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Post by The March Hare on Apr 25, 2006 7:35:13 GMT 1
Alka-Seltzer can be used to -
3 tablets down the kitchen sink followed by a cup of white vinegar. Leave for a few minutes then run hot water - cleans pipes.
4 tablets in the toilet will bring your bowl up sparkling clean. Leave for an hour and then brush.
1 tablet in a cup of warm water. Drop in your jewellery (NOT PEARLS OR OPALS) and leave for a few minutes. Sparkling.
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 25, 2006 7:37:02 GMT 1
Cleaner
1/3 cup of cheap white vinegar, 1/3 cup of non-sudsy ammonia (preferably the yellow colour) and 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol. Mix in a spray bottle and top of with water. If you buy large containers of each ingredient this cuts costs even more.
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Follow this up by drying with old newspapers and put a very light application of furniture polish on them. This works well for keeping steam off mirrors after taking a bath or shower. It also makes cleaning easier next time
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Post by juicyjude on Apr 25, 2006 12:06:02 GMT 1
So many good useful tips there, I will get my thinking cap on but will have to go to work soon.  |
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Post by marmaris98 on Apr 25, 2006 14:12:38 GMT 1
does the baby oil work on stainless steel kettels?
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Post by jj on Apr 25, 2006 17:36:17 GMT 1
It works on anything stainless steel, but I think it works better on matte or satin s. steel  |
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Post by marmaris98 on Apr 25, 2006 17:50:20 GMT 1
mmmm mine is shiney.
we use sterident tablets to clean gold and silver
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 26, 2006 7:52:47 GMT 1
remove burnt on food from Pyrex dishes, soak them in Steradent Denture cleaner and hot water.
To clean limescale from kettles or glass vases, soak in hot water and 1/3 brown vinegar. Rinse kettle well, fill and boil water
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Post by juicyjude on Apr 26, 2006 20:53:23 GMT 1
Bob, your're worrying me a bit,. you always post about burned food and pans. You are really the same type of cook as me aren't you, honest, |
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 27, 2006 7:41:48 GMT 1
To remove all traces of cigarette smoke, leave a saucer of vinegar in the room overnight.
A clean, dry, green kitchen scourer is ideal for removing pets hairs from furniture, carpets and clothes.
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 27, 2006 7:42:18 GMT 1
For hot towels at home - dampen some flannels, roll up and spray each lightly with your favourite toilet water. Place on microwaveable plate and cover with clingfilm. Place in microwave for a few seconds - hey presto! Hot towels in seconds.
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 27, 2006 7:43:02 GMT 1
To prevent those impulse buys, freeze your credit cards in ice, this way you have to wait for them to thaw allowing you time to reconsider your decision to buy.
The Best one of all,
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Post by juicyjude on Apr 27, 2006 13:12:33 GMT 1
No didn't like that one Bob sorry  |
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Post by jj on Apr 27, 2006 15:24:39 GMT 1
1)Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive.
2) Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.
3) Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
4) For icy doorsteps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.
5) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is)!
6) Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE)! Rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
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Post by jj on Apr 27, 2006 15:25:38 GMT 1
Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar of jam, pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I simply reach into the drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid!
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Post by jj on Apr 27, 2006 15:26:09 GMT 1
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little peroxide on cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!
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Post by jj on Apr 27, 2006 15:26:43 GMT 1
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on. Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
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Post by jj on Apr 27, 2006 15:27:24 GMT 1
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 2 hours prior to burning.
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 27, 2006 16:16:16 GMT 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1)Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive. OR HAVE A WASH  |
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Post by The March Hare on Apr 27, 2006 16:30:00 GMT 1
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When feeding tomatoes with liquid feed this can scorch the leaves. To avoid this happening pour from the watering can using a piece of 1.25 inch drain pipe as a funnel directing the feed straight to the base of the plant, away from the leaves.
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To prevent peas being eaten by pests, fill a short length of guttering with compost and sow peas along the length as normal. Hang guttering out of reach of pests. When seedlings are 1"-2" tall, dig a trench in the garden and transfer whole length containing compost and seedlings into this trench.
Put broken egg shells into a watering can, fill with water and leave overnight. This will extract the nutrients making an excellent and cheap plant feed.
Bake egg shells in an oven to harden and then place around plants to prevent slugs damaging them. The slugs cannot get over the hardened shells.
Fill a small tub (low enough for the slugs to climb into) with beer and place it next to the plants. Alternatively the container can be buried in the soil
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Post by jj on Apr 28, 2006 6:52:46 GMT 1
Laundry Tips
1. When washing dark clothes for the first time use cold water and put salt in the water. The salt helps set the color. To brighten dark clothes after they have been washed several times, repeat the procedure.
2. Black clothing tends to look brown after several washings. To restore the black color, add coffee or strong tea to the rinse water.
3. Many garments labeled "Dry Clean Only" can be safely handwashed using mild soap like Woolite and cold water.
4. Cut dryer sheets in half before using. They still work just as well. Keep a kleenex box on the dryer for the used ones - use to dust furniture.
5. To dye fabric a brown color inexpensively, soak it in a bucket of strong black coffee. This technique will also camouflage a non-removable coffee stain on a white table cloth.
7. You do not need to wash with hot water unless you are trying to sterilize your laundry. Use the warm or cold setting to save money. Set your rinse on the cold setting. Washing in cold water can save the typical family over £80 a year!
8. The best overall laundry tip: Make your own laundry detergent and fabric softeners! It works great, and costs so much less!
9. When you first switch from store-bought detergent to homemade, wash laundry once with washing soda alone to get rid of the detergent residue and avoid yellowing of fabric.
10. Even your washer needs to be washed once in a while. Run the machine on hot water, normal cycle, and add a bottle of vinegar to clean the soap film and scum that's built up inside.
11. Wash and dry clothes inside out to prevent fading.
12. Tie or pin socks together for easier sorting.
13. Use a mesh bag when washing/drying socks, especially baby socks.
14. Close zippers, button buttons, and tie strings before washing and drying. This keeps clothes from being tangled together.
15. Spot cleaning - Use Tilex Shower Spray (mildew) to spot bleach on clothes that can be bleached, but you don't want to bleach the whole load.
16. Always empty the lint trap every single time you dry clothes in the dryer.
17. If instructions aren't printed on the washer lid, type, laminate, and hang them over the machine.
18. Label or color-code bedroom baskets to prevent laundry room mixups.
19. Pilling is caused by items rubbing against each other in the washer and dryer. Prevent it by turning susceptible clothes inside out and washing them in a mesh bag or a drawstring pillowcase.
20. The difference between "Dry Clean" and "Dry Clean Only" is fragile fabric, but washable. Dry cleaning fluids are tough on fabrics, so whenever they can be avoided, the life of a garment is prolonged.
21. Make your own Spray Starch - 2 tablesthingys cornstarch + 1 pint cold water. Place in spray bottle and shake well before each use.
Stain Removers [/b
Oily/Waxy Stains - Try one of the following: "Scrubbing Bubble" bathroom cleaners; Rub white chalk into the stain before laundering; Rub with damp cloth dipped in Borax; Apply a paste of cornstarch and water, let dry and brush off.
Blood Stains - Fresh - use cold water. Dried - Use Hydrogen Peroxide. Pour over stain as soon as possible.
Red Stains (Koolaid, Popsicle, Berry Juice) - Rubbing Alchohol. Pour over stain before washing.
Wine, Coffee, and Fruit Stains - Club Soda or moist salt. Pour over stain, or soak in milk before washing.
Grass Stains - Combine a few drops of household ammonia with 1 teasthingy peroxide. Rub stain with this mixture. Rinse with water as soon as stain disappears.
Rust Stains - Scrub with crumbled aluminum foil.
Lipstick Stains - Rub with shortening and wash with washing soda.
Ink Stains - Use hairspray on stain (with absorbent towel underneath) and launder as usual. Or wet stain with cold water, apply paste of cream of tartar/lemon juice, let sit one hour and wash as usual. Or mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup warm water and apply a small amount to the stain. Blot until no more stain can be removed
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