Thursday, February 17, 2005
Bright Ideas
1.Soak, new, brightly colored garments in cold, salty water before laundering. The colors will stay brighter.
2. When washing colored or printed material for the first time, add one tsp. Epsom salts to one gallon of water. The material with neither fade nor run.
3. Soaking blue jeans in 1/2 cup vinegar and two quarts water for one hour before the first washing helps prevent them from fading.
When washing blue jeans, wash in cold water, put in dryer for 10 minutes or so, then fold on a wooden clothes hanger and continue to dry.
Always turn corduroy pants inside out before washing. This will keep them lint free and they will also last longer.
Pin socks in pairs before washing them and you won't waste time trying to match them up.
Rub a sticky zipper with a lead pencil.
Rub beeswax inside and outside your zippers on boots, purses, jackets etc. to keep them running smoothly and quietly. This also removes dust and grime.
To save on dry-cleaning bills, wash your wool blankets in a mild dishwasher soap or Zero on a gently cycle. Dry on air fluff.
Silk garments must be hand washed. Use cool water with Lux or Zero soap. When rinsing, add a bit of lanolin to restore and protect the material. Drip dry and press, using a soft cloth.
Club soda is a great stain remover for clothing.
To make your own spot remover, combine two parts water with one part rubbing alcohol.
Glass cleaner is a good spot remover. If you get a spot on a dress, for example, place a tissue on your hand under the spot. Give the spot a spray of glass cleaner and rub gently using another tissue on top to make the spot disappear. Reapply if necessary.
To make your own prewash spray combine 1/3 cup each of water, liquid detergent and ammonia. Mix, then store in a spray bottle. This is excellent to spray on collars, spots and stains.
Use vinegar to remove perspiration, grass and slight scorch stains from clothing.
To remove stains, soak garment in baking soda and water for several hours, then wash as usual.
Dissolve your soap flakes thoroughly in water before putting into washing machine. This will eliminate powdery buildups on clothes and extra washings.
To use up slivers of soap, put them in a white sock, tie a knot in the sock and toss into the washing machine. This will keep your socks whiter and save money because you use less detergent.
Always measure any detergent used with appropriate scoops. This prevents using an excessive amount.
If you accidentally put too much soap in the washer, pour two tbsp. vinegar or a capful of fabric softener into the machine.
To make certain that clothes receive a thorough rinsing, add one cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. This will help dissolve the alkaline in soaps and detergents, plus it will give you soft sweet-smelling clothes.
When washing clothes, use cold water for the rinse cycle. Clothes will retain their shape and color better.
Clean your washing machine by occasionally running through the wash cycle, using warm water and vinegar. Do not put clothes in for this.
For a whiter wash, add 1/4 cup dishwasher detergent to your load of white wash.
Dishwasher detergent can be used to whiten sweat socks and cottons. Just add to regular washload.
Instead of bleach, use about three tsp. peroxide in your wash.
White socks can be white again if you soak them in boiling water to which a slice of lemon has been added. Wash as usual.
To bleach handkerchiefs, soak 1/2 hour in sour milk and wash as usual.
To whiten lace, wash in sour milk.
To remove blood stains, cover stains with a paste of meat tenderizer and cold water, let stand 15-30 minutes, then sponge with cool water.
To remove blood stains, dab with hydrogen peroxide. It will fizz up and the stain will disappear.
To remove blood stains from clothing, sponge the stain with three-percent hydrogen peroxide. Let soak for a few seconds, rub then launder as usual.
When fruit juice is spilled on a tablecloth or clothing, boil a kettle full of water and pour full kettle directly over the stain. The stain will be removed immediately.
Scrub toothpaste into grass stains for removal.
To remove grass stains from children's clothing and white shoes, just rub the stain well with molasses, leave overnight, then wash with soap (not detergent.) The stains will disappear like magic.
Most grass stains can be removed with methyl alcohol. (Remember: Test colors first to see if they are affected.) If a stain remains on white material, use a mild solution of sodium perborate, chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
Grease and oil stains may be removed from fabric by first rubbing lard on the spots, then wash with liquid detergent. Repeat if necessary.
Put 1/4 cup Spic and Span in your wash water for each tub of clothes to help remove stains and grease.
To remove grease and dirt spots, put cornstarch on grease spots and rub in. Brush off the cornstarch.
Greasy work clothes will wash easily if you add a bottle of cola to the detergent.
To remove grease or lipstick stains, pour Mr. Clean on the stain, rub in and wash normally.
To remove lipstick from linen napkins, dab on a little petroleum jelly, then wash.
Place clothing, which has gum stuck to it, in the freezer for a couple of hours. Remove from freezer and crumble off gum.
To remove ink from clothing, use a dab of toothpaste.
Ink stains on clothes disappear when hair spray is used on them prior to washing the article as usual.
To remove ink from any material, place a slice of raw tomato on the ink spot. It will soak up the ink and then you can wash the material as usual.
To remove ball-point pen from dolls, use a lemon juice and salt mixture on the ink and leave in the sun for a few hours. Wipe clean.
Wet iodine stains with water, then put baking soda on thickly and let stand.
To remove ring around the collar, rub shampoo on the ring and wash in the usual manner.
For ring around the collar use a mixture of 1/3 cup Palmolive dish soap, 1/3 cup ammonia and 1/3 cup water. Place mixture in a squeeze bottle and rub on with an old toothbrush.
Buy a large bottle of liquid starch concentrate and mix one-part starch to one-part water and pour into a spray bottle to make your own spray starch. A light spray of starch helps prevent ring around the collar and protects against various stains.
To remove rust marks from clothing, squeeze lemon juice on the spots, pat with salt and hang the garment in the sun to dry.
To remove tar from clothing, rub tar with lots of butter and scrub until the tar is removed. Use Spray & Wash or similar product to remove the butter.
To get rid of tea stains from a tablecloth, dab with glycerin, leave overnight and then ash in normal manner.
To remove candle wax, melt wax between blotters or rub with ice cubes and scrape off. Wax dye stains can be removed with alcohol or bleach in water.
Place water-stained fabric (curtains for example) in salted water and soak until the stain disappears.
To remove red wine from a tablecloth, moisten spot, apply salt, let stand a moment or two and wash thoroughly as usual.
To remove smoke odor from clothing, fill the bathtub with hot water to which a cup of or two of vinegar has been added. Hang articles of smoky clothing in the bathroom overnight, keeping the door closed. The vinegar will neutralize the smoke odor.
Put a drop of Nilodor in each load of laundry to eliminate all odors.
To remove mildew from shower curtains, wash in a mixture of 1/2 cup bleach, one gallon water and 1/2 cup detergent.
When washing plastic curtains or tablecloths, add one cup vinegar to the rinse water. The plastic will dry soft and pliable thus prolonging the life of the item.
To soften still plastic pants and prolong their use, put them in a dryer with a load of towels.
To keep your sheer curtains wrinkle free, add a package of unflavored gelatin, which has been dissolved in a copy of boiling water, to the final rinse.
When washing drapes and wanting that perfect pleated effect, press, hang, open and run fingers down each individual pleat, while holding together at the bottom. Wrap a tie around the center and about two-thirds of the way down. Leave for 24 hours.
Use rubbing alcohol to remove ball-point pen marks on clothing and upholstery.
If your slipcovers are washable, place back on your furniture while still damp. They will fit better and won't require ironing because as they finish drying they conform to the shape of the furniture and stretch out the wrinkles.
Rubbing cornmeal into a grease stain on upholstery and vacuuming it the next day will lift out the mark.
Spruce up old stuffed nonwashable toys by placing in a bag with baking soda. Shake and brush off.
Clean white kid gloves with flour. Just rub it into the dirt and brush it away.
To clean silk flowers, put flowers in a plastic bag with a couple tablespoons of salt. Shake vigorously while holding stems and bag shut. The dust will cling to the salt and the flowers will look like new.
Dry lingerie on a clothes line or place on a clothes hanger to dry. Heat from the dryer will ruin the elastic.
Use half of a fabric-softening sheet for a regular-size load of laundry in the dryer. It is as effective as a full sheet.
Mix two cups fabric softener with two cups water and store in covered plastic container. Dip an old facecloth in the solution and use instead of fabric softener sheet.
Lint from the dryer and the washing machine, along with other garbage collected in the laundry area, can easily be placed in the empty soap box. This saves space in the garbage and also saves on garbage bags.
To remove burrs from sweaters or slacks, use disposable razors.
For best results when hand washing sweaters, put a capful of hair cream rinse in the final rinse.
Wool is weak when wet. Do not wring or rub wet wool garments. Lay the garment on a towel, roll it up and gently squeeze.
Shrunken woolens may loosen and stretch if soaked in a hair cream rinse.
To resize woolens after shrinking, dissolve one oz. Borax in one tsp. hot water and add to one gallon warm water. Immerse garment, pull gently into shape and rinse in one gallon warm water to which two tbsp. Vinegar have been added.
To tighten stretched sweater cuffs, dip in hot water and dry with a hair dryer.
Turn acrylic sweaters inside out when washing them to avoid getting fuzz balls on them.
To avoid ironing clothes, take them out of the dryer as soon as it stops and fold them.
If you can't iron damp clothes right away, put them in a plastic bag and place in the freezer. They will be easier to iron and there's no danger of mildew.
To keep delicate fabrics from becoming shiny when ironing, cover the material with a sheet of tissue paper. Make certain the iron isn't too hot.
An iron heats faster than it cools. Therefore, iron fabrics which need a cool temperature setting first, then iron fabrics which require higher temperatures.
Pressing pleats in a skirt will take less time if bobby pins are used to hold them in place. They may be left in position while pressing all but the hem and then removed to complete the job.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil under your ironing board cover. It will hold the heat longer.
Scorch marks may be removed by using a cloth dampened with vinegar. Place it over the scorched area and apply a warm iron.
To treat scorch marks on cotton, press with a warm iron on a cloth dipped in peroxide.
Stop your iron from sticking by running it back and forth, while hot over a piece of paper on which salt has been sprinkled.
When your iron is off and unplugged, use pipe cleaners dipped in sudsy water to clean out the steam holes.
Clean a dirty iron bottom with a dampened SOS pad. Then, warm the iron and run over a piece of wax paper to restore the shiny finish.
Before you wear a new garment (or even on old ones) touch the center of each button, front and back, with clear nail polish. This will seal the threads and the buttons will stay on much longer.
Find buttons easily. Sort them by size or color in the compartments of an egg carton.
When sewing on a button, especially a large one, place a pin under the thread at the back of the button. When finished pull out the pin. The button has room to move and will last longer.
Sew buttons on children's clothing with dental floss - its much stronger than thread.
When removing buttons from a discarded item, sew them together before storing with your spares. It will save you the time of having to match buttons later.
Button popped off? For a quick fix, reattach it with the wire from a twist tie.
Stop tangled thread. For a single thread, knot and cut from spool last; and for double thread, knot each end separately.
Wet your finger before slipping on your sewing thimble. The suction will keep the thimble from slipping off.
Always place a used desk blotter under your sewing machine needle when oiling the machine to keep from soiling thread and material.
To sharpen your sewing machine needle, stitch through a piece of fine sandpaper.
When elastic that is sewed on a garment becomes worn or stretched, just baste cord elastic through the worn elastic. Pull it up and knot.
When patching the knees of your gardening jeans, leave the top of each patch open like a pocket so that you can slip in pieces of foam rubber or knee pads. They will make kneeling more comfortable.
Save old drapery draw cord and use the good portions for replacement drawstrings in rugby pants and pajamas. Just thread through the waistband, using a large safety pin, and make a knot in each end to hold.
Discarded neckties make interesting women's belts when three are braided together. Single ties may be opened to serve as a neck kerchief on a dress or sweater.
Men's cotton-blend shirts make good coveralls or aprons. Just cut away the collar, shorten the sleeves (if long sleeved) and finish the neckline with bias tape.
When the feet on men's socks wear out, cut them off at the ankle. Stitch along the bottom and use as children's socks.
Using your old quilted housecoat for the inside of a baby quilt makes use of a useless housecoat and is an inexpensive light filling for the quilt.
To recycle wrinkled ribbon, run through a warm curling iron.
To wear sheets evenly, place a safety pin in the bottom end of your sheet. After every wash, place the safety pin to the other end of the sheet and make your bed with that end to the bottom.
When a bed sheet begins to show wear, cut the sheet in half across, bring the unhemmed top and bottom ends together and sew them together. Hem the center ends with one narrow hem and one wider hem. The worn ends will be on the top and bottom of the sheet, making the sheet last a few years longer.
Recycle old bed sheets by cutting them into pillowcases.
Cotton sheets can be recycled into pillowcases.
Old flannel sheets can be used to make a child's nightgown or pajamas.
Trim old tablecloths into a number of napkins.
Turn two old bath towels into a duvet cover for your cat's bed. Simply sew together on three sides like a pillow slip and slide a scrap piece of fiberglass insulation batting, wrapped in a plastic drycleaner's bag. The cover is easy to slide off for laundering.
Baby's receiving blankets can be sewn together to make a special quilt.
Key chains sewed into the collars of children's coats and jackets provide strong hangers.
When small children have difficulty zipping their jackets, make it easier for them by attaching a key ring to the zipper pull.
To make a child's emergency throwaway apron, take a plastic shopping bag with hand holes at the top and cut down one side and across the bottom. Open and use as an apron by pinning at the back.
To remove scuff marks from white shoes, rub with dressmaker's chalk and polish.
Give suede shoes a new look by wiping with a sponge moistened in cool black coffee.
A cloth dampened with vinegar will remove grease stains on suede shoes.
Add extra shine to your shoes by putting a couple drops of lemon juice on them when polishing.
Furniture polish is an excellent substitute for shoe polish. Spray an even coat on the shoes, wipe dry and buff to a shine.
Polish your shoes well once, then when they look dull wipe them with a soft cloth dampened with baby oil.
Paint heels of shoes with clear nail polish to prevent scuffing the finish.
Spray the insides of new running shoes with spray starch and let dry overnight. The starch will keep the insides clean and keep the runners fresher for longer.
After washing running shoes, spray with spray starch. This will help resist soil.
To dry the inside of children's winter boots or summer rubbers quickly, put the hose of the vacuum cleaner into the boot and turn on the blower.
To make children's shoelaces last longer, stitch up and down new laces with the sewing machine before putting in shoes.
If your shoelaces are always coming undone, dampen with a spray of water before tying.
To renew shoelaces which have lost their plastic tips, dip the ends in the nail polish.
If sandals pinch, dab the inside with rubbing alcohol and wear them immediately. The leather strap will ease a bit over the tight spot.
Kerosene will soften boots and shoes which have become hardened by water.
Erase water rings on smooth leather boots by brushing spots with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cold water.
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1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair
2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes
4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair
5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads if any
6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea
7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water
8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste
9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!
10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too
11. Bee stings - m eat tenderizer
12. Chigger bite - Preparation H
13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H
14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals)
15. Stinky feet - Jello!
16. Athletes feet - cornstarch
17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
18. Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)
19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper
21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray
22. Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby
23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls
24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on
25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar !
26.. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!
27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak
28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia , soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years!
29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!
30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste
31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb into the salt.
32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.
33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter !
34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a sheet of Bounce fabric softener
and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the
baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight.
Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets , soak overnight!
35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!
36. Dirty grout - Listerine
37. Stains on clothes - Colgate
38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup
39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola , it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!
40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax - sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.
41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox , or 2 Bayer aspirin , or just use 7-up instead of water.
42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie They are:
Monday = Blue,
Tuesday = Green,
Thursday = Red,
Friday = White, and
Saturday = Yellow.
So if today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday! Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping.
With Lots Of Love From CUTE DREAMER at 10:15 PM
