Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent the ice cream from dripping.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
If you have a cake cone, I say fill it up with marshmallows too. Who doesn't like marshmallows? A Whopper candy will work too. It really plugs it up and is crunchy!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Clean a Thermos Bottle
Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets. Let it soak for and hour or longer if needed.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I am sure this works. Do they even make Thermos bottles anymore? I use to have one that went in my lunch box as a kid. My mom would send soup to school with me. I think I am going to try to find one for my kids. We live in a very cold place.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I am sure this works. Do they even make Thermos bottles anymore? I use to have one that went in my lunch box as a kid. My mom would send soup to school with me. I think I am going to try to find one for my kids. We live in a very cold place.
Polish Jewelry
Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Cleaning Vases
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Let it sit and swish it around. Rinse.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Cleaning Toilets
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I have tried this, it works. I just don't like keeping a toilet brush around so I use the Clorox Toilet Wand. It is a cleaner tool for me. I am sure Alka-Seltzer is cheaper per use than the Clorox Wand, but the germ-a-phob in me likes the wand better.
Since trying to live a more frugal life, I have gone back to the toilet brush and holder. The Clorox wand is great but so much more expensive. I have also found that spraying some Tilex mildew remover into the toilet and letting it sit for a while cleans the toilet without me having to touch it at all! It is amazing. I also use it after I shower a couple times a week and presto, no more scrubbing the shower down either. It is an amazing product and much better than Alka Seltzer.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I have tried this, it works. I just don't like keeping a toilet brush around so I use the Clorox Toilet Wand. It is a cleaner tool for me. I am sure Alka-Seltzer is cheaper per use than the Clorox Wand, but the germ-a-phob in me likes the wand better.
Since trying to live a more frugal life, I have gone back to the toilet brush and holder. The Clorox wand is great but so much more expensive. I have also found that spraying some Tilex mildew remover into the toilet and letting it sit for a while cleans the toilet without me having to touch it at all! It is amazing. I also use it after I shower a couple times a week and presto, no more scrubbing the shower down either. It is an amazing product and much better than Alka Seltzer.
Cuts-Stitches or Not?
Some deep cuts leave us wondering, to stitch or not to stitch? I have found on some of the smaller deep cuts my children have gotten, that superglue works just fine. Superglue is used in war times to close up wounds and even used in the ER instead of stitches. I checked this out with a Family Practice Dr. friend we have and he confirmed that in fact super glue works just fine in most small yet deep cuts.
An example of a small yet deep cut was my son's hip wound from wrecking onto the spikey, metal peddle of his BMX bike. He had a pretty good cut right on his pelvic bone area that was about 1/4 of an inch deep and about 3/4 of and inch long. We had super glue at the house, not the $100 is was going to cost to go to the ER. It bled some and the super glue held it together long enough to heal. I put new glue on each day where the cut popped open and as it began to scab, the glue came off. He has a pretty good scar on his hip, but it is in an inconspicuous area of his body, and it will change as he grows too.
You have to be the judge of whether super glue will work or whether you should go to the dr. Self reliance in first aid is a good thing and there are many things that can be done at home that cost less and are just as effective as seeing a dr.
I do not recommend this method for cuts on the face. Have a dr. sew up those wounds to make the smallest scar possible. We learned from the cut on this same son's forehead, that when a cut is healing, if it gets sun on it, the scar will discolor. So make sure cuts on the face or where ever else you care about their visibility, are covered with a bandage and then put sunscreen on it always up to a year after the wound has healed to ensure proper blending of the healed skin with the existing skin at the site. This was the advise from the plastic surgeon attending at the ER we went to that sewed up his forehead.
An example of a small yet deep cut was my son's hip wound from wrecking onto the spikey, metal peddle of his BMX bike. He had a pretty good cut right on his pelvic bone area that was about 1/4 of an inch deep and about 3/4 of and inch long. We had super glue at the house, not the $100 is was going to cost to go to the ER. It bled some and the super glue held it together long enough to heal. I put new glue on each day where the cut popped open and as it began to scab, the glue came off. He has a pretty good scar on his hip, but it is in an inconspicuous area of his body, and it will change as he grows too.
You have to be the judge of whether super glue will work or whether you should go to the dr. Self reliance in first aid is a good thing and there are many things that can be done at home that cost less and are just as effective as seeing a dr.
I do not recommend this method for cuts on the face. Have a dr. sew up those wounds to make the smallest scar possible. We learned from the cut on this same son's forehead, that when a cut is healing, if it gets sun on it, the scar will discolor. So make sure cuts on the face or where ever else you care about their visibility, are covered with a bandage and then put sunscreen on it always up to a year after the wound has healed to ensure proper blending of the healed skin with the existing skin at the site. This was the advise from the plastic surgeon attending at the ER we went to that sewed up his forehead.
Splinters
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I have not used this but it may work on small superficial splinters. When my 10 year old broke his arm and we were waiting in the ER to be seen, a little boy came in that had fallen into a cactus! Yikes, I know! The ER doctors took regular school glue (Elmer's) and spread it over all the areas where the cactus needles were. The glue dries and dries the needles/splinters too. Just peel off and they should come out.
For really deep splinters, put some ice on the area first and then use the sharper tools to get it out. The ice helps numb the area so the needle poke isn't so noticable. Don't leave the ice on too long, then you will have a whole other issue.
If the splinter still won't come out, seeing your Dr. works well too.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I have not used this but it may work on small superficial splinters. When my 10 year old broke his arm and we were waiting in the ER to be seen, a little boy came in that had fallen into a cactus! Yikes, I know! The ER doctors took regular school glue (Elmer's) and spread it over all the areas where the cactus needles were. The glue dries and dries the needles/splinters too. Just peel off and they should come out.
For really deep splinters, put some ice on the area first and then use the sharper tools to get it out. The ice helps numb the area so the needle poke isn't so noticable. Don't leave the ice on too long, then you will have a whole other issue.
If the splinter still won't come out, seeing your Dr. works well too.
Cleaning Mirrors
Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
So I am having a blonde moment. I used a dryer sheet instead of air freshener. Needless to say, the dryer sheet didn't work and I have been posting too many tips about their uses. I am sure the air freshener works just fine, but I have found two things that work perfectly for cleaning windows and I see no reason to use anything else.
First: Sprayway Glass Cleaner.
It is made by Sprayway, Inc. in
Addison, Illinois 60101. (made in USA)
This stuff works like magic. I have been using it for years and usually get it from Costco. This is what the can looks like on the company website. I don't know if that is what it looks like at the store. I can't say enough good about his product. It is fabulous. I am getting no money for endorsing it.
The second thing that works well for cleaning windows is to use newspaper instead of a rag. There are no streaks and no lint from the rag. The best part is that it can still be recycled when you are done. Be aware, your fingers will get messy from the newsprint. If you use the Sprayway cleaner, you really don't need the newspapers.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
So I am having a blonde moment. I used a dryer sheet instead of air freshener. Needless to say, the dryer sheet didn't work and I have been posting too many tips about their uses. I am sure the air freshener works just fine, but I have found two things that work perfectly for cleaning windows and I see no reason to use anything else.
First: Sprayway Glass Cleaner.
It is made by Sprayway, Inc. in
Addison, Illinois 60101. (made in USA)
This stuff works like magic. I have been using it for years and usually get it from Costco. This is what the can looks like on the company website. I don't know if that is what it looks like at the store. I can't say enough good about his product. It is fabulous. I am getting no money for endorsing it.
The second thing that works well for cleaning windows is to use newspaper instead of a rag. There are no streaks and no lint from the rag. The best part is that it can still be recycled when you are done. Be aware, your fingers will get messy from the newsprint. If you use the Sprayway cleaner, you really don't need the newspapers.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Lemon Juice
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.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Put lemons in the microwave for 15 seconds and then slice and juice. The heat from the microwave makes the lemons juicier.
Rachel Ray Show
The microwave trick works like a charm. Just be careful not to cook them. They only need a few seconds to be nice and juicy.
To store lemons, place them in a ziplock bag and keep in the fridge. They will keep fresh longer this way.
Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Put lemons in the microwave for 15 seconds and then slice and juice. The heat from the microwave makes the lemons juicier.
Rachel Ray Show
The microwave trick works like a charm. Just be careful not to cook them. They only need a few seconds to be nice and juicy.
To store lemons, place them in a ziplock bag and keep in the fridge. They will keep fresh longer this way.
Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Eggs
To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard boiling.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
This works. Also, peel the egg while it is still hot. If you let them cool before peeling, the inside skin sticks to the egg and it doesn't come off very well.
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Martha Stewart Tips Email
This works. Also, peel the egg while it is still hot. If you let them cool before peeling, the inside skin sticks to the egg and it doesn't come off very well.
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Storing Celery
Wrap celery in aluminium foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I did this and it didn't keep for weeks. It kept a little longer, maybe a day or two. But it also didn't look that great. I have found the best way to keep celery is to cut it up and keep it in a covered container in water. It stays hydrated and crispy fresh this way without getting limp and soggy.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
I did this and it didn't keep for weeks. It kept a little longer, maybe a day or two. But it also didn't look that great. I have found the best way to keep celery is to cut it up and keep it in a covered container in water. It stays hydrated and crispy fresh this way without getting limp and soggy.
Potatoes
Potatoes have many uses:
Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
To keep potatoes from budding, place and apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up".
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
To keep potatoes from budding, place and apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Martha Stewart Tips Email
If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up".
Martha Stewart Tips Email
Opening Jars with Tight Lids
Turn the jar upside down and firmly thump it on the counter. Be careful not to hit it so hard that the jar breaks, just a firm thump or two. The force of the "thump" releases the vacuum seal and allows the jar to easily open.
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