"USEFUL TIPS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING"

Tips You Can Use

How many of these did YOU know about?

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 for the last 40 years!)============ ========= ========= ==

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 receiptBLUE!) 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! It also sharpen the scissor.============ ========= ========= ==

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?) LOL============ ========= ========= ==

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 totweezers 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.============ ========= ========= ==

To 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 do wn the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

"9 Tips For Speed Cleaning"

Keep Supplies Together: The number one rule for speed cleaning is to have quick and easy access to your tools and supplies. When it's time to clean, it zaps all of your motivation when you have to hunt for needed supplies. Consider creating a cleaning caddy for different areas of your home. You'll always have your supplies right where you need them.

Pump Up the Music: Music makes a big difference in how quickly I'm able to clean. My mix of songs for cleanup music is a playlist of high energy, fast moving songs that make me feel great. Using music can help you to move more quickly, all while giving you the feeling of fun. Just be sure to shut the blinds if your favorite tracks make you bust into dance moves that you don't want the neighbors knowing you have.

Start With Your Least Favorite Room: The room you always leave until last is the best one to start in. Procrastinating the rooms we hate cleaning only makes us feel worse when we say that we're done. When we're finished with everything else, our mind still remembers that we chickened-out of the hard rooms. Do the most difficult and annoying areas of your house at the beginning, when you are most motivated. Once you accomplish the feeling of completing those tough areas, everything else will seem like a piece of cake.

Don't Clean Just To Clean: I know it sounds silly, but don't waste time cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned. If your refrigerator is still spotless from last weeks cleaning, then why bother moving everything around to clean it? If you never use the downstairs bathroom, then it won't need to be cleaned as often as the master bathroom. Don't clean something just because it's a scheduled day of cleaning. Clean the dirty things, and leave the rest alone.

Clean As You Go: When you see a mess, clean it up. We tell our families this all the time, but do we actually practice what we preach? This can be as simple as grabbing a handful of items that belong upstairs when we know we're heading upstairs anyway. It also includes wiping up spills and splatters before they have the chance to harden. Cleaning as you go will save you a lot of time in the long run.





Don't Overuse Cleaners: The knee-jerk reaction is to use as much cleaner as possible in an effort to get our homes clean. This can actually backfire. Too much cleaner can damage the surfaces in our home. It can also leave a residue that will attract dirt and dust like a magnet. Do yourself a favor and use just enough. At the same time, realize that cleaners rarely work instantly. Give a cleaner some time to penetrate the dirt and grime. Then, instead of spending several minutes scrubbing, you'll usually be able to just wipe the dirt away.

Top To Bottom: This was one of the first rules I learned from my mom. Always start cleaning at the top of a surface, and work your way down. This allows you to avoid dripping cleaner, or settling dust over surfaces that have already been cleaned.

Dry To Wet: The second rule I learned was dry to wet. Do your dry cleaning, dusting, wiping down, etc. first. Next, move to your wet cleaning. The more you can take care of with a dry cloth, the less streaking, spreading of dirt, and potential for spilling you'll have.

Put Supplies Away: So that you'll be ready for your next speed cleaning session, make sure that all of your tools are put away neatly. They'll be ready for you the next time you decide to speed clean.