Archive Category: 'Household'

• 10 Essential Packing Rules & Tips: Today’s feature is from Family Hack with 10 Essential Packing Rules when you’re Traveling with the Kids. One of my favorites: Make a “Waiting Kit”. You’ll be eating in restaurants more than usual, which means — WAITING. Have crayons and paper or a travel etch-a-sketch. This will keep your kids occupied between the ordering and the arrival of [...]
• Quick & Dirty Tips For Buying Second Hand Silver: Today’s feature is from Like Merchant Ships with some quick & dirty tips for Buying Second Hand Silver. If you like hitting the thrift stores, garage sales and auctions, you can start a nice collection of silver pieces on the cheap! Here are some notes that give a quick breakdown: Tips For Buying Second Hand Silver Sterling [...]
• Amazing Trick – Retrieve Items Dropped Down A Drain: Today’s feature is from Family Hack with their video tip Something Down The Drain? Retrieve it Without a Wrench: An amazing trick! Our 1-minute video shows you how to easily retrieve anything that went down the drain…without a pipe wrench or a plumber. I’ve dropped a few things down the drain myself and this is one thing [...]
• How to Fix a Leaky Gutter: Today’s feature is a YouTube video with quick and easy instructions for how to fix a leaky gutter: Choosing the right sealer, preparing and cleaning out the area where the leak is and applying the sealer is all that’s needed. This tip comes in handy for the fall cleanup tips list I mentioned last week.
• How To Remove Wax From Pants (and other items): I received an email yesterday asking if I had any tips on how to remove wax drippings from pants (there was a candle/hot wax spill). Here’s the info I replied with based on my notes, hope it helps anyone looking to remove wax from clothing (and will work on carpet spills too–just use ice instead of [...]
• Tipnut Mailbag – Traveling With Children Tip: Here’s another hot tip from the Tipnut Mailbag, it was sent in by Jennifer: I started doing this when my daughter was about 1. When traveling I always take a blow up beach ball. During rest stops or while waiting for a flight I blow up the beach ball and let her have some fun. We’ve [...]
• Curling Vinyl Tiles Fix: Use an old iron to heat up the vinyl tile to soften the glue underneath. Once the glue is softened enough to lift the tile a bit, apply fresh adhesive to the area underneath the curling spots. Reposition the tile on top and firmly weigh it down with something heavy (like bricks or cinder blocks). Lift the [...]
• Home Emergency Preparedness: Today’s feature is from Brocante Home with some good information about being prepared in case something extreme happens where you live, The Safe Box: This isn’t about scaremongering, it is about being prepared, so start by creating a safe box: Choose a lidded tin box and then choose a place it can live, well protected, but easily [...]
• Homemade Fly Paper Recipe: Items Needed: 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 TBS Brown Sugar 1 TBS White Sugar Directions: Mix well then dip strips of brown paper bag into the mixture. Coat the strips well and lay them on plastic overnight to set and dry a bit. The next day poke a hole in the paper strip about an inch from the edge and loop [...]
• Quirky Tips for Noxzema Skin Cream: Here is a list of what I think are the more interesting tips for Noxzema uses that were published in the following book: Title: Clean Your Clothes With Cheez Whiz Author: Joey Green For scuff marks on patent leather shoes, try rubbing in Noxzema Skin Cream with a soft cloth. Noxzema is also good for removing paint and stains [...]
• How to Tie A Tie, Make a Tie Stay & Cleaning Tips: Today’s feature tip(s) is from three different sites, the first by ScoutDB for instructions on how to tie a tie. There are images and detailed steps for how to tie The Windsor Knot, The Half-Windsor Knot, The Four-In-Hand Knot and the Bow Tie. The second tip is from Open Loops with instructions on How to Make [...]
• Mending Small Tears In Upholstery: Mending Small Tears Minor tears in smooth upholstery can be repaired by first cutting a strip of adhesive tape somewhat longer and wider than the tear itself. Insert the tape behind the tear and then gently pull the torn pieces back into place. Hold a slightly warmed flatiron against the mended spot until the fabric and [...]
• How To Remove Bumper Stickers: This works for removing decals and windshield stickers as well. You can use old credit cards or plastic rulers or blades to help peel back the sticker when using one of the methods below. How To Remove A Bumper Sticker Method #1 Heat the bumper sticker with a hair dryer or heat gun until the glue underneath softens and [...]
• How To Get Rid of Moths With Natural Repellents: Mothballs are made from paradichlorobenzene and can cause all kinds of health problems including damage to liver and kidneys. They’re especially hazardous to children if swallowed–and they don’t smell all that good either. Natural Moth Repellents Dried lavender Cloves (see How To Make A Clove Apple) Rosemary Mint Thyme Cinnamon sticks Eucalyptus Peppercorns Dried lemon peel Cedar (chips, balls, planks or essential oil–cedar lined closets, drawers [...]
• How To Boost A Car Battery: After driving for more than 20+ years, I’ve never had to know how to boost my vehicle’s battery. Someone was always around to do it for me–until this past winter. Here are step-by-step instructions for how to boost your car’s battery. Feel free to print them out, put in a plastic sleeve and tuck into your [...]
• Refinishing Antiques: This article is from Kitchen-Klatter Magazine, March, 1952: Refinishing Antiques Refinishing Antiques By Ethel Broendel Many articles have been written about refinishing furniture, but most that I have read sound like messy, puttering jobs. Removing varnish is not a pleasant task, and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to drag it out any longer than necessary. One should [...]
• How to Remove a Broken Key in Lock: To remove a key broken in a lock, try the following: You need a thin, sturdy piece of metal with teeth or a hook of some kind to do this. Tool Suggestions: jigsaw blade piece of coping saw blade scroll saw blade hacksaw blade dental pick Any piece of thin metal with a ‘hook’ on the end that can grab key Step One: First [...]
• How to Remove Cork from Inside Bottle: If bottle is empty: Pour ammonia into bottle till the cork floats. Set bottle aside for a few days. The cork should deteriorate from the ammonia and after a few days will be small enough to fall out. If bottle is not empty: First pour liquid into a carafe or bottle and seal. If there are cork bits in [...]
• Ashtray Odor Diffusers: Materials: White Sand Baking Soda Essential Oils Decorative Bowls or Deep Ashtrays Directions: Mix equal parts white sand and baking soda. Pour sand mixture into ashtrays or bowls. Pour a few drops of essential oil into sand mix. Blend well. This helps diffuse the odor from cigar and cigarette butts, also helps mask the smoke in the air. Quick Tip: Vehicle Ashtray Deodorizer Fill your vehicle’s ashtray [...]