150 Helpful Household Tips
- 25 HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD TIPS
Helpful household tips can be used to full advantage when working on anything from menial tasks to tasks that require a little elbow grease. The following household tips will help with everything from personal hygiene to keeping infestations to a minimum. Remember, a little soap and water go a long way!
1) Apply a top coat of shaving creme to the bathroom mirror. This practice keeps mirrors from steaming up.
2) Applying mud to a bee sting will take away the sting, as well as the stinger.
3) Use fabric sheets to pick up that unslightly dust on the TV, end tables and other areas.
4) A cup of vinegar goes a long way to reduce tangles and keep your hair soft and shiny. Apply as a final rinse.
5) Another good hair rinse and hair lightener is lemon juice. Again, use the lemon juice as a last rinse, then stand in sun for a sun-kissed look.
6) Toothpaste applied to a wet washcloth is a good ink remover, especially on walls and wallpaper. But, be careful with wallpaper. It will still work, but don’t press too hard or you’ll rub the wallpaper finish off, as well.
7) When reheating a slice of pizza, run the bottom under the faucet. The water will cause a small amount of steam in the microwave which will keep the crust from becoming hard and brittle.
8) Dip hands in bleach to get out ground in garden stains or vegetable and fruit stains caused when peeling fruits and vegetables for home preserves.
9) Baking soda dumped into carpets takes out odor. The recommended method is to sprinkle the baking soda thoroughly throughout the carpets, leave for several minutes, and remove with a carpet sweeper.
10) Sprinkle cinnamon and cheyenne pepper along house exterior to prevent ants from entering your home. Ants will not cross the line.
11) Dish soap and water sprayed on flowers is an excellent bug deterrent. This is particularly useful with roses, hollyhock, and daisy. It also will depend on what kind of bugs. Some aphids are resilient and will return. Japanese Beetles, also can be a deadly foe to your flowers, act quickly and drench thoroughly for several days until problem is resolved. You may have to repeat the process throughout the summer months. If the soap and water trick doesn’t appear to be working after a week, call a Master Gardener. Removing some bugs is a big task.
12) Cola poured on a car battery will eat away the corrosion.
13) Pour beer–any kind, they don’t appear to be choosy--into a plate and leave it in the garden to attract slugs
14) Another way to corner slugs is to place boards in the garden. In the morning the slugs will have congregated on the undersides.
15) To find out if you have fleas, and then to attract them quickly before they breed to intensively, spread a white sheet on the floor. Set several shallow dishes of warm water on the sheet, then light a lamp. The warmth will attract the fleas and drown them. A nightlight will also work, but remember to put a dish of warm water right underneath it.
16) Place a slice of white bread inside the cookie jar to keep cookies soft. An apple slice also is effective, but it can attract fruit flies.
17) Never cut lettuce with a metal blade–it will turn the edges brown–use a plastic knife or tear the lettuce leaves off of the head. The tearing method is preferable.
18) Use old crumpled up newspaper and vinegar to wash windows, but be careful around light colored paint on windowsills
19) Never use ammonia on urine stains–it strengthens the smell. Blot the spot with plenty of soap and water, then let dry. When completely dry, use baking soda and vinegar as a scrub. This should eliminate the ordor.
20) Plant marigolds in your garden to keep bugs away.
21) Use applesauce in place of oil when baking. This will cut down on the fat content.
22) Boil cinnamon to eliminate house odors. But watch the pot, it boils over very easily!
23) Sprinkling salt into a pot before boiling eggs prevents the eggs from cracking open.
24) Dab perfume on light bulb to scent a room.
25) Place fruit in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana for quicker ripening.
- 24 HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD TIPS for Newlyweds
We all can use shortcuts and time savers in our busy lives. Here are some more directed toward newlyweds.
1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
3) Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle – perfect shaped pancakes every time.
4) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan-the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers.
6) To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
7) 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 stovetop – skillet will be much easier to clean.
8) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator, it will keep for weeks.
9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead – no white mess on the outside of the cake.
10) Brush beaten egg white over piecrust before backing to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
11) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato – it absorbs the excess salt for an instant “fix-me up.”
12) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
13) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
14) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh – if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
15) Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
16) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
18) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
19) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.
20) To open stuck lids on jars, put on latex dishwashing gloves and twist!
21) Alka-Seltzer will: clean a toilet, clean vitreous china, remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase, polish jewelry, cleans thermos bottles, unclog a drain (ad cup of white vinegar, then run hot water).
22) Did you know that if you get blood on your clothes, you can get it out by pouring a little Hydrogen Peroxide Soulution on the spot. It will bubble right out, and won't hurt your clothes. Keep a bottle in the laundry room and one in your first aid kit.
23) Are you tired of your cake rising unevenly, well to solve this problem all you have to do is take an old terrycloth towel, tear it in strips of 1-1/2 inches wide, wet and wrap around the outside of your cake pan and secure it by either tying in a knot, which is what I do, or use a safety pin. Then pour mix in and bake.
24) Before hard-boiling eggs, try adding a 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the water, this helps to prevent the shells from cracking.
- 22 TRICKS & CURES FOR ANNOYING HOUSEHOLD PROBLEMS
Need some old-fashioned advice and newfangled solutions for the most trying domestic difficulties? Here's exactly what to do IF . . .
1) Your scatter rugs have a life of their own . . .
Save your sanity and visit your local carpet store for some padding. Whether your scatter rug is on bare floor or atop another carpet, a thin pad underneath will be safer and saner, plus it will increase the life of your rug.
2) You just can't bear those unsightly electric cords . . .
Dangling electric cords against beautiful walls are an eyesore. Decorating experts don't try to hide the problem; they highlight it. "Purchase decorative braid or ribbon at a fabric store," one interior designer says. "Depending on the width of the braid, you'll need approximately three times the length of the cord. Then, using a glue gun or double-edged tape, fasten the trim to the end of the cord, where it meets the top of the plug. Wrap the braid around the cord, working toward your lamp, and fasten it at the top. Secure the cord carefully to the baseboard, if you wish, with tiny nails or staples."
3) Another trick is to paint the cord the same color as the walls. Like a chameleon perched on a leaf, the cord will quietly blend into the background.
4) Your steam radiators are waking you up at night . . .
If the price you pay for warmth is loss of sleep during the wee hours, you no doubt agree with the old radiator refrain, "A hiss is pure bliss, but them clangs are gosh dang!" What's the cause of all the ruckus? Usually the problem is due to incorrectly sloping pipes. Pipes that aren't tilted back toward the source pipe give the water a chance to collect and block the steam, causing clangs. Try this: Place small blocks of wood under the radiator's legs to angle the pipes back toward their source. Then go back to bed.
5) You love your Roman shades but hate the cords hanging down . . .
Braid them together. It's safer and better-looking.
6) You're going bonkers putting a pillow back inside its slipcover . . .
Wrap it in plastic (a large garbage bag works well) and slide it into the cover. Then gently pull the plastic out, leaving the pillow inside.
7) You already have a great picture arrangement, but you need to repaint . . .
Keep that wonderful grouping by inserting toothpicks into the nail holes and paint right over them. Simply remove the toothpicks when the paint dries, and you're ready to rehang.
8) A child has a sliver and won't let your tweezers near it . . .
Try a blob of white glue on the intruder. When the glue dries, peel it off, and the sliver might come, too!
9) You lose your mind trying to put the duvet back inside its cover . . .
The trick here is not to let it get out in the first place. To keep your comforter snug inside its cover, sew small plastic rings in strategic spots on the comforter -- the corners and the center of each side, for example. Tack 2 five-inch pieces or so of thin bias tape inside the duvet cover, corresponding to where you sewed the rings. Now place your comforter back inside the cover, spreading it out. Tie the strings to the rings using a square knot (left over right and under; right over left and under), fluff the comforter, and place it back on your bed. To launder the cover, simply untie the strings and remove the comforter.
10) Those too lazy to sew can fasten the comforter to the cover at strategic spots using medium-size safety pins. Check the pins often if you plan to jump on the bed.
11) Your coffee machine begs for a rinse . . .
Pour a quart of white vinegar into the water chamber, put in a filter, and run the machine through its brewing cycle. Put the vinegar in again, but this time let it sit for half an hour. Run through the brewing cycle again. Then run a pot of fresh water through the entire cycle. Repeat with a second pot of fresh water.
13) Your guests go home, but the white rings from their wet glasses remain . . .
Head to the kitchen and make a thin paste of salad oil and salt. Using your fingers, gently massage this mixture into the ring. Let it sit for an hour or so, then wipe it off with a clean cloth. Or cover the ring with petroleum jelly, let it sit for a day, and then wipe it off. Next time, remember the coasters!
14) You want a great picture arrangement without extra holes in your walls . . .
Tape several sheets of newspaper together and lay them on the floor. Arrange your frames on the newspaper until you like the grouping. Outline the pictures, then gently affix the newspaper to the wall. Drive your nails right through the paper where your outline indicates. Remove the newspaper and hang the pictures.
15) Your wicker wobbles . . .
Try misting it with water. The wicker will swell and then tighten up, taking away the wiggles.
16) Your toilet sweats like a marathoner . . .
Toilet tanks perspire on hot days because flushing fills them with cold water and condensation occurs. Picture a tall glass of cold lemonade in the sunshine, and you'll get the idea. Tanks also will sweat if they, like a long-distance jogger, are "running" all the time. This condition can be caused by two things: a leaky flapper valve or a ball that is set too high. Test to see if you have a leak by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If it ends up in your bowl without anyone flushing, try lowering the ball and replacing the flapper valve. If it's not a leak but your toilet still perspires due to flushing, try insulating the tank. Drain it, then use silicone glue to affix one-half-inch sheets of Styrofoam cut to size, or purchase a kit at your hardware store.
17) Your garbage disposal smells like a swamp . . .
Scour food particles from the walls and blades, and remove unpleasant odors with this trick: Combine 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water, pour into ice cube trays, and freeze. Remove the cubes and grind them in the disposal, then flush with water for 1 minute. Grind some lemon or orange peels for a pleasant fragrance, too.
18) Your dresser or cabinet knob won't stay put . . .
Dip the screw end of the knob into shellac or clear fingernail polish. Screw it in. When it dries, it will be set.
19) Last week's marinara sauce won't leave your plastic container . . .
Rub the container with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda. Or fill the stained container with water, drop in one or two foaming denture cleaning tablets, wait 20 minutes, and rinse.
20) PROPER PREPARATION for repainting depends on the condition of the surface. To remove mildew, dirt, and chalking, dissolve some trisodium phosphate (according to package instructions) in a solution of three parts water and one part bleach. Rent or purchase a pressure washer for this job, and select a hose tip that fans the water out in a flat stream about four inches wide. Wear protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear. Emphasize washing over pressure. Severe mildew, dirt, and chalking may require some scrubbing with a stiff-bristle brush. Rinse well and let any areas of bare wood dry thoroughly.
Resist temptation when you see low-pressure washing taking off loose paint that's flaking or peeling. If you boost the pressure to remove alligatored, cracked, or blistered paint, it can result in saturated wood and masonry, water behind the clapboards, soaked inner walls, knocked-off shingles, and blown-out stained-glass windows.
21) If your old VCR has a year setting on it, which most do, you will not be able to use the programmed recording feature after 12/31/99. Don't throw it away. Instead, set it for the year 1972 as the days are the same as the year 2000. The manufacturers won't tell you. They want you to buy a new Y2K VCR.
22) Don't like those pesky mosquitos?... Here is a good thing for the summer, for those people who like to sit and enjoy the outdoors.
Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dishwashing soap. Put it on your patio.
I don't know what attracts them - the lemon smell, the white color, or what - but mosquitos flock to it, drop dead and fall into the water or on the floor within about 10 ft.
1) DON'T SPEND LESS on a brush than the cost of a gallon of paint. (The term throwaway brush should not be in your vocabulary.)
2) Use natural-bristle brushes for oil-based paints. Nylon or polyester filament brushes are best for latex paints.
3) The length of the exposed bristles or filaments should be at least equal to the width of the brush. Longer, fatter brushes pay off in fewer trips to the pail, because they lift more paint than short, thin brushes.
4) For large areas, use a three- or four-inch brush. In the long run, a three-inch brush is less tiring and can be used in more places than a four-inch brush. Paint smaller trim with a two-inch angular brush.
5) Your brush is only as good as the tips of its bristles or filaments. Never stand a brush in paint or in storage. Instead, hang it from the handle hole. And never use your brush as a stirring stick.
6) Never scrub your big brush edgewise on the overlaps of clapboard siding. Not only will this ruin the brush, but sealing the overlaps can lead to peeling paint when moisture is trapped behind the siding and forces its way out through the boards.
7) There's no need to drown your brush in paint. Dipping it halfway into the paint pail is sufficient.
8) Don't scrape your brush against the side of the pail. Instead, tap the inside of the pail with both flat sides of your brush to release any excess paint.
9) Hold the brush on the unpainted surface at about a 45-degree angle. Stroke the paint from the dry area through the wet edge of the previous stroke, then smooth it with a backstroke.
You bought vinyl siding because it's not supposed to need any maintenance! The following suggestions are more or less optional, but if you'd like to keep your siding looking good for as long as possible, it's well worth adhering to a few simple dos and don'ts.
1) DO WASH IT.
Once a year, invest an hour or two in rinsing every bit of the siding with a garden hose to get rid of dust and dirt. If allowed to accumulate year after year, the siding will eventually begin to look distinctly grimy and won't come clean unless scrubbed.
2) DON'T BASH IT.
Be careful where you park your lawn mower, bicycle, or snowblower. Vinyl doesn't dent (unlike aluminum, which sustains big, permanent damage when smacked with a line drive or poked with a rake handle), but it can crack or break, especially when rendered brittle by cold weather. Replace any damaged sections as soon as you can.
3) DO INSPECT IT.
Although vinyl siding doesn't cause wood rot, it may conceal moisture-related problems from another source. If a leak is hidden behind the vinyl siding -- which is itself impervious to decay -- it may go unnoticed for a long time. Investigate any suspicious streaking or staining that appears on the vinyl itself or on the exposed foundation wall beneath, either of which may warn of hidden trouble. Because the nails or screws that secure the siding to the wall lose their holding power in rotted wood, loose areas of siding are another warning sign.
4) DON'T MELT IT.
Vinyl has a low melting point and is slow to burn. "You'd be amazed at the number of people who park their gas grills a foot away from the siding and fire them up," Jeff May says. "Then later they notice a big melted patch on the wall." Keep that barbecue a safe distance away from the wall, and be careful with those patio torches and any other sources of intense heat.
5) PAINT IT?
Well, Maybe. Although the whole purpose of vinyl or aluminum siding is to avoid painting, it can be painted with any good-quality exterior latex paint. That can be a useful option if you want to squeeze another few years out of a badly faded batch of vinyl, or if you've moved into a house whose color you just can't stand and you want to buy time while you consider other options. But -- and this is an important but -- vinyl should never be painted a dark, heat-absorbing color, or it will tend to warp and sag when exposed to strong sunlight. Stick to white, gray, pale yellow, or some other reflective hue.
6) PATCHING POINTER
When paint fails and patches of it have to be removed, the surface will be marred by sharp-edged craters. Smoothing, or feathering, the edges is more than a matter of good looks; it's your insurance against future paint failure. For this job, use a motorized sanding block called a palm sander.
7) WATCH FOR WATER
You can dodge up to 90 percent of potential paint problems if you are water wary. Replace leaking gutters, unplug downspouts, ventilate bathrooms, and remove overgrown foundation plantings that cause mildew, especially in shady spots. Don't paint in the rain, after it rains, or just before it rains. Ditto for high humidity.
1) Don't buy a hammer with a visible casting seam. It could fly apart as you work with it. Good hammer heads are all one smooth piece and won't shatter.
2) If the handle on your wooden hammer comes loose, soak the entire tool in linseed oil for several hours to encourage the wood to swell -- and tighten the head.
3) Just like when you hold a tennis racket, the closer to the end of the handle you grip, the more power you will wield.
4) Wear goggles when you hammer, especially if you are working with masonry or hardened nails or tackling a project above your head or at eye level.
- 14 DO-IT-YOURSELF C L E A N E R T I P S
WARNING: Never mix cleaning products containing bleach and ammonia as dangerous fumes will result.
1) POLISHING CLOTHS
You can make your own polish-impregnated cloths to dust furniture. Pour some furniture polish into a large glass jar and shake it until the sides are coated. Pour the remainder of the polish back into the polish container. Place terry or other absorbent cloths in the jar and cover tightly. Leave overnight or until the cloths have absorbed all the polish. Store the cloths in the jar.
Here's another method for making polishing cloths. Add 1/4 cup polish (such as lemon oil) to 2 cups hot water. Mix well. Soak dust cloths in the mixture, then let them dry before using. Save the mixture in a glass jar. When the cloths become soiled, wash them, re-treat them, and use again.
2) OVEN CLEANER
2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
2 teaspoons borax
1/4 cup ammonia
1-1/2 cups warm water
Mix the ingredients together, apply to oven spills, and let sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive nylon-backed sponge and rinse well.
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3) GENERAL-PURPOSE CLEANER
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
2 cups hot water
Combine all the ingredients. If you don't have washing soda (generally found in the laundry section of supermarkets), use 1 teaspoon baking soda instead. For a more pleasant smell, use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Be sure to label the bottle accordingly.
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4) EASY SCRUB
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
dishwashing liquid
Combine the baking soda and borax. Mix in enough dishwashing liquid to make a smooth paste. If you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice to the paste.
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5) JEWELRY CLEANER
1/4 cup ammonia
1/4 cup dishwashing liquid
3/4 cup water
Mix all the ingredients well, then soak your jewelry in the solution for a few minutes. Clean around the stones and designs with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Buff dry. (Caution: Don't use this with gold-plated jewelry; with soft stones such as pearls, opals, or jade; or with costume jewelry, because it could ruin the plastics or loosen the glue.)
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6) HEAVY-DUTY DISINFECTANT CLEANER
1/4 cup powdered laundry detergent
1 tablespoon borax
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup pine oil, or pine-based cleaner
Slowly stir the detergent and borax into the water to dissolve. Add the pine oil (available at hardware stores and supermarkets) and mix well. For bathroom cleaning, use the mixture full strength. In the kitchen, dilute it with water.
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7) WOOD FLOOR POLISH
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil Mix the ingredients well, rub on the floor, and buff with a clean, dry cloth.
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8) RUG CLEANER
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
1 cup lukewarm water
Combine the ingredients. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution over a large area, or use the solution to spot-clean nongreasy stains. (Don't use laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent in place of dishwashing liquid, as they may contain additives that can affect the rug's color.)
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9)TOILET CLEANER
1 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice
Combine the ingredients to make a paste. Apply it to the inside of the toilet bowl, let sit for 1 to 2 hours, and scrub.
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10) MILDEW REMOVER
1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent
1 quart chlorine bleach
2 quarts water
Combine all the ingredients in a pail. Wearing rubber gloves, wash off the mildew.
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11) FLOOR WAX REMOVER
1 cup laundry detergent
3/4 cup ammonia
1 gallon warm water
Mix all the ingredients together and apply to a small area of the floor. Let the solution sit long enough for it to loosen the old wax, at least 5 to 10 minutes. Mop up the old wax (or scrape it up, if there's a lot of it, using a squeegee and a dustpan). Rinse thoroughly with 1 cup vinegar in 1 gallon water and let dry before applying a new finish.
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12) FURNITURE POLISH
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon boiled linseed oil
1 tablespoon turpentine
Combine the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until blended. Dampen a cloth with cold water and wring it out until it's as dry as you can get it. Saturate the cloth with the mixture and apply sparingly to a small area at a time. Let dry for about 30 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth. Note that this mixture gets gummy as it sits, so make just enough for one day's work.
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13) GLASS CLEANER
2 tablespoons ammonia
1/2 cup alcohol
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
a few drops blue food coloring
water
Combine the ammonia, alcohol, dishwashing liquid, and food coloring, then add enough water to make 1 quart. If you prefer a nonammoniated cleaner, substitute 3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice for the ammonia.
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14) CARPET FRESHENER
1 cup crushed dried herbs (such as rosemary, southernwood, or lavender)
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
Combine all the ingredients in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Sprinkle some of the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum it up. It will give the room a pleasant smell and neutralize carpet odors.
- 8 Magical Uses for Alka-Seltzer(R)
1) Clean a toilet.
Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
2) 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.
3) Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
4) 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).
5) Remove burned-on grease from a pot or pan.
Fill the pot or pan with water, drop in six Alka-Seltzer tablets, let soak for one hour, then scrub as usual.
6) Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.
7) Get short-term relief from nicotine withdrawl symptoms.
As long as you're not on a low-sodium diet or have peptic ulcers, drink two Alka-Seltzer tablets dissolved in a glass of water at every meal.
8) Soothe insect bites.
Dissolve two Alka-Seltzer tablets in a glass of water, dip a cloth into the solution, and place the cloth on the bite for twenty minutes.
- 16 Other Uses For Dryer Sheets
1) It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
2) It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
3) Repel mosquitoes: Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
4) Eliminate static electricity from your television screen: Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
5) Dissolve soap scum from shower doors: Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
6) Freshen the air in your home: Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
7) Prevent thread from tangling: Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
8) Prevent musty suitcases: Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
9) Freshen the air in your car: Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
10) Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan: Put a sheet in a pan,fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The antistatic agent apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.
11) Eliminate odors in wastebaskets: Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
12) Collect cat hair: Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
13) Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds: Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
14) Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering: A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
15) Eliminate odors in dirty laundry: Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
16) Deodorize shoes or sneakers: Place a sheet of Bounce inside your shoes or sneakers overnight so they will smell better in the AM. DO NOT USE BOUNCE to wipe your private parts.
1) Cure Mange: While spraying a dog with WD-40 gets rid of parasitic mites, according to USA Today, the WD-40 Company, feeling that the potential misuse of the product is too great, refuses to condone using WD-40 to cure mange on animals.
2) Prevent squirrels from climbing into a birdhouse: Spray WD-40 on the metal pole or wires.
3) Remove a ring stuck on a finger: Several medical journals claim that WD-40 is the perfect cure for a toe stuck in the bathtub faucet, a finger stuck in soda bottle, or a ring stuck on a finger.
4) Remove chewing gum, crayon, tar, and Silly Putty from most surfaces: Spray on WD-40, wait, and wipe.
5) Clean decorative snow from windows: Spray windows with WD- 40 before spraying with artificial snow so the decorative spray will wipe off easier.
6) Prevent dead insects from sticking to your car: Spray WD-40 on the hood and grill so you can wipe bugs off easily without damaging the finish.
7) Make hangers glide over a clothes rod: Spray WD-40 on the clothes rod so hangers can be pushed back and forth easily.
8) Clean clogged spray paint can nozzles: Remove the nozzles from the spray paint can and the WD-40 can, place the nozzle from the spray paint can on the WD-40 can, give it a couple of quick squirts, and replace both nozzles.
9) Remove oil spots from driveways: Spray with WD-40, wait, then blot. The mineral spirits and other petroleum distillates in WD 40 work as a curing agent.
10) Thread electrical wire through conduits: Spray WD-40 on the electrical wire to help it glide through winding conduits.
11) Prevent grass clippings from clogging up a lawn mower: Spray WD-40 on the underside of lawn mower housing and blade before cutting the grass.
12) Clean sap from gardening equipment: Spray with WD-40, wait, and wipe clean.
13) Prevent mud and clay buildup on bicycles: Spray the bicycle with a thin coat of WD-40.
14) Remove baked-on food from a cookie pan: Spray WD-40 on cookie pan and wipe clean. Then wash thoroughly with soap and water.
15) Remove dirt and grime from barbecue grills: Remove the grill from the barbecue, spray with WD-40, wait, and wipe clean. Then wash with soap and water.
16) Remove chewing gum from the bottom of a shoe or sneaker: Spray on WD-40, wait, and pull the gum free.
17) Keep dogs, maggots, and flies out of trash cans: Coat the trash cans with a thin layer of WD-40.
18) Take squeaks out of new shoes: Spray WD-40 into the leather and shine.
19) Remove grease stains from linen: Spray WD-40 directly to the stain, rub it in, let is soak for a few minutes, then wash through a regular cycle.
20) Take squeaks out of a box spring mattress: Remove the fabric covering the bottom of the box spring mattress (by simply removing the staples), and spray the springs with WD-40. Staple the fabric covering back in place with a staple gun.
21) Polish wood furniture: Spray WD-40 on a cloth and wipe.
22) Clean crayon from a blackboard: Spray WD-40 on the crayon marks, let soak for 10 minutes, then blot clean with a cloth.
23) Free a tongue stuck to frozen metal in winter: Spray WD-40 on the metal around the tongue.
