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Need a Salt Substitute?

• Make this: Combine 5 teaspoons of onion powder; 1 tablespoon each of paprika, garlic powder and dry mustard; 1 teaspoon of thyme; 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper; 1/2 teaspoon of celery seed. Mix and put into a clean dry spice jar. Store in a cool dry spot.

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If Your Car Makes a Screeching Sound

• Car experts say this might mean you have a worn drive belt or another belt might be loose. Get this checked out by a mechanic and fixed as soon as possible.

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Saving Money on Napkins

• Instead of buying paper napkins, look for white sales and buy cheap cloth napkins, washcloths or finger towels that you can use for family meals.

Klipfiti – Graffitis: Humor and Irony

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French Toast Yummy Add-ons

• Mix some chocolate syrup into the egg coating. Or, drizzle a mixture of maple and chocolate syrups over cooked French toast just before serving.

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Preventing Rodents from Getting Inside

• Instead of applying chemicals or poisons, use large amounts of steel wool to stuff around any cracks near water or gas pipes. Check those under your sinks too. This really works.

Mexican Recipes

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Perking Up Gravy

• Try these to give your gravy a new zip: add a tablespoon of Worcestershire or soy sauce. Also you can sprinkle a bit of paprika into the gravy when it boils to thicken.

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Prevent Mixer Splattering

• Run the mixer on Slow until the ingredients are blended. Gradually increase until you reach the right beating speed.

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Make Shower Wall Cleaning Easier

• If the walls need a good scrubbing, first run the shower at its hottest temperature. The steam will help to loosen dirt, which will make scrubbing less work.

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Baking a Friendship Cake

• If you are having a special family celebration, ask each guest to bake a small square of cake using a favorite recipe with personalized icing.  The host will then piece all the squares together for a friendship cake.

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Fleas in the Carpet?

• Your pet probably is the cause and using your vacuum is the best way to remove them. Vacuum often if you have this problem. After a flea treatment on your pet, go over the carpet ASAP because they may be jumping off into it.

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Have Clothes You Want to Get Rid Of?

• Why not make it a fun event and have a clothing swap with friends and neighbors? Trade clothes with each other and then donate any leftover ones to a shelter or charity.

Weight Management Herbalife Products

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Saving on Your Electric Bill

• Do your laundry in off-peak hours. Call your utility company to find out when rates are lower, generally during off-peak hours. You can then plan to do your biggest, most electric-consuming jobs in that period.

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When Paint Needs a Touch Up

• To cover up small scratches or chips, don’t drag out a large paint brush, instead use a cotton swab to do the job. When you paint, always keep the leftovers sealed and stored properly to have on hand for these smaller painting needs.

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When Using Broth

• If you don’t use all of it, don’t throw it out! Instead freeze what’s left in ice cube trays or pour into a sealable plastic bag and you’ll be able to add it to other dishes.

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Need to Clean Lightly Soiled Windows?

• Try this quick fix: If they are not really dirty, you can get them clean by using just water and a squeegee. Wipe both inside and outside of the windows, vertically and horizontally.

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Have Leftover Pie Crust?

• Don’t throw out! Roll it out and brush with butter or margarine. Sprinkle with sugar and put on a cookie sheet. Bake until light brown and then cut into pieces.

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Dusting Figures and Knickknacks

• Try this easy method: Hold the object and blow the dust off with your hair dryer, turned on a cold-air setting.

Thoughts

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Versatile Pizza Cutter

• After you’ve finished slicing pizza, you can use the cutter for other kitchen tasks — take crusts off bread or cut refrigerated or homemade cookie dough into squares or homemade noodles.

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Easier Way to Thread a Needle

• Having trouble getting thread to go through the eye of the needle? Just dampen the end with water. Or add a tad of colorless nail polish, let dry and then slide it through.

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If You Spill Clear Liquid on Computer Keyboard

• Act fast. Unplug it and then turn the keyboard upside down. Hopefully the liquid will drain out, wipe off the keys and then let it dry out before you use again.

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Preventing Guacamole from Turning Brown

• After you make it, squeeze a bit of lemon or lime juice into it and then cover with plastic wrap and flatten it down. Make sure the bowl is tightly sealed.

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Washing Down Comforters

• Most dirty average-size comforters can be machine-washed with mild detergent on a gentle setting, if care label indicates that’s okay. Then put in the dryer as usual on low heat for a longer time.

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When You Store Linens or Bedding

• To keep them smelling nice and fresh, tuck an unwrapped bar of good-smelling soap or a fabric softener sheet in between them.

Low Fat Recipes

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Recycling Paper Grocery Bags

• Save them and use to store kindling wood for your fireplace.  When it’s time for a fire, pop the wood and bag right into the fire!

Cats: info and Images

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Saving Time

• Make lists for everything. Create them in your computer to update and print out. This will help you keep track of things you need to do on a daily or weekly basis. You can check them off when accomplished!

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Removing Gummy Glue on a Glass Jar

• Put the jar in the microwave with a damp towel over it. Microwave on low and check every 30 seconds to see if the heat is softening the glue. Then you should be able to pull the label off.

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Want to Keep Towels Absorbent?

• When you wash them, do not overuse fabric softener because it can decrease the absorbency over time. Instead use just the recommended amount.

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Other Uses for an Ironing Board

• Repurpose the board by covering it with a plastic or cloth sheet, depending on what you’re doing, to be an adjustable worktable for wrapping gifts or making crafts.

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Storing Creams, Custards, Meringue Pies

• Do not leave them on the counter at room temperature, especially for any length of time. Instead, put them in the refrigerator and remove just right before serving and eating.

Cool Quotes

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Don’t Throw Out Margarine Tubs or Yogurt Cups

• They can be reused to hold lots of small items that need a home, instead of being tossed into a junk drawer. They can hold rubber bands, pins, screw, nails, paper clips or thumbtacks.

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Soothe Your Aching Feet

• Try this economical but effective treatment: Pour baking soda into a pan or container and then pour in warm water. Soak your feet and relax.  Added bonus, the soak will also soften rough skin.

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Fast Bathroom Sink Cleanup

• Speed–shine the chrome fixtures with a facial tissue wetted with mouthwash and then wipe off the sink.

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Quicker Way to Cook Meat Loaf

• Instead of baking in a loaf pan, flatten meat in an 8-inch square pan for a shorter cooking time. The flat square pieces you cut up also will be a perfect fit for sandwiches.

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Jazzing Up Tomato Sauce

• Add this surprising ingredient to your spaghetti sauce — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee. It will enhance the color and the taste!

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Spray Nozzle Clogged?

• If you can’t get hair spray, or spray starch to come out, remove the nozzle from the aerosol can and run clear water through and put back on and it should be ready to spray again.

Smilies – Free

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Need to Cut Dried Fruit?

• If a recipe calls for chopped dried fruit, try this neat trick: Spray your kitchen scissors with non-stick cooking spray and then snip away.

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Making Quiche More Interesting

• Tired of making the same old quiche? Give it a new zip by adding chopped almonds, ground pecans or grated cheese to the crust.

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Dog Won’t Swallow Pills?

• Try this trick. Wrap the pill with just a little cheese, peanut butter or whatever treat/s your pet loves. They will gobble down those pills.

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Cleaning Outdoor Carpets

• Remove stains with a good spritz of prewash spray (test on hidden area first). Let this sit for a couple of minutes, then hose off the outdoor carpet.

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If You Have Home Fire Extinguishers

• Be sure to check the effectiveness date regularly. You want it to be effective when you need it. Have baking soda on hand for dealing with small fires.

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To Cut Summer Energy Costs

• Get fans! Did you know that a large window fan uses much less energy and costs significantly less as an air conditioner to operate? Putting a fan in an attic window pushes hot air out and then draws cooler air in downstairs windows.

Garfield: Comics

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Quick Way to Clean Shower Walls

• Run hot shower water for a bit, so the steam will help to loosen the dirt. Then when you scrub, it will come off more easily. Rinse off and run a squeegee over the walls to finish the job.

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When You Store Leftovers

• Mark the containers clearly and put a date on them. Group all in one area, like the top shelf. That way they won’t get shoved to the back of the refrigerator and not get eaten or start growing yucky stuff!

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Refresh Bed Pillows

• Put them in the dryer, along with a fabric softener sheet, on the air cycle for about 20 minutes. It should give them a clean, fresh smell.

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Patching Nail Holes

• If you have small holes in white walls, you can do this quick fix: push white toothpaste or moistened crushed aspirin into them. It will do in a pinch.

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Organizing Your Refrigerator

• Put the most often consumed foods on the front of the shelf. Assign one shelf just for leftovers. Toss out old, fuzzy foods before going to the store.

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Hate the Gas Smell on Your Hands?

• When you fill up your car at self-serve gas stations, your hands often smell like gas. To prevent it, keep several pairs of disposable gloves or sandwich bags in your glove box. Put them on before you gas up.

Graphic Humor

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Cleaning Vinyl Furniture

• Mix warm water with a mild detergent. Rub over surface to loosen dirt, rinse and dry with a towel. If there are tough stains, you may need to get a commercial cleaner.

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Storing Chocolate

• Wrap chocolate well and keep in a cool dry place. Odors, heat and light can ruin chocolate. If stored properly, chocolate should last about a year, but if you notice a texture or flavor change, it’s past its prime.

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Wax Stuck on Candlesticks?

• Try this to get the sticky stuff off: Put the candlesticks in the freezer overnight. The frozen wax will be much easier to pull off.

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Quick and Easy Marinade

• Want to marinate meat or chicken in a hurry? Pour a bottle of Italian dressing or a vinegar-and-oil salad dressing over it to give flavor and make the meat tender.

Italian Recipes

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Cleaning Off Shoe Heel Marks

• You can remove these black marks on resilient floor by using a pencil eraser, paper towel or even a slice or two of soft white bread.

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When Buying Kiddy Pools

• If they are on sale, buy a couple. Your kids can splash in one outside and others can be used as storage for your children’s toys. Slide them under the bed and toys are out of sight.

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To Cut Summer Energy Costs

• Get fans! Did you know that a large window fan uses much less energy and costs significantly less as an air conditioner to operate? Putting a fan in an attic window pushes hot air out and then draws cooler air in downstairs windows.

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Coffee Burned on Bottom of Pot?

• To get it off, pour table salt over the burned stuff, add a little water, and let sit for a while. The gunk should come loose and you can then wash the pot as you normally do.

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Prevent Pet Dishes from Getting Sticky

• To stop those leftover bits of foods from getting crusty in the dish, spray the dish with unflavored, nonstick spray —before you put the food inside.

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Reuse Aluminum Foil Pie and Cake Pans

• Don’t throw these out when all the crumbs are eaten. Instead you can cut them up into foil burner bibs for your stove top. Cheaper than buying new burner guards.

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Getting the Last 2 Inches in the Spray Cleaner

• Hate to waste that last liquid in the bottom of the bottle? Drop several marbles into the bottle, which will raise the liquid level back up, so the spray pumps works.

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Make Room Scents for Cents

• Save lemon or orange peels. Remove the pulp and then just pour salt into the peel. Put into a small bowl and they will give off a pleasant scent for the room.

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Brain Teasers

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Digital Thank You

• When you receive a bouquet of flowers, have a picture taken of you with the arrangement and send it along with your thank-you note or e-mail it to the giver. They will love seeing it.

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Seafood Safety Hint

• If you are purchasing cooked seafood like crabs, smoked fish or shrimp, do not buy it if it’s displayed in the same case next to raw fish.  There could be cross contamination.

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Ham Broth

• Don’t throw out the broth from a baked ham. Instead pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then store the cubes into a freezer-zipper bag or container. Use cubes to flavor eggs, casseroles or vegetables.

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Cleaning Cast Iron

• Wash in a mild dishwashing liquid and hot water (don’t let soak in the water) rinse and dry ASAP! Do not use metal scouring pads or harsh cleaners on cast iron.

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]]> http://www.tips7.info/2010/07/30/cleaning-cast-iron/feed/ 0 http://www.tips7.info/2010/07/27/making-ice-tea-even-sweeter/ http://www.tips7.info/2010/07/27/making-ice-tea-even-sweeter/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:46:56 +0000 tips and tricks http://tips7.info/?p=61

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Making Ice Tea Even Sweeter

• Add a candy lemon drop or two into the glass before pouring in the iced tea. The drops will dissolve to give the tea an extra special hint of lemon.

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Keeping a Guest Room Bed Fresh

• Make a guest room smell good between visits simply by sprinkling baby powder under the bottom sheet or tucking several fabric softener sheets inside.

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Don’t Throw Out Bandage Boxes

Reuse them to hold crayons for your children. They also could color or put decals on the boxes to make them their own.

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Cheap Table Centerpiece

Fill a pretty crystal bowl with water. Pick several large flowers from your yard and simply float them on the surface. You could add several small votives that can float in water too.

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Books a Mess?

Organize them in bookcases by category: hobbies, gardening, decorating, fiction, nonfiction, biography, self-help, mysteries, romances or history. You can color-code books with colored peel off dots for each category.

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Men’s Ties Can Last Longer

Before wearing a new tie, spray it liberally with a fabric stain repellent. This will make future stains easier to handle and to remove.

Mexican Recipes

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Egg Splats on the Floor?

What’s the easiest way to clean it up? Sprinkle the eggs with salt and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Cut a cheap paper plate in half and scoop the mess up; wipe up the residue.
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Cutting Roses

When roses need cutting or pruning, it can be a prickly task. So try this easy hint to avoid getting hurt. Hold the stems with a spring clothespin to keep the thorns from sticking you.
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Use a lint-free dry cloth. Wipe it in a straight line from the center to the edge (don’t use a circular motion). Don’t apply any cleaner or solvent to the CD. There are safe commercial cleaning kits.

• When you’re reached the end of the jar and there’s just small amount of jam or jelly remaining, don’t throw it out. Instead make a fruity shake. Add milk, shake well and pour into glass.

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Easy Way to Treat Kids’ Lip Injuries

• If your child has fallen and hurt his or her lip, you can ease the tears, swelling and pain by giving your child a frozen juice treat. It should help, but if the lips are cut or bleeding excessively, you may need to go to the doctor.

Graphic Humor

When purses get worn or broken, don’t toss out, instead repurpose them. They can be used to hold craft projects, store extra stuff in the closet or garage. You also could put into the car trunk to house emergency items.

Low Fat Recipes

Prevent Swimsuits from Pool-Water Chlorine Damage

• Get chlorine remover for aquarium water at a pet store. Soak your bathing suit after every swim in a mixture of one drop of anti-chlorine remover to one gallon of water. Don’t rinse.

Save Those Plastic Bags…

Save those plastic bags your newspaper comes in for a rainy day. They make great umbrella covers. Shove a bag in your purse or pocket before you leave the house. When you enter a car or building, take out the bag and slip your wet umbrella inside.

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