Friday, July 1, 2011

Tips and Tidbits



Liquid Hand Soap ~ It can be much less expensive to refill the hand soap dispensers in your home with bubble bath or body wash rather than hand soap, and they work just fine.  Check the cost per ounce.  And your kids would no doubt love to wash their hands with bubble bath!  Often coupons for $1 off are available and dollar stores often offer good buys on brand names as well.

Those Pesky Fruit flies can be eliminated by setting out a bowl of vinegar with a drop of dishwashing liquid in it.  That and a clean fly swatter did the trick after we returned from a week at the beach to find that three onions had gone bad and those pesky insects were bugging us.  Thanks to Stefanie Flack in Delaware and Melody Royalty in Tennessee for that reminder!

Dishwasher Planning ~ Sometimes families wake up to a dishwasher full of dirty dishes, simply because they forgot to run it.  Try getting the dishwasher ready to run right after dinner, by adding the detergent.  Then if you have a delay function, set it to start around bedtime, when it won't interfere with the family's baths or showers.  This way you will be sure to wake up to clean dishes every morning.

Silverware Rack ~ Unload the silverware rack by lifting it up onto the counter, and placing it next to where everything belongs.  Not only will it save time, but it will help your back, as well as keep sharp utensils out of the reach of toddlers.

Stacking Glasses ~ Getting more to fit into a given storage space can sometimes be a trick.  Some shorter glasses can be stacked, by placing them rim-side-down on the shelf, and placing another one on top, right-side up, with the glass bottoms together.

Discovering Bonus Storage Right in Your Own Home ~  http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Storage

Cleaning Wooden Cabinets ~ Use a steamer to get rid of dirt, grease and grime.  Then put a damp sponge into the microwave for about twenty minutes, and wipe down the cabinets using an orange cleaner.  This process will make your cabinets look like new.

Overflow Kitchen Storage can be stored in a spare bedroom or even under a round table in another room, with a tablecloth, which not only serves as a decoration, but a hiding place for canned goods or appliances that are not often used.

Drawer Dividers help to keep a drawer neat, making it easy to find everything.  Even Velveeta boxes can be covered with contact paper and made into very nice drawer dividers for silverware or other utensils.
Clogged Drains can sometimes be opened up before resorting to caustic drain cleaners.  Start by using a plunger.  Do yourself a favor by keeping a good quality, clean plunger available for sinks only, and label it.  Some sinks and tubs have overflow openings.  You will get better suction and force if you plug this opening when you use the plunger.  Plungers have better suction if their rubber caps are covered with water.  Sometimes a straightened wire coat hanger, bent at one end to form a small hook, will easily remove hair and gunk from a shower drain or sink. A drain that is slightly clogged will sometimes be opened by flushing a solution of one pound of washing soda and three gallons of boiling water into the drain.  Trying some of these tips just might save you from using dangerous chemicals or even calling a plumber.

Halfway to Christmas ~ Yes, it's hard to believe, but on June 25 we were already half way to Christmas!  Even though we're still in the middle of summer, it's a good idea to think and plan ahead to make the months before those busy holidays easier.  If you need ideas, keep your ears open for what people say they would like.  I found the perfect gift for a grandson while on vacation last month, plus one other gift, so I have just a tiny start.

Skype ~ We just started using Skype with part of our far-away family.  After church on Sunday my three year old granddaughter modeled the Sunday dress we gave her as part of her early birthday gift while at the beach. It's great to see those smiles and hear their voices!  I hope to read story books to the grandkids from afar by using the technology of the internet.  We have hopes of getting all three of our children's families on with us in a four-way video before long!  Seeing and hearing family and friends in this way helps to erase the miles between us!  I'm still trying to figure out how to transfer (((hugs))) though!

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