Store Items With Multiply Uses to Save Space

With space being a premium luxury for all of us who try to prepare, I have been gathering ideas to use what we have already in our homes for other uses.

• Time is also something we all seem to be short on, so I have been trying to document those ideas as well. Watch for these ideas to show up as I try recover my life, home and sanity after helping with a couple of weddings!

• A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.(hmmmmmm...)
• 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.

• For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (wish I had known this when we lived up North!)

• To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.

• Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

• Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

• Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads , I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this way!

• Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to put the body?) Sorry, bad joke . . . I repent!

• Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

• Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a 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..

• Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 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!

• To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet , simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.

• Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness

• Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

• Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces ......... Left over wine? What's that?

• To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

• Ants, ants, ants everywhere .. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

• Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

• When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer........
Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China

Clean a vase.
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle.
Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary)

Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

More Confessions . . . . of a Tired Ole Grandma . . . .

I have asthma. I get so tired of looking for cleaning shortcuts that do not bother my allergies and asthma. Between fumes and "fragrances" it is pretty hard sometimes. This problem is what led me to try the homemade laundry soap, which, by the way, I still love!

I ran into this article today and was pretty excited! Storage room is always a problem for those of us who are trying really hard to prepare, so I love the idea of using what we already have in our storage!

For the full article click HERE

Alternative Cleaning Recipes

Many commercial cleaners contain toxic substances that are dangerous to our health and the environment. Nontoxic alternatives are not only as effective and easy to use as their commercial counterparts, but are also safer. Best of all, the nontoxic alternatives are less expensive. Try out these alternative recipes!

Some ingredients you might try instead:

Baking Soda	Vegetable-based Liquid Soaps	White Vinegar
Borax	Cornmeal	Citrus-based Cleaners
Lemons	Toothpaste	Salt
Hydrogen Peroxide

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon liquid soap
1 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar

Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Use for cleaning counter tops, floors, walls, carpets and upholstery.

Scouring Cleansers

Sprinkle baking soda, or mix baking soda with water, and scrub with a wet sponge. If the baking soda leaves a residue, rinse with cold water and vinegar. Dry with a cloth. Also, non chlorinated scouring powders are safe to use, ex; Bon Ami.

Glass Cleaner

1 quart warm water
1/4 cup white vinegar or 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle.

Disinfectant

• Use 1/2 cup of borax in one gallon of hot water.

• Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution) is also an effective disinfectant.

Mildew Removers

• Scrub mildew spots with borax/water solution (1/2 C. borax to 1 gallon water) using a nylon scouring pad. To prevent mold or mildew from forming, don’t rinse of the borax.

• Scrub with a vinegar and salt paste.

• If you have major problems, the best solution is heat. Applying heat to an area will kill mold and mildew.

Degreaser

• Use vinegar, lemon or a citrus-based cleaner.

• Also: Mix 1/2 teaspoon washing soda (sodium carbonate, soda ash or sal soda), 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap and 2 cups hot water.

Bathroom

Clean sink, shower, tub, tile with diluted liquid soap and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad. Use a stiff toothbrush or scrub brush for tiles.

Toilet Bowls

• Put 1/4 cup borax in toilet bowl and let sit for a few hours or overnight. Next day, scrub – or scrub with a solution of 1/2 cup borax to 1 gallon of water. A few drops of pine oil can be added for increased disinfecting. (Note: some people are allergic to pine oil.)

• Scrub with baking soda and/or liquid soap. To remove stains, pour 1/4 cup borax and let sit for at least 30 minutes, scrub and flush.

Tub and Tiles

• Scrub surfaces with baking soda slightly moistened with water.

• To remove mineral deposits around faucets, cover deposits with strips of paper towels, soaked in vinegar. Let sit for 1 hour and clean.

Fabric Stain Remover

• Mix:
1 part glycerin
1 part liquid dish washing detergent
8 parts water

Apply to stain as soon as possible and blot with cloth. Store in a squeeze bottle.

• Alternately, soak fabric in 1/4 cup borax and 2 cups cold water.

Upholstery Cleaner
• Mix 1/4 cup liquid soap with 3 tablespoons water. Rub foam into upholstery with a cotton cloth, then rinse with a clean sponge.

Spot Removers

• Fruit and Wine: Immediately blot stain with a towel and add cold water, continuing to blot.

• Grease: Pour boiling water on stains and follow with dry baking soda.

• Blood: Soak in cold water or remove with hydrogen peroxide. For more stubborn stains, apply a paste of cornstarch, corn meal or talcum powder. Allow to dry, brush away.

• Rust: Saturate with lemon juice and rub with salt. Place in direct sunlight until dry, then wash.

• Mildew: Pour soap and salt on spots and place in sunlight. Keep moist and repeat as often as necessary.

• Perspiration odor: Add one cup vinegar or baking soda per wash load.

Oven Cleaner

• Mix:
1 quart warm water
2 teaspoons borax
2 tablespoons liquid soap

Spray on solution, wait 20 minutes, then clean.

• Alternately: make a thick paste with water and baking soda and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad. If greasy, add a small amount of liquid soap. To remove spots, use very fine steel wool. A wet cleaning pumice bar can be used to remove the toughest spots.

Drains

• Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 ounces of vinegar. Cover the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with 2 quarts of boiling water. Use this treatment regularly to prevent clogged drains. Also, pour boiling water down drains on a weekly basis to prevent grime buildup.

• For clogged drains, use a plunger or snake. Before using a plunger, be sure there is water standing over the drain. Push and pull vigorously.

• Prevention: put a strainer or filter in all drains, never pour any type of grease down your drains, use an enzyme based "buildup remover" to break down grease and prevent clogs, plant away from sewer lines.

Silver Polish

•Rub object gently with toothpaste (or a baking soda/water paste) on a soft cloth to avoid scratching. Rinse well with water.

•Boil silver 3 minutes in a quart of water containing 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and a piece of aluminum foil.

Copper Polish

Pour vinegar or lemon juice and salt over copper and rub. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Brass Polish

Polish with Worcestershire sauce; or pour on ketchup, let sit, then wipe dry.

Chrome Polish

Shine wet chrome fixtures by rubbing with newspaper; or rub with baby oil and a soft cloth.

Stainless Steel Polish

Clean and polish with a baking soda/water paste.

Furniture Polish

• Unvarnished wood: use almond, walnut or olive oil.

• Varnished wood: use a mild vegetable oil soap.

• To remove watermarks from wood furniture: rub toothpaste on spot and polish with a soft cloth.

Crayon Marks

Rub mark with toothpaste and a damp cloth. Do not use on non-vinyl wallpaper.

Vinyl Floors

Mix 1 gallon water with 1/2 cup white vinegar or 1/4 cup borax. Remove scuff marks with toothpaste.

Unvarnished Wood Floors

Damp mop with mild vegetable oil soap.

Carpet Odors

Sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda. Let sit 15 minutes, or overnight for serious odors, then vacuum.

Air Fresheners

• Pour vanilla extract on a cotton ball in a saucer.

• Set out a dish of vinegar, or boil 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate cooking odors.

• Wrap cloves and cinnamon in cheesecloth and boil in water.

• Cover the bottom of your cat’s litter box with baking soda before adding litter.

• Use baking soda in refrigerators, closets and other enclosed areas to absorb odors.

Grease and Oil Spills on Concrete

Sprinkle cornmeal, sawdust or cat-litter, allow to sit for several hours then sweep up.

Dandruff Shampoo

Take a handful of dry baking soda and rub it vigorously into your wet hair and scalp, rinse thoroughly and dry. Wash your hair at the same intervals as you usually do but only use baking soda and no chemicals whatsoever. At first your hair might look like straw but stick with it. After a few weeks your scalp will begin to generate its natural oils, stop flaking and your hair will get very soft.

Toothpaste

Use baking soda.

Deodorant

Try baking soda.

Confessions . . . of a Tired Ole Grandma

EASY CLEAN OVEN

Friday, I decided to clean my oven, even I can only take so much smoke. Now don't be too shocked, I am showing my oven. Just like on the BBQ and stove top, I seem to find a way to boil over, spill and produce my "home cooked" smoke where ever I cook. Mariah gave me teflon oven liner a couple of years ago and does it ever save me time.

It took five minutes to remove that and get the shiny oven using just that little green scrubby pad and dish soap. No fumes from spraying or when I turned the oven the next time. The liner also took about five minutes to clean. I love it!

I have a self-cleaning oven . . . hate the heat, hate the smoke and scared of that high of a temperature inside my home. I had an oven missing insulation once and that one would have started a fire if I had run it in the cleaning mode!

These teflon liners are found at Bed, Bath & Beyond for about $10.00. Don't forget to take in a 2o% off coupon! they are so worth the investment!

GARLIC

I was taking some garlic out of the freezer the other day and wondered if I was the last one to discover this. When you put the whole bulb of garlic in a plastic bag, into the freezer, it makes cooking with it quick and easy.

Take out the number of cloves you need about 5 minutes before to thaw. Just slip the skins off and mince or smash, whatever form you need.

I have quit buying the minced in the jar . . . a lazy little habit I developed a few years ago.