Tips, tips, and more tips!
Jul 7, 2012 15:01:59 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 7, 2012 15:01:59 GMT -5
Tips, Tips, and More Tips
1.If you have ever had to give eye drops to a small child, you know how hard it can be. Ask you child to lay down and close his/her eyes. Place a small drop on the inside corner of the eye. The drop will slip onto the eye ball as soon as the child opens their eyes.
2. To silence your squeaky hardwood floors sprinkle some baby powder on the squeaky area and sweep it into the cracks. Then wipe the floor. The baby powder between the boards will act as a lubricant and will stop the annoying noise.
3. Several fires are started every year from clogged dryer vents. You can avoid this with a few simple steps to keep your dryer clean and clog free. Check out Pretty Handy Girl for some step by step cleaning instructions.
4. Have company on their way over and you forgot to put drinks in the fridge. Place your drinks in a large pot and cover with ice. Sprinkle 2 cups of salt on top of the ice and then fill the rest of the pot with water. Your drinks will be ice cold within 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Need to open a page in a new tab? Instead of right clicking and selecting "Open in new tab", save time by clicking on the link with the middle button on your mouse. If you don't have a mouse with a middle button you can hold down the ctrl key while clicking on the link.
6. Quit wasting time sorting laundry. Buy 1 laundry basket per family member. Assign each family member a day of the week and wash only THEIR laundry on that day. Once the clothes are dry, place the clothes back into the basket and place in their room. Each family member is responsible for sorting and putting away their own clothes. And yes! Even my 2 year old can put her clothes in the washer (it's front load washer), transfer them from the washer to the dryer, Take them out of the dryer and sort them. We are still working on folding but I did teach her to lay her clothes flat so that they don't wrinkle as much. All I have to do is add soap and turn on the machines. (Please be sure to supervise young children around the washer and dryer as they can easily lock themselves inside.)
7. Get rid of the gap in the back of your pants by threading elastic through them. Head on over to Patchwork Posse for the full tutorial. Works for kids pants too.
8. To reheat pizza without getting the crust soggy, place the pizza in a nonstick skillet. Heat on low until warm.
9. When making deviled eggs, place the egg yolks in a plastic Ziploc bag with the rest of the ingredients. Close the bag and mash everything together. Once everything is well mixed cut off a small tip from one of the bottom corners of the bag and squeeze the contents into your egg white. Just too the bag once you are done for easy cleanup.
10. Use wet newspaper as a weed block. Place a layer on the ground and build your raised bed on top of it or layer the stuff around your plants and cover with mulch. Weeds can grow through some of the store bought weed presenters but not wet newspaper. I used this trick on our raised beds 4 months ago and have yet to see a single weed.
11. Keep an eye out for gifts for friends and family every time you go shopping. Buying gifts throughout the year will save a lot of time and stress when birthdays and Christmas rolls around.
12. Don't have time for exercise? Try double tasking. Do squats while you brush your teeth. Push-ups while waiting for the tub to fill up. One handed bicep curls while stirring sauce with the other hand.
13. If you have already sealed an envelope and realized you forgot to put something in it, place the envelope in the freezer for a couple hours. It will pop right open so you don't have to get another envelope.
14. After cooking fish boil a little vinegar in a pot and let it boil. The nasty fish smell will disappear almost instantly leaving your kitchen smelling clean again.
15. Do you have some conditioner that you bought then decided you did not like it? Use it to shave your legs. Not only is it cheaper than shaving cream, it will also leave your legs silky smooth.
16. If you have some eggs that are about to go bad, have your own chickens that produce more than your family could ever eat, or they are on sale so you buy way more than you need. Don't just let them go to waste. You can freeze them! You can mix them up and place 2-3 in a Ziploc bag. Lay them down flat in the freezer then stack them upright once they are frozen to save on space. You can also crack a dozen of them into a bowl, beat them (I was told not to freeze eggs unless they are mixed/beaten not sure why but I mix them anyways) then poor them into an ice cube tray. One cube is equal to one egg. Once they freeze. dump them into a large Ziploc bag or freezer safe container.
17. For picture frames with two holes, hang them evenly and easily by placing a single strip of masking tape over the back covering the two holes. Mark each end of the tape where the holes are located for hanging the frame. Take the tape off and place it on your wall. Make sure it is level then hammer a nail in at each pen mark. Go to Adventures in Creating for the entire step by step tutorial.
18. You know those drip pans that you place under your flower pots to collect all the water that drains from the drains holes? Fill those up with water instead of watering the plant directly. This will allow the plant to soak up water through the roots when it is needed so you will never risk over watering. It also makes it a lot easier to tell when you need to water your plant again. Whenever the drip pan is low or empty just add more water.
19. If you can't find a shower curtain to match your bathroom style (in most cases I can only find solid black, brown, white and blue or really bright 'teeny-bopper' colors) Then try looking in the regular curtain section. Using this tip from SAS Interiors. You can turn any curtain into a shower curtain.
20. Tired of washing dishes all day, or getting blamed for tossing a drink that a family member was still drinking? Try this tip from Bee in our Bonnet. Make a coaster tray and assign a coaster to each family member. When they are done with their drink they set in on the coaster until they need it again.
21. Here is a great tip from Abide With Me. Use a tackle box to organize and store all you medicine and first aid supplies.
22. Don't store medicine in you medicine cabinet!! Due to frequent water usage (i.e. showers, baths, hand washing) bathrooms often contain a lot of moisture in the air. This can greatly shorten the life of your medicines, causing them to go bad long before the expiration date listed on the bottle. Medicines last longer when kept in a dry, dark and slightly cool location such as the pantry or bedroom closet.
23. To peel a kiwi cut off the top and bottom, slip a spoon between the skin and the flesh. Twist the spoon around the the entire kiwi (keeping it between the skin and flesh the whole time). Then just pop the skin off.
24. Use Press'n Seal saran wrap to line your refrigerator shelves. When the shelves get dirty, just remove the wrap, toss in the trash and replace. No more scrubbing nasty food spills.
25. Never buy dryer sheets again. Wad up a large ball of aluminum foil and toss it in your dryer along with your wet clothes. It removes static and best of all you can use the same ball over and over again. You can also soak a rag in fabric softener and hang it up to dry. Once it is dry toss it in the dryer with the rest of your clothes and reuse it until it stops smelling like fabric softener (mine lasts between 10 to 15 loads).
26. When you are done using the roll of tape, fold the last quarter inch down and stick it back onto itself. This will create a little tab that can easily be found so you don't have to waste time searching for the end of the tape.
27. Two boxes that should be in every home are a "Fix it" box and a "Donate" box. Whenever you child comes to you with a broken toy that you don't have time to fix instead of letting it clutter up the kitchen counter or get lost with the rest of the toys just toss it in the "Fix it" box. Next time you have the glue gun or sewing machine out look through the box to see what can be fixed. Toss anything that is too small or your kids no longer play with into the donate box and once a month (or more if needed) drop the items off at the donation center.
28. Stick old newspaper or magazines inside your boots when you store them. This will keep the tops from flopping over and adding unsightly creases to your boots. Found at IHeart Organizing
29. Accidentally close a tab on your browser? No problem! Hit ctrl-shift-T and the page will pop up again.
30. You can tint glass any color you like by using mod podge and food coloring. Momtastic has the full tutorial.
31. Toss small items such as baby spoons, pacifiers and bottle caps inside a small mesh lingerie bag and set the bag in the top rack of your dishwasher. This will keep things from falling off the rack and getting lost or ruined in the bottom on the dishwasher.
32. You can cook salmon in your dishwasher!! This could come in handy when you are cooking for a large crowd and don't have enough oven space. I have not tried this but I would be curious as to how it turns out. View full recipe at Real Simple.
33. Create a tight seal on any plastic bag using a plastic water bottle. Also makes it super easy to poor out your next serving. - Original source unknown. Please let me know if you are or know of the correct source for the above photo so that I can give credit were credit is due.
34. Divide and freeze soup into muffin tins. Makes perfect individual servings that you can just pop out when ever you need them.
35.Use a hanger with clips to hold your recipes up where you can see the. No more greasy fingerprint all over your recipe cards!!
36. When packing liquids (shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, ect...) for your next trip, take the lid off, place a piece of plastic wrap over the opening and screw the lid back on. The plastic wrap will keep the liquid from spilling even if the lid pops open.
37. Tired of shrinking sweaters or ruining shirts because you accidentally threw them in the dryer? Keep a dry erase marker in your laundry room. Use the marker to write notes on your washing machine (i.e. Do not dry red blouse!)
38. You can save tomato past for up to 3 months when you freeze it!! Click HERE for correct freezing method.
39. Tired of your kids asking "Are we there yet?" Next time you take a trip put together this fun car project. The car starts out on one side and moves to the other side as you get closer to your destination.
40. You CAN fix a broken zipper!! Just take the stopper and zipper off re-arrange the teeth, then put you zipper back on. Use a needle and thick thread to make a new stopper. I wish I would have found this tutorial years ago. I could have saved so many clothes and backpacks.
41. Before grilling burger, press a hole in the middle of the patty. The hole will disappear as the burger cooks. This will minimize shrinking and you won't have to worry about them not being done in the center.
42. Do you have hard water spots around your sink fixtures? Soak a rag in white vinegar, lay the rag over your water spots let sit for a few minutes and the spots will scrub right off.
43. Ever spill nail polish on your floor? Here is a great post on how to remove nail polish from wood, cloth, hair, and carpet.
44. Rubbing some butter over the cut edge of a block of cheese will seal it and stop it from molding.
45. If your hair turns green from the chlorine in the pool, dissolve eight aspirin pills in a glass of warm water, coat hair with the solution, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse. The green will be gone.
46. Need to hang a picture but there is nothing on the back to hang it from? Once you are done with your soda, turn the tab around. Using a pair of pliers grab the bottom (short end) of the tab and bend the tab down into the mouth of the can while pulling up at the same time. This will ensure that the ring is still intact so that you can attach it to the back of your frame with a screw and hang your photo. Source
47. Tired of eating dried chicken? Try this trick from Budget Savvy Diva - Stuff a Whole Chicken with an apple to keep it moist while cooking (discard apple afterwards).
48. To relieve (or remove) a sunburn soak a couple earl grey tea bags in water and let soak until the tea is dark black. Dip a rag into the tea and dab on your sunburn. Continue to reapply as the tea dries. Do not wipe off. Allowing the tea to sit on the burn over night and wash off in the morning. The burn should be barely visible if not gone completely.
49. Need to light a hard to reach candle but don't have any long matches? Use a piece of uncooked spaghetti. Source
50. Apply a thin layer of olive oil to your candle holders before you use them. Once the candle has melted the olive oil will allow you to wipe off the wax and keep it from sticking to the candle holder.
51. Too many clothes in your closet? Turn all of your hangers backwards. Once you wear a piece of clothing, hang it back up with the hanger facing forward. At the end of the year, toss any item that are still on hangers facing backwards. If you haven't worn it in a year you probably wont miss it.
52. Keep picture frames from rubbing against the wall and damaging it by gluing an eraser to the corners of the frame. Source
53. Replace ugly book ends with adorable stuffed animals. Rip out a few stitches on the bottom of the stuffed animal. Pull out the stuffing and replace with beans or rice.
54. To find the original source of any photo open two windows one with Google home page and another with the photo you want to find. Click on the photo and drag it over to the Google search bar. Google will then come up with a list of searches that match that photo.
55. Before you toss or store those plastic Easter eggs. Save a few to use as snack containers. They work perfect for raisins, small berries, crackers, nuts, and other small snacks.
56. Use an old umbrella as a mini drying rack. Source
57. When masking tape and painters tape sit in the garage or other hot area for too long, they tend to dry out and break apart when you try to peel them. Place them in the microwave for a few seconds. (keep a close eye on them, you don't want to start a fire.) This should loosen them up and they will peel a lot easier.
59. Use old funnels to organize twine, yarn, and string. Source.
60. Laminating paper allows kids to color or work on a project over and over again without wasting paper. Also works great for 'To Do' and 'Cleaning' lists. Need something more permanent? Use permanent marker and when you are ready to erase it just spray some hairspray on it and it will wipe right off. Source
61. Repaint a coffee table with chalk board paint. Draw a road, game boards, self portraits, work out homework problems, or just let the kids go wild. It will keep them entertained for hours. Source
62. Slip a paper clip over both ends of the wrapping paper roll to keep it from unrolling before you store it.
63. Next time you open a bag of chips grab a strip of painters tape. The tape will allow you to seal and reseal the chip bag without loosing its stickiness.
64. Tape a zip lock back to the back of appliances such as your microwave. Insert your user manual and warranty so that you always know where it is.
65. Freeze vinegar in ice cub trays. Every time you use your garbage disposal, drop a couple vinegar ice cubes into it while running. This will help clean the blades and eliminate odor.
66. Use soda can tabs to keep your outfits together. Source
67. Ever lose your cellphone and end up having your spouse/ friend/ boyfriend call it so you can follow the sound of your ringtone to the place you last left it? What happens when you lose your phone and no one is around to call it for you? Go to www.wheresmycellphone.com/. Enter your phone number and the computer will call it for you. I've used this page more times than I would like to admit.
68. When cooking with oil place a pop corn kernel in the oil. You'll know your oil is hot enough when the kernel pops.
69. To help young kids figure out which shoe goes on which foot, cut a sticker in half and place the right half inside the right shoe and left half inside the left shoe. Kids can then match up the sticker. Source.
70. The lines on a Solo cup are measurement marks. Source.
71. A rag soaked in pure acetone will take the ink off of plastic containers. You can then decorate the blank containers with a sharpie, paint, or just leave blank and use for organizing just about anything.
72. Tired of stopping on every floor of the building every time you use the elevator. Hold the 'close door' button and keep holding while you select your floor number. This will allow you to skip all other floors and go straight to your destination. Source.
73. Those packages of pre-sliced apples you can buy at store are great for a healthy snack on the go but the price can add up. Make your own by slicing apples, soak in cold water for 3-5 minutes, then soak in a lemon-lime carbonated soda (such as 7-up or sprite) for 3-5 minutes. Divide into snack size portions and store in Ziploc bags in the fridge. The lemon-lime soda will keep the apples from browning and make them last longer. Source.
74. Can't remember which side of the car your gas tank is on? Look at your gas gauge. Most cars have a small arrow pointing to the side that the tank is located. Having two cars, one with the tank on the left and the other with the tank on the right, I am always using this trick. Source.
75. Make a set of 'cheating' dice. Set your oven to 250*. Lay your dice on a cookie sheet with the numbers you want facing up. Place dice in oven and cook for 10 minutes. The plastic inside will melt and then sink to the bottom causing the dice to land on the same side every time.
76. Tired of reaching into the bag and getting Doritos cheese all over your arm? Roll up the bottom of the bag to bring the chips closer to the top and create a perfect snack bowl. Source.
77. Spraying Rain-X on your shower doors will make the water bounce right off and reduce build-up.
78. Need a flat head screwdriver? The prong on a basic power plug will fit many medium and large screws. I've been using them for years!
79. Out of AA batteries? Use AAA batteries and fill the gap with a wad of tin foil on the positive side.
80. Had to put a band-aid on a booboo? Before you take the band-aid off saturate it in vodka. The vodka will dissolve the adhesive making it painless to remove.
81. When cutting veggies or meat for scrambled eggs or other recipes, using a pizza cutter will make the job a lot quicker than chopping with a knife.
82. Spot the difference like a pro. (Sorry, I can't get this image large but you can view the source HERE.) I found the star!!! Can you?
83. Clear your cookies before booking flights!! Many travel sites track the number of times you have visited and will base the price depending on this. By clearing your cookies it will look as though you are a first time visitor and your price will be lower.
84. Lets say you go on vacation and while you are gone the power goes out at your house. All of the food in your fridge and freezer thaw out. A couple days later the power kicks on again and your food refreezes. You then come home and open your fridge. Everything is nice and cold and you have no idea that the meat you got out to cook for dinner has actually gone bad and is going to make your entire family sick. So how can you prevent this from happening? Fill a leak proof container (jar, water bottle, ect..) half way with water. Place the container in the freezer on its side. Once the water in the container is frozen solid, place the container upright. If you power goes out the water will start to melt to the bottom of the container. Always check your container after being gone for awhile.
85. Quit buy expensive polymer clay and make your own with a few simple ingredients you probably already have. Source
86. You can freeze buttermilk! No more wasting a whole carton every time a recipe calls for it. Source.
87. Add page protectors to a binder to store all of your user manuals in. This way you will always know where they are at in case you need them.Go through your binder at least once a year and toss any manuals for item you no longer have. Source.
88. Pour water into a mason jar and add a glow stick. Place jars around pools, patios, or sidewalks during you next late night get together. Source.
89. By folding up your plastic grocery bags they will take up less space allowing you to store more of them. I think this is way too time consuming to do with most of mine since I use them for small trash cans and go through them pretty fast. However I always keep a few folded ones in my purse and the center console of our car. Source.
90. This great idea of storing bobby pins in a Tic Tac container has been floating around pinterest for a while now but did you know these Tic Tac containers could be used for so much more? Store a couple buttons, needle and thread and stash in your purse for an emergency sewing kit.Keep an empty one in your purse to store small items and keep them from getting lost (i.e. earring you lost the back to, broken necklace chain, button that fell off your blouse. Replacement screws for your eyeglasses, sunglasses. Safety pins. Small hairbands (perfect for little girls who like to pull theirs out all the time). Pill container. Spare change. Toothpicks. Source.
91. Cut off the top of a pour spout container and insert it into the lid of a mason jar. Great for spices you use a lot of, adding sugar to your coffee, storing yeast in your fridge, keeping dry/powdered milk, garden fertilizer, and so much more. Source.
92. Disney will send you replacements for any of your damaged Disney DVD's!! It will cost you $6.95 per DVD and $8.95 per blue ray. So much cheaper than going to the store and buying new ones. HERE is the link for sending in you damaged DVD's
93. Use tea tree oil to shine your pans! Source.
94. After your done cooking with grease, line a bowl with foil and pour the grease into it. Once the grease hardens just wad it up and toss it.
95.You can de-pit a cherry sing a straw. Source
96. Stick your straw through a cupcake liner to keep bugs, dirt and other icky things from falling in your drink. Source.
97. If your wearing a shirt with buttons and you notice a few loose or broken threads on one of the buttons, cover the threads with a coat of clear nail polish. The nail polish will keep the remaining threads together and keep your button from falling off. Although I have washed and worn a shirt several times after using this trick and the button remained in place, I would not suggest using it as a permanent fix since the polish can and will wear off.
98. Need extra shower/tub storage? Add a second curtain rod to the back of your shower or tub. Use some "S" shaped shower curtain hooks to hang loofahs, and wash clothes. You can also buy some cheap baskets at the dollar store to hang from the hooks. Perfect for storing things like kids tub toys and Shampoo bottles.
99. Keep your pets cool during hot weather. Dampen fabric chew toys with water and then freeze them or toss a few toys in a bowl, fill the bowl with water and pop it in the freezer. Your dog will have a blast trying to get the toys out of the ice and will be able to stay cool while doing it.
100. Easy way to make your own crispy taco shells. Microwave, spray with oil and place in oven. Source.
101. You can sew page protectors to make them any size you want. Source.
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