TO protect outdoor fabrics from fading, there are weather guard sprays available at home and garden stores. However, even treated textiles will eventually fade overtime though moving items to shady areas will extend their life.
-- Save yourself oodles of time by clothes-pinning socks together (or use a safety pin) before throwing them into the hamper. The washing machine will no longer eat your socks.
-- Utilize nylon netting (also known as tulle) as a scouring dish "tool." It scratches nothing and is the handiest tool for scrubbing dishes. Also good for cleaning cars. Especially handy for arthritic hands that can't stand a heavy cumbersome tool. Submitted by Winona, Winnipeg
-- For people who don't compost outdoors you can compost right inside of your home. Save the outer leaves of lettuce for watering plants. Plop a few into your blender with some water and whirl away on HIGH. Water your plants straight on the soil, being sure to miss the leaves. Lettuce mixture that sits on leaves will result in noticeable dry bits. Submitted by Winona, Winnipeg
-- On that note, for people who wish to water plants less often lay a (never used. Did I even have to say that?) diaper into the plant pot before adding soil. The gel pellets in the diaper absorb water and release moisture gradually. The result is that you need to water less often. Great for outdoor hanging plants.
-- Grow tomatoes in large pots. Begin by putting down several sheets of newspaper before adding soil. This will slow escaping water and hold onto the moisture. When emptying the soil into the compost (at the end of the season) you can work the rotting paper directly into the compost. Submitted by Winona, Winnipeg
-- Get rid of scuff marks on the floor by rubbing them with a fuzzy tennis ball. Instead of bending down to scrub, cut an X into the tennis ball and slide it on to the end of a broom pole. Use the tennis ball pole to erase all floor scuff marks.
-- Shaving cream has lots of uses. Next time you want to (I mean next time you have to) clean your bathroom tile, use shaving cream. Works like a charm!
-- Use clean, no longer wearable pantyhose to dust furniture. Smooth olive oil onto the wood surface and wipe off with pantyhose.
-- Desperate for a diaper cream substitution? Substitute store-bought cream with vegetable shortening; this is a natural product made from soybean and cotton seed oil.
-- In a pinch peanut butter makes excellent shaving cream (not for people with peanut allergies). Make sure to use smooth, not chunky.
-- When catching mice use peanut butter instead of cheese. Mice like peanut butter more than cheese, and peanut butter cannot be carried away.
-- For minor paper cuts hold a slice of raw potato on the area for 10-15 minutes. Or rub Chap Stick onto the cut to soothe away the hurt.
-- Put dried lavender into a breathable cloth and store with fabrics to repel moths. You can also toss the lavender pouch into the dryer with your clothes. Fabrics will carry a fresh aroma which mosquitoes don't like (can't please everyone).
-- Ice cream cones are fun to eat but a bit messy, too. Here's a delectable solution -- plug up the bottom of an ice cream cone with a bit of peanut butter (or a mini marshmallow). When munching through the scoop of double chocolate fudge, you'll be protected from leaks and there's a peanutty surprise at the end of the treat.
Special thanks to Winona from Winnipeg for her contributions and excellent solutions!
I enjoy your questions and tips. Keep them coming!
Check out my website! www.householdsolutions.org
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
