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What Is your weirdest Household/timesaving tip

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Mary Kay

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 3, 2009
12,873
2,328
West Tampa Fl.
Welcome Bellamama! Thanks for the tips ladies, they are great here's some a friend passed on..

Before you wear a new garment, put a little clear nail polish on the front and back of each button. Buttons will stay on longer when their threads are sealed.

Zippers won't stick if you rub them with the edge of a bar of soap.

To remove a hem crease, sponge the material with white vinegar and press with a warm iron.

Nail polish remover removes tar and grease from white leather shoes.

White shoe polish will apply more evenly if you rub the shoes with a raw potato or rubbing alcohol before polishing.

White shoe polish won't smear if you spray the shoe with hair spray after it is dry.

Vinegar and water will remove salt stains from shoes and boots.

New white canvas shoes will stay that way if you spray them heavily with starch.

Clean rope trimmed shoes with a toothbrush dipped in rug shampoo.

For longer lasting pantyhose, try freezing them before you wear them. Just wet, wring out and toss in a plastic bag to freeze. Thaw and hang to dry.

Fresh eggs are rough and chalky . They will sink and stay horizontal on the bottom of a glass of water. The egg-white is viscous and close around the plump yolk.

Old eggs are smooth and shiny. They will float in a glass of water. The egg-white is watery and the yolk is flat in an egg roughly 3 weeks old.

Dried Herbs and spices lose their potency quickly. buy only a small amount at a time. When using fresh herbs an spices, use 3 times the amount of the dried.

Perk up soggy lettuce by soaking in cold water with some lemon juice. To store place in a zip lock bag with paper towel to absorb moisture.

Never, never pour water on flaming fat or oil you'll spread the fire. If the fire's inside a pan, slap on the lid. If outside, turn off the heat and douse the flames by tossing on a handful of baking soda or salt.

Wax paper is endlessly useful. Use it: To catch grated cheese, to place under seasoned flour for breading or spices for blackening, to tear into strips to slip under a cake you are icing, to cover a dish you are microwaving.

Collect a large assortment of Chinese wooden paddles and spoons. Use them to save wear and tear on your good stainless steel and copper pots.

Instead of using plastic wrap to cover bowls in the microwave, cover a round heatproof glass bowl with a round heatproof glass casserole cover or with an inverted heatproof glass bowl of the same size. A heat-resistant round glass pizza pan also works well, and the overhang makes removal and recovery both safe and easy.

Use a lightweight pot for boiling pasta; water will come to its initial boil faster and will return to the boil faster, too, saving time and preventing the pasta from clumping at the bottom of the pot.

Before heating a nonstick pan, always coat it with nonstick vegetable cooking spray and never heat the pan more than 3 minutes before adding food.

To remove pesky bottle tops and jar lids, don a pair of rubber gloves. Or twist a fat rubber band around the lid, then twist open. Works like a charm.

If you store your best silver in self-sealing plastic bags, it will tarnish much more slowly.

When your cookbook won't lie flat when opened on the counter, place a glass baking dish on the pages (you can read through the glass) or secure each side with a rubber band.

Use top-quality typewriter correction fluid to cover nicks, chips, and scratches on enameled ranges and refrigerators, porcelain tiles, and sinks. Works like a charm and it comes in a variety of colors.

Never use disinfectants to clean the fridge, foods will pick up taste and odor.

When laundering clothes, add detergent to the washer first. Pouring detergent on clothing can cause fabrics to fade.

Apply spray starch to doors and to painted walls along hallways and stairways where fingerprints accumulate. The coating will resist marks better.

Place a piece of white chalk in your silver chest or jewel box to absorb moisture and help prevent tarnishing of silverware and jewelry.

Freezers run more efficiently when they're three-quarters or more full. When provisions drop, fill milk cartons or jugs with water and put them in the freezer to take up empty space.

Wiping the inside of the fridge with vinegar helps prevent mildew because acid kills mildew fungus.

For a fresh smelling fridge, keep a box of baking soda, a can filled with charcoal or dried coffee grounds or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract inside of it.

Crumbled newspapers lining the vegetable compartments of a refrigerator will keep veggies crisp.

Those beds of pansies will bloom more prolifically if you take a few moments to pinch out early buds. This encourages plants to bush out and, in the end, produce more flowers.

To keep your extension cords from getting tangled, insert them into a empty toilet paper roll to store.

Drain de-clogger: 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup vinegar. Pour baking soda down drain first then follow with the vinegar. Close drain and let sit until bubbling has stopped then follow with a bucket of hot boiling water.

Store eggs with the large end up to keep the yolk centered.

For perfect hard-cooked eggs, cover the eggs with cold water and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and let the eggs sit on the burner for 10-15 minutes.

Refrigerate candles for several hours before lighting; it will cause fewer drips.

Have you ever peeled garlic or handled it and your hands smell to high heaven? The next time that happens, take any stainless steel bowl, pan or other stainless steel kitchen gadget and rub your hands on it. It will take away the smell of garlic.

Lemon extract will remove scuff marks from luggage.

Dry Mustard will remove onion odors from your hands or cutting board. Rub in, then rinse off.

Place bay leaves in kitchen drawers and in flour and sugar sacks to keep crawling insects away.
 
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Kelly79

Guest
Jul 7, 2009
686
1
Alaska
"Never, never pour water on flaming fat or oil you'll spread the fire. If the fire's inside a pan, slap on the lid. If outside, turn off the heat and douse the flames by tossing on a handful of baking soda or salt. "

Please don't try to put the lid on to put out a pan fire, it will only work if the lid is mostly airtight and few are. This is especially dangerous with glass lids. Baking Soda is the bast option but in a pinch generous and quickly applied salt and flour will work...don't use powdered aka confectioners sugar though as it is highly flammable when airborne. The basic idea is to smother the fire, not quench it as oil and water (as we all know) do not mix especially when heated.

Side note if adding water to a glass, even tempered glass, dish when it is hot make sure it is very warm at the very least or you will risk the dish exploding. Got absentminded while baking a roast one night and forgot about this rule, never did get all the pieces of glass out of the oven.
 
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Ryle

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Aug 21, 2008
646
0
36
Durant, Ok
"Never, never pour water on flaming fat or oil you'll spread the fire. If the fire's inside a pan, slap on the lid. If outside, turn off the heat and douse the flames by tossing on a handful of baking soda or salt. "

Please don't try to put the lid on to put out a pan fire, it will only work if the lid is mostly airtight and few are. This is especially dangerous with glass lids. Baking Soda is the bast option but in a pinch generous and quickly applied salt and flour will work...don't use powdered aka confectioners sugar though as it is highly flammable when airborne. The basic idea is to smother the fire, not quench it as oil and water (as we all know) do not mix especially when heated.

I don't know about in the pan (I've never managed to catch anything on fire while cooking. *knock on wood*) but one day my stepmom managed to get something in the stove under the burner and it caught on fire BAD.. Flames were like a foot tall on the stove! We didn't have enough baking soda to even think about getting the job done (like 2 tbs in the box) so I tried flour.. it caught on fire! .. ended up using salt (and a lot of it) to put it out.. Needless to say.. I don't reccomend using flour to put out a kitchen fire. Salt or baking soda only.


A trick my mom taught me (there's a long story that goes with it but I'll spare you the time) .. if you get a burn go for the bleach. Soak the burn (or cover with soaked cloth) for a couple minutes and it'll take the pain away.
 

jen28f

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Jul 23, 2009
124
1
55
Chester, WV
HINT: Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of an ice cream cone to prevent ice cream drips!

ME: Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway!

HINT: To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

ME: Buy mashed potato mix. Keeps in the pantry for up to a year.

HINT: 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.

ME: Go to the bakery! Hell, they'll even decorate it for you!

HINT: If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant 'fix-me-up.'

ME: If you over-salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: 'I made it, you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!'

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

ME: Celery? Never heard of it!

HINT: Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

ME: The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust, so I don't.

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

ME: Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink! All your pains go away!

HINT: If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dish washing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

ME: Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.

HINT:Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

ME: Leftover wine?????????? HELLO!!!!!
 

Kelly79

Guest
Jul 7, 2009
686
1
Alaska
I don't know about in the pan (I've never managed to catch anything on fire while cooking. *knock on wood*) but one day my stepmom managed to get something in the stove under the burner and it caught on fire BAD.. Flames were like a foot tall on the stove! We didn't have enough baking soda to even think about getting the job done (like 2 tbs in the box) so I tried flour.. it caught on fire! .. ended up using salt (and a lot of it) to put it out.. Needless to say.. I don't reccomend using flour to put out a kitchen fire. Salt or baking soda only.


A trick my mom taught me (there's a long story that goes with it but I'll spare you the time) .. if you get a burn go for the bleach. Soak the burn (or cover with soaked cloth) for a couple minutes and it'll take the pain away.

I should have said, you can only use flour on very small fires, very large hot ones will definitely ignite it, and it really still isn't the best method to go with...best method would be to keep and extinguisher in the kitchen, or not to catch the pan on fire in the first place lol.
 
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Ryle

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Aug 21, 2008
646
0
36
Durant, Ok
ouch Ryle - doesn't the bleach burn your skin more?

Actually no.. And I'm allergic to bleach.
When my mom taught me this I about had a panic attack but it really did work.

The long story that I was going to save you.. but might make me make a bit more sense (I'll try and shorten it)....

I was 12, I grabbed a hot iron by the metal face and found out the hard way that it was on (I'd been told that it wasn't hot). I burnt my ENTIRE hand on the face of that iron, I think the only thing I didn't get on the face of it was part of my thumb. And because I wasn't really paying attention to it I'd actually managed to pick up the iron and had it about a foot in the air before I registered the pain. Parts of my skin pealed off onto the face of the iron when I dropped it. Mom tried the old butter trick, ice water, warm water, just about every first aid item in the house, nothing would make it stop hurting. She begged me to go to the doctor but I refused, I hate doctors, I don't care if I'm bleeding to death..I will not go to the doctor. So she says brings up the bleach idea and told me I either got to stick my hand in the bleach and deal with the rash that I knew I'd get.. or she'd have people tie me up and force me to the doctor the hard way. I chose the bleach. Sure enough after soaking my hand for about 5min the pain was gone. My hand was blistered and nasty looking for about a week but after that 5min soak it didn't hurt any more than a scraped knee. (And a couple benadryl fixed the rash right up :) )

It sounds crazy to anyone that I tell about it but I know first hand that it really does work.
 

Ryle

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Aug 21, 2008
646
0
36
Durant, Ok
It may not of hurt because from the sound of it you got a third degree burn, when that happens it cauterizes your nerves so sensation is dulled, especially pain. Better idea keep an aloe/lidocaine burn spray in the house.

LOL no.. trust me it hurt before the bleach.. we spent half an hour before that trying everything we could to make it stop (aloe and lidocane were both attempted) nothing would make it quit & I thought I was going to lose my mind... I'd never felt so much pain in my life at that point.. I'd broken bones, had teeth knocked out, almost cut off a toe, fallen off the top of a 2 story building.. nothing compared to the pain from that burn. To this day I don't trust anyone else to tell me if something is on or hot or not.. i just check for myself.
 

margikins

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2010
73
63
NE Illinois
To reduce the amount of bubbles when trying to flush a toilet that someone has dumped a bottle of shampoo into - all you have to do is sprinkle baking soda over the bubbles.

This hint works ok, but not as well, when trying to clean out a dishwasher that someone put liquid dish soap into also.

Ask me how I know this.... no please, nevermind, don't ask ROFL.

To keep the bottom of the oven from smoking until you can scrape the burnt food that fell on to the broiler pan, sprinkle salt over the area.

Great hints and helps, thank you.

Margie
 

Mary Kay

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 3, 2009
12,873
2,328
West Tampa Fl.
Tip #1: Mayonnaise

If you can get past the smell and the texture, mayonnaise makes a great, inexpensive conditioner. Apply mayo to dry hair and work through thoroughly. Cover with plastic cap, wrap in warm towel and leave on for 20-30 minutes, and then wash your hair as usual. When used regularly, mayonnaise will help reduce split ends and will add moisture to dry hair, making it look healthy and shiny. Using this conditioner once a month is all that you need.


Tip #2: Apple Cider Vinegar


If you have problem skin, apple cider vinegar can be used to clarify dull skin by removing dirt and excess oil. Once you remove dirt and oil from your face, your pores will be able to open up and your skin will look and feel healthier. This will help to eliminate acne, and prevent future acne breakouts. You can use apple cider vinegar as an astringent by mixing 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of distilled water. Vinegar can also be used to solve dandruff problems. Pour vinegar into your hair, massaging it into the scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse it out. You can repeat this process until the dandruff disappears.


Tip #3: Egg Yolks, Honey and Milk


The next time you are in the grocery store, select your fruits and vegetables carefully. Some of the same items that you eat may be perfect for a facial mask. One popular, moisturizing facial mask combines egg yolks, honey and milk. Combine all of these ingredients together and mix until it is in paste form. Apply a thin layer, evenly to your face. If you find your mixture is too runny, you can add more honey until it is of a consistency that you can work with. Leave it on your face for 20 minutes, and then wash off with warm water and pat dry.


Tip #4: Coffee Grinds

A popular home remedy to help get rid of cellulite is to make a paste using a mix of ground coffee and body lotion. Rub the mixture on the parts of your body with cellulite. The coffee grinds will help increase blood flow and circulation and breakdown the fat that helps to cause cellulite. Leave your coffee treatment on for a half an hour, and then wash it off. If you opt for this at-home treatment, also make sure to drink a lot of water; this will allow for the toxins and fatty deposits to be flushed out of your body


Tip #5: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil is truly one of the world's best beauty secrets. It is a natural, hypoallergenic, inexpensive way to moisturize skin. It also provides valuable antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that can help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from the sun, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. The antioxidants in olive oil help to stimulate health skin cell growth and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state. Olive oil can be applied to your face and body and helps to keep skin well-moisturized. You can use it as either a night cream or daily moisturizer. Just be sure to apply it to damp skin. Olive oil can also be used as an eye makeup remover, just add a drop or two to a cotton pad it gently removes eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. Over time, it can even help to smooth our under eye wrinkles.
 

jj2

Moved On
ECF Veteran
May 30, 2009
196,879
212,801
Hundred Acre Wood
To dust, I put old socks on my hands. One dry, and one gets sprayed with endust or pledge. Then I can either toss the socks or wash them.

Old socks work well on the side of a swimming pool too.

I hate taking my drapes down and dragging them to the dry cleaners.

There’s two ways to avoid this:

  • If they are just dusty, take them down after a good snow and take them out and drag, swish, whatever, them through the snow. Works well on shears too.
  • My favorite is using a dry cleaner sheet for clothes dryer. If there is a dirty spot, rub the sheet over it first, and then follow directions.

Don’t buy the dry cleaning sheets that you have to use a bag with.

Also works on many other things besides clothes.
Cleaning your stuffed animals in one---just rubbed the sheet over them, not necessary to put them in the dryer.
 
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flying low

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 25, 2009
844
188
San Mateo, CA
was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the partysprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filleda 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well.. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.......Pass it on.

Good to know since I'm allergic to mosquito bites .. Listerine is about to be my new bestest friend! ;)
 

Kimerpuff

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Aug 4, 2009
2,084
969
CO, USA
www.OneStopDIYShop.com
Here is one of my favorite tips!

We have this giant zip strip thingie mah bob! to keep the shower drain hair free!

My hair is long and our dog who gets her bath in the same tub is a samoyed and when she blows coat its.. like three dogs come out of her, seriously! lol

We got our Zip Strip from Walmart for around $2.00, so much cheaper and better for the enviroment then drain stuff that only half works.

You push the strip down the drain.. give it a couple jerks up and down then slowly pull it out. It will catch the hair and gunk as it comes on on the little thorn type deals and viola! The drain, drains again!
 
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