Hints
Years ago, we were visiting with friends and during our stay the lady was doing washing. When it came to doing the rinsing, she put vinegar into the machine and when I asked her what that was for, she said that it works better than stay soft as well as keeps her machine from clogging up. She gave us an industrial sewing machine with a lot of material and on our way back home the oil that was in the machine spilled onto the material. I had bought a box of washing powder for my machine and on the back there was an oil tip which I promptly tried and low and behold, it worked!Since then I have incorporated household tips as iwell as been searching for household tips and I know that there are thousands that I still have not published on the site, so feel free to send us any household hints you might have, that are not mentioned below!
HELPFUL NATURAL HOUSEHOLD HINTS/TIPS
Please take note that the write has not tested all the information given below, so caution is advised!
AIRFRESHENER – Cut an orange in half and sprinkle both halves with table salt. They will freshen the air in your house! Or try this! Put White Vinegar in a spray bottle and spray throughout the house, it freshens the home very quickly!
ANT PROBLEMS – Ants hate cucumbers. Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole.
BABY BOTTLES – Give baby bottles a thorough cleaning by adding ½ tsp of Bicarbonate of Soda to the hot water when washing, then sterilize before using.
BANANAS RIPENING TOO FAST – Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
BUMPER STICKERS AND DECALS – Have you bought a vehicle and it is covered with decals or bumper stickers? Soak a cloth in White Vinegar and cover the decal or bumper sticker for several minutes until the Vinegar soaks in. The decals and stickers should peel off easily.
BURNT POTS – Are you in a habit of forgetting the pots on the stove and then struggle to get the burnt-on food off? Dampen area, sprinkle with Bicarbonate of Soda let soak overnight, then scrub with a sponge, rinse and dry. Or you can boil water and salt in the pot.
CABBAGE SMELLS – Throw red pepper pods or a few bits of charcoal into the pan they are cooking in.
CAR CARPETS SMELLING – My car’s carpets do not smell so nice anymore, what can I do? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on the carpet, let sit for 15min, then vacuum.
CHEMICALS RELEASED DURING RENOVATIONS – Building a new house or adding to your existing one? Beware of the toxic chemicals out-gassed from building materials, including wood stains, carpet glues, wall paints, particle board furniture, silicone sealants and more. Following any major construction, air out your house for at least 72 hours before stepping foot in it, and even then, flush your air every 3-4 days to bring in fresh, new air. Although this may not seem energy efficient, it's only temporary to get the bulk of the out-gassing chemicals away from your lungs. In the mean time, bring in lots of house plants, as they serve as natural air filtration units (by Mike Adams)
CIGARETTE SMOKE SMELLS – Struggle to get cigarette smoke smells out of a house? Deodorize the room by placing a small bowl of White Vinegar in the room for a while and the smell will disappear.
CLEANING BRASS BOTTOM PANS/POTS – Use salt to clean these pots!
CLEANING CHROME – To clean the chrome on car bumpers and hubcaps, sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean and dry with a dry cloth.
CLEANING COPPER & BRASS – Take a plastic dish and mix ½ Wynsteensuur to about 3 litres of water with a dash of Sunlight Liquid, mix into water well, put item in mixture and let stand a few minutes. Take it out, rinse it well with clean water and shine it with a duster or dishcloth. If the item has a slight rusty area take a fine piece of steelwool and gently rub it on the infested area, only then put into mixture and take the process from there.
CLEANING DEAD INSECTS OFF THE WINDSCREEN – The dead insects on the windscreen looks terrible and we are struggling to clean it properly without leaving a greasy film on the window, what can I do? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, clean glass, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.
CLEANING FIBERGLASS BATHS – How can I keep my fiberglass bathtub clean? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub and rinse clean.
CLEANING JEWELLERY – Does your jewellery look dull and lifeless? You don't have to do more than get a soft toothbrush, and gently brush with some toothpaste. Rinse it with hot water and dry it well. The result is astonishing!
CLEANING OIL ON CLOTHING – Have you spilt oil on something? Put some talcum powder on the spot and leave it for a while so that the powder can absorb the oil, but if it persists, try ironing the stain out by placing a piece of tissue paper over it.
CLEANING OVENS – To clean ovens, use a paste of Bicarbonate of Soda and vinegar.
CLEANING PICTURE FRAMES AND OLD FURNITURE – An old cabinet maker says the best preparation for cleaning picture frames and restoring furniture, especially that somewhat marred or scratched, is a mixture of three parts linseed oil and one part spirits of turpentine. It not only covers the disfigured surface, but restores the wood to its natural color, and leaves a luster upon its surface. Put on with a woolen cloth, and when dry, rub with woolen cloth.
CLEANING DISHWASHER – To remove scale, stains & odours from the dishwasher, start the cycle with the dishwasher empty. When it has filled with water, add two cups of White Vinegar and allow the cycle to complete, or sprinkle ½ cup Bicarbonate of Soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads.
CLOGGED SHOWERHEADS? – Clogged up showerheads? Unscrew the shower head, remove the rubber washer, place the head in a pot filled with equal parts Vinegar and water, bring to a boil, then simmer for five minutes.
COCKROACHES – To destroy cockroaches, try the following: These vermin are easily destroyed, simply by cutting up green cucumbers at night, and placing them about where cockroaches are found. What is cut from the cucumbers in preparing them for the table answers the purpose as well, and three applications will destroy all the cockroaches in the house. Remove the peelings in the morning, and renew them at night.
CONDITIONER AND GEL BUILD-UP IN HAIR – Does your conditioner and styling gel build-up on your hair? Wash hair once a week with a tbsp of Bicarbonate of Soda mixed with your regular shampoo; rinse thoroughly, then condition and style as usual.
COVER UP UNSLIGHTLY CHIPS IN ENAMEL – Bumping a heavy cast iron roasting pot against the front edge of my new stove left an unsightly chip in the white enamel. As a teacher, I already knew that there were far more uses for good old correction fluid (such as Tipp-Ex) than covering over a mistake on paper, and I wondered if filling in the chip with a correction pen would work. Well, it did the trick! I used a fine-tip correction pen and carefully filled the chip with the white liquid. This was almost a year ago, and the repair has survived daily stove-cleaning and heat. Its brilliant white perfectly matches the enamel and it has not discoloured in any way. (taken from Popular Mechanics – Kathy Strehler)
COOKING BEANS – Your beans take too long to cook soft? Add a pinch of Bicarbonate of Soda to the beans during the cooking process and it will soften the beans quicker.
CRAYON ON THE WALL – Crayon on the wall? Take Colgate toothpaste, brush it and the crayon marks will come off! And then you have those who practice their artwork not only on the walls, but floors and cupboards! Heat the stain with a hairdryer, take a small piece of bread, squash it into a ball and rub off the mark (like you would use a rubber to erase pencil marks), or, sprinkle Bicarbonate of soda on a damp sponge, scrub gently to avoid mussing the paint or wallpaper, then wipe clean, or, scrub off crayon marks with a thin paste of Bicarbonate of Soda.
DEFROSTING YOUR FRIDGE/FREEZER – Want to defrost your fridge’s freezer compartment quickly, without damaging the plastic walls or elements, or making a big mess? Buy a pump-action water pistol, fill the reservoir with hot water, and direct it at the ice. The jet cuts the ice like a laser, and can easily be directed at hard-to-reach areas. Leave the lower tray in place to catch the dripping water and falling ice. Simon Pamphilon-Grahamstown
DENTURES – Are you struggling to keep your dentures clean? Soak dentures overnight in White Vinegar and then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.
DETERGENT – Is your liquid laundry detergent not working well? Add a ½ cup of Bicarbonate of Soda with the usual amount of detergent in your regular wash cycle or add 2 full tablespoons of Bicarbonate of Soda to the usual amount of detergent you use.
DINGY WHITES – Do you like your white clothes to be white? Do you have aspirin in your house? The best use for it is to drop one into the machine with your whites and it will keep them from getting dingy!
DIRT MARKS ON SOCKS AND CLOTHES – I cannot get the dirt marks off socks and clothes, what remedy do you have for me? Add a ½ cup of Bicarbonate of Soda to your regular liquid/powdered laundry detergent.
DIRT, GRIME AD SCUFFMARKS – (doors, stove, tabletops, floors, tiles)
1 Does your bath, tiles and shower have scum, mildew or grime on? Simply wipe surface with vinegar and rinse with water
2 My doors, stove, laminated tabletops, linoleum floors and tiles have dirt, grime and scuffmarks on, what can I do? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean and dry.
DEODORANTS – Don’t like playing a lot of money for deodorants? Dust Bicarbonate of Soda under arms.
DEODORIZING CUPBOARDS – Instead of paying a fortune on products to keep my cupboards deodorized, what can you suggest? Place an open box of Bicarbonate of Soda on a shelf.
DEODORIZING GARMENT STORAGE BAGS – To deodorize garment storage bags sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda into the bottom of the bag.
DOGS – Dry clean your dog by sprinkling salt on their fur. Brush the salt out along with dirt and fleas!
DRAB LOOKING STUFFED ANIMALS – My children’s stuff animals are looking very drab, what can I do to refresh them? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on the stuffed animal, let sit for fifteen minutes, then brush off.
DRAIN CLEANER – Want to know how to keep your drains open? Pour ½ box of Bicarbonate of Soda down the drain followed by 1 cup White Vinegar. When the bubbling stops, run the hot water for a few minutes to remove all debre in pipes!
DRYING HERBS – When drying herbs avoid using the microwave — it cooks them, destroying the volatile oils that hold the flavor and aroma.
FADING CLOTHES
1 Are you coloured clothes fading? Before putting the article in the washing machine, soak it in White Vinegar for ten minutes
2 Before hanging your dark clothes on the wash line, turn them inside out. This will make sure they don’t fade in the sun. Do the same with white clothes as the sun makes them turn yellow over time.
FIGHT OFF MOSQUITOES/INSECTS
1 Fill a spray bottle with Listerine (mouth wash) and simply spray it around at the first sight of flies, gnats or mosquitoes. They will get out fast because they hate the smell of Listerine! It is a good idea to keep a small spray bottle of Listerine in your vanity case so that you have it with you wherever you go!
2 Crushed bay leaves, tied in cheese cloth may be stores with grains to help repel insects
FISH MOTHS – Getting rid of silverfish (fish moths), earwigs, ants, centipedes
1. Diatomaceous Earth – Silverfish (and any other crawling-bug pests–cockroaches, earwigs, ants, centipedes, etc.) can be safely, efficiently and cost-effectively controlled with diatomaceous earth (available in specialty garden stores). It looks and feels like talcum powder and usually costs less than $10 for a 5 pound bag (a lifetime supply). It is non-toxic to humans and pets since it scratches the outer casing or breathing structure of insects and bugs, causing them to dehydrate. A pest only has to walk through some of it and they are as good as dead! As long as it remains dry, it is effective continuously, forever. Just apply a thin line of diatomaceous earth along baseboard cracks–or anywhere else pests appear, or dust a specific area. If you know what your particular pest likes to eat, you can also make simple "traps" with a dish of diatomaceous earth and some tasty bait placed where you have the problem. One of the best methods of continuous pest control is to dust the space between your walls or under cabinets. Kim
2. Cloves – Sprinkle WHOLE, not ground, cloves where you have silverfish. Apparently, they do not like the scent and will leave you (and your belongings) alone. Donna P.
3. Dried Herbs – Instead of using moth balls to repel fish moths, try using dried lavender blossoms, dried mint leaves, or cedar shavings (the kind available as pet bedding works well). The odours of these natural materials are pleasant, yet they repel moths, and there are no dangers involved as with moth balls.
4. Boric Acid – The only thing that I have found to work for most creepy crawlies– roaches, silverfish, ants, etc. is boric acid (the main ingredient in Roach Pruf). It is cheap & it lasts as long as it does not get damp. It is a powder that can be poured into cracks, dusted under sinks, and blown under the stove & refrigerator. You can buy it at most hardware stores. Just buy a plastic picnic ketchup/mustard bottle with a pointed top that closes. This works best for getting it into the tight places that it needs to go. If the powder gets damp, just reapply. It will take a few weeks for all of the bugs to die, but you probably won't see them again. The powder sticks to their legs and then they drag it back into their nests where it kills others as well. Good luck! Julie P.
5. Newspapers? – I also had a problem with silverfish in my basement. One trick that help me was to moisten a newspaper (so that it was damp but not soaking) roll up the newspaper and tie it with an elastic. Do this at night and the next morning slowly open up the newspaper (it should be full of silverfish) next either burn the newspaper or empty into a garbage can outside the house. Do this every night until the newspaper no longer has any silverfish in it. Stefanie P.
6. Close Your Drains – Keep your drains closed when they are not in use. I was surprised at how that helped around here. DMK
7. Salt – Try sprinkling regular table salt around your baseboards and all drain pipes and other cracks and crevices. Besides being cheap, salt is not as harmful as other pesticides to children and pets if they should come into contact with it. Of course you will need to repeat this from time to time. Krista
FLOWERS AND PLANTS – Do your acid loving plants need pepping up? Sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of the plant, which also keeps snails away. To help Azaleas grow well, occasionally water plants with a mixture of 1,8lt White Vinegar to 950ml water. Azaleas like acidic soil. use
FLOWERS KEPT FRESH OVERNIGHT – If they are excluded from the air. To do this, wet them thoroughly, put in a damp box, and cover with wet newspaper, then place in a cool spot.
FOOD SCRAPS – Are you composting your kitchen food scraps? If you've got even a small amount of yard space, composting is a really smart way to turn food into soil. And it's the best soil you can imagine, too! Your home-grown veggies will love it!
FRUIT FLIES – To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it ½ with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! It really works!
GARBAGE BINS/DISPOSAL SMELLS – Want to keep your garbage bins/disposal clean and smelling fresh? Mix 1 cup Vinegar in enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze the mixture, grind the cubes through the disposal and flush with cold water, or rinse your rubbish bin out with the vinegar solution or sprinkle a handful of Bicarbonate of Soda in the garbage pail each time you add more rubbish!
FROST ON WINDOWS – Rub a damp rag and salt over windows to keep them from becoming frosty in the wintertime.
FRUIT
1 Have you bought oranges and found them a bit too sour for your taste? Cut them in quarters and toss them in a little Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Rock Salt. Believe it or not, doing this will remove the sourness without the lemons tasting salty
2 When I juice lemons I am always left with a lot of juice still in flesh, can you help? For juicer lemons before squeezing them, put them in warm water (not over 41ºC), for a few minutes and see how much more juice you will retrieve!
FUNNEL – Often we use articles in our homes and never think anything of just discarding the containers when we are done with it! So, for all those who use the old fashioned Colgate Shampoo bottles, they make excellent funnels! Just clean them well, rinse with vinegar and rinse again for hot water, cut open at the bottom, turn them neck-side down and voila you have a funnel!
GARDEN WALKWAYS
Coal ashes make excellent garden walks so instead of throwing it away, put it to good use as it becomes very hard with regular use, and no weeds or grass will grow through it.
GO ON, STICK IT! – When working up a ladder, you sometimes need to find a place to keep screws, nuts, plugs, bolts or other fasteners. My experience is that inevitably you drop one, and have to go down the ladder to find it. Here’s my solution: at the start of a job, stick a blob of Prestik to the ladder and press screws, etc, into it, where they will stay until you need them. Bob Savage, Benoni
GRASS GROWTH ON PATHWAYS – Unwanted grass growing in crevices and between bricks? Pour White Vinegar in crevices and between bricks, it really works!
GREASE/GRIME ON GRILLS – The grease on your grill racks can be easily removed by making a paste with equal parts of Bicarbonate of Soda and water and applying it with a wire brush, wipe clean and dry with a cloth.
GREEN AND FATAL – Intent on going the organic route, we dispensed with toxic and foul-smelling pesticides and instead sprayed our plants with a mixture of vegetable oil and non-detergent liquid soap, preparing it as follows: mix one cup of oil with one tbsp of soap, then dilute it by adding 5 ml of the mixture to 250 ml (about 1 cup) of water. This effectively zaps spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects and probably a few other pests I don’t know about. The good news is that it’s not dangerous for birds or pets. Joanne Lawrence-Sandton
GRIME – (see dirt, grime and scuffmarks)
HAIR CONDITIONER
1 Try this for a conditioner! Shampoo your hair, rinse with a mixture of 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 cups water. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel and removes soap film ad sebum oil.
2 Does your conditioner and styling gel build-up on your hair? Wash hair once a week with a tablespoon of Bicarbonate of Soda mixed with your regular shampoo, rinse thoroughly, then condition and style as usual.
HAND CLEANER – How can you get dirt and grime off your hands? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on wet hands with liquid soap, rub vigorously, rinse and dry.
HAND SMELLS – Have you worked with garlic, onions or other smelly kitchen produce and the smell will not come out? Rub used coffee grounds on your hands and wash off
HOW TO GET CHEWING GUM OFF YOUR CLOTHES – Chewing gum on your clothes? Rub an ice cube on the other side of the gum. Once it’s frozen it will come off easily with a little scrubbing.
IDEAS IN MOTION – Many domestic garages are equipped with lights but the positioning of the switch is sometimes inconvenient, making your departure or arrival in the dark inconvenient and even dangerous. I solved the problem by installing an inexpensive security light with motion detection against the back wall of the garage, facing the tip-up doors. The light is activated on entry and automatically switches off after the doors are closed. (taken from Popular Mechanics by Marius la Grange, Wonderboom, SA)
HYSSOP AIRFRESHENER – Hyssop is also a popular air freshener – crush leaves and flowers and scattered around homes to mask odours. (taken from the Timeless Herb Secrets)
INSECT REPELLANT – Crushed bay leaves, tied in cheese cloth, may be stored with grains to help repel insects.
KEEP OUT OR GET RID OF ANTS – A small quantity of green sage placed in a pantry will keep out red ants, or put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
KEEPING YOUR HANDS CLEAN – If your hands become filthy after working on your car, or fixing an appliance, try this: combine a spoonful of sugar with a squirt of dishwashing liquid and some warm water – you’ll find that it cleans just about anything off your hands. It costs next to nothing, is always accessible in the kitchen, and unlike scouring powders, is non-toxic, does not mess up the skin, and is environmentally harmless. Now that’s a bargain! AK Perkel, Cape Town.
LAUNDRY SMELLS – Does the laundry smell in the bathroom bother you? Sprinkle some Bicarbonate of Soda into the basket/hamper/bag.
LAUNDRY SOFTENER – 2 cups White Vinegar, 2 cups Bicarbonate of Soda, 4 cups of water. Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz. Pour into plastic bottle, cover and shake.
LAUNDRY SOFTENER AND DRYER – 2-3 cups of water, 1 cup of liquid Fabric Softener, large sponge. Combine water and softener, cut sponge in ½ and keep in liquid.
LEATHER SHOE CREAM – Have you ever been left without cream for your leather shoes? Don’t worry; in an emergency you can use moisturizing hand cream. Besides leaving the shoes perfectly clean, you will be moisturizing your hands.
LINT ON CLOTHING – Do you have lint that clings to your clothes after a wash? Just add 1 cup Vinegar to each wash load.
LUNCH BOX SMELLS – Stale lunch boxes? Soak paper napkin in White Vinegar and leave it inside the closed lunch box overnight.
MAINTAINING SEPTIC TANKS – How can I maintain my septic tank? Flush one cup Bicarbonate of Soda down the toilet once a week. Bicarbonate of Soda helps maintain proper pH and alkalinity, controlling sulphide odours.
MAKING AWLS FROM OLD SCREWDRIVERS – Don’t toss those worn-out star/Phillips screwdrivers. Rather grind the tips on a bench or angle grinder to make awls for punching holes in leather and fabric (awls also come in handy for making starter holes in timber). While grinding, dip the point into a bowl of water once or twice to maintain the temper of the steel. Pete Borrino-Rivonia
MAKING BROOMS & TOOTHBRUSHES LAST LONGER – Soak brooms and toothbrushes in salt water before using them, and they will last longer.
MENDING TIP – Never put away clean clothes without examining every piece to see whether they are in any way out of order. A novel way of mending a woolen or silk dress in which a round hole has been torn, and where only a patch could remedy matters, is the following: The frayed portions around the tear should be carefully smoothed, and a piece of the material, moistened with very thin mucilage, placed under the hole. A heavy weight should be put upon it until it is dry, when it is only possible to discover the mended place by careful observation.
MINERAL DEPOSITS IN IRONS – Having trouble with mineral deposits in your steam iron? Fill the water tank with White Vinegar, turn the iron to the steam setting and steam iron a soft utility rag to clean the steam ports. Repeat the process with water, then thoroughly rinse out the inside of your iron.
NASTY FRIDGE SMELLS – An open pot of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge will deal with nasty smells, even if it is fish that has gone off! It is also a brilliant abrasive cleaner on hard surfaces
NEW PAN – If you have bought a new pan, boil a little bit of White Vinegar in it for a few minutes. Rinse and dry. It will also prevent it from burning.
OIL SPILLS – Have you spilled oil on something? Put some talcum powder of baby powder on the spot and leave overnight. If the oil spot is still there, place a piece of tissue paper over the mark and iron it out, or put corn flour on the stain until the flour dries, and rub vigorously with a brush dampened with vinegar. Then wash in the usual way. When you have car oil spilled on the driveway, sprinkle cement onto the oil patch and leave to soak before sweeping.
ODOURS/SMELLS
· BABY’S NAPPIES – Are you struggling to get the odour out of baby’s nappies? Mix a ½ cup of Bicarbonate of Soda in two quarts of water, and soak diapers in the solution.
· CARPET – Does your carpets have an odour to them? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda lightly over the dry carpet, let sit for 15min, then vacuum.
· CAT LITTER BOX – Have cats, have litter box odour? Cover the bottom of the litter box with ¼” Bicarbonate of Soda then add the litter.
· COOKING – Are unpleasant cooking odours in your house? Boil 1 tablespoon of White Vinegar with 1 cup of water.
· CUTTING BOARD – Does your cutting board have an odour? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, rub the cutting board and rinse clean.
· DISHWASHER – Does your dishwasher have an odour in it? Sprinkle ½ cup Bicarbonate of Soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads.
· FOOD CONTAINERS – Have you used a container for storing foodstuff and it has left an odour? Mix ¼ cup Bicarbonate of Soda with 250ml water, swish food container in solution, soak overnight, rinse and dry.
· FRIDGE/FREEZER – How can I get my fridge clean and odourless?
1 Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub, and rinse clean
2 Rub with a paste of 1 cup Bicarbonate of Soda, ½ cup Vinegar and 2 Tbs salt
3 Does your fridge have a smell? Try the following
a. Put coal in the fridge overnight
b. place ½ onion in fridge overnight
c. if you have ground coffee in the house you can put a cup full in the bottom of the fridge overnight
d. fill a cup with vinegar and put into fridge for 30-60min and remove
· GLASS BOTTLES – Do you have glass bottles or jugs that have an odour? Rinse them with White Vinegar!
· HOUSE – Want to have your house smelling clean and fresh? Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.
· SHOES – Does your shoes have an unpleasant smell? In the evening, sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda inside shoes to eliminate odours. Shake out in the morning.
· SWEATERS – Does your sweater/jersey have an odour? Wash it then rinse in equal parts White Vinegar and water to remove odour.
· OVEN – If juice from pies or other oven baked dishes runs out in oven, salt sprinkled on juice will remove the odour and smoke.
· VOMIT ODOUR – How can I neutralize vomit odour? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda generously to cover the stained area, let sit for an hour, then vaccum.
PAINT BRUSHES – Soften hard paintbrushes overnight in a solution of 1lt hot water, ¼ cup White Vinegar and 1 cup Bicarbonate of Soda.
PLASTIC BOTTLES – What do you do with your empty plastic bottles? I cut them, and use them to put avo pips in until they are well rooted and then plant them out, rather than using glasses and they land up being badly stained.
PLASTIC FLOWERS – Struggling to keep your plastic flowers looking clean and fresh? Place artificial flowers in a bag, add a ½ cup of table salt, and then shake them vigorously. Remove the flowers and shake them off, and they will be clean!
PRESERVE OLD BOOKS – Bindings may be preserved from mildew by brushing them over with spirits of wine. A few drops of perfumed oil will secure libraries from the consuming effects of mold and damp. The Romans used oil of cedar to preserve valuable manuscripts.
PREVENT BEDSTEADS CRACKING – If a bedstead creaks at each movement of the sleeper, remove the slats, and wrap the ends of each in old newspapers.
PREVENT GLASS BOTTLES FROM CRACKING – If a bottle or fruit jar that has been more than once used is placed on a towel thoroughly soaked in hot water, there is little danger of its being cracked by the introduction of a hot liquid.
PREVENT IRON RUST – Kerosine (or as we know it – paraffin) applied to stoves or farming implements, during summer, will prevent their rusting.
REMOVE IRON RUST – Lemon juice mixed with salt will removes ordinary iron rust.
REMOVE RUST FROM BUMPERS, HANDLES, METALS – Use salt and a damp rag to remove rust from auto bumpers, bike handles and metals; rinse thoroughly.
REMOVE RUST FROM CLOTHING – Never use chlorine bleach on a rust stain! To remove rust, especially on white clothing, it also makes whites very white, boil water adding cream of tartar and dip and boil article for a few minutes, rinse. Super white and rust free!
REMOVING BROKEN GLOBES – If you’ve ever been cut by extremely sharp glass remnants while removing a broken light globe for its socket, you’ll appreciate this hint: Simply push a raw potato against the remains of the globe and twist it out. Jacques Stoltz-Vaalpark.
REMOVING PERSPIRATION – To remove perspiration marks from a garment, use soap and warm water and then bleach in the sun.
REMOVING WALLPAPER – Put boiling hot water in a spray bottle with about one third liquid fabric softener. Spray wallpaper, wait a few minutes and peel off. This mixture dissolves the paste very fast. I have tried this many times and it works great and smells nice too.
REPAIRING PLASTER – Mix 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch, add enough water to make a thick paste. Use this paste to fix small holes in plaster.
RESIDUE BUILD-UP ON CAST IRON POTS & STOVES – If you have cast iron pots, or a wood stove that has collected "gunk" from being used over and over, remove the crusting with a paste made of cream of tartar and vinegar, it will make cleaning a breeze!
ROTTING AND SWELLING WOODEN DOORS – Exterior doors are among the most neglected of all wooden products in a house, and can be especially vulnerable to swelling and rot after years of rain. You need to know that, like trees, doors tend to absorb water from the top and the bottom because the end of the grain is like a sponge. Here’s what to do: wait for summer and allow the door to return to its original (fitted) size; this will take at least a month of warm, dry weather. Alternatively, remove the door and trim it just enough to close properly. In most cases, you’ll find that the door has not been painted or varnished on the top or bottom. It might have a partial undercoat. Apply a thinned-down first coat, following up with at least two more coats to the top and bottom. This will ensure many more years of life. The same applies to garden gates, gate posts, pergolas and any other items with lots of exposed end-grain. (taken from Popular Mechanic by Jon-Jon Keegan, Plumstead)
SCUFFMARKS – (see dirt, grime and scuffmarks)
SEED SAUCES – Seed sauces are slightly fermented, but when you have made a sauce and it becomes too fermented, just add a bit of minced onion.
SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES – If your sewing machine needles have become blunt, make a few stitches through a piece of emery cloth. (taken from Popular Mechanics by Deon Hattingh, SA)
SCORCH MARKS – Have you got scorch marks on your clothes? Rub lightly with White Vinegar, then wipe with a clean cloth.
SEAMS COMING UNDONE – Are the clothes your making coming undone at the seams? Use a stretch stitch when machine stitching to prevent seams from coming apart with wear and tear.
SHAVING – Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
SILVERWARE CLEANING
1 Silverware tarnished? Mix a tick paste of Bicarbonate of Soda with water, apply to the silver with a damp sponge, rub, rinse and buff dry.
2 To polish silver, make a thick paste of 3 tablespoons Bicarbonate of Soda and 1 tablespoon water
SOAPY FILM ON GLASSWARE – Soapy film on glassware? Place a cup of White Vinegar on the bottom rack of your dishwasher, run for five minutes, then run though the full cycle. A cup of White Vinegar run through the entire cycle once a month will also reduce soap scum on the inner workings.
SOOT IN CHIMNEY – Throw a ¼ cup table salt in your fireplace when you’re using it to help loosen any soot that has built up in your chimney.
SOFTENING JEANS AND LINEN SHEETS – Add ¼ to ½ cup of salt to the detergent when washing.
SOFTEN YOUR HANDS WHILE WASHING DISHES – Add a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda to your water with your usual dish soap. It will soften your hands while cutting through that nasty grease!
SOUR ORANGES – Have you bought oranges and found them to be a bit sour for your taste? Cut them in quarters and toss them in a little salt. Although you wont believe this. Doing this will remove the acidity that is so unpleasant and they won't taste salty.
SPONGE SCRUBBER – Most of us use sponge-scrubbers in out kitchens. I wash the sponge thoroughly, dry it, cut it up and make scatter or bedroom cushions from it!
STAINS
· ANIMAL CARPET – Have you got animals and they urinate on your carpet and you cannot get the stains out? Blot up urine, flush several times with lukewarm water then apply a mixture of equal parts White Vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.
· BLOOD AND RED WINE STAINS – Struggling with stains when travelling? Use white Colgate toothpaste, which, when rubbed on blood, as well as other stains like red wine, will remove them. Don't use any toothpaste that has any colour in.
· CAR SEATS, CHAIRS & STROLLERS – To keep these items clean sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean and dry.
· COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE – To remove coffee and chocolate stains, mix one tsp of White Vinegar in one quart of cold water. Sponge on stain and wipe clean.
· GRASS – A simple way to remove grass stains is to spread butter on them, and lay the article in hot sunshine. Or wet with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, and spread in sun. You might also try using soap and cold water.
· GREASE – To remove grease stains from fabric, mix equal parts of Handy Andy and washing powder into a paste, apply to the stain and leave on overnight. Next, scrub and put the garment through a normal wash. I used this method to remove a big grease stain from a delicate white shirt. Mandy Barrett-Midrand
· GREASE ON CARPETS – Shake some cornstarch over the grease stain and let set there overnight or at least 8 hours, vacuum.
· POTS & PANS – Fill pots and pans with White Vinegar and let stand for 30 min, then rinse in hot, soapy water.
· STAINLESS STEEL SINK – Stainless Steel Sink stained? Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub the sink and rinse clean.
UPHOLSTERY & CLOTHES – What about those stubborn stains on furniture upholstery and clothes? Apply White Vinegar directly to the stain, and then wash as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.
STATIC CLOTHES – Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and … ta da! … static is gone.
STATIC ON CARPETS – To stop the static shock in rooms with wall to wall carpeting, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of one part liquid fabric softener and five parts water, then lightly mist the carpet.
STOP DOG FROM CHEWING OUTDOOR FURNITURE OR LEAVING SOUVENIRS ON YOUR DECK – To stop your dog from chewing outdoor furniture, digging holes in the garden or leaving odorous souvenirs on the deck, aim a short burst of pepper spray at the target area, making sure the dogs are a safe distance away. The capsicum residue is harmless to the animals but offensive to their powerful sense of smell – and they always sniff around before doing their thing. The odour should stay around long enough to discourage further offences. (Note: make sure you are using pepper spray, not CS gas, and don’t use a spray that contains marking dye). Simon Pamphilon-Grahamstown
TARNISHED SILVER – Is your silverware tarnished? Mix a tick paste of Bicarbonate of Soda with water; apply to the silver with a damp sponge, rub, rinse and buff dry.
TRAPPING MORE THAN ONE MOUSE – Ever wondered why you never catch more than one mouse when using those ‘humane’ traps that don’t kill the rodents? Apparently, when they are trapped, mice release something that ‘pollutes’ the trap and effectively warns other mice not to come close. A simple solution is to thoroughly clean the trap with a milk kitchen detergent or ordinary dishwashing liquid. Allow to dry, pop in a dap of peanut butter and your mousetrap is re-armed. Chris Moerdyk-Simons Town.
UNCLOG DRAINS – 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.
UNSEALING ENVELOPES – How often have I sealed an envelope only to realize that I forgot to add something or insert a small gift or an article, so here is a hint to reopen a sealed envelope.
USING RAWL BOLTS MORE EFFECTIVELY – Fixing heavy objects to a wall with rawl bolts can sometimes present a problem if the casing turns in the wall, or the conical end is pushed out. Here’s my solution: Before inserting the bolt in the hole, unscrew it and thread a sturdy washer (or two) between the bolt and the casing. Push the reassembled rawl botl into the hole and tighten it against the washer; this will expand the casing and lock it firmly in place. That done, unscrew the bolt and mount the object with no further difficulty. J Smith-Vanderbijl Park
VASE FLOWERS LIFESPAN PROLONGED – Do you want to prolong the life of the flowers in your vase? Add 2 tablespoons of White Vinegar plus 3 tablespoons sugar per 1,8lt warm water. Stems should be in three to four inches of water, or place a pinch of salt in the water.
WANT CLEAN WINDOWS & MIRRORS – Want clean windows and mirrors? Use undiluted Vinegar in a spray bottle, then dry with a soft. They will be brilliant!
WINDSCREENS FREEZING OR FOGGING UP? – Does your car windscreen freeze up at night? Coat the window with a solution of three parts White or Apple Cider Vinegar to one part water. Or, buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish… all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners…
WE WILL SOW WHAT WE REAP!
NOTE: We are not medical doctors or pharmacists and DO NOT give any medical diagnosis, but we do know from personal experience and extensive research, that with the help of our heavenly Father, who gave us the perfect original diet for mankind in Gen 1:29, and the moral support of your local GP, you too can live a healthy life – all you need to do is adjust your diet and lifestyle, and trust God to assist your body to heal itself! But remember “… without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6), in ALL areas of our walk with Him! And remember YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SICK!
DO NOT BE FOOLED, BEING YOUNG AND VIRILE DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU FUTURE GOOD HEALTH, SO START LOOKING AFTER YOUR BODY TODAY!
