If You Realize You Have Forgotten Fabric Softener as your clothes come out of the dryer, snapping and sparking because they're full of static, just grab a fabric softener sheet and rub it around on the clothes. Problem solved!
Finding Tiny Lost Items can be found more easily by placing a man's handkerchief or thin fabric over the vacuum cleaner nozzle (using no attachments). Vacuum where you think you lost a ring, earring or other small item. This way the vacuum will suck up the item, but you will be able to retrieve it from inside the cloth.
Guest Book ~ We were given a beautiful guest book as a wedding gift, and after that one was filled, I kept buying others. It's so interesting to see a record of who has been in our home over the years. In the last guest book I also have a section where I record all the trips that my husband and I make ourselves. That comes in handy when we wonder how long it's been since we went to a particular place. A journal works great as a guest book as well.
Furniture Restoration ~ If your dark wood furniture has scratches and dents, rubbing the meat of a walnut into the area will help disguise the blemish.
Guest Book ~ We were given a beautiful guest book as a wedding gift, and after that one was filled, I kept buying others. It's so interesting to see a record of who has been in our home over the years. In the last guest book I also have a section where I record all the trips that my husband and I make ourselves. That comes in handy when we wonder how long it's been since we went to a particular place. A journal works great as a guest book as well.
Furniture Restoration ~ If your dark wood furniture has scratches and dents, rubbing the meat of a walnut into the area will help disguise the blemish.
Stock Up on Clear Shoe Boxes so you have them when needed. Clear boxes allow you to see what's in the boxes, but labels are still a good idea. They can be found (with lids) for about a dollar. I got mine at the Dollar General.
Closet Organization ~ Clear plastic shoe boxes are perfect for storing a variety of things in closets, especially on the upper shelves. It's easier to pull out the box to retrieve what you need. Be sure to label the boxes anyway. Keeping a small stool in the closet will help in retrieving items on the top shelf.
Closet Organization ~ Clear plastic shoe boxes are perfect for storing a variety of things in closets, especially on the upper shelves. It's easier to pull out the box to retrieve what you need. Be sure to label the boxes anyway. Keeping a small stool in the closet will help in retrieving items on the top shelf.
The Biggest Storage Space Idea that works for Linda Bahn in Pennsylvania is to "clean the cupboards and/or closets." She said she is always amazed at how much EMPTY space there is in an area after she cleans out what she doesn't need or use and organize what she has. Very true, indeed! I've been doing the same thing this month, with lots more to go!
Spray Bottle Storage ~ Hang a tension rod for storing spray bottles. Hang the trigger portion of the bottles over the rod. A great space-saver!
Spray Bottle Storage ~ Hang a tension rod for storing spray bottles. Hang the trigger portion of the bottles over the rod. A great space-saver!
Organize Your Linens by neatly storing sheet sets inside a matching pillowcase. I used a permanent pen to write the first letter of the bed size at the bottom of each sheet (K, Q, F, or T).
Cord Labels ~ If you have quite a few cords connected to an electrical outlet, you may want to use bread bag tags as labels. Use a permanent pen to identify each cord. This would be especially helpful when pulling a plug and later finding it belonged to the freezer!
Cutting Egg Cartons in Half with a serrated knife will sometimes help them fit better in the refrigerator when it's too full, especially if you stack them.
Slicing Spinach ~ Stack spinach leaves in your hand with all the stems together, facing you. Place on a cutting board, and cut off the stems. Then thinly slice through all the layers of leaves. I like to use a chef's knife. The end result will be nicely sliced strips of fresh spinach leaves, which can be added to a host of dishes, such as omelets, soups, great northern buttered beans, or a taco salad. Use your imagination.
Spinach Omelet ~ For a tasty omelet, beat 3 eggs with a fork. Add 1 Tbsp. water, salt, onion powder, and herbs. Pour into a greased saute pan on medium heat. As the omelet cooks, lift the edges with a rubber spatula, allowing the uncooked egg to go underneath. As soon as the egg is almost cooked through, add sliced spinach and grated cheese. Using a wide spatula (or two), carefully flip half of the omelet over on itself.
Sugar Shaker for Mixed Herbs ~ I blended a mixture of various dried herbs together to use in cooking and store them in a sugar shaker. This is kept on the back on my stove, with a small piece of Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap on top. It's easy to retrieve when cooking.
Glad Press and Seal Plastic Wrap are both more expensive than regular plastic wrap, so I save it for special jobs and use Stretch-Tite Plastic Wrap for other jobs. It clings real well, better than most, and isn't expensive.
Hand Mixer Storage ~ Storing is sometimes difficult with the cord, but I wrap the cord around the mixer, and secure with a rubberband, placing it through the center of the electric plug and around the mixer. No more dangling cords!
Cupcake Carrier ~ If you don't own the real thing, improvise by using a shallow box lid (office supply box lid) and cutting criss-crosses (the width of each cupcake) where you want to place the cupcakes.
Baked Potatoes will bake (in a conventional oven) in less time if you push a metal skewer through them. The skewer acts as a heat conductor.
Food that's Too Salty can be saved, by cutting a large potato into slices, adding it to the pot and cooking longer. Potatoes absorb salt. Toss out the potato slices after they absorb the extra salt.
Lids that Stick ~ Smear a little cooking oil around the necks of bottles that contain sticky substances like molasses or sauce, and they will be easier to open. If you still have trouble, run hot water over the lid, and tap on the sink (covered with a dishcloth). Also use a rubber grabber to help with opening lids.
Wax Cold Cereal Liners make excellent bags for freezing when used along with plastic wrap. For example, shape hamburger patties, separating them with wax paper squares. Wrap a meal's worth in plastic wrap and pack several meals in a wax liner for protection from freezer burn. The bags can be closed with a Pampered Chef Twixit or by folding down the opening and taping well with masking tape.
A Quick Meal ~ Saute a large onion until tender. Add the equivalent of a can of beans (making your own from dried is best) to a baking dish. Cover with layers of grated cheese, mashed potatoes and more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through. Serve with a green vegetable.
Enjoy a Fresh Pineapple soon after purchasing. A pineapple is ripe when the scent comes through the outer covering. A fresh pineapple has stiff leaves, but not wilted.
Bone Broth is super healthy for us! After cooking a turkey breast in the slow cooker, I bone the turkey, but return the bones to the cooker along with about 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and add at least 2-3 quarts of pure water. The secret is simmering the broth for twenty-four hours. Strain the broth, and toss the bones (which will be soft and easily broken after cooking in vinegar). Extra nutrition comes from the bones when cooked in this way. Freeze the broth for flavorful and healthy soups. My nutritionist said it helps "leaky gut syndrome" which most people have, but don't realize they do.
Cord Labels ~ If you have quite a few cords connected to an electrical outlet, you may want to use bread bag tags as labels. Use a permanent pen to identify each cord. This would be especially helpful when pulling a plug and later finding it belonged to the freezer!
Cutting Egg Cartons in Half with a serrated knife will sometimes help them fit better in the refrigerator when it's too full, especially if you stack them.
Slicing Spinach ~ Stack spinach leaves in your hand with all the stems together, facing you. Place on a cutting board, and cut off the stems. Then thinly slice through all the layers of leaves. I like to use a chef's knife. The end result will be nicely sliced strips of fresh spinach leaves, which can be added to a host of dishes, such as omelets, soups, great northern buttered beans, or a taco salad. Use your imagination.
Spinach Omelet ~ For a tasty omelet, beat 3 eggs with a fork. Add 1 Tbsp. water, salt, onion powder, and herbs. Pour into a greased saute pan on medium heat. As the omelet cooks, lift the edges with a rubber spatula, allowing the uncooked egg to go underneath. As soon as the egg is almost cooked through, add sliced spinach and grated cheese. Using a wide spatula (or two), carefully flip half of the omelet over on itself.
Sugar Shaker for Mixed Herbs ~ I blended a mixture of various dried herbs together to use in cooking and store them in a sugar shaker. This is kept on the back on my stove, with a small piece of Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap on top. It's easy to retrieve when cooking.
Glad Press and Seal Plastic Wrap are both more expensive than regular plastic wrap, so I save it for special jobs and use Stretch-Tite Plastic Wrap for other jobs. It clings real well, better than most, and isn't expensive.
Hand Mixer Storage ~ Storing is sometimes difficult with the cord, but I wrap the cord around the mixer, and secure with a rubberband, placing it through the center of the electric plug and around the mixer. No more dangling cords!
Cupcake Carrier ~ If you don't own the real thing, improvise by using a shallow box lid (office supply box lid) and cutting criss-crosses (the width of each cupcake) where you want to place the cupcakes.
Baked Potatoes will bake (in a conventional oven) in less time if you push a metal skewer through them. The skewer acts as a heat conductor.
Food that's Too Salty can be saved, by cutting a large potato into slices, adding it to the pot and cooking longer. Potatoes absorb salt. Toss out the potato slices after they absorb the extra salt.
Lids that Stick ~ Smear a little cooking oil around the necks of bottles that contain sticky substances like molasses or sauce, and they will be easier to open. If you still have trouble, run hot water over the lid, and tap on the sink (covered with a dishcloth). Also use a rubber grabber to help with opening lids.
Wax Cold Cereal Liners make excellent bags for freezing when used along with plastic wrap. For example, shape hamburger patties, separating them with wax paper squares. Wrap a meal's worth in plastic wrap and pack several meals in a wax liner for protection from freezer burn. The bags can be closed with a Pampered Chef Twixit or by folding down the opening and taping well with masking tape.
A Quick Meal ~ Saute a large onion until tender. Add the equivalent of a can of beans (making your own from dried is best) to a baking dish. Cover with layers of grated cheese, mashed potatoes and more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through. Serve with a green vegetable.
Enjoy a Fresh Pineapple soon after purchasing. A pineapple is ripe when the scent comes through the outer covering. A fresh pineapple has stiff leaves, but not wilted.
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