These hints, tips and tricks should save you a few minutes, a lot of dollars and, in general, make your life easier. This list is by no means complete. If you have any hints, tips or tricks, please email me at: tom@senior2senior.org and I will update this list as we have the time. Hints, tips and tricks A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. (The envelope can then be resealed hmmmmmm...)Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll to what appliance it belongs.For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (I wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided this would be much more economical. A box of S.O.S pads now lasts me indefinitely. In fact, I have noticed the scissors get sharpened this way!Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! Now, where to put the body? LOLUse vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!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 stove top.Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.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.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. 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. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. 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). 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, than run the hot water. Keep critters out of garbage by spraying bag/can with ammonia and waterFor a sweeter smelling house, squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon into the dustbag of your vacuum before you use it.If you mix 10 or more drops of an essential oil with 8 ounces of water, you have just created an instant air spray that is aromatic and kills airborne bacteria.Essential oils are considered to possess certain qualities or serve special purposes. The soothing fragrances are generally considered to be chamomile, rose, jasmine, clary sage, geranium, sandalwood, vanilla, musk and nutmeg. The energizing fragrances are lemon, eucalyptus, pine, citrus, bergamot, peppermint, rosemary and cinnamon. The aphrodisiacs are clary sage, geranium, sandalwood, ylang-ylang and lavender. If you want your spirit lifted, use neroli, bergamot or rosemary. The mental stimulants are clary sage, juniper berry, pine and peppermint. The muscle relaxants are jasmine, vanilla, musk, eucalyptus and peppermint.Sweeten your breath after a meal by munching 2 sprigs of fresh parsley.If you are like me, you don't want to cut off a finger when chopping, mincing or dicing. Hold the knife's handle in one hand with your thumb against the blade and place your other hand over the top of the knife and hold the blade of the knife on the board and chop using a vertical pivoting motion and you will keep your fingers on your hand.Use ripped panty hose as a scouring sponge. Simply put a regular sponge inside a section of pantyhose and its coarse texture will scrub things clean.Baking soda makes the best fire extinguisher for stove top grease fires if you do not have a fire extinguisher.I hope these few tips and hints have helped make your life easier. |
