Painting a Kitchen with Orange Cupboards?
Love this! I would do a black and white checkerboard floor. Then paint the walls a metallic silver or even gray.
Read Labels and Avoid Marketing Schemes
I found an old butterfly style razor that takes the double edge razor blades. You can still get the razors online for about twenty dollars and the blades come 10 for under $2.
Cleaning Tile Floor Grout?
Ammonia. It works great to dissolve the grease and hairspray. Dilute it, spray it on, let stand for 10-30 minutes, and just wipe off the grime. Windex also works in a pinch.
How Do I Make Ankle Socks from Long Socks?
If you have a sewing machine, cut them to the length you want, then serge or sew a tight zig zag stitch around the cut edge. This will allow them to fit over your foot without breaking the thread and give you a slightly ruffled edge.
Using King Size Comforter on Queen Bed?
We always use a King comforter on our Queen bed. We turn it sideways so there is more to hang over the sides. Then if he rolls, I am still covered :)
Alternative Easter Baskets for Boys?
Do they have or need a suitcase or backpack? My kids loved this.
Getting a Smooth Finish When Painting Interior Doors?
Spray paint. Sand smooth first. Use Light coats that fall off the edge. Youll get drips if you dont paint off the edge. Let dry and recoat. We primed then painted with RustOleum(r) for metal on our wood cabinets. It looked fabulous.
Cleaning Grease From Grout?
Try ammonia. It turned greasy black grout at my rental back to light grey. Dilute and spray on, wait a few (20)minutes, then wipe.
Bathroom Organizing Ideas?
I had a very small bath in our last house and I found a cute spice rack at the thrift store that worked perfectly for bottles of hair stuff. It kept them off the small counter and off the back of the toilet (which always led to the floor). I didnt have any...
How to Get Cooked-On Grease off Pans?
Dawn Power Dissolver. It is a spray. I have seen it at Walmart. We used it to clean broaster baskets at the deli. Amazing stuff.
Inexpensive Birthday Table Decorations?
FamilyFun.go.com has a good tutorial for giant tissue paper flowers made with tissue paper and pipe cleaners. There is a video also. They can be put in a vase or hung from the ceiling. Martha Stewart has some very nice voluminous floral pom-poms. They are beautiful...
Laundry Detergent Stain on Carpet?
Rent a carpet cleaner (Rug Doctor, etc.) and run clear water through it. You may have to do this several times to get it all out. We actually use HE laundry detergent to clean our carpets, then rinse with vinegar water. It works better than the shampoos made...
Thrifty Christmas Decorating Ideas?
Make cinnamon ornaments! The recipe is online. They smell wonderful and look like gingerbread. Your local dollar store should have cheap cinnamon and applesauce. They will also have ribbon to hang them. Youll get the look and smell of the holidays!
Removing Formica from Countertop and Staining Underlying Wood?
The wood under the Formica is basically just sawdust glued togather. It will not stand up to use. It will absorb liquid from stain and get bumpy and rough. Like particle board but worse.
Funnel as a String Dispenser
It also works well to cut the bottom off a milk jug or detergent bottle. Hang spout down and tie a scissors to the handle.
Removing Sticky Grease Residue from Pans?
Dawn Power Dissolver. We used this at our business but you can find it in some stores too.
Turn Spring Form Pan Bottom Upside Down
It does work. Beautifully. The cake slides right off and you dont have to worry about scratching your pan. (Mine are non-stick and this was a concern.)
Making Ice Cream Cone Christmas Tree Ornaments?
Good idea. We made these one year and the dog ate all the cones off the bottom of the tree. :)
Christmas Float Ideas for A/C and Home Improvement Business?
Florida, right? He could be Santa building his new north pole with a giant A/C unit blowing out snow. Just a blower of some sort behind the A/C with white confetti.
Cleaning Dingy Grout?
Ammonia. Dilute it and spray it on. Let it sit for a half hour or so then scrub with a brush. You can even use Windex. This will work better than bleach or anything else Ive tried, with much less scrubbing. The ammonia lifts the oils from the grout.
What is the Best Way to Core Pears?
Slice them in half, pull out the stem, and scoop out the seeds with a melon baller.
Recontouring Countertops Before Painting?
Formica counters are plastic veneers glued to particle board. If you cut it off, the edge will be rough wood. This can be sanded but with never be as smooth as the plastic. It will also be absorbent if it gets wet. That will make it bumpy and rough. It may...
Alternative Uses for Elastic Hair Bands?
I use the thin ones to add length to my vintage necklaces (the old hook and loop type). Slip one end through the loop and tie a knot close to the other end so the hook stays in.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Towels Supplied at School Pool?
The pool is chlorinated, right? So the wet towels already have bleach on them. They will be fine for a couple of days.
Paint Advice for Backsplash?
It does look metallic. The hammered finish is very cool. Ive used it to match old knobs that I couldnt buy anymore. Looks very good. Watch for drips. Try a sample swatch to make sure it is what you like.
Restoring Patent Leather Shoes?
Love, love, love my Danskos. Picked up a pair today and expressed my concern over scuffing the patent. The man at the store said Windex will bring back the shine. I havent had to try it yet but will keep it in mind.
Old Fashioned School Salad Dressing?
Take a coffee cup (we use Corelle) fill it half way with sugar. Add two tablespoons cider vinegar. Fill to top of cup with water, stir. No oil needed. Toss with lettuce. Surprisingly good.
Selecting Wood for a Staircase?
Oak will have too strong a grain pattern. Pick the one that matches the texture of your pine, you can customize stain easily.
Cleaning Whites Without Bleach?
Double check your dishwasher detergent, most of them contain chlorine bleach.
Dispenser from Germ X Works on Ajax Bottle
Love, love, love a pump on my dish soap. Ive had one for several years now. I think it was Sunlight brand that came in a pump for a while and I just keep refilling it. I use less and if I need more when Im wet and soapy I dont get a mess on my counter from...
Parade Float Ideas for a Waterski Club?
Do you wear a costume or a uniform? Or you could wear vintage, current, and futuristic swimwear. (Something to differentiate between the time periods) Then stand on skateboards or have wheels on your skis and be pulled behind a vehicle decorated to look like...
Substituting Sour Cream for Oil in Cake Mix?
I dont know about substitutions but this is a great moist cake. Very easy too. All my cake mixes went out of date when I learned this one :) Wacky Cake 3 cups flour 1/3 cup cocoa 1 teas. salt 3/4 cup oil 2 cups water 2 cups sugar 2 teas. baking soda 2 tbls...
Baby is Not Crawling?
My daughter didnt crawl till she was nine months old either. I asked the pediatrician each time we went in if this was normal - it was fine. She crawled at nine months and walked at ten months. Ive been running after her ever since.
Shell Gasoline With Nitrogen?
We have always had the best luck with Shell gas, nitrogen or not. The nitrogen is supposed to help clean the engine gunk.
Graduation Gift Ideas?
Restaurant gift cards in the town hes moving to so he doesnt have to cook while hes unpacking.
Cinco de Mayo Float Ideas?
Make a giant sombrero (float sized) with chicken wire and tissue paper and do a Mexican Hat dance on the brim :)
Cleaning a Carved Wooden Framed Mirror?
I think I have the same mirror. I use a Q-tip to get between the roses. Sometimes a wooden skewer with a cloth over it. Very time consuming but it doesnt need to be done often.
Keeping Bananas from Turning Black?
Are you talking about AFTER you peel them? If you dip them in a citrus (orange, lemon, or grapefruit) juice or pineapple juice after they are cut they will not turn black.
Repairing a Vinyl Bean Bag?
You should be able to get a vinyl repair kit at your auto supply store. It is used to repair vinyl seats and roofs (like when the garage door opener falls off the ceiling and scratches the vinyl roof of the car - could only happen to me :o)
DIY Hair Coloring Tips
Be careful with the peroxide. I used it in May and when I went in for a body perm, they told me I had to wait till it all grew out before I could perm. They did a test strand in the perm solution, and when they took it out, the hair just broke. That was enough...
What Color To Paint Kitchen With White Cabinets and Beige Counters?
Red will stimulate the appetite. It is a good color for kitchens and dining rooms. You could do a two-tone look so its not overpowering. Red on the bottom, beige on top. You could add a cheap white chair rail to really add value. Or put red (or whatever color...
Saving Money on Cleaning Contact Lenses?
I went to my optometrist years ago and decided to be honest. I told him I was only using saline because of the cost. He picked up a bottle of the solution I should have been using and walked me over to the Hydrogen Peroxide. (Yes the brown bottles for 50 cents...
