Around The House

Petroleum Jelly

• Use it as a lubricant for squeaky hinges, nuts and bolts.
• Use some on the threads of a light bulb that is being used outside. Makes it easier to remove later to replace it.
• Use it to soften dry skin.
• Use as a makeup remover, especially for eyes and lips.
• Rub on dried out leather products to revive them.
• Rub on shoes to shine them.
• Put small amount around lids of metal cans. It will make unscrewing them easier and give you a better seal.
• Rub on baby bottoms to prevent diaper rash.
• Use it on your lips instead of expensive chapped lip products.
• Rub into your cuticles & over fingernails to prevent hangnails and dry nailbeds.
• Use to soothe minor burns and scrapes. Clean area and then apply gently.
• Use on earlobes to help get earrings in.
• Rub some on the top edge of your paint can lid. When you push it into the rim of the can you will get an airtight seal. It also helps with removal later.
• Protect your hands when gardening, painting or working on a vehicle. Coat your hands with a thin layer. It wipes off easy when you are done with your project.
• Temporarily seal P-trap joints under sinks.
• Use under lipstick to help it go on easier and stay on longer.
• Make a lipgloss. Melt old lipstick on LOW heat. Add 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons petroleum jelly. Let heat mix it together. Pour into lip gloss container or other heat proff container to cool.

Cooking Oil

• The obvious use for cooking oil is for cooking. Use different types of oil for a variety of flavor. Use it to stir fry, saute or deep fry foods.
• Use a small amount to grease a baking dish or cookie sheet prior to using so foods do not stick.
• Use a small amount on damp face to moisturize.
• Rub on skin to add moisture and shine.
• Rub on earlobes for easy earring insertion.
• Use on hinges to loosen and stop squeaks.
• Rub all over your body. Wait 5-10 minutes. Take a bath or shower and wash as normal. Helps moisturize skin.
• Heat oil to warm temperature. Rub onto scalp and through to hair ends. Wait 15-20 minutes and shampoo as normal. Helps give moisture to your hair.
• Rub into your nail cuticles to soften and soothe.
• Rub into dry cracked hands or feet.
• Pour into a ceramic or metal bowl. Add a cotton wick and light it for a homemade lamp.
• Spray a key with cooking spray to make it easier to insert into keyhole.
• Rub a shovel with cooking oil so snow will not stick and to avoid rust.
• Rub wooden dishes or utensils with vegetable oil to restore their original glow. Let them sit overnight. Wipe excess off with a paper towel the next morning.
• To restore softness to a chamois, soak it in a bowl of water with a tablespoon of olive oil.
• Use a paper towel dipped into a small amount of oil to remove adhesive from glass. Wash as usual.
• If paper is stuck on a wood object, apply a few drops of oil and rub loose after it soaks.
• For bolts, etc. that are hard to thread, apply a little oil and they should thread easily.

Lighter Fluid

• Clean grease from bolts, nuts, etc.
• Remove labels from glass jars. Will work on almost any surface to get tape or glue residue off.
• Rub onto ink stained synthetic cloth to remove stain. Wash well afterwards.
• Use to wipe a smear of paint from a window.
• Use to take stickers off of book covers.
• Use it to remove gum from most surfaces.
• Use it to remove black scuff marks from shoes.
• It removes crayon marks from most surfaces.
• Grease and oil stains are easily removed with it also.

Dye graying white fabrics....If bleach won't whiten a graying white garment, soak the item in hot, strong brewed  tea until it is a shade darker than you desire. Then rinse in cold water and let dry.

Deodorize stuffy rooms....Mix one quart brewed tea and four tablespoons lemon juice, strain through a coffee filter, and store in empty spray bottles.

Invigorate house plants....Water houseplants once a week with a weak, tepid brewed tea.

Accelerate the germination of grass seeds....Mix two tablespoons of cold, strong brewed tea into each pound of seed, cover, and set in the refrigerator for five days. Before sowing, spread the seed to dry for a day or two on newspapers on the garage or basement floor.

Polish black lacquer....Wash black lacquer pieces with strong brewed  tea, then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Clean varnished woodwork....Cold tea is a good cleaning agent for any kind of woodwork.

Tenderize meat....Add equal parts strong brewed tea and double strength beef stock to a tough pot roast or stew. The tannin in tea is a natural meat tenderizer.

Highlight brown hair....Rinse red or brown hair with brewed tea for golden highlights.

Relieve sunburn pain....Pat your sunburn with wet flo thru tea bags.

Soothe a sore throat or laryngitis....Drink brewed tea with lemon juice or honey.

Help relieve diarrhea....Drink plenty of  tea and eat toast. The tannin in tea is reported to be helpful in cases of diarrhea, while its liquid replaces fluids lost by the body.

Soothe tired eyes....Place flo thru tea bags soaked in cool water or lukewarm water over your eyes for at least fifteen minutes.

Soothe a burn....Apply wet flo thru tea bags directly to the burn, or secure in place with gauze.

Stop gums from bleeding after having a tooth pulled ....Press a cool, moist flo thru tea bag against the cavity with your finger.

Fix a broken fingernail ....Cut a piece of gauze paper from a flo thru tea bag to fit the nail, coat with crystal clear nail polish, and press gently against the break. Then cover with colored nail polish.

Invigorate house plants....Water ferns and other houseplants once a week with a weak, tepid brewed tea.

Accelerate the germination of grass seeds....Mix two tablespoons of cold, strong brewed tea into each pound of seed, cover, and set in the refrigerator for five days. Before sowing, spread the seed to dry for a day or two on newspapers on the garage or basement floor.

Polish black lacquer....Wash black lacquer pieces with strong brewed  tea, then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Clean varnished woodwork....Cold tea is a good cleaning agent for any kind of woodwork.

Tenderize meat....Add equal parts strong brewed tea and double strength beef stock to a tough pot roast or stew. The tannin in tea is a natural meat tenderizer.

• Did you burn your favorite pan? Put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the pan and fill it 1/2 full with water. Set the pan on the stove, and let boil, till the burnt particles float to the top. Remove from heat. Wash and rinse as usual.
• Do you have coffee, tea or cigarette burns on your china and ceramic ware? Just rub the stained sections with a damp cloth that has been dipped in baking soda.
• Have stuck food on your casserole dishes? Fill with boiling water and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda or salt and let sit for an hour.
• Have a drain in your sink that is clogged? Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda over the drain, and then pour a cup of vinegar over it. Let set for a minute till it foams, then run your hot water or pour boiling water down the drain. You may need to repeat the process. Works for most simple clogs.
• Have silver? Polish it to a shine with a soft cloth and some dampened baking soda placed on the cloth.
• Counters or stove have stuck on grease splatters or dried food? Sprinkle baking soda on the areas, and then rub with a wet sponge. Rinse with clean sponge. This also works on countertops that have grape juice or other fruit stains.  You sometimes need to do two applications.
• Removes mineral deposits and rust stains. Fill a teapot with water. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and juice of 1/2 of a lemon. Boil gently for 15 minutes and rinse. Repeat if needed.
• In a microwave safe cup, place 3 tablespoons of baking soda and water. Stir well. Boil 3-5 minutes inside microwave to clean. Take a paper towel and wipe down the walls of your microwave oven.
• Put 1/2 box of baking soda in toilet tank and let it stand overnight. Flush the next morning to clean and deodorize the tank and bowl.
• Make a homemade scouring powder. Use 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, 1 cup salt & clean as usual.
• Make a drain cleaner. Use 1 cup baking soda & add 1 cup hot vinegar. Wait a few minutes then pour down the drain with 1 quart of very hot water. Use for your garbage disposal the same way; but use 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar.
• When out of dishwasher detergent, use 2 tablespoons baking soda and 2 tablespoons borax per load.
• Clean your drip coffee maker by mixing 1 cup warm water and 1 cup baking soda. Let it drip through.  Then drip through a plain pot of water to rinse.
• Make a homemade sport drink. Use one quart boiled water. Add a teaspoon of salt, 1 rounded teaspoon baking soda, 4 rounded teaspoons sugar, and a package of sugar free koolaid (any brand). Stir until clear and refrigerate.
• Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer to help clear up a stuffy nose. It also cleans your vaporizer at the same time.
• To help reduce fever in a baby and remedy diaper rash, bathe the baby in a tub of lukewarm water with 1/2 cup baking soda. If using a plastic baby bath, use 1/8th of a cup of baking soda.
• Sprinkle baking soda on your pets brush to help deodorize their skin and fur as you brush them.
• Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a pet's bath water to help clean their fur.
• Sprinkle baking soda lightly on soil around your tomato plants. Baking soda left over from your refrigerator is fine for this use. This will help reduce the acid in your tomatoes and sweeten them.
• To absorb odors and freshen carpets, mix together 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and 15 drops of essential oil (optional). Sprinkle onto your carpets. Leave on overnight. Vacuum the next morning.
• Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your washing machine along with your liquid detergent. It helps brighten your clothing.
• Use baking soda on your underarms. It is not a skin irritant. Can mix it with talcum powder to make it go on smoother. Makes a great deodorant and helps with heat rash.
• Sprinkle baking soda around your flower beds to keep rodents, rabbits and squirrels from attacking your beautiful flowers.
• Clean your brushes and combs. Fill a sink with hot water. Add 1/4 cup baking soda. Soak for 20-30 minutes and rinse.
• Clean your eyeglasses by sprinkling small amount of baking soda on them. With wet fingers rub the lenses then rinse clean. Dry with a lint free cloth.
• Make a mouthwash to eliminate onion, garlic and morning mouth odors. Combine 1 teaspoon baking soda & 1 teaspoon salt to a cup of water. Add flavoring if you desire.
• Use baking soda on pet spot stains that are on your carpets.
• In place of expensive insect controls, sprinkle baking soda under sinks and around basement windows. Ants, silverfish, roaches and smaller waterbugs will dehydrate and die.
• If using a cat litter box, sprinkle baking soda in with the litter to freshen and deodorize.
• When you have stiff paint brushes, boil them in 2 quarts water, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup baking soda. It restores the brushes back to normal.
• Use instead of salt to sprinkle on slugs to get rid of them.

SODA POP

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals, pour a can of soda pop over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

To clean a toilet pour a can of soda pop into the toilet. Let it sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in the soda pop removes stains from china products.

To bake a moist ham, empty a can of soda pop into the baking pan. Wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the soda pop for a delicious brown gravy.

To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers, rub the bumper with a crumpled up piece of aluminum foil dipped in soda pop.

To remove grease from clothes, empty a can of soda pop into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The citric acids in the soda pop will help loosen grease stains.

To loosen a rusted bolt, apply a cloth soaked in soda pop to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

It will also clean road haze from the windshield of your vehicle.

 

VINEGAR

All vinegar uses below are white distilled vinegar unless otherwise stated.

Soak your fingernails in vinegar for 20 minutes two times a week to strengthen them. They will grow longer a lot faster than normal.

Bring vinegar to a boil in an old saucepan. Reduce to simmer and place paintbrushes with hardened paint on them in the pan. Leave until you see paint loosen. Wash brushes with soapy water to soften the brushes.

Dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe counters, canisters and other containers to keep them smelling fresh and clean.

Place small containers of vinegar all around the house to take out cigarette smoke smell. Or wave a cloth you soaked in vinegar around the house to clean the air odors.

Pour baking soda down a clogged drain. Add boiling vinegar to it and your drain should unclog. If not, your clog is needing a commercial drain opener.

Clean fireplace bricks with undiluted vinegar.

Mix some vinegar with salt. It will clean dishes, pots, glasses, windows, brass, copper, bronze, pans, skillets. Rinse well with warm water.

When boiling eggs, add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to prevent white from leaking out of a cracked egg and also to keep the yolk in the center of the egg.

Use vinegar instead of lemon on fried and broiled foods. It gives it a tangy flavor.

Add vinegar to warm water and soak your tea kettle overnight. It will remove the lime deposits. This will also work on your glass coffee pot. Put 3 ounces of vinegar in the pot and fill rest with warm water.

To tighten cane bottom or caneback chairs sponge them with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry. They will tighten back into shape.

Apply ice cold vinegar right away for fast relief of sunburn or other minor burns. It will help prevent burn blisters.

Wipe jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar to prevent mold-producing bacteria.

To eliminate mildew, dust and odors, wipe down walls with vinegar-soaked cloth.

Clean windows with vinegar and water.

Rub vinegar on the cut end of uncooked ham to prevent mold. It will not change the taste of your ham.

Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.

Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of vinegar to water. They will keep fresh for days in the refrigerator.

Rub down your dogs and cats with vinegar if they get sprayed by a skunk.

Add 1 teaspoon vinegar to cooking water for fluffier rice.

Add vinegar to laundry rinse water. This will remove all soap and prevent yellowing.

To remove hairspray and other product buildups from your hair, massage one ounce of full strength vinegar into hair and leave on for about 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Then shampoo and rinse your hair as usual.

Boil vinegar and water in pots to remove stains.

Pour undiluted vinegar in coffee maker. Run through like you are brewing coffee. Let cool and run through again if your coffee maker is full of sediment. When done, run wplain water through to rinse a few times.

Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.

When boiling meat, add a spoonful of vinegar to the water to make it more tender.

Marinate tough meat in vinegar overnight to tenderize.