Some very helpful hints:

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JoanofArdmore
JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
Bed Sheets

After drying sheets, put both sheets and one pillowcase in the other pillow case. Fold neatly in a square. Next time you change sheets, you just take the one pillow case and all the sheets and pillow case are inside. No need to look for matches.

Reheat Pizza

Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs

Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.

Reheating Refrigerated Bread

To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper Weeds-Away

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic, they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass

Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken pieces of glass - the fibers catch ones you can't see!

No More Mosquitoes

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Easier Thank Yous

When you throw a bridal/baby shower, buy a pack of thank you cards for the guest of honor. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride/new mother sends the thank yous, they're all addressed!

New Bike for Your Child


If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. If the bike is stolen and later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof who owns the bike.

Flexible Vacuum


To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling


Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- voila -- static is gone.

Measuring Cups



Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield


Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening Envelope


If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.

Conditioner


Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

Good-bye Fruit Flies


To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants


Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Take Baby Powder to the Beach


Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you're ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

Comments

  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited February 2007
    I love the bed sheet idea..would make my closet neater, too, I think! I might just try that!
    also like the sticky/hot water hint.
    And...the baby powder and sand trick. I really need that trick in the summer when I do my walks barefoot in the water. Thanks!
    oh...cornmeal and ants..will try that!
  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited February 2007
    They ARE compellingly clever, arent they?Someone sent them to me and I have printed and taped inside my kitchen closet.
    Happy to share!

    R Deb--how perfectly heavenly to take your walk on the beach!I used to do that when my parents lived in Florida.The beach is SO WONDERFUL!And it's never the same!

    love, j
  • KariLynn
    KariLynn Member Posts: 1,079
    edited February 2007

    I saw this a year or so ago and started doing the sheet thing - is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing.

  • Sandra1957
    Sandra1957 Member Posts: 1,701
    edited February 2007
    I saw a lady do the baby powder thing at the beach last summer. I thought that she was the cleverest woman, and wondered why I had never thought of that. It was so obvious.

    Don't think that I'd have the patience or time for the envelope in the freezer idea.

    Some good hints. I think that I'll pass them on.
  • lorac
    lorac Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2007
    Great hints! Thanks so much. I've printed them for my kitchen bulletin board.

    Carol
  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2007
    Love the bed sheet idea and I am going to got redo them all today since I am not going out in this cold!

    I also like the idea of putting hot water in the measuring cup. I heard on some cooking show to spray lightly with Pam beforehand and that works great with Karo Syrup or molasses.

    Have you ever seen the uses for coca cola? I tried putting a can in the toilet bowl suggestion. You empty a can and let it sit a few minutes. Scrub with a brush and gets the stains out. Imagine what it is doing to your stomach!
  • nlk
    nlk Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2007

    Thanks Joan for the great tips. I will have to try some of them. NLK

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited February 2007
    Happy you guys are enjoying the hints!I really liked it, and am glad to share it with you!
    Have fun!j

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