This morning I realized that I had NO coffee filters. The first thing I do after letting the dogs out is start a pot of coffee so you can imagine I was not a happy camper. I vaguely remembered my mom on a trip to our cabin forgetting filters and fashioning a paper towel into one. So, that is what I did and it worked great.

Your homework for today:

Please share with us a household(or other)tip. It can be a product that you use not for its intended use but for something you've discovered or possibly learned from someone else. Or it could be an easier way to peel skin off a vegetable, or how to get a pen stain out of a white shirt.

And for the second part-take some time this long Labor Day weekend and enjoy life!

Jill

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
I use baby shampoo to clean my shower right before I turn off the water. That way my shower gets cleaned more frequently (it's in the basement).

And instead of buying those expensive shower cleaners, I use a 50/50 mix of regular bleach & water in an old shower cleaner bottle. Works like a charm.

I have done the same thing with clarifying shampoo. (An inexpenisve one like Suave or White Rain)

I forgot about that.

Dawn

I just thought of something else.
If your hair gets slightly oily between washings you can put baby powder in it and then brush it out really good.

I don't remember the brand or the name but there used to be a commercial product you could buy that advertised that it was a "dry shampoo" but baby powder works.

I use baby shampoo to clean my shower right before I turn off the water. That way my shower gets cleaned more frequently (it's in the basement).

And instead of buying those expensive shower cleaners, I use a 50/50 mix of regular bleach & water in an old shower cleaner bottle. Works like a charm.

1. When my kids were small, countless t-shirts were ruined by tomato-based stains that didn't wash out (puréed peach or mango was another big culprit). Then I found that if I soaked them in a dose of 50-50 detergent and liquid washing up soap (Fairy or other) before laundering, the stains would come off.

2. Coffee filters are good hotdog holders (but do look a bit stupid).

I'm in love with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers - they work amazingly well at removing crayon and scuff marks from walls but they also work great in the bathroom on shower doors.

I use my potato masher to turn hard-boiled eggs into egg salad. Way easier than slicing or dicing them with a knife.

quote:

Originally posted by BrenauMom:
2. On Easy Entertaining with Michael C---(can't spell his name) he used a bundt pan to cut fresh corn off the cob. He put the tassel end of the corn in the center hole and the corn fell into the pan as he was cutting it.

I had friends over the day Michael did that show and I still had Food Network on from watching it before they arrived. I was busy grilling or otherwise getting dinner ready and I heard one of my friends say "What a clever idea!" so I came to see what it was and it was the corn on the cob in the bundt pan thing.

1. Something I learned when dd was in elementary school: if you spray a stain with ordinary hair spray (the cheaper the better) before you wash it for the very first time it almost always comes out. Works on most ink, grass stains & the dreaded Georgia red clay but only if it has never been washed before. Don't know why it works but it does. I always sprayed her shirts & blouses before washing them all during her school years.

2. On Easy Entertaining with Michael C---(can't spell his name) he used a bundt pan to cut fresh corn off the cob. He put the tassel end of the corn in the center hole and the corn fell into the pan as he was cutting it.

3. From Alton Brown I learned to use one of those corn on the cob "handles" to hold a mango while I cut it off the pit. After you peel it you can see the end of the pit at one end. Stick the corn on the cob holder into the pit and you have a non-slippery handle while you slice the fruit from the pit.

4. Dryer sheets work well at taking static out of your hair or your clothes after you put them on.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BrenauMom,

hydrogen peroxide gets out bloodstains.

Ok this one sounds funny, but trust me it works. So a lint roller to get hair off the bathroom counters and even kitchen counter crumbs.

I laugh now that I do at least once a day, but it does save some time when I have to clean those counters.

Tide to go! The best thing since sliced bread. It has gotten out ink, make-up and coffee.

If you run out of shaving cream, you can use conditioner. It works great.

After you apply mosturizer to your face in the morning, you can slide you hands over your hair to tame frizzies. (This only works on mild to moderate frizzies, not major frizzies for which I highly recommend Redkin Smooth down and Outshine.)

Dawn