Especially for tips related with personal care…

Check with your doctor before using any tip that could have any effect on your health!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Alternative disinfectant

Some disinfectants have a very strong chemical odor and harmful ingredients. To make a safer cleaner, mix 1 cup of water and 20 drops of lavender essential oil in a spray bottle and shake well. Mist any areas that need to be disinfected, and wipe with a dry cloth. Lavender oil contains naturally occurring alcohol that kills bacteria and viruses more effectively than some commercial products.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Polishing furniture

Sometimes furniture polishes have an unpleasant and persistent smell that can even cause irritability or depression. Try this safer and more natural way to polish wood: combine in a bowl a few drops of olive oil and the juice of 1 lemon (or ¼ cup of bottled lemon juice). Dip a dry soft cloth in the mixture and polish your furniture as usual. Lemon juice will draw the dirt out of wood fibers, and olive oil will keep the moisture in.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Alternative oven cleaner

If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your oven, try this homemade recipe. Combine 2 tbsp each of baking soda and liquid castile soap, and 1/2 cup of hot water in a spray bottle. Preheat oven to 250F, then turn off and spritz the interior. Let sit about 20 minutes and wipe with a clean damp sponge. Baking soda will help to dissolve grease and get rid of odors, while the soap will help to remove the grime.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Remove stains from a car seat

Cover the stain with a palm-size amount of foam from a shaving cream and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a damp cloth and wipe clean. On stubborn stains, use a toothbrush for more scrubbing power. The foaming action breaks down the pigment in the stain and lifts it from the cloth fibers.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Trapping fruit flies

Fill a glass 3/4 full with vinegar or cider vinegar, then add 6 to 8 drops of dishwashing liquid, and fill to the top with warm water. Place it in the area that fruit flies hang out.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Cleaning hard-to-reach dirt

In a spray bottle, mix 1 part fabric softener and 4 parts water and spritz a firm short-bristle paintbrush with the mixture. Work the brush into the dirty area, wiping it clean. The paintbrush will reach narrow gaps, while the lubricant will help to pick up the loose particles, instead of just pushing them around, and will leave behind an antistatic residue that prevents dust and debris from settling in the future.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Controlling dust mites

Mix several drops of cinnamon bark oil into a 50/50 solution of water and denatured alcohol. Spray bedding, carpets, and any other places dust collects. Besides controlling dust mites, you will provide a nice smell to your house.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Wax splatters on furniture

Remove wax splatters from furniture and countertop by melting the wax with a hair dryer set on low, then wipe it up with a paper towel. Apply 1tsp vinegar to a damp sponge and wipe the area. The heat softens wax, while the vinegar’s acetic acid dissolves any remaining residue.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Get rid of flea eggs

Fleas have a 3-day reproduction cycle, so you have to be diligent about killing their eggs. Salt your floors every day for 9 days and vacuum every 3rd day. Do not forget to empty the vacuum cleaner every time you use it, or the live ones will crawl right back out again.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Line-drying sweaters

Prevent sweaters and knits from having clip marks after hanging outdoors. Thread the legs of a clean pair of panty hose through the arms of the sweater, pulling the waist of the hose through the opening at the sweater’s neck. Pin the feet and waistband of the hose to the line to fasten the garment without pinching it.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Against wasp

Many kinds of wasp (not all) are extremely territorial and will not build a nest within 200 yards of another one. Build or buy your own fake nest and it will work just like a scarecrow. Hang one in the front yard and one in the back, and you will be all covered.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Line-drying your sheets

There is nothing better to kill bacteria and bleach out stains (unlike your dryer) than drying your clothes in the sunshine. To avoid the line-induced crease on sheets, and skip ironing later, try this: Fold the sheet in half and clip the 4 corners to the line so the fold hangs freely at the bottom. To secure its midsection, pin each hemline separately to the line, leaving gaps between clips. The free flow of air through the openings will speed drying time and keep fabric wrinkle-free.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Small hole in the wall

Tear a few facial tissues or paper towels into tiny pieces and place in a plastic container. Add a few drops of carpenter’s glue and stir to make a thick paste. Using a spatula (or similar), fill the hole with the paste, making sure it is level with the wall. Let dry for 2 hours. Finish with a dab of primer, then paint to match the wall color.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Natural trick against mice

Attract owls to your property with an owl box (if a quiet rafter or tree crook is not available). A pair of barn owls and their family can eat over 3,000 mice in a nesting season. Should the food supply be dependable, the same owls may return season after season.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Avoid ants

Use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water to wipe down countertops and other surfaces. Use the mixture anywhere you have spotted ants. Repeating this procedure several times a day you will destroy the scent trails that ants use to navigate.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Get rid of spiders

In a spray bottle, mix water and unsweetened lemon or lime juice. Wipe furniture, countertops, or spray down doorways and windowsills. In your garden, spread around some lemons, oranges or lime peels. Spiders do not like the smell of citrus.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Avoid mosquitoes

Repel mosquitoes with catnip plants! Grow them in your garden or apply undiluted catnip oil to the skin for up to 2 hours of protection. It works more effectively than repellents.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Cooking spaghetti

If your pot is wide and squat instead of tall and narrow, break spaghetti strands in half before dropping them in the water. All the pasta will hit the water at the same time and cook evenly. Also, shorter strands make slurping them easier and neater.