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Showing posts with label Homemaking Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homemaking Tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more ( I )
If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato-it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."
If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
If it is a meringue pie you are making…add four or five marshmallows cut into pieces or 1/2 cup miniature ones, to meringue just before spreading. These marshmallows give both flavor and body to the meringue. The latter is important if pie is to stand for sometime before serving.
Instead of using a pastry cutter when a recipe asks for chilled and cut butter, I freeze the butter sticks and my cheese grater and grate the frozen butter into the flour. It’s not only much easier, but gives a more uniform consistency.
Ice cubes will eliminate the fat from soup and stew. Just drop a few into the pot and stir; the fat will cling to the cubes; discard the cubes before they melt. Or, wrap ice cubes in paper towel or cheesecloth and skim over the top.
If a recipe calls for 1 cup sour cream, you may substitute 1 cup cottage cheese blended until smooth with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/3 cup buttermilk.
If guests are coming and you're behind making dinner, throw some onions on to sauté and your kitchen will smell wonderful and homey.
If lettuce starts turning a little brown (but not slimy) it may not be suitable for salads, but it is for sautéing. Sauteed salad greens like lettuce, radicchio, and endive make an unusual but tasty side dish. Sauté lettuces just as you would spinach. Cook them quickly in a little olive oil, minced garlic, and salt. They taste great, and you cant tell that the greens were once a little brown.
If you have a problem opening jars ... Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a on-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
If you need extra counter space for cooling cookies on racks or baking sheets, set up the ironing board and let them rest on it (cover the board to prevent stains).
If you need only 1/2 an onion, save the root half. It will last longer.
If your cake recipe calls for nuts, heat them first in the oven, then dust with flour before adding to the batter to keep them from settling to the bottom of the pan.
Instead of adding raw garlic to sauces, sauté the garlic first for a milder flavor.
Instead of the water your recipe calls for, try juices, bouillon, or water you've cooked vegetables in. Instead of milk, try buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. It can add a whole new flavor and improve nutrition.
Instead of using a pastry blender, mix flour with butter by grating cold butter into it.
It's important to let a roast -- beef, pork (pardon the expression), lamb or poultry -- sit a little while before carving. That allows the juices to retreat back into the meat. If you carve a roast too soon, much of its goodness will spill out onto the carving board.
If you're unsure of an egg's freshness, see how it behaves in a cup of water: Fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
If you need only a few drops of lemon juice, avoid cutting the lemon in half--it will dry out quickly that way. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require.
In a pinch, yogurt can be substituted for cream in recipes that don't require cooking. But yogurt can curdle when cooked - in which case it's best to stick with whole milk or half and half.
If you burn milk while heating it on the stove, add a pinch of salt to temper the scorched smell and taste.
If you burn gravy and don't have enough time or pan drippings, to start from scratch, stir a teaspoon of smooth peanut butter for each cup of gravy. This should eliminate any burned taste.
If you've cooked more rice than you can eat, make rice pudding by adding butter, cinnamon, sugar and milk or create fried rice by saute'ing with a beaten egg, soy sauce and sliced green onions, or toss rice with slivered almonds and raisins for a Middle Eastern inspired pilaf.
If your glass coffee pot gets cloudy, make tea in it. Tea’s tannic content will remove the film.
If two glasses are stuck together, fill the top glass with cold water and set the bottom glass in hot water. Try to carefully twist the two glasses apart after a minute
Iced tea requires only one-half as much sugar if sweetened when hot than when cold. After tea is strained and ready to serve, freeze a portion of it in the electric refrigerator and add this to glasses for cooling instead of plain ice.
If a vase won’t hold water, melt paraffin and pour into the bottom. Often this will seal a crack and prevent future seepage of water.
If you are in a hurry and you find that you are out of silver polish, dip a piece of raw potato in baking soda and rub the potato on the silver.
It’s easy to keep your dresser from becoming stained and spotted from perfume and toilet water bottles. Place a piece of wax paper under your dresser scarfs for sure protection.
If you need a wide piece of wax paper, seal two strips together with a hot iron; it cools quickly.
If you have a brass or metal door knocker, wax it immediately after polishing. This practice will keep it bright.
Insects in earth can be killed with a spoonful of mustard in gallon of water. This is effective with potted plants.
Instead of whittling a candle at the base to make it fit in the candle holder, I hold the end in a cup of very hot water for a few minutes to soften the wax then gently and firmly press it into the holder.
If your candle holder is too large wrap a bit of plastic wrap around the base of the candle and wedge into your holder.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (H)
Here’s a clever–and quick–way to skin a kiwi: Trim both ends of the fruit; ease a tablespoon between the flesh and the peel. Turn the kiwi, pressing the back of the spoon against the peel as you go. The fruit should slide right out in one piece–ready for slicing.
How long does olive oil last? How do I store it? Olive oil will last for about two years, if it goes rancid there will be a smell to it. Store olive oil in a cool, dark place. No need to refrigerate it but if you do, you’ll notice that the oil will get cloudy and solidify. If this happens, remove the bottle of olive oil from the fridge and leave at room temperature–it will return to its normal state.
How do I measure baking pans to see what size they are? Measure from inside edge to inside edge.
Herb & Spice Storage ~~~ To help preserve flavor, herbs and spices are best stored in airtight containers, out of sunlight and away from heat sources. Store the jars and containers in the pantry or a cupboard. Keeping spices and dried herbs in cute glass jars over top of the stove is a popular practice, but it does negatively affect the flavor of your spice collection.
How to Keep Cookies Soft ~~~ Keep cookies moist and chewy by throwing a few slices of apple in your cookie jar to keep cookies soft. Don’t do this if you like crispy or crunchy cookies.
Homemade Non-Stick Spray Recipe ~~~ Fill a pump spray bottle with olive oil or vegetable oil and use as you would commercial non-stick spray products.
Homemade Non-Stick Spray Recipe ~~~ 1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
4 TBS liquid lecithin (found at health food stores) Mix ingredients well and store in a pump spray bottle. Recipe can be made in batches with the ratio 2:1 (oil to liquid lecithin).
Homemade Non-Stick Mix Recipe ~~~ 1 part vegetable oil, 1 part Crisco or vegetable shortening (at room temperature), 1 part flour
How to avoid over-spilling milk when boiling : Before pouring milk into a pot for boiling rub butter along the top edge and inside lip of the pot. When the milk foams up, it will stop over spilling when it hits the butter.
Beat all ingredients together until completely mixed and smooth. Store in airtight container and refrigerate. Coat on pans with a pastry brush–make sure to cover pan surfaces completely. Recipe can be made in batches with equal parts for all ingredients.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (G)
Greaseless Griddle Cake: When making griddle cake grease the pan for the first cake. After that rub a piece of raw potato over hot griddle instead of greasing. The cakes brown nicely and there will be no smoke. *Found on loose page of from an old cookbook.
Gravy thickening, sauces, etc., can be made smooth by using a small jar with a tight lid. Put the mixture of milk or water and flour into the jar and shake well until all lumps disappear.
Grease drippings can be clarified for further use by straining to remove large particles and then cutting up an Irish potato and frying it in the grease. All the small particles will cling to the potato.
Gelatine in individual form can be handled easier if a muffin pan is used instead of small molds. Pan can be placed in a refrigerator without danger of over-turning and much time is saved.
Grapefruit or oranges can be peeled easily if permitted to stand in boiling water for ten minutes.
Greasing muffin tins, bundt & cake pans is a breeze with a pastry brush first dipped in melted butter or shortening. A pastry brush also makes cleaning graters quick work–just brush off the bits clinging to the grater before washing.
Getting the catsup out of the bottle: insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of the bottle, and then remove. Enough air will be admitted to start an even flow.
Grate orange and lemon peel before peeling. Dry and add to spice cake or any cookies or puddings. The dried grated peel will keep well in a covered jar.
Grapes ~~~ To enjoy on a hot summer day, pop your grapes in the freezer. They are delicious frozen.
Get two batches out of one recipe of marinating liquid by marinating meats in a sealed plastic bag. Put half the amount you usually would in the bag with the meat, remove all the air and seal the bag. Squish around the liquid and it will stretch a lot farther than it would if you marinated in a covered container. I like to make two batches at once, one is for that night’s meal and the other is frozen in the bag with the marinating sauce. (Leona)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Very Useful Household Tips:
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/Household/very.html
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. (hmmm...)
3) Too much junk or clutter taking up space in the house? Clean it up by hiring a service like this junk removal Toronto company - they'll take all that unwanted stuff off your hands and take it to the dump, a recycling center or, whenever possible, donate it to charity.
4) 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.
5) 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. (Wish I had known this for the last 60 years)!
6) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is)!
7) Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE)! Rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
8) Whenever I purchase a box of SOS 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. And now a box of SOS pads lasts me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!
9) 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!
10) 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!
11) 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 sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
12) 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.
13) Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 2 hours prior to burning.
14) 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!
15) 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 boil on stovetop.
16) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
17) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
18) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
19) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
20) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
21) Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. (What leftover wine? LOL!)
22) To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
23) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
24) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
25) 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.
-- Source Unknown
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. (hmmm...)
3) Too much junk or clutter taking up space in the house? Clean it up by hiring a service like this junk removal Toronto company - they'll take all that unwanted stuff off your hands and take it to the dump, a recycling center or, whenever possible, donate it to charity.
4) 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.
5) 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. (Wish I had known this for the last 60 years)!
6) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is)!
7) Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE)! Rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
8) Whenever I purchase a box of SOS 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. And now a box of SOS pads lasts me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!
9) 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!
10) 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!
11) 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 sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
12) 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.
13) Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 2 hours prior to burning.
14) 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!
15) 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 boil on stovetop.
16) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
17) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
18) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
19) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
20) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
21) Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. (What leftover wine? LOL!)
22) To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
23) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
24) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
25) 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.
-- Source Unknown
Odor Buster Hints
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/Household/odor.
1. If you have plastic bowls or dishes that smell, simply make a paste of baking soda and water and rub all over the surface. Let set overnight then rinse well.
2. If the sink in your kitchen or bathroom smells, give this a try: put in 1/2 cup baking soda and then follow with 1 cup of cheap household vinegar. Let it foam and bubble, then follow by running cold water for at least 30 seconds or longer. If there is a sink that is seldom used, pour in some plain old vinegar to kill the bacteria that causes the bad smell.
3. If your cutting board smells from onions, garlic or even fish, pour on a little vinegar, let it set a minute or two, wipe, rinse, and the odor should be gone. If your hands have also absorbed the odor, rub them together with vinegar and rinse. You can also use mouthwash or toothpaste as deodorizer.
4. Don't waste your money on commercial potpourri! Here's a formula to cook up your very own refreshing and cleansing citrus deodorizer. Fill a large pot with water and simply add any citrus (lemon is wonderful as are orange and grapefruit) rind or even slices or leftover wedges. Put in some cinnamon sticks (or a dash of cinnamon) and then simmer on low heat. You can spice this up by adding apple peels or slices, other spices such as nutmeg or allspice, and even a peppermint stick or candy. CAUTION: Do not leave this on the stove unattended and don't let it boil dry.
5. Lemon and orange extract are just the thing to freshen up any room! You can dab some on a cotton ball, place in a bowl or small jar with lid (punch holes in it to let the fragrance out) and place around a room, closet or even in your automobile. CAUTION: Extracts are concentrates that have a very high alcohol content and should not be used around small children or where pets may ingest them. Do not let the extract come in direct contact with any wood, painted surface, marble or granite.
6. To eliminate cat litter box odors: When you clean the litter box, rinse it out and pour about 1/2 inch of cheap white vinegar in the box. Let it stand for 20 minutes or so, then swish it around, rinse with cold water, and dry the box. The acid in the vinegar neutralizes the ammonia smell.
7. You can also add vinegar to your pooch's bath water should he come in contact with a skunk. Vinegar also works well with those summer smells that all dogs seem to acquire. Again add it to their bath water.
8. Add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to the water in your steam iron to give clothes a fresh fragrance.
9. To remove the smell of cigarette from lingering in the room, put half teaspoon of baking powder in the ashtray, or keep a cup of vinegar in the room to absorb the odor.
10. Bathroom Odors: Place a shallow dish of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.
11. Fireplace Soot Odor: To diminish and remove this odor, after you clean out the ashes, place a shallow pan of baking soda for a few hours or overnight in the fireplace.
12. Kitty Litter: To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.
13. Pet Urine on Carpet: First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Mix one teaspoon mild dish-washing detergent in one cup warm water, dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not overwet. Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, add on-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain. Rinse with water; blot until dry. Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours.
14. Smelly Sneakers: Simply fill knee-high stockings with unused litter, tie the ends and tuck them in overnight for a quick refresh. Add baby powder, too! Another refresher for smelly sneakers is to simply take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely creating a baking soda sachet, which you put in the shoes overnight as well. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.
-- Source Unknown
1. If you have plastic bowls or dishes that smell, simply make a paste of baking soda and water and rub all over the surface. Let set overnight then rinse well.
2. If the sink in your kitchen or bathroom smells, give this a try: put in 1/2 cup baking soda and then follow with 1 cup of cheap household vinegar. Let it foam and bubble, then follow by running cold water for at least 30 seconds or longer. If there is a sink that is seldom used, pour in some plain old vinegar to kill the bacteria that causes the bad smell.
3. If your cutting board smells from onions, garlic or even fish, pour on a little vinegar, let it set a minute or two, wipe, rinse, and the odor should be gone. If your hands have also absorbed the odor, rub them together with vinegar and rinse. You can also use mouthwash or toothpaste as deodorizer.
4. Don't waste your money on commercial potpourri! Here's a formula to cook up your very own refreshing and cleansing citrus deodorizer. Fill a large pot with water and simply add any citrus (lemon is wonderful as are orange and grapefruit) rind or even slices or leftover wedges. Put in some cinnamon sticks (or a dash of cinnamon) and then simmer on low heat. You can spice this up by adding apple peels or slices, other spices such as nutmeg or allspice, and even a peppermint stick or candy. CAUTION: Do not leave this on the stove unattended and don't let it boil dry.
5. Lemon and orange extract are just the thing to freshen up any room! You can dab some on a cotton ball, place in a bowl or small jar with lid (punch holes in it to let the fragrance out) and place around a room, closet or even in your automobile. CAUTION: Extracts are concentrates that have a very high alcohol content and should not be used around small children or where pets may ingest them. Do not let the extract come in direct contact with any wood, painted surface, marble or granite.
6. To eliminate cat litter box odors: When you clean the litter box, rinse it out and pour about 1/2 inch of cheap white vinegar in the box. Let it stand for 20 minutes or so, then swish it around, rinse with cold water, and dry the box. The acid in the vinegar neutralizes the ammonia smell.
7. You can also add vinegar to your pooch's bath water should he come in contact with a skunk. Vinegar also works well with those summer smells that all dogs seem to acquire. Again add it to their bath water.
8. Add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to the water in your steam iron to give clothes a fresh fragrance.
9. To remove the smell of cigarette from lingering in the room, put half teaspoon of baking powder in the ashtray, or keep a cup of vinegar in the room to absorb the odor.
10. Bathroom Odors: Place a shallow dish of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.
11. Fireplace Soot Odor: To diminish and remove this odor, after you clean out the ashes, place a shallow pan of baking soda for a few hours or overnight in the fireplace.
12. Kitty Litter: To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.
13. Pet Urine on Carpet: First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Mix one teaspoon mild dish-washing detergent in one cup warm water, dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not overwet. Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, add on-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain. Rinse with water; blot until dry. Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours.
14. Smelly Sneakers: Simply fill knee-high stockings with unused litter, tie the ends and tuck them in overnight for a quick refresh. Add baby powder, too! Another refresher for smelly sneakers is to simply take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely creating a baking soda sachet, which you put in the shoes overnight as well. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.
-- Source Unknown
Dusting Hints
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/Household/dust.html
IVORY CARE
To clean and preserve the color of ivory: Place the article in a basin of cold water. Allow to set for 24 hours. Remove from water and lay the item on a clean, dry towel. Do not wipe! Air Dry only. If any water remains , blow the water out. If any water is remaining, the ivory color will become destroyed. Be careful!
PICTURE FRAMES
Dingy or rusty gilt picture frames may be cleaned by simply washing them with a small sponge moistened with oil of turpentine or spirits of wine! Take care that the
sponge does not become saturated. The sponge should be damp, not soaking. Gently wipe off the dirt and rust. DO NOT WIPE DRY...Let the frames dry themselves.
Another method to clean gilt frames: Carefully dust the frame. Make a mixture of 1 ounce of baking soda and 3 egg whites. Beat well. Wash the frames with this mix.
Touch up scrapes with gold paint.
Do you have discolored wooden bread boards or rolling pins? Try rubbing with 1/2 a lemon and then rinse with clear water.
Cleaning Vases
Do you have a white film on the inside of your vases?
Fill the vase with vinegar and let set for a couple of hours.
If you have bottles of perfume or cologne which you do not care for, don't throw them out. Try putting some in your bath water. The ratio of water to perfume will make for a nice smelling bath!
Lemon Juice
will remove adhesive tape and gum from hands and clothes!
Need a good toilet bowl cleaner? Inexpensive, too? Try this! Get a a bucket or pail and add 2 quarts of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of household ammonia. Mix well. Pour this entire mixture into the toilet and put the toilet lid down. Let the solution set for 30 minutes. Open the lid, scrub with brush and flush! Easy and makes your toilet bowl sparkle!
Need to clean up your glass topped outdoor furniture?
Rub in a little lemon juice (can be from a bottle) Dry with paper towels and make it shine by rubbing with a newspaper! If you have any scratches on the glass top, try rubbing in some toothepaste and this should remove the scratches.
Oven Cleaning
To remove grease from inside ovens and broilers, put small pan of ammonia in oven at night and close the oven door. In the morning, remove the pan of ammonia.The grease inside the oven will wipe off easily!
Ammonia Clean Up
For quick and easy cleanups, get a spray bottle and fill 1/2 with water and 1/2 with ammonia. Why pay a fortune for other cleaners, when this works just as well (and kills germs) I use this for cleaning counters, and wiping down appliances. Spray on, wipe off! Also good for cleaning wastebaskets and garbage cans.
Cleaning Copper Bottom Cookware
Do you use RevereWare Cookware? Or cookware with copper bottoms? I do, and try this easy copper cleaner solution! Rub the copper with Worcestershire Sauce, let set for a minute and rinse off! You can also try rubbing with catsup, but I like the sauce method better.
Cleaning Pots and Pans
Do you have pans and pots with stubborn burnt on food?
Sprinkle baking soda and add a little water. Let sit for about 1/2 hour. Now, wash with dishwashing liquid. Makes it much easier to clean!
Got ink on your nice carpet?
Don't panic. Blot up the ink with a cloth or blotter. Next, take a sponge and wet it with a solution of Lysol and Water (ratio 1 teaspoon Lysol to 1 Quart water) Gently sponge area till ink is gone. Get clean spong and rinse with water and then dry.
Did puppy have an accident?
Sponge the area with a solution of 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a quart of warm water. May need repeat application.
Chewing gum stuck on carpet?
Rub the area with ice cubes till gum is ice cold. Scrape up with a spatula. If stain is still there, you can try using a dry cleaning fluid.
Nail Polish spill?
Use nail polish remover, but apply withan eye dropper. Wait a few minutes, and wip with a clean, dry cloth.
Kids leave a red lollipop to melt on your carpet? Or a popsicle? Remove the food item, then sponge with warm water. If this doesn't work, take a teaspoon of very mild detergent (like ivory snow or dreft) and mix in a 1/2 pint of water. Sponge this on with lukewarm water.
Cigarette burns:
Clip the ends of the blackened tufts. Rub the spot with water and a soapless cleaner.
-- Source Unknown
IVORY CARE
To clean and preserve the color of ivory: Place the article in a basin of cold water. Allow to set for 24 hours. Remove from water and lay the item on a clean, dry towel. Do not wipe! Air Dry only. If any water remains , blow the water out. If any water is remaining, the ivory color will become destroyed. Be careful!
PICTURE FRAMES
Dingy or rusty gilt picture frames may be cleaned by simply washing them with a small sponge moistened with oil of turpentine or spirits of wine! Take care that the
sponge does not become saturated. The sponge should be damp, not soaking. Gently wipe off the dirt and rust. DO NOT WIPE DRY...Let the frames dry themselves.
Another method to clean gilt frames: Carefully dust the frame. Make a mixture of 1 ounce of baking soda and 3 egg whites. Beat well. Wash the frames with this mix.
Touch up scrapes with gold paint.
Do you have discolored wooden bread boards or rolling pins? Try rubbing with 1/2 a lemon and then rinse with clear water.
Cleaning Vases
Do you have a white film on the inside of your vases?
Fill the vase with vinegar and let set for a couple of hours.
If you have bottles of perfume or cologne which you do not care for, don't throw them out. Try putting some in your bath water. The ratio of water to perfume will make for a nice smelling bath!
Lemon Juice
will remove adhesive tape and gum from hands and clothes!
Need a good toilet bowl cleaner? Inexpensive, too? Try this! Get a a bucket or pail and add 2 quarts of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of household ammonia. Mix well. Pour this entire mixture into the toilet and put the toilet lid down. Let the solution set for 30 minutes. Open the lid, scrub with brush and flush! Easy and makes your toilet bowl sparkle!
Need to clean up your glass topped outdoor furniture?
Rub in a little lemon juice (can be from a bottle) Dry with paper towels and make it shine by rubbing with a newspaper! If you have any scratches on the glass top, try rubbing in some toothepaste and this should remove the scratches.
Oven Cleaning
To remove grease from inside ovens and broilers, put small pan of ammonia in oven at night and close the oven door. In the morning, remove the pan of ammonia.The grease inside the oven will wipe off easily!
Ammonia Clean Up
For quick and easy cleanups, get a spray bottle and fill 1/2 with water and 1/2 with ammonia. Why pay a fortune for other cleaners, when this works just as well (and kills germs) I use this for cleaning counters, and wiping down appliances. Spray on, wipe off! Also good for cleaning wastebaskets and garbage cans.
Cleaning Copper Bottom Cookware
Do you use RevereWare Cookware? Or cookware with copper bottoms? I do, and try this easy copper cleaner solution! Rub the copper with Worcestershire Sauce, let set for a minute and rinse off! You can also try rubbing with catsup, but I like the sauce method better.
Cleaning Pots and Pans
Do you have pans and pots with stubborn burnt on food?
Sprinkle baking soda and add a little water. Let sit for about 1/2 hour. Now, wash with dishwashing liquid. Makes it much easier to clean!
Got ink on your nice carpet?
Don't panic. Blot up the ink with a cloth or blotter. Next, take a sponge and wet it with a solution of Lysol and Water (ratio 1 teaspoon Lysol to 1 Quart water) Gently sponge area till ink is gone. Get clean spong and rinse with water and then dry.
Did puppy have an accident?
Sponge the area with a solution of 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a quart of warm water. May need repeat application.
Chewing gum stuck on carpet?
Rub the area with ice cubes till gum is ice cold. Scrape up with a spatula. If stain is still there, you can try using a dry cleaning fluid.
Nail Polish spill?
Use nail polish remover, but apply withan eye dropper. Wait a few minutes, and wip with a clean, dry cloth.
Kids leave a red lollipop to melt on your carpet? Or a popsicle? Remove the food item, then sponge with warm water. If this doesn't work, take a teaspoon of very mild detergent (like ivory snow or dreft) and mix in a 1/2 pint of water. Sponge this on with lukewarm water.
Cigarette burns:
Clip the ends of the blackened tufts. Rub the spot with water and a soapless cleaner.
-- Source Unknown
Monday, October 25, 2010
10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK FRESH AND CLEAN From Mr Clean
You've got plenty of reasons to want a clean and fresh home: you are preparing to sell or rent your home; you are moving into a rental or previously occupied place; You're not moving, but it's been a while since your home was thoroughly cleaned; you have children; you have pets.
Whatever the reason, chances are you are also busy, stressed, and short of time. So before company comes or the realtor drops by; before you move into that new place; and before the new baby arrives, try some of these 10 ways to freshen and clean your home quickly and easily.
- Use baking soda: Always keep a giant box of this miracle stuff, along with smaller boxes, on hand. You may not even notice certain "home" smells anymore, but visitors will. Sprinkle the baking soda on carpets and rugs, leave in place for a few hours, and vacuum it up. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of trash and garbage cans. Open the small boxes and put them in the refrigerator, or in a mildewy bathroom.
- Counteract cigarette smoke: Kill the smell of stale smoke by leaving a bowl of vinegar on a tabletop or counter.
- Quick fix for musty and moldy smells: For closets or bathrooms, add a drop of vanilla extract to a cotton ball and leave it in a hidden corner. Or try a drop on the closet or room's light bulb.
- Fast way to a fresh scent: If you like the perfume of fabric-softener dryer sheets, just leave one out in a bathroom wastebasket or on a shelf.
- Spot clean: Brighten up surfaces quickly and easily with a cleaning pad, such as Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser®, or an all-purpose spray cleaner such as Mr. Clean® Multi-Surfaces Spray Cleaner, and a cloth. Eradicate finger marks on (and around) light switches, doorknobs, cabinet knobs and drawer pulls, door edges and stair railings. Just keep a cleaning pad with you, and when you see wall marks, delete them right away.
- Change the light bulbs. Chances are your home lighting is a mix of old, possibly low wattage, incandescent bulbs and aging compact fluorescents. And old, dusty bulbs throw off even less illumination than when they were new. Your entire home will instantly look better if you switch out those dim bulbs with new, full-spectrum or "daylight" bulbs. These days you have a wide range of choice in style, wattage and color of illumination. And although compact fluorescents are initially more expensive, they last much longer and save more energy than traditional incandescents.
- Declutter: Take a large box; remove every other object from every horizontal surface-the mantelpiece, coffee table, window ledge, counter, etc.-and put them in the box. In other words, if you have 11 framed photos on the mantelpiece, remove 6 of them. If you have 8 throw pillows on the sofa, remove 4 of them. Be ruthless. When the box is full, close it and shut it away in the closet. Get another box: any object resting on the floor (shoes, magazines, DVDs, toys, gym bag, craft project, etc.) goes into the box, and the box goes into the closet. (If a family member wants to know where something is, just say: "If it was on the floor, it's now in the closet.") Now turn around and survey your calm and spacious domain-doesn't it look much better?
- Run an air filter. You'll be surprised at how much clearer and clean-smelling your home will seem, without even doing any of the targeted deodorizing steps above. A good electric air filter really does remove pollens, dust and minute debris from the air, so if you have allergies or asthma, it'll help make you feel better, too.
- Clean the windows. Ten minutes with a glass-cleaning spray bottle and some paper towels will give you sparkling windows and lovely light in your home. Try doing one room or even just one window at a time. Clean windows make a big difference in the look of your home.
- Go on pet patrol. You can't live without them, but you can live cleaner with your pets if you apply some diligence. Get your cat, dog, rabbit, or other hairy pet on a brushing and shampooing schedule that is appropriate for its type. Keep white vinegar, as well as cleaning products formulated specially for pets, always on hand and immediately attack any pet clean-ups, from vomiting to spraying to training accidents. Make sure your vacuum or carpet sweeper does the best possible job on pet hair, or cover your upholstered furniture with washable slipcovers...and remember to wash them regularly. If you don't want to spring for slipcovers, drape a king-size flat bed sheet over the sofa, tucking in and pinning the corners for a casual-chic look. Throw the bed sheet in the washer once a week.
Homemaking Tips
Homemaking Tips 1 - What does the term 'homemaking' really mean? Homemaking means to take a house and make it into a home where your family enjoys living and your friends enjoy visiting.
HomemakingTips 2 - To remove stains from pie pans, cookie sheets, and other cookware, soak then in a mix of water and borax.
Homemaking Tips 3 - If your glasses are cloudy, fill them with water and a few drops of ammonia. Let them soak for an hour then rinse them thoroughly with hot water.
Homemaking Tips 4 - Is your silver looking a bit dull? Shine it up by rubbing it with a potato dipped in baking soda.
Homemaking Tips 5 - Don't ever poor cooking grease down the sink! The grease solidifies when it cools and clogs up your drain.
Homemaking Tips 6 - To remove baked on stains from your oven window, rub a paste of baking soda and water over it. Let this sit for 15-20 min. Wipe the window clean with a wet paper towel.
Homemaking Tips 7 - If you spill something on your clothing, wash the fabric in cold water. Hot water causes the stain to set.
Homemaking Tips 8 - Trying to get rid of the weeds growing the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway? Pour some straight vinegar on them.
Homemaking Tips 9 - Sing while you work around the house. This will help keep you and any family members who might be home in good spirits.
Homemaking Tips 10 - Think about decorating your house creatively and making it unique. There are thousands of interesting home decor ideas on the market. Your home should not only be inviting to others but it should be a place that you can be proud of, knowing that you yourself decorated it.
Homemaking Tips 11 - Remember, homemaking isn't about just keeping the house spotless and making great meals for your family to eat. The whole point of homemaking is to love your family by caring for them. That means spending time talking with them and doing activities with them. Sometimes you have to be willing to let the kitchen get a little dirty while spend time with your kids!
Homemaking Tips 12 - Make lists. When you have a lot of things to do and remember you're bound to forget something. Make lists and attach them to the fridge or to a cork board, anywhere that you'll be likely to notice them.
Homemaking Tips 13 - Be creative in how you use your leftover so that your family doesn't feel like they are eating the same thing two nights in a row. For example, take leftover chili and place it on top of some lettuce with corn tortilla chips. Now you've got taco salad.
Homemaking Tips 14 - Try line drying some of your clothes rather than running them through the driers. Over using your drier results in higher electricity bills and tends to wear out clothes faster.Homemaking Tips 15 - Don't go to the grocery store hungry. You're more likely to buy foods you don't need, probably shouldn't eat, or can't afford. Eat a snack before you go and arrive at the store with a list of everything you need. Stick to your list and don't buy a lot of other things. If you didn't know you needed something until you saw it, you probably don't need it.
Homemaking Tips 16 - "Recycle" those plastic shopping bags from the grocery or discount store by using them to line small wastebaskets in your bedroom or bathroom. You won't need to buy those special wastebasket liners--and you can tie up the bag (and the mess inside it) before tossing it into the trash.
Homemaking Tips 17 - Before deciding to disgard unwanted furniture, take another look at it and make sure that you're not overlooking its hidden potential. Older furniture has the wood quality and craftsmanship that is not easily found in any ordinary furniture store anymore. A layer of paint, new stain treatment, or updated hardware (knobs) can transform your unwanted piece of furniture into something fresh and contemporary.
Homemaking Tips 16 - "Recycle" those plastic shopping bags from the grocery or discount store by using them to line small wastebaskets in your bedroom or bathroom. You won't need to buy those special wastebasket liners--and you can tie up the bag (and the mess inside it) before tossing it into the trash.
Homemaking Tips 17 - Before deciding to disgard unwanted furniture, take another look at it and make sure that you're not overlooking its hidden potential. Older furniture has the wood quality and craftsmanship that is not easily found in any ordinary furniture store anymore. A layer of paint, new stain treatment, or updated hardware (knobs) can transform your unwanted piece of furniture into something fresh and contemporary.
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