Senior Track

Senior Track

Practical Everyday Tips

I received these great tips in an email - Author Unknown

WD-40

I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had sprayed red painted all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason) I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do - probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open. Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I'm impressed!

WD-40 Water displacement #40: The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass.
It's a miracle!

Then try it on your stovetop... Voila! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed

Protects silver from tarnishing

Removes road tar and grime from cars

Cleans and lubricates guitar strings

Give floors that just-waxed sheen without making it slippery

Keeps flies off cows

Restores and cleans chalkboards

Removes lipstick stains

Loosens those stubborn zippers

Untangles jewelry chains

Removes stains from stainless steel sinks

Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill

Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing

Removes tomato stains from clothing

Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots

Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors

Will keep scissors working smoothly

Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in home

Give children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide

Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers

Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises

Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open

Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close

Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers

Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles

Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools

Removes splattered grease on stove

Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging

Lubricates prosthetic limbs

Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)

Removes all traces of duct tape

Folks even spray it on their arms, hands and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."

The favorite use in the state of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!

If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for that nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL

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.

Are mosquitoes driving you nuts? Try this!

Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dishwashing soap. Set the dish on a porch or patio. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead, or fall into the water, or on the floor within about 10 ft. Works just super!

Money and Time Saving Tip!!

Write or type up a list of your bills and the due dates. Makes copies each month and highlight as you pay them. I don't know about you but I, occasionally, don't receive my bills and I have probably saved myself a bundle in late fees because I go ahead and send a payment with a note and my account number. Plus you don't have to rack your brain trying to remember if you paid something or not, it's highlighted.

Buy a second toilet brush and keep it for just scrubbing the bathtub between your major tub cleaning. It's easy to use and easier on the back.

Place pretty baskets around the house to use as clutter catchers when you're doing a quick cleanup for unexpected guests. Keep a large basket in the living room for papers and magazines, a small one near the front door for keys, gloves, glasses, phones, etc. After all, which looks better on a table, a pretty basket filled with signs of living or a loose pile of clutter?

Smelly sneakers? - try painting them with a thick solution of baking soda and water. Repeat as necessary.

For plastic plates and glasses that are scratched and old looking, try buffing them up with a little toothpaste! Use an old toothbrush to apply, and rinse with clear, warm water. It'll remove old scratches and most discoloring, and your plastic ware will look almost new again.

Where to keep messages in an already crowded kitchen - paint the inside of your cupboard door with chalkboard paint and you'll have a perfect message board.

To keep ants from getting all over your picnic table, spray insect repellant on old strips of cloth and wrap around the table legs.

No room to store your extra blankets? Lay the blankets out smoothly between the mattress and springs of your bed.

One way to keep your thread from tangling while you're sewing - instead of taking the two strands of thread and knotting them together, knot each strand separately. You'll be surprised at how few tangles you'll have in the future.

Make your candles last longer by storing them in the freezer, they'll burn longer and drip less too!

To get a knot out of a necklace chain, simply place a drop of vegetable oil on the knot and then work out with a couple of straight pins.

Tie a bunch of knots in dry cleaner bags before discarding them. This will prevent small animals and children from entangling themselves in the bags.

Is the top of your stove dull from cleaning and scrubbing? Try a little liquid car polish and a damp cloth to brighten the enamel or metal. It'll also help the food and grease to come off more easily.

Prevent batter from sticking to your mixer's beaters by spritzing them with nonstick cooking spray before you submerge them.

Use green peppers ( with tops cut off and seeds removed) as dip dishes. It looks great and fewer items to wash later.

Make giant ice cubes by freezing water in muffin tins. This size is great for punch bowls and picnic coolers.

To keep bananas from ripening too quickly, wrap each banana in newspaper and store in the crisper bin in the refrigerator.

To help just-dry cleaned drapes stay fresh and crisp looking, spray them with a few coats of unscented hair spray before you hang them up. Allow drapes to dry between applications.

Use a drop of paint on a Q-tip to touch up blemished surfaces. No wasted paint and no time wasted cleaning brushes.

Repair any tears on your ironing board cover by attaching iron on patches.

Use up the last few frames on a roll of film to photograph your garden in bloom - this is a great way to keep a record of what grew well and what plantings you particularly liked.

Bug Free Picnics - Place a vase filled with fresh sprigs of lavender, mint of elder on the table. rub the leaves regularly to release their bug-repelling scent.

Get chewing gum out of hair - if gum ever gets stuck in someone's hair, try this trick. Knead Vaseline onto the gum and work the gum out of the hair. Shampoo hair immediately.

Dust wicker furniture easily with a clean paintbrush. The stiff bristles really get into the spaces to get hard to reach dirt.

After opening a large package of bacon and needing only a few slices, place the other pieces side by side on a cookie sheet and freeze. Store frozen slices in a plastic resealable freezer bag and remove and thaw as needed.

To keep hard-cooked eggs from cracking and keep poached eggs compact, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.

To store leftover tomato paste, spoon tablespoon-size dollops onto a small cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Transfer to a plastic bag, seal and freeze. Remove as needed and add to sauces, vegetables, soups or stews.

You can get more lemon juice out of a lemon by letting it reach room temperature before squeezing it.

Always wash and freeze fresh parsley. It chops easier after it's frozen and thaws quickly after it's chopped.

Use dental floss to slice a cake or torte evenly and cleanly. Simply stretch a length of the floss taut and press down through the cake for a nice, clean cut!

Tack a lavender sachet on the wall behind your bed's headboard. The fresh springtime scent has long been believed to induce sleep and inspire sweet dreams.

Don't throw away that old flannel nightgown. Cut it up into different size pieces and use the soft cloth to dust and polish furniture and buff your car.

Invert a plastic berry basket over a bow when mailing a package to prevent the bow from getting crushed.

Place plastic berry baskets over young seedlings to protect them from animals.

Put a couple of unwrapped bars of soap or fabric-softener sheets inside a musty drawer to rid it of odors. If you have clothes in the drawer, make sure you put these in an open sandwich bag so not to leave any oils on your clothes.

Fill musty suitcases with crumbled newspaper, shut and leave for a few days, this will absorb the odors.

Place some charcoal briquette in an aluminum roasting pan on the floor. Replace every few months. Or put some pieces of chalk in an old nylon stocking and hang from a hanger.

Put a few grains of rice in the salt shaker to absorb moisture.

Rub the runners of drawers with soap or candle wax and move it back and forth to distribute wax to help with sticking drawers.

Have a separate address book to use just for Internet addresses that interest you. Arrange them alphabetically in categories such as shopping, antiques, food, etc. It helps reduce the time you spend searching for a particular item.

To keep trousers from creasing when you're packing them in a suitcase, place an empty paper towel roll between the upper and lower area where they're folded.

Stain-Busting Tips

Ballpoint Ink - Press a paper towel against the stain to absorb wet ink. Using a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol, lightly dab at the mark. Rinse with cold water, then wash according to fabric.
Blood - Soak the stained garment for 15 minutes in a bucket of cold water mixed with a handful of salt. Then soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric.
Chocolate - Pretreat stain with an enzyme based detergent, then launder as usual. If stain remains, relaunder with bleach if safe for fabric.
Coffee (black or with sugar) - Flush with cool water, then rub stain with paste of powdered detergent and water. Launder according to fabric.
Coffee (with cream) - Flush with cool water, then sponge stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. Allow to air dry, then rub the area with detergent. Launder according to fabric.
Copier/toner powder - Shake off any loose powder. Wash as usual in warm water.
Dirt/Mud - Allow mud to dry. Brush off any hard residue, then launder to remove any remaining marks. Treat persistent mud stains with denatured alcohol.
Fruit Juice - Rinse immediately under cold water. Treat any remaining stain by sponging it with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.
Grass - Soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric.
Grease, oil, or fat - With a paper towel, blot away any remaining grease. Sponge with dry cleaning solvent, then launder according to fabric.
Lipstick - Dilute by sponging stain with denatured alcohol. Repeat with dishwashing liquid. Launder according to fabric.
Liquid medicine (syrup) - Sponge stain lightly with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.
Mildew - Brush off mildewed area, then pretreat stain with a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric and dry in the sun.
Paint (latex) Blot excess paint immediately, then sponge with cold water. Launder according to fabric.
Perspiration - Blot excess paint immediately, then sponge with cold water. Launder according to fabric.
Sauces (tomato-based) - Place the fresh stain under cold water, rubbing it between you fingers. Saturate the area with a prewash treatment. Launder according to fabric.
Scorch mark from iron - If it's slight and has not damaged fibers, wash immediately with regular detergent in warm water.
Wax - scrape up as much of the wax deposit as you can using a spoon. Place brown paper over the spot and iron with a warm iron until the wax melts into the paper. Treat any residual marks with denatured alcohol.
Wine (red) - Blot dry, then rinse fresh stains in cold water. Pretreat with a paste of powdered detergent and water. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
Wine (white) Flush with cold water, then launder according to fabric. Dilute by sponging stain with denatured alcohol. Repeat with dishwashing liquid. Launder according to fabric.

Special Pointers

Act Fast - Tackle a stain as soon as it occurs. Fresh spots are much easier to remove than the old one that have penetrated the fabric and set.
Go for the other side - Apply stain removers and solutions to the underside of the stain with the soiled area face down on a clean paper towel. You want to force the stain off, not through the fabric.

Here's an easy way to clean your electric can opener: Soak an old toothbrush in vinegar, hold it under the blade/wheel and turn on the machine.

To crush fresh gingerroot quickly and easily, peel the ginger and force it through a garlic press.

To keep apple and banana slices from turning brown, place them on a plate containing a small amount of lemon-lime soft drink. It does the same as lemon juice, but is not as tart on the fruit.

Hide a few pieces of coal in your bathroom to absorb moisture and odor.

Soak string in water before using it to tie up boxes. As the string dries, it tightens, providing a stronger seal.

Recycle Styrofoam packing peanuts. Use them in the place of rocks as drainage for potted plants. An added bonus: the post are much lighter.

Seal small holes in door and window screen with two or three coats of clear nail polish. Let polish dry between coats.

Tired of wasting time trying to cover an oversize package with regular-size wrapping paper? Buy a colorful paper tablecloth instead. It works beautifully.

To remove hard-water and lime buildup in a teakettle, pour in two cups of vinegar and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, then rinse well.

After your open a jar for the first time, spray the threads and the inside of lid with nonstick cooking spray so you won't have trouble reopening it.

To keep cheese fresh and mold free, place two sugar cookies in a plastic bag with a zipper lock, then add the cheese. It works!

Before putting a bag of microwave popcorn into the oven, knead it until the lumps are broken. This way most of the kernels will pop.

To keep bugs and worms away from outdoor and houseplants, add of clove of garlic to the soil.

Treat your toilet to an overnight soaking of vinegar on a week basis.

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Try waxing your ashtrays. Ashes won't cling, odors won't linger and then can be wiped clean with a paper towel or disposable tissue. This saves daily washing.

To remove burned food from oven, place a small cloth saturated with ammonia in oven over night. Food will easily wipe up in the morning.

Potatoes soaked in salt water for 20 minutes before baking will bake more rapidly.

For quick and handy seasoning while cooking, keep on hand a large shaker containing six parts salt and one part pepper.

Bread crumbs added to scrambled eggs will improve the flavor and make larger helpings possible.

Sweet potatoes will not turn dark if put in salted water (5 tsp to 1 quart water) immediately after peeling.

Soak bacon in cold water for a few minutes before placing in skillet. This will lessen the tendency to shrink and curl. (make sure bacon is dry before putting in hot skillet)

A tablespoon of vinegar added to the water when poaching eggs will help set the whites so they will not spread.

Let raw potatoes stand in cold water for at least half an hour before frying to improve the crispness of French fried potatoes.

When cooking eggs, it help prevent cracking if you wet the shells in cold water before placing them in boiling water.

Cut drinking straws into short lengths and insert through slits in pie crusts to prevent juice from running over in the oven and permit steam to escape.

Chill cheese to grate it more easily.

The odor from baking or boiling salmon may be eliminated by squeezing lemon juice on both sides of each salmon steak or on the cut surface of the salmon and letting it stand in the refrigerator for one hour or longer before cooking.

A pie crust will be more easily made and better if all the ingredients are cool.

If you add a little milk to water in which cauliflower is cooking, the cauliflower will remain attractively white.

To whiten laces, wash them in sour milk.

When cooking cabbage, place a small tin cup or can half full of vinegar on the stove near the cabbage and it will absorb all odor from it.

To remove burned on starch from your iron, sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper and slide iron back and forth several times. Then polish it with silver polish until roughness or stain is removed.

If you must empty your vacuum cleaner bag (to look for a lost item, etc) empty the bag onto a newspaper which has been sprinkled with water. This will lessen the scattering of dust.

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Cleaning with Vinegar (submitted by Katy Hollingsworth)

Use vinegar to clean your wood cutting surfaces by wiping them down with full strength vinegar to eliminate odors and grease.
Use full strength vinegar on all kitchen counters and islands to clean completely and prevent bacteria and mold.
A homemade solution of 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar will keep your drains clean. Pour solution down drain and leave for 15 minutes and run some hot water down the drain.
Add 1/8 cup vinegar to your rinse water when doing dishes to kill germs.
When mopping floors, add 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse water for a germ free and shiny floor.
Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to your laundry soap to keep your clothes free from fungus and mold. Some say it helps to whiten whites.
Soak any towel or sponge in warm water with 1/2 cup vinegar added to remove any smells or bacteria. Let soak at least 2 hours.
Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar to each quart of warm water to wash windows. Wipe quickly with a soft cloth to make your windows sparkle.
Scrub your stainless steel surfaces with baking soda and enough vinegar to moisten.

Fuller Brush...for Home Care that's Faster, Better and Easier!

To cool a cake that has just come out of the oven, place the pan on a wet towel. Another plus to this tip is the cake is less likely to stick to the pan if it's cooled this way.

If you want to know if your kitchen measuring scale is accurate; place nine clean pennies on the scale, they should weigh one ounce.

When washing new towels for the first time, add a cup of salt to the water. This will help set the color so the towels won't fade as quickly.

Bride tip: Buy a pair of inexpensive white sneakers or walking/running shoes, and decorate them with lace, pearls and white satin. At the reception, go from your high heels to these comfy shoes, your feet will thank you!

When your vacuum begins smelling musty, crumble bay leaves or kitchen herbs in front of the vacuum. The leaves will five the vacuum and the room a fresh scent.

Keep loose soil from seeping out the bottom of your potted plants by place a coffee filter in the bottom of the pot before planting. The filter lets water out but keeps the soil in the pot.

Keep your hanging framed artwork from shifting off-level by applying a couple drops of glue from a hot-glue gun on the back of the frame. (let the glue dry before hanging)

When removing small parts from an item that you're repairing, lay a piece of double-sided tape nearby and put the parts on the tape in the order they're removed.

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Cooking Shortcuts

To quickly freshen the air in your home, put fresh peeling from oranges , lemons or apples in a dish and place in an open area. Use one fruit or combine them for different scents.

Separate egg whites from yolks by breaking eggs, one at a time, into a funnel. The whites will pass through, leaving the yolk in the funnel.

Ordinary masking tape makes great freezer tape. You can write on it with anything and it peels off easily.

When making tarts, put a small ball of dough in each cup and loosely cover the pan with plastic wrap. Press the dough into a tart shape through the plastic. Peel off the plastic wrap and voila! no mess.

Keep a plastic squeeze bottle of margarine on hand. When a recipe calls for you to "dot with butter", simply drizzle on the right amount. It's quick and neat.

For a wonderful smooth fruit puree to use in jams and jellies, first mash the fruit with a potato masher, then process in a blender.

During the summer when you drink a lot of iced tea or lemonade, cut lemon and lime wedges and freeze them on a baking sheet then store them in a freezer bag. Adding a frozen wedge to your drinks is handy and helps keep the drink cold.

Each week, when you make your menu for the week's dinners, use a food processor to chop a bunch of carrots, onions, celery or whatever vegetables you'll be using. Chopping everything at once saves time and reduces dirty dishes and the vegetables are ready for a variety of recipes.

If your cutting board slides around on the counter, cut a piece waffled rubber shelf liner and place under the board.

Use a spring-release ice cream scoop for shortening and peanut butter. It eliminates the need to scrape.

To keep boiled vegetables bright colored, add a few drops of olive oil to the water.

To give gravy and stew great color and flavor, add a teaspoon or two of soy sauce.

For crispy French Toast, add a touch of cornstarch to the egg mixture.

To butter many slices of bread quickly and evenly, heat the butter until soft, then "paint" it on with a flat pastry brush.

When making meat loaf, first combine all ingredients except the ground beef. The seasonings will be more evenly distributed.

When baking muffins or cupcakes in paper liners, first spray them with non-stick cooking spray. The liners peel off nicely, leaving no crumbs behind.

The easiest way to cut bread cubes is to first freeze the bread, then trim and cube a stack of frozen slices. They look perfect.

To freeze a whole pie, slide it into a gallon-size resealable plastic freezer bag plastic freezer bag. Squeeze out the are, seal the bag and pop into the freezer.

Ketchup bottle squeeze tops get messy fast so save a few tops from used bottles and run them through the dishwasher. When the current tops get messy, replace it with a spare.

When stacking non-stick skillets on shelves, place a paper plate between each to prevent scratches. This prolong the life of the skillets.

When covering cheese-topped dishes with foil before baking, first coat the underside of the foil with non-stick cooking spray. That way the melted cheese won't come off with the foil.

Keep a new toothbrush near the kitchen sink for cleaning graters, choppers, blenders, etc.

When using bulk chocolate to coat candies, set the bowl of melted chocolate in at larger bowl of hot boiling water to keep from having to reheat it.

When you make mini quiche appetizers, use a turkey baster to fill tart shells with the egg and milk mixture. Then sprinkle on chopped green onions, pimientos and shredded Swiss cheese.

Before putting uncooked meat or any sticky, drippy food into a resealable plastic bag, first fold down the opening to prevent clogging up the zipper.

If you frequently entertain family and friends, keep a record in a notebook of the date, who attended and which recipes you used. This prevents serving the same meal twice to the same group.

Cleaning Tips

To revive scratched and dull wooden platter and bowls, especially dark woods, make a thick paste of instant coffee and water for a non-toxic stain. Rub in the stain with a clean sponge or cloth; wipe off any excess.

To remove pet hair from furniture easily, use a damp sponge and rub it in one direction on the furniture and roll the hair onto the sponge for easy disposal.

To get stains out of plastic cups and dishes, rub a little toothpaste on a sponge and scrub. Toothpaste will also remove small scratches from plastic.

For easy cleaning, clean louvered doors with a paintbrush.

Rubber band an old sock to a fly swatter and dust under hard to get to places and under furniture. Work great!

Use a child's wagon to move things about the house. This is wonderful for moving heavy boxes, books or small pieces of furniture.

Use canned shaving cream to clean your bathroom mirror. This prevent it from fogging up. Works great on eyeglasses too.

For a fresh smelling refrigerator, dip a few cotton balls in vanilla extract and put on a shelf. It smells marvelous and lasts for weeks.

Clean glass shower door with full strength vinegar once a week. They'll sparkle like new.

If your dishwasher starts to get an odor, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of it when you wash your next load of dishes. It will freshen right up.

To make a room smell fabulous, rub a scented oil, such as rose or lavender to the wood on the underside of your furniture. The scent will last for months.

To clear the air of cooking odors, add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water and boil for a few minutes. This will freshen the air up quickly.

Sprinkle baking soda on carpet to freshen it up. Leave on for 1/2 hour and then vacuum.

Clean chrome fixture with rubbing alcohol. They shine right up!

For tough stains, use this treatment. Mix 1/4 cup chlorine bleach with 1/2 cup automatic dishwasher detergent and 1 gallon HOT water. Soak clothes for 30 minutes and then wash as usual. Use this method ONLY for clothing that is chlorine-bleach safe.

If your woven place mats are looking a little limp, place them on a flat surface, then stretch and spray liberally with spray starch. The mats dry looking like new.

If all else fails, try white toothpaste to get spots out of permanent-press clothing. Rub it gently on stains, rinse, repeat if necessary. then wash as usual. This helps in some cases.

If you accidentally wash a tissue with your clothing and the tissue shreds and clings to everything, put everything in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet and most of the mess comes off. For what's left, use a clothes brush or lint remover.

For zippers that have lost their zip, try this: Run a bit of waxed based lip balm or soap up and down the teeth of the zipper. It should zip up easily.

To make white resin furniture look like new: simply wipe it down with full strength bleach. Make sure your wear old clothes when doing this.

To remove wine stains: Sprinkle salt directly on to the stain, then pour seltzer water on top of it. Rub it in to make a paste. Let paste sit for about 10 minutes. Brush off.

To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet or pans, add water to cover the bottom and bring to a boil, let simmer for a moment. The food will come right off.

When silk flower arrangements look old and dusty, dip them gently and quickly in warm water with detergent in it. Then place them on a towel to dry. They dry looking new!

The next time a plastic bread wrapper melts on to the toaster or coffeepot, try this. Rub some petroleum jelly on the spot, reheat the appliance and use a paper towel to rub off the plastic and printing.

For easy cleanup after a spill in the oven, pour a small amount of water on the spill while the oven is still warm. After 30 minutes or so, the spot will wipe up easily.

If the window on your oven get ugly and yellow from broiling and baking, you'll find that baking soda on a damp cloth cleans the window easily with no scratches.

More Cooking Tips

For beautiful glaze on cookies and cakes, mix on part softened ice cream with 3 parts confectioner's sugar and spread. Allow to set for 2 hours. Strawberry ice cream makes gorgeous "birthday pink" glaze. Chocolate is especially delicious.

Add a pinch of salt to boiling water to keep shells from cracking when cooking hard boiled eggs.

If you need to check on the freshness of an egg, put it in a pan of cold, salted water. If it sinks, it's fresh.. if it rises to the top, throw it out.

Add a pinch of sugar to water when boiling corn on the cob. The sugar will bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

When baking a cake, take a second to run a knife through the batter before placing the pan in the oven. This will remove air bubbles and prevent holes from forming in the finished product.

Plastic wrap will cling better if you moisten the rim of the bowl or pan you're covering.

If you're home brewed iced tea is cloudy, add a little boiling water to the pitcher. The teas will clear immediately.

For coordinated color and flavor when you bake a chocolate cake, use cocoa instead of flour to dust greased pans.

When rolling graham crackers in a bag for a graham cracker crust, add sugar and melted butter to the rolled crumbs, then knead the entire mixture in the bag. Saves a bowl and makes the whole process easier.

When you're short one egg for a cake mix calling for two eggs or more, substitute two tablespoons of mayonnaise. You'll never taste the difference.

To make scrambled eggs light and fluffy, add 2 tablespoons of water and a pinch of baking soda for each egg.

To discourage mice from entering your kitchen, hang sprigs of mint in your cabinets. Rub the plants often to release the scent, which mice find quite unpleasant.

Put a piece of bread in with home made cookies to keep them fresh.

Potatoes will take food stains off you fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

If you have trouble opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies Treats in the pan. The marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.

Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces -- no more stains.

Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish.

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead, no more white mess on the outside of the cake.

Cleaning with Alka-Seltzer

Clean a vase: To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry: Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle: Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer if necessary).

Clean a toilet: Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

Unclog a drain: Clear a sink by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

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