10 Household Tips

I have always loved reading “tips” on how to do things. It can be tips about cleaning, organizing, saving time, saving money, etc. I eat that stuff UP! So I thought I’d share with you some tips I’ve found helpful.  This may be a regular post I do on different topics, so if you’re interested, let me know.

1. Before you wear a new garment, put a little clear nail polish on the front and back of each button. Buttons will stay on longer when their threads are sealed. (thefunplace.com)
2. Place a piece of white chalk in your silver chest or jewel box to absorb moisture and help prevent tarnishing of silverware and jewelry. (thefunplace.com)
3. To clean mineral deposits from the inside of your dishwasher, pour in a container of Tang® Drink Mix and run the dishwasher (don't put dishes in the dishwasher for this load).  (robbiehaf.com)
4. To get rid of ink marks on your clothes, put rubbing alcohol on the stain.
5. When cutting brownies or dessert bars, use a plastic knife. This makes cleaner edges.  Make sure the brownies are cooled first;-)
6. To get dingy white socks white again, try soaking them in a sink of dishwasher detergent (think Cascade, not Dawn). Rinse and wash socks in a regular wash cycle with laundry detergent.
7. Wipe down mini-blinds with a damp fabric softener sheet. This eliminates the static that causes dust to stick. The same trick works for TV and monitor screens (not LCD).
8. To remove mildew stains in the corner of your shower or bath, soak a cotton ball with household bleach and place in the corners. Remove once stain is gone and rinse.
9. Designate days for certain tasks. For example, I fill up my car with gas on Sundays so that I start my week off with a full tank of gas.  Wednesdays are my “desk day”. I pay bills, file papers, write notes, etc. If you have designated days to do tasks, you can forget about them the rest of the week.
10. While preparing a meal, keep a big bowl on the counter. Put all your chopping, cutting, and peeling discards into it, then make one trip to the garbage instead of 10.  (realsimple.com)  I saw Rachel Ray do this while she cooks. I started doing this with food scraps, packaging, etc. It really does save time!

Have a great weekend!!!