Make Room Deodorizers

Put a few drops of an essential oil on several cotton balls and place in a decorative jar with lid. Remove lid when you want to deodorize the room. Try peppermint, lavender or eucalyptus.

Hard Water Stain

Remove hard water stains in your bathroom with a dab of toothpaste on an old toothbrush. Scrub away. =0)

Clothes Drying

Stop-and-start drying uses more energy because the dryer has to warm up each time you begin a new load. Just dry clothes in consecutive batches to save money when drying. =0)

In the Kitchen

Try these tips to save money in the kitchen:

Install an aerator to reduce the amount of hot water flow used in the kitchen sink.

Invest in reusable microfiber cloths instead of using tons of paper towels. The super-absorbent fibers pull dirt into the cloth instead of pushing it around.

Cover half the holes on top of a scouring powder container with tape to keep too much from coming out.

Save $ When Drying

Separate dryer loads into heavy and lightweight. Lighter-weight clothes take less drying time so the dryer doesn't have to be on as long.

Also wash and dry comforters and bedspreads in jumbo machines at a self-service laundry instead of taking them to the dry cleaners. (Just be sure to check the care instructions first.)

Fabric Sheets

Instead of using expensive fabric softerner sheets, lightly dampen an old sock with diluted liquid fabric softener, squeeze out excess and toss in the dryer with each load. Even cheaper: Pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar with the final rinse.

Fight Odors!

Set out a bowl of 1/2 cup white vinegar overnight (where kids and pets can't reach). As the vinegar evaporates, smells will vanish. The vinegar (an acid) combines with odors (typically alkaline). They neutralize each other so you don't just replace the stench with a vinegar smell.

If the smell is in the kitchen, you can boil 3 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 cup of water. (Keep and eye on teh pan, of course).

Lavender

Try growing lavender in the house to repel insects.

Combine 1 ml of lavender essential oil into 25 ml carrier oil for multiple use massage oil. Use for treating painful muscles; rub this oil into the temples and the nape of the neck to treat tension headaches and migraines.

To treat lice, Lavender can also be used as a hair rinse. Simply dilute 5-10 drops of essential lavender oil in water. The hair rinse can also be used on a fine comb to treat hair for nits.

Essential oil of lavender can be used to make a healing cream. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a chamomile-based cream to treat skin problems such as eczema.

TRY THESE IDEAS AND LET ME KNOW HOW THEY WORK, PLEASE! =0)

Shower Heads and Decals

Having trouble with a clogged shower head? Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and fasten to the shower head with rubber bands. After several hours, remove the bag and clean off the deposits with a toothbrush and toothpick.

Remove bathtub decals by lifting the edge and spraying lubricating oil or cooking oil under the surface. Let the oil soak into the adhesive for a couple of hours. Then pry off the decal with an old credit card. Remove any remaining adhesive by rubbing it with more oil and a nylon scrubber.

Slow Drain?

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup white vinegar into the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Then pour 1 quart boiling water into the drain and follow with tap water for one minute.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Hope everyone has had a fun and safe halloween! (With lots of CANDY!!!) =0)

Bathroom Tips to Save Time and Money

Try storing metal shaving cream cans upside down on their plastic lids to prevent hard to clean rust rings.

Try replacing soap bars with liquid soap which doesn't contain the fat that causes soap scum.

Prevent mold by going over shower walls with a squeegee after use.

Keep shower door or curtain open for a few minutes after use to get rid of moisture so mold won't grow.

Use a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to wipe away smudges and hairspray haze on mirrors and chrome faucets.

You can clean rubber or vinyl bathtub mats and shower curtains by tossing in the washer on cold, delicate with a couple of bath towels. 1/2 cup of detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda is enough.

Use a soft cloth saturated with white vinegar to make shower doors sparkle. Shine with a dry cloth.

Rub your metal shower door frames with lemon oil to remove water spots. Wipe any residue off with a soft cloth.

Try a wet sponge mop paired with an all-purpose cleaner to avoid bending and stretching.

Coffee Filters

Use coffee filters to clean mirrors, windows, and glasses. Use like a mitt and wipe for a lint-free, no streak cleanliness.

Use as a "bowl" for children and messy foods.

Line the inside of a flower pot with a coffee filter to prevent soil from escaping through the drainage holes.

Protect delicate dishes with a coffee filter between each piece.

Save wine after a broken cork by pouring the wine through the filter and catching the pieces of cork.

Pet Fur

Use old pantyhose to get rid of loose pet fur without a mess. Just slip your hand in the leg and scratch your pet. The hose picks up the loose hair without getting on your furniture, clothes or up your nose. Turn the hose inside out to keep the hair in place.

Lip Exfoliant

Mix a packet of sugar with a small amount of olive oil. Rub over lips for 60 seconds. Wipe away gently with a damp cloth and enjoy plump lips with less lines. =0)

Body Moisturizer.

For sensitive, winter-dry skin - Combine 2/3 cup distilled water with 1/3 cup mineral oil in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil. Spray and rub in after a shower or bath. =0)

HALLOWEEN IDEAS TO SAVE MONEY!

Some cheap and easy to put together costumes ideas that you can have fun with this holloween:

Use a cardboard box to make costumes such as dice, a jack-in-the-box, a fire truck, a robot, a computer or even a wrapped gift like a lot of people use for Christmas plays.

You could even put together costumes from things you have at home. Wear a pair of overalls with one front button unbuttoned, a dirty-looking shirt, a pair of dirty-looking old shoes, etc. and be a hobo or hillbilly. You could add some freckles and a bandana.

How about a ripped white shirt, ripped pants and green face paint. You could be "the Hulk."

Make a simple mummy out of gauze or even toilet paper wrapped and taped so it won't unravel.

Vampires can be made with a cheap plastic pair of fangs, a home-made cape, and slicked back hair. You could even apply pale make-up.

More scary monsters can be made at home with make up. Use eyeliner to draw scars, red lipstick for blood, eye shadow can make large dark scary eyes. Add some gel or mousse to hair to create a wild look.

HAVE FUN AND SHARE MORE IDEAS WITH US PLEASE! =0)

A Small, but Helpful Tip:

Did you know that newspaper makes a great substitute for paper towls when it comes to cleaning windows, mirrors, and even things like t.v. screens. Just be sure it's not a brand new issue or the ink might stain your hands. Hope this helps =0)

Window Cleaner

THANKS AGAIN TO WOMANS DAY!
http://www.womansday.com/diy

Ingredients:
1/2 cup non-sudsing household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 drops blue food coloring (optional)
warm water

Directions:
Pour ingredients into a gallon-size container that has a tight-fitting lid.
Fill with warm water.
Shake to incorporate.
The food coloring, while not necessary, will alert you that the contents are not water.

Label and keep out of the reach of children.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

(courtesy of SoapsGoneBuy.com) found at: http://www.womansday.com/Content/Shelter/Organizing-Cleaning/Mary-Hunt-s-Do-It-Yourself-Recipes

THANK YOU WOMANS DAY!
Ingredients:
3 pints water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup Washing Soda (not baking soda, please!)
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
2-gallon bucket to mix it in
Additional hot water

Directions:
Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved.
Stir in washing soda and borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat.
Add 1 quart hot water to a two-gallon bucket.
Add soap mixture, and mix well.
Fill bucket to about 3 inches from the top with additional hot water, and mix well.
Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens.

Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Note: This detergent will not make suds, which makes it perfect for front-loading HE washers. If you cannot find the ingredients at your supermarket, all of the ingredients are available online at SoapsGoneBuy.com

The Beginning.

Hello to everyone. =0) I'll let you know now that this is my first attempt at creating a blog. If anyone has any tips or hints to help me learn the ropes, please feel free to share. For the most part, this blog is to share "recipes" on how to create things at home and save money. Examples are items like mayonnaise, home-made household cleaners, or even how to recycle crayons into candles or coffee filters into anything else. So lets get started!