.
WINTER ILLNESS PREVENTION
Wash your hands--the number 1 defense requires 20 seconds of rigorous rubbing.
Humidify inside and out. Keep your body well hydrated and your indoor air well humidified.
Eat your vegetables. Increase your daily intake of green, yellow and white vegetables.
