Your best household tip

[Annchan]

What is the best tip or trick that you use all the time.

Mine is to use ziplock bags for everything! Left overs, for freezing for keeping things sorted ect.

When I buy bulk meats I slice and separate it into meal portions and then put in the zipper bag. I then flatten the bag when I put it in the freezer. Stuff stacks well this way. Left over sauce or soup? zip it, flatten it and then freeze it. Tupperware takes up a lot of space in the fridge or freezer so this is a great way to save space. you can also write any details on the bag with a sharpie.
When I buy fish sticks or chicken nuggets or other frozen goodies I find that you get such a large box for the contents. I transfer the contents to a zipper bag and write down the cooking time and temperature. Or even better, cut out the instructions from the box and tuck it in the bag!!! no more opened bags of veggie in the freezer when you put them in a zipper bag.
Have a lot of loose sauce packets you have been saving from Chinese take out or from other restaurants. zipper bag them!

I buy the bags at dollarama. 15 for a dollar. i like the ones with the slide seal because I can trust that they are closed and will not open.
if you thought glad ware was great because its cheap and durable, you cant beat zipper bags!

-^_^-

- If you have cats and use clump litter you can't flush, stick some dryer sheets in the rubbish bin with them. Covers up the smell pretty well.
- Dryer sheets are good for wiping off static dust too.
- I use one of those toothbrushes with the rubber bits on them to clean around fixtures etc. Makes it alot easier and gives it a nice polish - i also use a bit of Sensodyne on them, it builds up the same 'protective' coating as it does on your teeth.
- If you have dishes/crockery that have burnt on stuff and you hate scrubbing, fill it with hot water and drop on of those Cascade dishwasher pouches in it. Let it soak for an hour or so, it lifts off practically ANYTHING. I use the Cascade w/bleach and Dawn ones.I use them to clean greasy/stinky drains to. Put on of those sink filter things (mesh ones work the best) over the sinkhole, drop a dishwasher pouch on it and blast the hot water over it til it dissolves.

All i can think of at the moment!

[liljj07]

UMM Let see I don't have my own house yet But I do clean (sometimes) Some of my tips are:
*Use some Vinagar on your taps it works good and doesn't leave streaks.
*Get a ziploc bag and fill it wil warm/hot water and some vinagar and use an eleastic band and place it over your shower head (no need to take it off)for at least 1 hour then remove the bag and let shower run for about 1 minute< it helps to clean the shower head out..

Those are my top ones I might have to come back and post some more after

[Shandon00]

The one I was told to do was to seperate the bananas when you get home! They last WAY longer. I didnt believe at first.... but now I do!!

I always put sheets into the pillowcases. Way easier to find a set.

Dryer sheets are everywhere in my house, heater vents, drawers, closets, under the garbage bags in the garbage cans in the bathrooms!!!

Thats all I can think of!!

[Destiny]

To get you white shoes white again, wash then with a Mr.Clean magic eraser, and soak the shoe laces in a cup (or bowl or what ever) of water and comet (or ajax)

[Shandon00]

Originally Posted by Destiny

To get you white shoes white again, wash then with a Mr.Clean magic eraser, and soak the shoe laces in a cup (or bowl or what ever) of water and comet (or ajax)

Will the eraser fall apart and be icky? I dont like icky!

[crackercrumb]

Originally Posted by Shandon00

The one I was told to do was to seperate the bananas when you get home! They last WAY longer. I didnt believe at first.... but now I do!!

Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but my brain is detiorating..

Seperate them how? Just tear them from the clump of bananas? Or put them all in different spots?

:;)

[Shandon00]

Originally Posted by crackercrumb

Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but my brain is detiorating..

Seperate them how? Just tear them from the clump of bananas? Or put them all in different spots?

:;)

LOL!!! Just tear them apart so that they are not attached or clumped together! I dont spread them around the kitchen!! I'd never remeber where they were!!:laughmonkey::laughmonkey:

[truebluetara]

i have a few tips to share... to make your own fabreeze use one cup of scented laundry soup or fabric softener take an old spray bottle and fill it with the stuff and the rest water it maeks couches smell fresh or anything thats stinky ...

to clean stainless steel anything tooth paste works like a charm just rub it on with your fingers and use a dry cloth to remove.. shines it up like new!! ( also makes gold shiny too)

use half an orange to polish wood in your house .. makes you house smell so yummy!!!

to get rid of fleas use equal parts water and vineager in a spray bottle spray down your house with mixture and even your pets ive done this and it works beautifully you do have to do it more than once but its natural and safe to use .. fleas hate the smell

vinager and baking soda also remove pet urine odor my sister moved into a house that had cats who sprayed in there and its the only solution taht worked and she spent hundreds of $ trying to make the smells go a way...!!

to wash baseball hats stick them in your dishwasher .. they dotn get ruined or lose shape

hairspray removes ink off of walls

use lemon juice to lighten your hair colour giving you pretty highlights

[sherbear]

your guys are way to funny. I just love this thread. I cant believe how many tips I have not tried. Today is Saturday down and dirty cleaning day so I will try some of these.

THNKS TO ALL MY HOUSE WILL BE SPARKLING CLEAN till my kids get up. hehehehehe

[destineydawn]

I have a few tips...
1.if you are choking on an icecube...pour boiling water down your throat.
2.to prevent cutting your fingers when cutting vegetables, get someone else to hold them.
3.to keep your kitchen clean all the time, eat out.
hope these tips help!

[liljj07]

^^^ Wouldn't that hurt alot to but boiling water down your throat???

[truebluetara]

Oh I have the best one i forgot to add
its one of the most effective ways to remove any stain from a shirt it even works after a stain hass been set it one of my moms best tips I have removed blood red whine grease , pen ink and more and best of all it doesnt cost a dime thsi is a secret taht your dry cleaner s dont want you to know hahahhaah
instructions: you will need boiling water and a bucket and a chair or stool

Boil water ( till its really boiling
get a bucket and place it in your shower or somewhere safe ( wher ecant cause water damage... place your clothing iteam across the top of the bucket ... get a chair or a stool and stand as high above clothign as you can ( height is important not sure why)
take the boiling water and pour over stained clothing ... reapeat as many times as you need I have never had to do it more than 3 times

[Destiny]

Originally Posted by destineydawn

I have a few tips...
1.if you are choking on an icecube...pour boiling water down your throat.
2.to prevent cutting your fingers when cutting vegetables, get someone else to hold them.
3.to keep your kitchen clean all the time, eat out.
hope these tips help!

lol, ur 2 funny... liljj.. she's just kidding...lol

[destineydawn]

Ummm, yeah, the boiling water thing, it was a joke, please dont try it at home(or anywhere for that matter). But I WAS serious about the keeping your kitchen neat and tidy by eating out. I have been doing that for years and have never had a dirty dish to wash. ;) Also, add to the list:
4. To avoid messy cat litter boxes and expensive clumping cat litter...get a dog.

[liljj07]

^ ya i figered you would be kidding

[jmr1gone]

I use baking soda and vinager in the sink and take the fan screen on the stove vent and put it in the sink to be soaked for afew minutes and the grease from cooking will just come off and will be totally clean...I was totally amazed at how clean it came...it looked bran new.

[KateandNicksmom]

Mine:

1. Don't have kids..house stays much cleaner!!
2. Baking soda on a glass topped stove works great..make a paste and scrub the bits burnted onto it. Wipe it down with a clean soft cloth!
3. When you first get married...pretend that you can't clean..hubby will then take on the responsibilty..and presto...a built in maid!

[lynnmm]

don't have a dog, 4 cats, 6 kittens, a 6 year child and a husband- if it wasnt for that i'd be martha stewart

[destineydawn]

lmfao @ lynnmm...aint that the truth!

[truebluetara]

the best way to declutter is this and belive me when I say this .. everytime you walk into a room tidy soemthing .. or put it away in the right spot or do 1 thing in each room everytime you go into it... it works!!! and you arent trying to do it all at one time... my house was a disaster until i started this a few days ago.. its amazign how many thigns you can get done in a day just doing 1 job at atime .. if im on the cp and I get up to go get a coffee i will wipe my counter then when i need to use the bathroom I will wipe down the toilet then when i walk back into the living room I will grab a few toys and put them away... and this little cycle just happens all the time any time i enter a room i always find something its really cool.. Im sure most of you know about this but for anyone who is like me overwhenlmed with clutter I hope it helps you as much as it helped me....

Originally Posted by truebluetara

the best way to declutter is this and belive me when I say this .. everytime you walk into a room tidy soemthing .. or put it away in the right spot or do 1 thing in each room everytime you go into it... it works!!! and you arent trying to do it all at one time... my house was a disaster until i started this a few days ago.. its amazign how many thigns you can get done in a day just doing 1 job at atime .. if im on the cp and I get up to go get a coffee i will wipe my counter then when i need to use the bathroom I will wipe down the toilet then when i walk back into the living room I will grab a few toys and put them away... and this little cycle just happens all the time any time i enter a room i always find something its really cool.. Im sure most of you know about this but for anyone who is like me overwhenlmed with clutter I hope it helps you as much as it helped me....

I do this too as i hate cleaning. Just a bit at a time.

[sherbear]

Well I just found out that VINEGAR and BAKING SODA does remove pet stains it pulled it right out of the carpet. It is my new FAV. thing to use.

Thanks for the tips

[truebluetara]

Long lost tips from the old days ( slightely modified to our technology advances I have tried them all and these ones are my favorites)

-To Preserve Brooms
Dip them for a minute or two in a bucket of boiling suds once a week and they will last much longer, making them tough and pliable.

-To Brighten Carpets ( this one works awesome!!)
after the dust has been vaccumed out... carpets may be brightened by scattering corn meal mixed with salt and then vaccum up or sweep . Mix salt and meal in equal proportions.

-To Clean pen Ink Stains From Fingers
To clean ink stains from fingers, rub spots with an unlit match, then wash in soap.

-To Prevent Greasy Dishwater
Add a tablespoon of ammonia to dishwater and it will not become greasy.

-To Remove Tea Stains From China ( i hate tea stains i could never get them out till i tried this)

Salt and vinegar will remove tea stains from china.


-To Take White Spots From Varnished Furniture ( grrrr coffee mug rings)
Hold a hot stove lid or iron over them not on them and they will soon disappear.


-To Clean Looking Glasses and Windows
This house cleaning tip works even better if a little vinegar is added to the water.

Divide a newspaper in two, fold up one half in a small square, wet it in cold water. Rub the glass first with the wet half of the paper, and dry it with the other. Using this simple window cleaning tip, fly specks and all other marks will disappear as if by magic.

-To Clean A Papered Wall ( this really worked lol)
Cut into eight pieces a large loaf of bread two days old, blow dust off wall, rub down with a piece of the bread in half-yard strokes, beginning at the top of room, until upper part is cleaned, then go round again, repeating until all has been gone over. If done correctly, so that every spot is touched, the paper will look almost new. Dry corn meal may be used in place of bread, applying it with a cloth.

[truebluetara]

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