Happy New Year!!!

Natural face-lift

Beat 2 egg whites until stiff and pat on your face. Let sit for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. The protein in the egg whites tightens skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

For lifeless hair

Revive limp hair by placing 1/4 cup uncooked rice and 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle and letting it sit overnight. Then spritz the solution on damp hair and style as usual. The starch from the rice helps hair to get bounce and body.

Relief for menstrual cramps

Eat peppermint candies. Menthol is an antispasmodic that relaxes muscles and reduces pain.

Season's Greetings!!!

Itchy skin in winter time

Dry air from the heater can make your skin itchy during winter time. For a top to bottom relief, add 1 cup milk to bathwater. Lactic acid helps to slough away the dead skin cells, and leaves you with a soft and itch-free sensation.

Razor burn when shaving your body

Apply moisturizer to your skin before you get into the shower, and then use shaving cream and a razor. The moisturizer helps the blades slide smoothly over the skin, preventing irritation.

Relieve an earache

Cut an onion in half and heat in the microwave for about a minute or until warm but not hot. Wrap it in a soft cloth or paper towel, apply the flat side to your ear and hold for about 15 minutes. The heated onion releases sulfur, an anti-inflammatory gas that easily penetrates the ear canal to relieve pressure and pain.

Closing a caulk tube

Use a plastic golf tee to plug up the opening of a caulk tube after the tip has been cut. It will fit perfectly and prevent opening from being blocked by dried crust after use.

Slip-proof shoes

Provide an extra grip to leather soles by lightly rubbing them with sandpaper.

Storing small plastic bags

To reuse assorted small plastic bags, stuff them into an empty tissue box. It will fit a fair number of bags inside, and you will be recycling not only the bags, but also the tissue box.

Cleaning a lampshade

To dust a delicate pleated lampshade, stroke it from top to bottom with a clean, soft and dry paintbrush.

Floral arrangement

For a nice homemade arrangement, secure pieces of transparent tape in a crisscross design at the opening of the vase and place flowers in the grid. The invisible tape will hold them exactly where you want them to be.

Crooked picture on the wall

If your wall art keeps moving and does not stay straight, wrap some electrical tape around the center of its hanging wire and rehang. The tape will grab the nail and prevent wire from sliding, making the picture to stay centered.

Indentations in carpet

Place an ice cube on each of the spots and let them sit overnight. As the ice melts, water slowly sinks into the fibers, plumping them back up to their original shape. Next morning you will notice the difference.

Reheating rice in a microwave

To ensure that rice stays moist after reheating it, add an ice cube to the plate and loosely cover with a lid before placing it in the microwave. The ice creates steam that will infuse the grains with moisture.

Curdled cream sauces

When you notice that your cream sauce starts curdling, remove it from the heat, add an ice cube to it, and stir until the clumps disappear. Lowering the sauce’s temperature will reactivate the emulsifying agents in the overcooked yolk, and sauce will be creamy and smooth again.

Revive garbage disposal blades

Throw 4 ice cubes in the sink drain and power up the machine for 30 seconds. Crushing the hard cubes sharpens blades and removes the grease and stuck-on food that can slow down the mechanism.

Eyebrow grooming

Rub an ice cube over the brow bone before using the tweezers, then again right after you have finished grooming. The cold swipes will numb the skin to minimize pain and swelling in the area.

Caulking the bathtub

Use the edge of an ice cube to smooth the seam, running it along the full circumference of the tub. It easily slides over the caulk and creates an even finish.

To water hanging plants

Drop a few ice cubes (just enough for the size of the pot) onto the surface of the soil every day. Ice melts slowly and will prevent messy overflows.

Helping a diet

When making your favorite salad for your next meal cut big pieces of veggies, instead of chopping or thin-slicing them. The larger pieces take longer to chew, slowing your eating so you will fill up faster.

Ice Cubes Week!

These small cube-shaped parts of ice, normally used to cool drinks, can also have a lot of alternative uses... 7 days with some ideas...

Unclog shower drains

Pour a pack or 2 of active dry yeast and a little bit of sugar down the drain, and then run warm water for about 30 seconds. Live cultures in the yeast will reproduce and expand, breaking apart persistent hair clogs and grime.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Look at everything in your life as a gift, a bless from your own God!

Bad taste medicine

Make a medicine with a bad taste easy to swallow by sucking on an ice cube or ice pop for about 1 minute before taking the dose. The cold numbs the taste buds and the medicine slides down easier. Good trick for kids!

Stop an annoying cough

Mix 1 tbsp lemon juice with 1 tsp honey and a little bit of cayenne pepper, and swallow the combination. Lemon reduces inflammation and delivers vitamin C, honey coats and calms irritated throat tissue, and the pepper increases circulation.

Frost-free windshields

To prevent icy windshields next time you know that snow is coming, just rub a halved onion over them before flakes fall. Sulfuric compounds coat the glass and stop ice from forming.

Secure an earring in place

To make sure your piece of jewelry stays put until you replace a lost earring back, break the eraser off the end of a pencil and use to secure the post. You can also use a little piece of rubber band instead.

Moths in stored clothes

Cut the feet off an old pair of panty hose and fill each with 2 tbsp of pencil shavings. Knot the sachets closed and place one at the top of each clothing container before putting away. The cedar scent of the wood shavings masks the smell of wool and cotton fibers that attracts the bugs.

Frames scratching the walls

Keep frames from scratching the wall, by breaking off the erasers from 2 pencils, then glue each one to the bottom corners of the frame. The rubber cushions the frame to prevent sliding, marks and art being out of the right position.

Fill a large screw hole

Using a utility knife, slice a 1/8"-thick piece from the end of an unsharpened pencil. Apply wood glue around the edges and insert it in the screw hole. Let dry before topping with a coat of spackle.

Make a zipper slide easily

Rub the sharpened tip of a pencil over the zipper's teeth. The graphite's natural lubricants cover the metal with a slippery layer that keeps zipper sliding much easier.

Pencil Week #2!

A graphite tool that leaves marks in paper or other surfaces and often comes with an eraser attached. You can write, draw, erase... and perform alternative tasks with it...

Installing door’s hardware

When installing a double sided handleset on a door, place the hardware first. Then rub a sharpened pencil tip over the entire surface of the handle and swing the door shut. The pencil's dark graphite will transfer to the frame and reveal precisely where to place the matching piece.

Clean a door lock

To repair a door lock that is not working properly due to grime, rub the tip of a sharpened pencil over the teeth of the key, and then insert the key into the lock and turn the bolt. Graphite shavings coat dirt particles in the lock with a powdery lubricant that prevents dirt from causing the lock to stick.

Scuff marks on suede boots

To remove marks, lightly rub the eraser of a pencil over the discolored spots on your boots. Rubber creates abrasion that naturally lifts grime embedded in the fabric while fluffing up the soft fibers.

Remove sticky label residue

To remove sticky residue left by labels, rub the area strongly with the eraser on the end of the pencil. The rough action dislodges the adhesive so it can easily be wiped away with a wet sponge.

Improvise a photo holder

Group together 4 unsharpened pencils, and then wrap a rubber band around the eraser ends until pencils are firmly assembled. Pull the noneraser tips away from the center to form a freestanding support. Insert a photo between the erasers and place on top of a flat surface.

Pencil Week #1!

A graphite tool that leaves marks in paper or other surfaces and often comes with an eraser attached. You can write, draw, erase... and perform alternative tasks with it...

Frost-proof car windshield

Keep snow, ice and frost off your car windows in the morning. Fill a spray bottle with a saltwater solution and use to spritz the windshield at night. Reapply every night.

Remove burn marks from iron

Sprinkle a handful of salt onto a piece of wax paper, then run the hot iron over it, with the steam setting off. The heat softens the residue while the abrasive salt particles help scrub the char marks off the metal plate and onto the paper.

Itchy and dry scalp

Just sprinkle salt onto your dry scalp and work it into your hair using your fingers, then shampoo as usual. The granules will gently slough off dry skin cells while stimulating the production of oils to calm irritation.

Prevent black buildup in fireplaces

Next time you light a fire, toss 1/2 cup of salt onto the logs. When the sodium chloride mixes with the vapors from the fire, it creates a weak acid that dissolves creosote to prevent dust from settling.

Under-eye bags

To de-puff tired eyes add 1 tsp of salt to a warm cup of water. Dip a cotton ball in the solution, apply to areas around the eyes, let dry, and then rinse. You will immediately look refreshed.

Salt Week!

Essential in the kitchen as a food seasoning, salt can also play different roles in your daily life...

For fever and congestion

Peel a small piece of fresh ginger, cut it into thin slices and toss it into a hot bath. Soaking yourself in this bath will help you to sweat out your fever and clear up congestion.

Make perfume last longer

Dab some petroleum jelly on your pulse before spraying your favorite perfume. The texture of the jelly attracts and locks in fragrance molecules on your skin for the entire day.

Fireplace cleanup

To prevent flaky ash particles from rising when you are cleaning a fireplace, break tea bags open, after making your tea, and sprinkle over dirty fireplace remains. The damp leaves will settle the ashes, making your job much easier.

Restore plastic objects

To improve the look of dull plastic items (as such plastic toys), spray the pieces with a thin coat of automotive vinyl protector. The silicone-based liquid creates an invisible shield that hides marks and scratches, restoring shine.

Fingerprints on pictures

To erase fingerprints from pictures, just dab some rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and carefully wipe away the marks. This procedure will evaporate the oily residue without damaging the prints' glossy finish.

Home hair-coloring error

If you made a mistake with the tones of your hair color, just wash your hair once or twice with a strong dandruff shampoo. The zinc in the foams will open up cuticles, allowing hair to release color.

Kitchen drapes care

Keep kitchen curtains clean by spraying them with starch. The resulting crisp surface repels grease and prevents dust from adhering to the fabric.

Water stains on wooden furniture

Rub some mayonnaise right onto the stains with a paper towel and let sit overnight. Next day, wipe with a clean damp cloth. The mayo soaks in and absorbs water from the marks, dissolving them and restoring the furniture.

Fog-proof eyeglasses

Keep eyeglasses from clouding when changes in temperature happen (while cooking or during winter time, for example). Pour a drop of dishwashing liquid on both sides of the lenses and rub them clean with a soft cloth. If your activities make them cloudy very often, do this every other day to make sure they will always be clean.

Grass stains on clothes

Apply enough liquid dish soap to cover the stains and rub into the fabric using your fingers. Let sit for a while (60 to 90 minutes), then rinse with cold water and wash normally. The degreaser in soap breaks apart ground-in chlorophyll proteins that cause the marks.

The best time to shop

Go shopping in the morning to guarantee you will make smart purchasing decisions! Judgment and processing skills are at their sharpest in the AM. Besides buying what is really right for you, you will have the best selection to choose from since you will be among the first customers of the day.

Keep mice away

Place a peppermint tea bag in each corner of mice favorite spots. They register the strong menthol smell as an olfactory panic alarm.

Cleaning a shower drain

Use a long crochet hook to unclog your shower drain. The hook can pick up hair and other stuff that gets stuck too far down for fingers to reach.

Scratches on wooden furniture

Break a walnut, pecan or Brazil nut in half and wipe the mark with the nut's flesh in the direction of the scratch. Rub your finger back and forth over the area until it is warm. The body heat makes the wood expand a little to absorb the nut's oil, which will restore the wood's sheen.

Outlet shopping

Outlet discounts average only about 30% off the full price. To get really good deals, buy only out-of-season items and pay close attention to tags. An item categorized "first quality" is equivalent to one you would find in a regular store; otherwise, the garment was manufactured specifically for the outlet and most likely is of inferior quality. Practicing this behavior, you avoid surprises, such as finding the same item on sale at the mall for a price cheaper than what you have paid at the outlet.

Organizing linens

Do not waste time searching through a packed linen closet when you need to change your bedding. Simply store each set of sheets in a matching pillow-case and get your hands on the right ones in seconds.

Lipstick stains on clothes

To remove lipstick stain from a washable fabric (cotton, rayon etc.), cover the stain with a dab of petroleum jelly, let it sit for about 5 minutes and wash as usual. The glycerin breaks down the oil-based stain without damaging the fabric.

Improvise a measuring tool

Anytime you are shopping and find an item that you want to buy but the measurements in the package are missing, use a dollar bill to figure out its dimensions. The bill is 6 1/8” long and about 2 1/5” wide. Write down these numbers on the bill and keep it in your wallet forever. You will have a handy measuring device to help you size up anything you need.

Hard-water stains

To remove hard-water stains from sinks and their metal fixtures, use a sponge to dab some full-strength fabric softener on the areas. Let sit for about 15 minutes, then wipe with a damp cloth. The softener’s fatty acids quickly dissolve the alkaline stains in porcelain and metal, and the clear coating that remains on the surfaces will prevent mineral and soap residue from sticking.

Cleaning paintbrushes

To prevent paintbrushes from stiffening after use, soak them for 3 to 5 minutes in a bucket filled with hot water and a couple drops of fabric softener. Rinse and wipe dry.

Streaked windows

Fill a bucket with a gallon of hand-hot water and stir in 2 capfuls of fabric softener. Dip a sponge in the solution, squeeze it out slightly, then use it to wash the windows. Wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.

Neutralize car odors

To freshen your car, combine 2 tsp of liquid fabric softener and 1 quart of water, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then lightly spritz the seats and carpets. Allow to dry completely.

Laundry soapsuds overflow

If your washing machine is overflowing with suds, due to the use of too much soap, pour a capful of fabric softener into the washer. The acidic pH level of the softener neutralizes the alkaline detergent, dissolving suds on contact.

Speed dusting time

Next time you dust, use a cloth dampened with a dab of fabric softener. The lubricant makes the debris adhere to the cloth, picking up all particles on surfaces. The product will also leave behind an invisible layer that will prevent dust and grime from sticking to furniture.

Cleaning curling iron

To clean the sticky grime, dilute 1 tbsp of liquid fabric softener in 1/4 cup of warm water. Allow the iron to cool, use a cotton swab to apply the solution to the barrel, then wipe it off.

Fabric Softener Week!

A conditioner used to prevent static cling and make fabric softer, can also help you with many different daily tasks...

Reusing vacuum bags

Do not throw away a vacuum bag just because it is full. Most of them can be reused 3 or 4 times. Just clip off the top of the full bag, dump out the debris, fold the top edge over once and staple it closed.

Easy airport pick-up

When you are flying only with carry-on bags, ask the people picking you up at the airport to wait in the car by the departure area. This will make you avoid arrival section stress, baggage-claims chaos, and exit the airport much easier and faster.

Dull and lifeless hair

When your hair looks dull and lifeless and you do not have enough time to go for the right treatment, try this quick fix. Shampoo hair as usual, then before rinsing, apply some baking soda through sudsy strands (about 1 tbsp for a long hair). The product will act as tiny scrubbers, breaking down the sticky residue that many hair products leave behind, even after washing.

Fast find for your best recipes

Write down in a blank paper the names and pages of your best recipes, and place it on the inside cover of your cookbook. You will never have to scramble to find your favorite dishes again. If you have more than one cookbook, that will make your life even easier, saving you a lot of time.

Perfume overload

A quick fix for too much perfume is to rub a little bit of unscented body lotion over the areas where you applied the fragrance. The lotion absorbs and neutralizes scent molecules on the skin's surface.

Calm down anxiety

When you find yourself anxious, hold one hand in the other and give it a gentle squeeze. This self-soothing gesture puts an end to nervous movements by lowering heart rate, making you more relaxed.

A little help to cut calories

If you are trying to lose weight, hold your fork with your non-dominant hand during your meals. This will make you focus on handling the utensil, slowing down your eating process, and preventing overeating.

Replace an eyeglass screw

The tiny screw in the hinge of an eyeglass always pops out when you are not ready to fix it. Next time, use an earring post to replace it until you can get a new screw. Usually they fit pretty well.

Bumps on bikini line

To prevent bumps from cropping up on your skin, after a bikini-line shave, always use a sharp razor and shave downward (the direction of hair growth). Also, reduce the number of passes over a single area to stop irritation that causes ingrown hairs.

Sunburned skin

To keep sunburned skin from peeling, slice an apple in half, remove the core and rub the flashy side over the affected area for a few minutes. The malic acid moisturizes skin, preventing peeling.

Musty garage

If the humid weather is leaving your garage smelling musty, spread a layer of cat litter in a shallow large pan and place in an unnoticeable spot, to soak up the moisture in the air.

Cleaning the washer

If your washer is not working properly due to the accumulation of soap scum in the hoses, try to clean it with some white vinegar. Add one cup of the product to an empty machine and run a small-load cycle using the hot water setting. Acetic acid will dissolve clog-causing buildup.

Rust marks on car

Crumple a 1 foot-long piece of aluminum foil into a ball, dip it into a bowl of cola and use to scrub the chrome in the affected areas with rust spots. The phosphoric acid in soda dissolves rust and the foil works like sandpaper to buff off grime.

Kids playing on your lawn

When you have children running and playing on your lawn every day, the soil gets compacted making hard for moisture and food to reach grass roots. Have them wear soccer cleats when playing, to create pores in the lawn that allow water and nutrients to soak into the soil.

Dogs versus garden

To prevent dogs from digging in flower gardens, sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the areas that pets like the most. The spice will tickle their noses making them to sneeze, and the sensation will keep them away.

Pick up glass splinters on the floor

Next time you break glass on the floor, use a slice of white bread to pick up hard-to-see splinters in seconds. Damp one side of the slice with a little bit of water and wipe the floor slowly with it (wet side down).

Matched socks after laundry

Keep a bag of safety pins next to the laundry bags in your house, and ask everybody to pin their socks together when they take them off. Socks will go in and come out of the washer in matched pairs, saving a valuable time that you would spend on sorting through them to find mates.

Improve a relaxing bath

Every time you use oranges in the kitchen, save the peels in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. When you need an extra-relaxing bath, grab the peels, tear them into small pieces and throw them into a hot bath. The citrus scent will calm the areas of your brain activated by stress.

Dicing tomatoes without a mess

Chopping tomatoes on a cutting board usually creates a big mess all over the place. Next time that you need diced tomatoes for your recipe, place tomatoes in a bowl and use your kitchen shears to dice them. The bowl will serve as a splash barrier for the job.

Look healthy and radiant

If "gray days" have left your appearance a little pasty, toss on a teal garment or accessory near your face. Hues on opposite sides of the color wheel complement each other, so wearing a teal color will enhance underlying rosy skin tones and give you a healthy look.

Perfectly breaded chicken cutlets

To prevent coating from falling off in the oil, let chicken cutlets sit on a rack for about 5 minutes before placing them in a pan, to give coating a chance to adhere and ensure it will stay put during frying time.

Cleaning gold jewelry

Rub dulled pieces of gold jewelry a few times with a pencil eraser. This staple is made of clusters of tiny rubber particles that absorb the body oils that cause a dull finish.

Perfect chocolate shavings

To prevent chocolate from crumbling when you are shaving bars to decorate your desserts, try this tip. Give the block a 5-second sweep with a hair dryer to slightly soften it. Then shave the chocolate at a 45-degree angle with a paring knife, and use a skewer or toothpick to lift the pieces to transfer them to your dish.

Simplify your morning routine

If you are that kind of person that is always running late in the AM and, sometimes, forgets a vital step of your personal care before you leave the house, try this organizing tip. Wherever you store your toiletries and any other needed items, keep all together lined up in the order that you use them. You will never miss any step again, and your morning routine will be much easier and faster.

Allergen-free woolens

Wool attracts 10 times more allergens than other fibers because it naturally absorbs moisture from the air. To prevent your woolens (as such sweaters) from making you tired and bleary-eyed, throw them in the dryer on a low setting for 30 minutes once a week to dislodge particles from the fibers and keep them allergen-free.

Reheating pizza

Remove the oven racks and heat to 400F. Place some foil directly on the oven floor, and top with the leftover pizza. Cook for 5 minutes and you will have a crispy pie without burning it.

Soggy pie crust

For a pretty and flaky pie crust, coat it with 1 or 2 tbsp milk. Proteins in milk create a thin protective barrier that keeps the crust tender while it bakes.

Fluffy scrambled eggs

Using a pan that is too big for the number of eggs you want to scramble, can cause them to cook too fast and turn out hard and tough. Try to use these guidelines: a 6" frying pan for 2 eggs; 8" for 6; 10" for 8. The egg mixture should be at least 1/4" thick to give you more cooking control.

Easy way to peel a kiwifruit

Trim both ends of the kiwifruit, place a spoon between the peel and the flesh to separate, and then rotate the spoon. Gently squeeze the kiwi, and pulp will pop right out.

Removing garlic skins

Cook garlic cloves for about 5 minutes in a skillet over medium-high heat. Let cool, press them and the garlic will slip right out the skin. In addition, your food will get a savory roasted flavor.

Food grease on clothes

Cover the marks with baby powder and let sit for about 3 hours. Do not rub the area, since you can spread the stain by doing so. Shake out the powder and launder as usual.

Healthier houseplants

If your houseplants look "tired" and dusty, set a hair dryer on low and hold it directly above the leaves, moving it all the time. Heat will evaporate the moisture that makes dust stick, allowing the airflow to remove dirt. Leaf pores will be unclogged to absorb more nutrients and plants will look pretty and healthy.

Rust in cast-iron pan

Slice a small potato in half. Squeeze some non-gel toothpaste onto the fleshy part of one half. Dampen the rusty area of the pan and use the potato to rub in the paste. Rinse and dry. Phosphoric acid in the potato and abrasive in toothpaste will give you a rust-free pan.

Remove burnt residue from a nonstick pan

Peel 2 oranges, cut the skin into small pieces and place in the pan. Add enough water to cover and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it soak all day. Rinse and wipe dry. Citric acid will cut through the grease without damaging the coating of the pan.

Quick fix for shallow car dents

Place a toilet plunger over the damaged area, then pump as you would to unclog a toilet, creating a vacuum seal that will restore metal to its original shape when released.

Messy ashes in fireplace

Place a few sheets of aluminum foil underneath the grates before starting the fire. The foil will collect all the grime from the blaze, and afterward you will only need to fold up the sheets and toss mess in the trash.

Fog-proof swim goggles

Cover the inside of the mask with a thin layer of toothpaste, then rinse with warm water. The paste will leave behind an invisible coat of fluoride, which will dissolve water molecules on contact and prevent vision-blurring condensation from forming.

Toenails stained by dark polish

A dark nail polish stained your toenails with that unsightly yellow and you want to restore their natural shade. Gently scrub your nails with an old toothbrush and whitening toothpaste, using a small circular motion. Rinse with cool water.

Remove hair color from your skin

To erase traces of dye from your hairline, apply a small amount of white non-gel toothpaste to your finger and massage the affected areas until the pigment disappears. Rinse with warm water.

Stains or spots on garage floor

Pour 1/2 cup of cola soda on trouble areas, including grease spills and oil drips. Let the liquid sit for about 15 minutes before hosing down the floor with warm water. Acids will dissolve ground-in grime.

Antique look in photos

To create a sepia-toned look in new pictures, fill a jelly-roll pan with 1/2 inch of cola soda and immerse photos until they reach the desired tone (1 minute or more). Remove pictures from the liquid and dry them with a blow-dryer set on low.

Cooking roasted meat

Flavor and tenderize your roasted meat by adding a can of cola soda to the pan. Cover it with aluminum foil and cook as usual. The citric acid breaks down protein chains in the meat’s tissue, leaving the roast tender and juicy. In addition, the sugary liquid will help to create delicious gravy at the bottom of the pot. It works great for pot roast and ham!

Tough grease stains

If your favorite clothes are spotted with grease stains (including engine oil), pour a can of cola soda into an empty washing machine and fill with hot water. Add clothes and your usual detergent before running a regular cycle. The acids in this soft drink dissolve grease and loosen any embedded grime.

Stubborn stuck-on food

Instead of scrubbing your casserole pan, fill it with enough cola soda to cover the burned areas, and then bring the liquid to a boil (on the stove or in the oven). Allow to cool and wash in warm soapy water. Rinse the pan clean.

Cola Soda Week #2!

Well-known as a popular carbonated beverage, this week you will find more alternative uses for cola...

Extend flowers’ life

Double the life of cut flowers by adding 1/4 cup cola soda to the water in the vase. The drink’s high sugar content provides nutrients, ensuring they will stay in bloom twice as long. If your vase is clear, you can use lemon-lime soda instead.

Whiten tile grout

Pour a can of cola soda onto the surface, concentrating on grimy grout. Let sit for about 15 minutes and mop the area with a soapy sponge. Carbonic acid seeps into the porous concrete and dissolves embedded dirt.

Dissolve toilet stains

If you run out of toilet-bowl cleaner, just empty a can of cola soda into the bowl and let sit for an hour. Swirl it around with a brush and flush. The soft drink contains citric acid that filters into the porcelain bowl and dissolves dirt and rust.

Relief for hiccups

Gargle with 1 tbsp cola soda and then swallow. The carbon dioxide particles tickle the throat, creating a distraction that allows the irritated diaphragm time to relax and stop producing the spasms.

Cut calories from your cake

Use a 12oz can of cola soda in place of the oil, eggs and water when preparing a packaged chocolate cake mix. Blend for 2 minutes and bake as usual. Your cake will have 75% less fat. You can try different flavor combinations as desired, as such lemon cake mix with lemon-lime soda.

Cola Soda Week #1!

Well-known as a popular carbonated beverage, this week you will find some alternative uses for cola...

Revive potpourri scent

If your favorite potpourri loses its scent, pour ¼ cup vodka into a spray bottle, spritz freely over all pieces, and stir to saturate them. The odorless alcohol breaks down potpourri’s hardened surface, exposing the still strong-scented layers beneath.

Eliminate microwave odors

Mix 1 cup water with the juice of 1 small lemon and place in the microwave for about 3 minutes. The steam and the citric acid evaporate the unfriendly smell leaving behind a nice and fresh citrus fragrance.

Organizing panty hoses

Place each pair of your hosiery into an empty toilet paper tube, label with the stocking’s color for easy reference and arrange in your drawer. You will find and pull on the right pair in a blink.

Hangover

To relieve a hangover, eat a piece of toast drizzled with honey for breakfast. Honey contains fructose, a natural form of sugar that speeds alcohol metabolism, and the carbohydrate-rich bread fights hangover morning sickness.

Energize yourself

If you are tired and there is no time to nap before you head out to your next mission, try this quick energizer. Sit on the floor and hug your knees to your chin. Keeping your spine rounded, rock back and forth about 12 times. This yoga mini move massages the back and neck, causing the feel-great hormone serotonin to be released.

Bleach splatters on clothes

Do not throw away your favorite garment, just because some drops of bleach accidentally landed on it. Instead, reach for a permanent marker in an ink color that matches the fabric. Dab the tip over the faded spots until they are covered. The ink will not run during normal laundering, but try to keep the garment away from powerful stain remover products, and keep the marker on hand in case you need a touch up.

Heel dents on wood floor

To reverse an indentation, first check the dent for cracks, which signal that the wood’s fibers are broken. In case of no cracks, the ding is not permanent. Heat an iron to its highest setting, dampen 3 cotton washcloths and set them over the dimple. Press the fabric with the hot iron until it stops steaming. Repeat if necessary. The heat causes the wood’s pores to swell, pushing the fibers up to fill in the inverted grain.

Stains on wood floor

If you have stubborn stains on wax-finished floors, apply a drop of paint thinner to a very fine steel-wool pad. Gently rub the area until the marks fade. Apply 1 tsp paste wax (specially formulated for wood floors) to a clean sponge and buff the spot. To clean water spots and scuffs, skip the paint thinner. Never use steel-wool on polyurethane floors since this will remove the protective finish!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Avoid flies

Flies hate the smell of basil. Place pots of the plant at doorways and windowsills and on the kitchen counter. If you do not have potted basil, put dried basil in a small muslin pouch, rubbing it occasionally to keep the scent strong.