All of us can use little tips and time-savers. I hope to keep this an ongoing list that I will continue to build as I try different tips. I welcome any tips that other ladies have had success with. I think this is an area where the older ladies would have much wisdom to share! If there something that has worked for you, please email it to me! (Please add "Housekeeping Tips" to the subject line).
New tips will be added to the BOTTOM of each section. Tips shared by others will be in blockquotes.
In the House
• Mineral Build-Up on Sink Fixtures ~ Use vinegar and an old toothbrush to scrub away the build-up. It may take a while for fixtures with lots of minerals. Makes the metal shine like new!
• Tarnished Silver ~ Put a dab of toothpaste on a soft cloth or paper towel, and rub the silver until the tarnish is gone. The toothpaste may leave the piece a little sticky, so you can rinse it with water afterward.
• Greasy Splatters on Stove Back Wall ~ Easily get rid of greasy residue on the back wall of your stove by placing a pot of water on the back burner to boil. The steam will loosen the grease, making it easier to wipe off.
• Hairspray Residue ~ Clean the tacky residue left by hairspray on your bathroom counter and floor by simply placing a few drops of hair shampoo on a wet rag and wipe off (shampoo gets hairspray out of our hair, so it gets it off the counter!).
• Keeping Trash Can Liners Handy ~ Make it easy to change out you trash liners by throwing a bunch of them into the bottom of the can before you put a new one on. Then when that one is full, you take it out and there are more in the bottom ready to be used! Saves a trip to the closet for more liners.
• Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner ~ Use baking soda to scrub the bowl of your toilet. It's natural so you don't have to worry about chemicals and it's safe for little ones who always want to help! (I used to love to help my mom clean the toilet {smile}).
• Cleaning Teapot Spout ~ Purchase a long flexible bristled brush - I think Pampered Chef sells one - which easily bends and cleans down the spout.
• Pet Hair in Carpet ~ If your carpeted stairs are dingy and have lots of hair embedded into the carpet (if you have pets this is probably the case!), use a metal-tined cat or dog brush and "brush" the stairs. It gets the hair right up and lifts the pile of the carpet. ~ Miss Tara Y.
In the Garden
• Birds Eating Ripening Tomatoes (and other growing edibles) ~ Before your plants start to produce tomatoes, hang ball shaped Christmas tree ornaments on the plants. The birds will think they are tomatoes, but will be disappointed and will leave your plants alone!
• Get Rid of Pesky Rodents ~ Chipmunks and squirrels hate cayenne pepper. Wherever they are causing trouble, sprinkle some on the area. You may need to continue to re-apply, but it does work! Also, we had skunks living under our front stoop, and tried everything. Cayenne pepper didn't work, blocking the hole didn't work, and shining a flood light into the hole didn't work. But what did work was rags soaked in ammonia, then rolled up and thrown into the hole. We haven't seen them since!
• Weeds ~ We all know there is no existing cure-all for weeds! One idea to at least help is lay flooring tiles down in your garden paths, or find some stepping stones at a garden center. Another idea is to reuse cardboard boxes that you get in the mail, etc. Break them down so they are flat and lay them in your garden paths. Not as pretty as tiles but...
Insect Problems
• Fruit Flies ~ Take a wide-mouth jar, and fill with about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of apple cider vinegar, then add about 3 drops liquid dish soap and swirl. Set the jar near fruit fly activity (usually by a fruit bowl if you have one). In no time there will be fruit flies drowned in the mixture - it also seems to attract moths. We tried this once when we what seemed like a fruit fly infestation, and within a couple of days there were only one or two left!
• Insect Bites ~ Two different itch relievers: 1. Tea tree oil, and 2. Mix enough cornstarch with water to make a paste, and put on the bite.
• Insect Repellent ~ To repel insects in your house, put a few drops of peppermint essential oil into a spray bottle with a little water and spray where you have the problem.
• Ants ~ Repel ants with cornmeal. Put some cornmeal where you have the ants (either in the house or garden) and then they will eat it. They cannot digest it and die.
• Bee Stings ~ Here's a fast and easy remidy for bee stings. Dandelion milk. Just pick the flower and rub the "milk" on the sting. This really works well, and fast! ~ Miss Leah E.
Personal Care
• To prevent static ~ We ladies know how frustrating it is when the air is dry and static causes our skirts to cling! Solve the problem by pinning a small safety pin in the hem of your slip. If there's no pin handy, wet your hands a little and wipe on the inside of your skirt (lotion works too). Or... "This tip is for ridding clothes of static. Take an unused dryer sheet and rub the afflicted area. This also works for static in hair. Just rub a dryer sheet (unscented might be best for hair) all over your head. Voila! Static is gone." ~ Miss Heather
• Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac ~ Here is a tip for poision oak, ivy, or sumac. If you think that you have come in contact with poision ivy, ect., wash the affected area with dish soap-it is supposed to remove grease and oil, so it will remove posion ivy oil! ~ Miss Bethaney S.
Sewing & Crafting
• To prevent ribbon ends from fraying ~ Dip or brush the ends with clear nail polish. You may have to repeat this after washing. This also works for decorative trims that tend to unravel.
• Substitute for boning ~ If you are making a bodice that calls for boning, instead of paying exorbitant prices at a fabric store, head to the hardware store (yes, you heard right) and buy plastic zip-ties or tie wraps. Cut the "buckle" end off and voila! They are perfect length for a bodice. You can easily make your own casings with a strip of fabric. Zip ties come in various sizes and thicknesses that should suit your needs - for a fraction of the cost!
More to come...
