Shine your copper

Whether you have copper-bottomed cooking pans, architectural detailing, or shiny knick-knacks, forget mucking about with costly and potentially toxic metal polish pastes. Why not use some of those old ketchup packets stashed away in your kitchen drawers?

Here’s a very simple recipe from Michael de Jong, TDG’s Zen Cleaner and author of the Clean series of simple living books:

Massage ketchup over the copper and watch it dissolve the tarnish away (thanks to the acid). In the event that you have stubborn spots, add a pinch of table salt while you polish.

Get those auto parts gleaming

According to The Cymbal Book by Hugo Pinksterboer, some folks have seen decent results getting their cars to shine by rubbing with ketchup. The book notes that the condiment does a good job cutting tarnish, but not so well in removing dirt. Sounds like you may need a multi-step process, with some soap and water as well.

Give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

Fight Skunk Odors

If you’ve lived in a rural or even suburban part of North America, chances are you may have had a run-in with a skunk one night or evening. Or perhaps your dog has. Although some experts have cautioned that the technique may not actually work well (beyond a masking sensation), many people still swear by tomato juice as a way to remove potent skunk odor. Michael de Jong points out that in the event you don’t have any tomato juice on hand you can try using plain ketchup instead.

Get back prettier hair from chlorine damage

According to de Jong, ketchup can also be used to correct limey-hair-highlights-gone-green, which can sometimes occur from exposure to chlorine found in swimming pools (another good reason to check out natural pools as a refreshing alternative).

How? Restore your normal hair color — or at least the one you paid dearly for — by applying full strength ketchup to your hair. Smoosh it in, let it linger for about 20 minutes and then wash it out thoroughly.

Soothe wounds

Unused ketchup packets pile up across America by the millions, as hurried diners and service staff often grab huge handfuls, only to end up using a few. Lisa posted over on Seacoast Online that she freezes leftover ketchup and soy sauce packets to use on her children’s “small booboos and bumps.” She claims, “The kids LOVE them.” Apparently even the mere appearance of the packets often makes their hurts go away.

Want to make your own ketchup? Check out this link for a unique cranberry ketchup recipe, or get zillions of other ketchup ideas from Delish.

Get more green cleaning recipes from Quick and Simple.

Got any more ideas?  Please send them to us!

We promise to be back in a few days with more of our own money-saving tips. Meanwhile, for more about Do-It-Yourself home solutions, click here.

1. Flat Tire Fix

My old wheelbarrow had a flat, but the bolts were rusted on and the replacement was expensive. So I drilled a hole in the tire and sprayed expanding foam insulation inside until it was full. This fix won’t last forever, but it’s made it through one season so far.

2. Seed Saver

When a truck left deep tire marks in my yard, instead of filling them in with soil and seed, I lifted the sod with a spading fork. I gave the grass a small lift every other day, and after two weeks the tire marks were gone.

3. Getting a Hosing

Rather than lay our garden hoses flat on the garage floor, I took a heavy-duty 101⁄2-inch plastic pot and screwed its base to a stud with a washer and lag bolt. Then I coiled the hose around it. The pot’s tapered shape keeps the hose neatly in place and keeps it from cracking. Another idea is to drill a hole in a decorative planter and run the hose through it, so you can keep it out in plain sight on the lawn.

4. Sanding Saver

I remove the scale from my iron railing with a wrench sized to fit tightly over the bar. Dragging it up, down, or around to remove the larger blisters saves a lot of sanding later on. (Saving time = saving $)

5. Old Golf-Bags Don’t Die…

When I’m out spraying for weeds with my plastic pump sprayer, I use an old golf-bag cart to wheel it around. The cart’s circular base is a perfect fit for the sprayer’s tank, and its big wheels were made for lawns.

6. Primitive Vacuum Bag

Rather than try to knock off wasp nests under the eaves while standing on a ladder, I take a long plastic downspout, attach a plastic bag to one end with a rubber band, and squirt a shot of flying insect spray into the other end. Then I place that end over the nest and scoot the pipe sideways to dislodge it. The nest and any wasps fall down the pipe and into the bag for disposal.

7. Egg-cellent Storage Idea

Keeping small parts organized when repairing an item is as easy as making breakfast. I use empty egg cartons to group and contain the pieces.

8. ChopChop

My husband and I discovered that the fat end of a chopstick works great for removing excess grout from tile joints.  We actually find them useful for other things too.

9. Well Bread

I’d cut some water lines under the sink, but a valve got stuck and they kept leaking a steady dribble of water, which prevented me from soldering. The plumber I called in (at emergency rates) asked for a slice of bread. He tore off the crust, rolled it up, and stuck it inside the line. It stopped the flow long enough for him to solder the pipes before it dissolved and washed away. This tip cost me $130 and a slice of bread.

10. That Old Electricity’s Still There

I use an electric carving knife instead of a utility knife to slice easily through fiberglass batt insulation, no hard cutting surface needed.

11. Bathroom Bargain

When replacing a toilet, the hardest part is to line up the bowl with the short bolts in the floor without touching the wax ring. So I stick plastic straws on the ends of the bolts as guides and set the toilet down perfectly in one go—without messing up the wax ring.

12. Don’t Forget your Rubbers

When you’re driving hard-to-turn screws with a manual screwdriver, put on a rubber kitchen glove and you’ll get a no-slip grip.

13. Wax Poetic

When painting wood windows and sills, leave the windows open to dry for a day, then put waxed paper across the sill and close the sash. The paint will cure without sticking

14. Paper Dolls

Before you nail down baseboard molding, put a strip of painter’s paper (or wax paper, see above) between the molding and the floor. Then you won’t have to tape off the floor when you paint. After you’re done, cut off the paper. No one will ever know it’s there.

15. Color me Thrifty

Keep the paint names for each room handy by writing each name on a piece of tape and sticking it behind the light-switch cover plate.  Another great tip — buy small refillable foam-top bottles (or reuse CLEANED shoe polish bottles) from a hardware or craft supply store.  Fill one with every color you paint.  It’s a fast, easy and cheap way to do touch-ups later on.

16. Tray Chic

Put your roller tray inside a drawstring kitchen trash bag and pull the strings tight, then pour the paint into the tray as usual. After painting, turn the bag inside out so that the paint is inside. Pull the strings and throw the bag away. The tray is clean and ready for another color.

17. Cute Tip

Before you spackle nail holes, cut a cotton swab in half and push it into the hole, stick end first. For larger holes, fold the swab in half and use it all. Then trim the excess and spackle. You won’t need to go back for a second pass.

18. Sanding Saver Redux

When I repaired a cracked ceiling, I waited until the joint compound was barely set up and used a dry paint roller to smooth out the knife seams. A damp sponge got rid of any residual roughness after the compound dried, so no sandpaper and no dust.

19. Ball Duster

I had to drill holes for can lights in the ceiling, so I cut an old basketball in half to collect the dust. A ½-inch hole drilled into the bottom allowed the ball to fit between the drill and the hole saw. Then I held the drill with one hand and the ball tight to the ceiling. No dust fell in my face or on my floors.

20. My Beautiful Launderette

After handling greasy pipes or yard equipment, wash up with liquid laundry detergent. It cuts oil better than ordinary bar soap and costs less than specialty hand cleaners.

21. Oil Change

I’ve used canola or corn oil rather than mineral spirits to clean oil-based paint off my skin. It works great, washes off with soap and water, and moisturizes my hands, too!

22. Double Cut

It’s hard to start a hacksaw on a bolt or rod without jumping off your line. Solution: Put two blades on your hacksaw frame, with the teeth pointing in opposite directions. Not only will your saw stay on its line, but it will also cut faster, on both the pull and the push strokes. Half the work, half the wear and tear.

23.Reflections of My Life

Stick automotive reflective tape onto tool handles, cell phones, or other small items that are easy to misplace. You’ll be able to find them by shining a flashlight around your work area.

24. What a Stud!

A contractor at my workplace uses an inexpensive stud finder made by tying a string to a cow magnet, the really powerful kind that’s fed to cattle to keep barbed wire and other metal out of their systems. You dangle the magnet next to the wall and it sticks to any nearby nails or screws.

25. Buyer Drill

You don’t have to buy a feeler bit to probe walls and ceilings. Just snip an 8-inch piece off a wire coat hanger with a wire cutter. Trim one end at a 60-degree angle and chuck the other end in your drill. The wire will worm its way through wood or drywall in no time.

26. Switch Hitter

If the light switch for your basement is on a sidewall, install the switch upside down so that down is on. When you head downstairs with your arms full, you can just lean against the switch with your shoulder to turn on the light.

27. Bats, Man

After I took out old radiators, I filled the pipe holes in the floor with the handles of my son’s old wooden baseball bats. I simply pushed each handle down a hole until it wedged in place, then traced a line even with the floor. I made a cut just above the mark, tapped the pieces into place with some wood glue, and covered the floor with carpeting.

28. Screw Do

In tight spaces, keep screws from falling off your screwdriver with a piece of plastic wrap. Push the screw point through the wrap, then hold it tight as you turn the screwdriver. Pull away the plastic when you’re done.

29. Tee Time

To fill a stripped screw hole in a door, glue a wood golf tee in the hole. Cut off the excess when the glue dries.

30. Hair Cut

After our bathtub became clogged with dog hair, I snaked the drain but without success. So my wife gave it a spray of Nair hair remover. Fifteen minutes later the drain worked better than it had in months!

31. Nose Job

Before hammering a nail into hard wood, rub it over your nose. (We might choose a different body part.  Or maybe some Skin-So-Soft.  See earlier post.) The oil it picks up makes it easy to drive.

32. Pipe Cleaner

My massaging showerhead caused the pipe inside the wall to vibrate. Rather than tear up the wall, I drilled small holes though the wall around the pipe and shot a bit of spray foam into each one. When the foam hardened, the noise disappeared!

33. There’s a Future in Plastic

There’s a ton of uses for plastic sandwich and freezer bags. I took a plastic bag and reinforced a corner with duct tape to make a disposable pastry bag for a grouting job. After putting in some compound and twisting the open end closed, I clipped the corner, squeezed out an even bead, then smoothed it with my finger. No trowel necessary.

Do you have any money-saving tips to share?  Please do tell!

Meanwhile, click here for more!

*For full article and attributions, visit www.ThisOldHouse.com

Happy Monday!

Continuing on our quest for info on multiple uses of items you may already have around the house, this list comes from our reader (and Avon consultant) Joy in New York.

It’s been said for years, (without support from Avon), that their classic Skin-So-Soft bath oil helps repel mosquitoes.  (I, however, do support that claim!)  Avon, and the FDA, approve it only as a body oil.   But taking it a step (or 75) beyond, following is a list of non-classic uses.

1. Bath oil or after shower moisturizer.

2. Make-up remover.

3. Tanning (or burning!) oil (no sunscreen).

4. Hot oil treatment for cuticles.

5. Massage oil.

6. Removes adhesive marks left  on skin from bandages

7. Removes ink from skin.

8. Insect repellent (at least it smells better than the aerosols).

9. Relieves itching caused by dry skin.

10. Cleans oil and grease off of skin.

11. Replaces turpentine to remove paint from the hands.

12. Soothes light sunburn.

13. Removes dirt from hands before washing.

14. Heals dry, cracked skin.

15. Mixed with liquid soap it helps a shaving razor glide and leaves skin feeling smooth.

16. Moisturizes feet as part of a soak or pedicure.

17. Removes chewing gum from hair, skin, and most nonporous surfaces.

18. Cleans permanent ink off stamps.

19. SSS Original Bath Oil works GREAT on Head Lice!!!!! Saturate head, let it set for 15 minutes and rinse.  Repeat for a few days to get them all.

20. Kill ants.

21. Helps skin retain its elasticity.

22. Wash, condition and dry hair with your normal hair care product.  Rub a small amount (dime size) into your hair to leave it soft and shiny.

23. Cover windowsill with SSS towelettes to keep ants out.

24. Sponge around doors, windows and screen to keep out the creepy crawlies.

25. May help eliminate mild psoriasis.

26. Use it to clean and condition wood.

27. Removes glue and gum from tags on many hard surfaces.

28. Removes soap scum.

29. Removes lime and hard water deposits from fixtures, tile, shower doors and windows.

30. It’s an oil lubricant for fitting pipe joints together!

31. Cleans ink off most vinyl and painted surfaces.

32. It cleans heavy oil and grease from nonporous surfaces.

33. It takes fur off of clothing.

34. Can prevent brass from turning dark.

35. Removes crayon from appliances and most painted surfaces.

36. Mix with cleaning water to keep ants out of the cupboards.

37. Use it to discourage hornets from building their nests. First, spray and kill the hornets.  Then, remove the nest and keep the area sprayed with SSS. They will not rebuild there.

38. Cleans and conditions leather.

39. Use it on your air conditioning filter to make incoming air smell fresher.

40. This will also make the a/c filter easier to clean.

41. Clean paintbrushes easily and leaves them soft as new.

42. Remove gum from carpets.

43. Remove scuffmarks from patent leather shoes.

44. Use on running rails for sliding doors and windows.

45. Removes “ring around the collar”.

46. Removes liquid paneling glue.

47. Drizzle a little down the sides of “stuck” bowls and glasses and they’ll come apart easily.

48. Removes candle wax from furniture, carpets and clothing.

49. Repels bees from bird feeders — rub a little on the feeder surface by the feeder ports.

50. Rubbed on the poles, it may also keep the squirrels from stealing the birdies’ food.

51. Kills maggots too!

52. Attach a small bottle to your hose and then spray down the back yard — it should reduce the number of your crawling and flying pests.

53. People around the outskirts of Eureka and surrounding areas (and sometimes in town) spray it on their rose bushes to keep the deer from eating them, and at the cemeteries on the flowers they put out there for the same reason.

54. Kills spiders.

55. Cuts grease and cleans dirt from range hoods.

56. Add a capful to laundry to soften fabric and keep bugs away.

57. Moistens and de-bugs flowers.

58. Cleans baseball caps. Just spray on and rub with toothbrush.

59. Mix one part SSS and 2 parts water, add a little vinegar and spray tomato plants about every 2 or 3 days to keep the tomato worms away.

60. A little in your mopping water to help keep crawling bugs out. (Do not use a lot to avoid slippery floors!)

61. Use to clean windows. (I have my doubts on this one.)

62. Use as a room deodorizer; spray into air and let settle.

63. Can remove pet odors.

64. If a child wets the bed, spray the bedding before washing and will give it a fresh clean smell.

65. Makes pets’ coats gleam and keeps insects off.

66. Rub on your hands before and after working with your pets to remove strong smells.

67. Will remove tar or asphalt from the pads of pets’ feet.

68. Don’t worry about your cats licking it from their fur — it’s supposedly safe. You can check with your vet to be sure.

69. Removes tar spots from car exteriors without damage to the paint.

70. Use it inside to clean vinyl dashboards, seats, and tops; it also can help to prevent cracking.

71. Use as a tire polish to keep them looking new.

72. Put some on a small washcloth or open a towelette and leave in the car to help keep the air fresh and clean.

73. Removes smoke odors left by cigarette smokers.

74. Removes tree sap.

75. Rub on headlights and grill before traveling. It makes insects and bugs easier to remove.  We will try this one on our road trip and will report back.

All that for a few bucks a bottle. I’ve already packed a big one!  To get yours, call your local Avon rep, or order on line from Joy at Avon.com.

Coming up next, more great money-saving uses for items you may have already own.  Meanwhile, for more multiple-use product ideas, click here.

With info from Willie Jones on iSnare.com, via TipHero.com,:  (and always with a note that all tips have not been tested, at least by me!)

12 Non-Food Uses for Pepper

1. Plugging small holes in your car’s radiator

2. Killing biting ants

3. Deterring ants in the kitchen

4. As a spray that keeps insects and animals away from your plants

5. Keep your colors bright — and keep them from bleeding — in the wash

6. Unclog your sinuses

7. Detoxify your liver

8. For arthritis pain

9. Alleviate migraine headaches

10. Help with heart problems

11. Keep squirrels away from your bird feeder

12. Keep rodents from chewing on cables

To expand on info and get instructions for the above, click here.

But wait, there’s more!  If this info peppers your interest, read on…

The Many Medicinal Uses For Cayenne Pepper

Uses of Pepper

Uses of Black Pepper

Medicinal Uses for Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne Pepper and Heart Health

Tune in next time for the many uses of Avon’s Skin-So-Soft!

Meanwhile, for more on at home remedies for all that ails you, click here.

Do Dryer Sheets also Repel Mice? Illustration: Jonathan Carlson

I recently reported that I had read a book about World War II which included this little saying about conserving both funds and stuff (and space!):

Use it up,

Wear it out

Make it do

or Do without.

Lately, I find myself using lots of those little samples and leftover bits before replacing.  It’s saving me both space and money, as well as clearing stuff in the closets and cabinets for new, better stuff  (bought at a discount, of course).

There are many ways to use, or re-use, a variety of household and personal care items, which I offer you here, in case you’ve forgotten.

Today, we look at reusing dryer sheets:

Once used, they’re great for removing dust, especially from TV and computer screens, as well as window screens.

Plus, compliments of DoItYourself.com:

Hang a sheet outdoors during the mosquito season to repel mosquitoes on your patio.

Clean bathroom surfaces and dissolve soap scum from shower doors and tile walls.

Freshen the air in your home. Place a sheet in a drawer, closet, lockers or under the seat of your car or truck. Leave several in the RV or camper when they’re not in use.  And when they are.

Run a sewing needle run through a sheet prior to sewing, to prevent the thread from tangling.

Leave a sheet inside suitcase luggage or travel baggage to prevent musty odors. Place one inside empty luggage before storing.

Use a sheet to clean baked on foods from pots and pans. Place a sheet in the yucky pan, fill with water, let sit overnight. Next morning sponge it clean. The antistatic agent appears to weaken the bond between the stuck on food and the pot or pan surface. The fabric softening agents helps to soften the baked on food. Love this one.

Place a sheet at the bottom of the wastebasket, laundry bag and hamper to help eliminate odors.

Collect pet hairs by rubbing the area with a sheet; it will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds and window coverings. Wipe the blinds to prevent dust from resettling.

Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering. A used sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

Take the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.

Place a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight to help to deodorize them — they will smell much better in the morning!

Tune in tomorrow (or maybe Thursday)  for 12 Non-Food Uses for Pepper!

BTW, dryer sheets do not repel mice.  Get a trap.  Do not reuse.

Meanwhile, for more ideas on multi-use products, click here.

So here’s the upside of the real estate downturn: so many landlords have so many homes and apartments that they’re trying to keep afloat that they’re often VERY negotiable on price.  And other things as well. 

We looked around at many of the new buildings in and around Miami, and were surprised to see that many of the asking price for rents were nowhere as low as we expected.  But, simply by asking “can you do any better on the rent?”  a great percentage of them said yes.  We got offers for free months, gift cards for furniture and design stores,  free cable and internet, even upgrades.  But  the newer buildings we saw didn’t even have room for all our stuff, and that was the deal breaker. Do they think that everyone has multiple homes? 

Anyway, after seeing probably 20 apartments, we found one that definitely fit our parameters:  A newly renovated apartment in a very well-run older condo building on the water, with huge rooms and tons of closet space, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open kitchen, 7 closets, lots of amenities, and the clincher, a wrap around terrace with a million dollar view.

But, the apartment was fully furnished, and the entire great room, living room, kitchen and hallway was painted a jarring Pepto-Bismol-Pink.

All workable, with just a request — the furniture was removed, and we got a credit on our rent for painting the apartment a beautiful, soothing beige the color of coffee ice cream.

So here we are in a beautiful waterfront apartment for far less than we would have paid a year or two ago.  My biggest problem now is that, as a native New Yorker, I am great with living in small spaces — this was the first time I had to figure out how to fill all these big rooms. Not a bad problem, huh?  It took a few tries and arrangements, but it’s done, and it’s so fun to be able to have a room where you can actually walk between the furniture and the wall. 

Here’s another Moving Story: My friend Judith was moving at the same time, and found a new, really big loft apartment on the Miami Bay.  But after less than a year, the apartment they were renting went into foreclosure. Asking around in their building, they found an almost-identical apartment two floors above them, on a corner, with extra windows, which had never been lived in and was not quite ready to go.  Judith’s husband, the ever-handy Randy, offered work in exchange for rent, so exchanged three months’ rent for painting, buffing the marble floors and putting up window treatments.  And did I mention that the rent was $450 less per month? 

The apartment we live in now has just been sold, and the new owners want us to stay.  But it has come to my attention that we can find something nearby, not quite as nice but not bad, for slightly more than we’re paying now.  So when they take over, we will start negotiating. I will report on the progress.  So remember, always ask!  Meanwhile, enjoy the view!

For more about decorating on a budget, click here.

Make It Do or Do Without!

I love this little saying, which I found in a book about the people who stayed at home during World War II. Americans today are buckling down maybe almost as much as then, for different reasons, of course.  Or maybe not.  In any case, over the next few posts, we will be looking at ways to save money by using what you have already in the house, maybe in a way you’re not familiar with now.  

Sometimes, it’s simple — for instance, I always use up all my little perfume samples before splurging on a full bottle (which I last did in Paris in 1994, I think).  What takes a little more effort (but not much) is mixing up your own concoctions. For example, housecleaning supplies.   I believe that the window cleaners and such are as good from the dollar store as the branded products that cost much more.  Now, compliments of another of my money-saving gurus, www.TipHero.com, and also from www.mrscleannw.com, how you can clean your home for less money, and often more healthfully and earth-friendly than before!  

First, while it is a little work, especially at the beginning, it’s really not complicated.   Make your magic potions on a gradual basis as you run out of your various cleaning products.  It won’t take too much time, and you can use up what you have as it runs out, and re-use the bottles too, so no waste.   And best of all, many of the solutions are less toxic than many of the cleaning products you find in stores.

For example, vinegar – and particularly white vinegar – is a terrific natural cleaner for a number of different cleaning jobs. White vinegar is an acid. Its unique properties make it an effective grease cutter, and it will stop mold and mildew in its tracks. Vinegar is non-toxic and does not leave any residue. 

Use vinegar and water to wash hardwood, vinyl or linoleum floors. Be careful to use only plain white vinegar, and not any flavored or apple cider variety. Since it is an acid, do not use it on any stone or marble surface as it will actually etch the surface.

Need to clean windows and mirrors? Just combine white vinegar and water ( about half and half) and put it into a spray bottle.  Use newspaper instead of sponges or paper towels to wash the windows and mirrors.   It’s cheaper, reuses the paper, and lint-free. White vinegar and water combinations can also be used as a floor cleaner, on stainless steel, and on tiles. In fact, a vinegar-water solution serves as a great all-purpose cleaning product. According to www.EarthEasy.com, white vinegar “cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up”.

Baking soda is another common household item that can be combined with water or other ingredients to make different types of cleaning solutions. Because it is a natural abrasive, it works well for scrubbing. For example, combining baking soda with a little dish soap makes for a good stove-top cleaner. Baking soda also works as a deodorizer – actually eliminating odors rather than just covering them up.  Put an open box in the refrigerator and one in the freezer, and remember to change them every few months. You’ll know when it’s due.  And you can use it to brush your teeth!

Add lemon to the cleaners for a nice, fresh scent. It also can help cut grease and counter a lot of bacteria.

Here are some links and recipes:

- How To Make Your Own Cleaning Products

- Cleaning products: Green buying guide

- Non-Toxic Home Cleaning

- CBS News: Save Green As You Go Green

Soft Scrub Cleanser

For homemade soft scrub cleanser, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with enough liquid detergent to make a cleansing liquid. Apply the cleanser and scrub with a sponge to clean. This works very well in sinks and bathtubs. Just rinse it off when you are done cleaning. It washes off easily and will not leave any grit behind.

Window & Glass Cleaner

• 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 cups water

Mix all ingredients in to a spray bottle. Use this product just as you would with a commercial glass cleaner.

Copper & Brass Cleaner

You can easily clean and scour both copper and brass by mixing 1/2 cup of vinegar with two tablespoons of salt. Apply with a sponge and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Any grime will come right off.

Carpet Freshener

Use baking soda as a carpet freshener. Just sprinkle some baking soda on your dry carpet and let it sit about 15 minutes before vacuuming to freshen it nicely.

All Purpose Cleaner

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• a dab of liquid soap
• 2 cups hot tap water

Combine these ingredients in to a spray bottle and mix thoroughly..

Furniture Polish

• 1/2 teaspoon mineral oil
• 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice

Mix these ingredients into a spray bottle. Spray and use a soft cotton rag to shine and clean your wood surfaces. Use a dry portion of the cloth to shine, polish and dry.

Enjoy your day in the lab.  Next, we will look at beauty potions you can mix up at home. 

For another very cool way to make some $$$ from what you have laying around the house, click here!

It was August in Florida. Not a time you want to go out in the daytime, if you can at all avoid it. It’s steamy and rainy so I decide to stay in and clean the house — and my cordless electric vacuum cleaner dies. So I drag the thing downstairs and out through the dampness and bring it to the closest service place, and the guy tells me it’s too small a unit to repair and they won’t honor the guarantee! I put on the charm and do my best to get him to change his mind, but he wasn’t having any of it. So, back into the steam, back to the house and onto the phone to voice my complaint to the manufacturer. By the end of the call, the sweet woman at the other end promises that a replacement machine should arrive at my home in 7 to 10 days.
 
Two weeks later and my carpet is very dusty, and no new vac has arrived. Back on the phone, another promise, and voila — two days later, a brand new vacuum.

And two days after that, another!

I often speak affirmations of abundance — maybe there is something to this affirmation stuff. I now have an abundance of vacuum cleaners.

Today’s lesson in living the frugalcious life: never take no for an answer. But always be nice about it. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Read more about discount decorating here

I’m happy to say that the crowds have dissipated, and we picked up lots of items and even more ideas. Nothing great this week in the scratch and dent room, but I did score on some marked-down bedding that was just the color I need for my new bedroom. Judith loved her virgin trip there, and is planning to bring her hubby back soon. I spent under a hundred dollars and bought curtains and hardware for three rooms.  Plus, if you use your debit card, the give you a little rebate to use on your next purchase (keep ‘em coming back for more!).

If you don’t have an Ikea near your, definitely check out their website — then go to ebay and search for anything you like. Items are often cheaper on Ebay than in the store itself — plus you get to skip the crowds.  Happy holiday shopping!