Laundry Detergent Drawer Sachets
I put bar soap in my dresser drawers. Lasts for years. I leave it in its wrapper and tear only a small hole in the wrapper. It keeps my clothes smelling fresh in a place where moldy smell often is in everything. I store winter blankets and sheets with it and...
Ford Ranger AC Only Blows Hot Air?
Most likely you need to take it to the shop and have them put freon gas in the air conditioner. As they age, air conditioners leak the gas bit by bit and when its gone they wont cool any more. Its not something you can fix yourself. Good luck!
Homemade Soy Milk
That is amazingly easy! I drink soy milk all the time. Wondering if my Shuttle Thermos (cooker that preserves heat for 8 hours rather than using energy) would work. I make almond milk with dates for sweetener. Yum.
Free Wine Barrels for Easter Play?
I put on two childrens musicals every year. Hint: make props yourself, using cardboard boxes, paper mache, etc. Art teachers sometimes will help you by making it a class project. Give the audience the context and the actors something that is implying what you...
Flesh-colored Bumps on Forehead?
Food allergy? You might want to get tested. My daughter gets things like that on her face from egg and milk allergies.
Emergency Deodorant
I carry a tiny atomizer, like people use for perfume, filled with rubbing alcohol, in my purse. I can use it (and have used it!) for emergency deodorant and also disinfectant.
Getting Rid of Japanese Beetles?
My mom used to swear by spraying the plants with diluted jalapeno pepper sauce or tabasco.
Planting Virginia Creeper?
Make sure Virginia Creeper does not make you itchy before you decide to plant it! Some folks (like me) react to the oxalic acid in it with a very itchy rash.
Worms in the Rice and Moths in the Cupboard?
In Japan people put dried red peppers (togarashi) in dry rice to keep bugs out. I dont know that it would help if the bugs are already there, though.
Recycling Used Tea Bags and Loose Tea?
I put them on my plants and in compost. Both green and black tea will work as deodorizers so I hang teabags around after they have dried. I also use them as a car deodorizer. I had a chemical smell (glue? plastic?) in some of my cupboards and a few teabags...
Practice Drills Before A Disaster
Just so you all know: this is not my photo! We were nowhere near the tsunami; just in the earthquake. Tokyo is now experiencing planned blackouts to save energy. So glad I also have a flashlight with a crank recharger, and candles. All supplies such as rice...
Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Containers?
I grew cherry tomatoes in a container with basil last year. They are good companion plants and protect one another from insects.
Removing Burnt Smell From Microwave?
I agree with the vinegar. I sprayed just a bit of apple cider vinegar on the walls of the microwave and left it closed all night. The smell was gone in the morning. Hope the smell goes away for you!
Can I Use Baking Powder Instead of Baking Soda for Cleaning?
If you dont use much water you can scrub surfaces with salt. This works well on grease.
Toast Ideas for a First Holy Communion?
I agree, its a holy day and a blessing would be better. I blessed my godson with a blessing based on his personality related to Bible men. Example: May you be like Joseph, who trusted and obeyed God even when it was difficult. Print it out and give him a vision...
When Should the Child of a Deaf Parent Begin Learning Sign Language?
Children are hardwired to pick up any language that is used around them, so they will grow up naturally bilingual-- lucky kids!
Tape Alternative to Bandaids?
You can also use a cotton strip, winding it over the bandage and taping the outside of the cotton (like binding up a sprained ankle). I dont know if your country has them but in Japan we can also get cotton mesh tubes that are finger size, arm size and head...
Where Can I Recycle Tires for Free?
Do you belong to Freecycle? There is a great one in one in Howard Co. Joining is free. You never know what people are wanting and if they want your tires they might be willing to pick them up.
What is a 10/10/10 birthday called?
In Japanese, if you say ten ten ten it literally means dot dot dot or ... and its kind of like saying ... no comment...
Removing Urine Odors from Backyard?
You could try EMs (Effective Microorganisms). They are supposed to eat the ammonia smell and they are beneficial for plants and animals (and humans). I use a bathroom deodorizer with them and it is amazing. It works in the litterbox to cut down the nasty ammonia...
Use Liquid Soap to Remove Ticks
I do that on my dog with full strength liquid soap or her flea shampoo. Liquid soap, diluted (a couple of squirts in a cup of water) and kept in a sprayer, if you hit them directly, can kill bugs that get in your house and on your plants. This includes cockroaches...
Keep Wet Towel in Refrigerator to Cool Off
In Japan we wear a wet towel or handkerchief around the neck. Not sopping but wet enough to be cool. Ladies can fold a handkerchief like a triangle, roll it up longways, and tie with the thick part at the nape of the neck and the knot in front. It looks fine...
Reviews of Aurawave Pain Reliever?
I think I know what it is, or at least what it looks like. Weve had them in Japan for years, and no they are not pain relievers, they are electronic muscle stimulators. Chiropractors and physical therapists use big versions of them. They feel like someone is...
Reviews of Aurawave Pain Reliever?
Me again. I just realized how much they are charging for it! Thats more than three times the amount the same type of thing sells for here! Somebody is doing a number on people.
Wheat Can Contribute to Hot Flashes
If you are truly gluten intolerant you also need to avoid barley, rye, and all hidden sources of gluten. Celiac.com has all the lowdown.
Crohn's Disease and Small Stature?
Have you been tested for gluten intolerance (celiac disease)? It can cause small stature and is often not diagnosed. Some symptoms are the same as Crohns. It is possible to have both.
Tracking Down a Continuous Beeping Sound in House?
I had an old digital thermometer that did it for weeks before I found it! Also on old digital stopwatch/timer.
Homemade Deodorant Without Cornstarch or Baking Soda?
I use deodorant soap in the shower, then the next morning I wipe my armpits with rubbing alcohol and then use a deodorant crystal stone (alum). You have to wet the stone before use. This works for me about 80% of the time. I take a week off and use regular...
Underarm Smell on T-shirts?
If all else fails, make some underarm shields (you could even use the body of old shirts). Then you can just chuck out the shield instead of the shirt.
What is This Plant?
Wear long sleeves and gloves if you are going to deal with it. And wash your hands and arms afterward. If it does make you itchy, it is a lot like poison ivy itch and lasts for days!
Remedy for Hysterectomy Induced Sweats and Weight Gain?
One of my friends suggested soy milk (other soy such as edamame and tofu help too). It helped me and I have heard that it has helped others as well. Get the kind with the least amount of added sugar and such. I drink about a cup a day for it to help. Others...
Leave Printer Off Until Needed
I push print and then save as PDF Easy. Green. Cheap. I dont even own a printer.
Cat Smells Like Poop?
She might be rolling or rubbing in her litter box. Maybe try changing the litter type? One of mine did that for about a year and then quit! She smelled like poop too. Changing litter type to a less dusty one helped (I was using a wood pellet that breaks up...
Raising a Deaf Dog?
I would think you could get his attention by flashing the lights or stamping on the floor to make a vibration, giving him a treat when you do those things and he notices you. (Ive worked with deaf students.)
Building Trust in Abused Cat?
Move slowly and smoothly, speak softly, and approach with your hand below his eye level. Never approach from above. Also, when he looks you in the eye, half shut your eyes. That is a sign of trust between cats. If he yawns in your presence, he feels comfortable...
Refrigerator Caddy
This is brilliant. I hang my pots on the side of the fridge with magnetic hooks like someone else said, but this is prettier.
Cat Friendly Furniture?
Wooden benches and chairs! Use throw pillows and seat pads or throw an afghan over the back. I have 4 cats and am happy with my pale blond wood furniture. It kind of gives a cabin ambiance, and everything is easily washable!
Potpourri Smell in Refrigerator?
I suggest trying charcoal or old coffee grounds with the door closed. Lots of coffee grounds in a large can worked well getting the smell out of my car. And, I keep bamboo charcoal in my fridge to absorb the smell.
Guinea Pig Is Biting Me?
If you have been handling food and then your guinea pig, he might think you smell like food. Wash your hands before handling. This also works with hamsters and gerbils. Also, if you come at an animal from above it scares them, so put your hands low and approach...
Bread Dough Sticking to Towel?
I let mine sit in the microwave to rise. Its sealed so dough does not dry out. Just dont turn it on!
Female Bible Character Costumes?
Dont forget that females dont have beards drawn on. ;) Bath towels or just a piece of rectangular cloth works for a drapy headcovering, just pin it on with barrettes or bobby pins. Theres a free PDF pattern at www.domestic-church.com called the Mary Dress.
Giving Private Piano Lessons?
I agree. Reading up on piano pedagogy would be good, though. A subscription to Clavier magazine is great, even for those with degrees. We all need to keep ourselves refreshed! Cantate (music teacher)
Link: Free Donations To The Animal Rescue Site
Also check out freerice.com which is a good place to build vocabulary and donate food to hungry humans! I visit theanimalrescuesite and its five other donation links daily and will probably buy Christmas presents from them this year. Also, sending free ecards...
Reusing Zip Lock Foil Lined Product Bags
Well, duh! Wish I had thought of this one. What a great idea! I use the paper bags that some products come in for my recycled paper stuff. I can just put bag and all in recycling. Cantate
Frugal Way to Cool Down
My parents taught me to run cold water over my wrists to cool down. I have done the ice towel thing on wrists or the back of the neck too. I have also found cooling my feet in a pan of cold water to be good. At night when it is really hot I hug an ice pillow...
Plant Onions at the End of Gardening Rows
Also, onions are supposed to repel insect pests. A free way to plant onions is to save the part the roots come from-- you dont eat that anyway-- and plant it. It wont grow a bulb but it will produce a stem that looks like a green onion. Trim and use in cooking...
Teaching Children the Value of a Dollar
If the child breaks something and it costs to be fixed, or loses it, dont automatically replace it. Example: I bought my teenager a digital camera for her birthday and told her how to take care of it. She left it on the floor and the screen was stepped on. The...
Store Parenting Essentials in a Separate Backpack
Another good thing is that as kids get older they may imitate you! My daughter, all on her own, started her own kit when she was 13 and now not only does Mama not have to save the world, she can help her friends! She carries wipes, Band-aids, lip gloss, tissues...
Finding the Silver Lining Behind the Gas Prices
Smile and remember how the rest of the world lives. In Japan were paying about $8 a gallon now. Of course, we have the advantage of public transportation and being near enough things to be able to ride bicycles or walk-- this is making me get plenty of exercise...
Finding the Silver Lining Behind the Gas Prices
And be sure you wear a helmet, long sleeves and long pants if you are on a scooter! If you fall off, which of course you will not do, the long sleeves/pants will get the scrapes instead of your skin! (Source: experience!) Cantate in Tokyo (Japan)
Grow Potatoes For Patio Greenery
Carrot tops are fun too. Last year I grew one two feet tall and eventually it blossomed like Queen Annes Lace. Cantate
How to Use Homemade Orange Cleaner?
I make it by soaking the peels in vinegar, then dilute with equal part of water. I put it in a spray bottle and use it to deodorize rooms, to clean up cat accidents, to wipe tables and other surfaces or even the floor. It cleans the tub nicely as well.
Add Greens To Your Ramen Noodles
Green onions cut into thin rings and sprinkled on top of hot soup are tasty. Bean sprouts are good for this too, raw or slightly steamed. If you happen to have bamboo shoots or other Asian-type veggies, they are great for this. Hard-boiled eggs, cut in half...
Cat Is Dragging Laundry Around House?
My females do this. I think theyre hunters and carry the laundry as they would their catch!
Using Paper Bags for Cat Litter
What about using newspaper? If you want it in a bag shape, you can make it into one of those origami paper cups like I learned to make in Girl Scouts, or just put the litter in the middle, and fold several times. Then you dont have to buy paper bags. I wouldnt...
Teaching Letters and Numbers?
With or without orchestral music playing in the background, dance and paint numbers and letters in the air with your hands, nose, bottom, etc. Write letters and numbers on her back and see if she can identify them. Have her write them on your back. These may...
Calming Spray For Cats?
I know Feliway has worked for some, but my cats considered the plug-in as yet another unfamiliar cat and hissed and growled at it. I think they thought it was a mini-cat in a bottle. They all heaved a sigh of relief when I unplugged it and put it away! I agree...
Combine Old Bar Soap With New
Ive done that for years with any soap-- if you get the small bar soft enough you can stick it onto soaps that are any shape. I still think its the best way to save on soap. The second-best way is something we in Japan do all the time-- keep your soap hanging...
Making Ribbons Sticks for Chinese Ribbon Dancing?
You can put a nail in the end of a dowel, sew a ribbon onto one half of a paper clip and put the other end (the round end) of the paper clip around the nail. It spins better than when attached to the stick. Make sure the head of the nail is bigger than the...
Keeping Bugs Out of My Face?
I make a cup of chamomile tea and then use the wet bag to dab on my face and ears where I dont want chemicals. Actually, I use this for all exposed skin and I find it works better than sprays. Cantate
Drying Figs in the Microwave?
Dont know if it will work on fruit, but I bought a nifty little thing to use in the microwave here (in Japan) which you can use to make dried vegetable snacks. It is a flat tray of hard plastic which has bumps on it (to keep things from sticking) and holes...
What Type of Dog Is This?
Shes a CUTE type whatever she is. I would say no Shiba (part Shiba tend to have curly tails-- I live in Japan and see Shiba mixes all the time). Their eyes look different too. I agree with the German Shepherd. Could she have some Lab or Golden Retriever? Cantate
Turn Oven Off Early To Save Energy
This also works when cooking vegetables for a stew. I often cut up my potatos, onions and carrots, start them cooking with a little oil, add water and bring to a boil, then turn it off and leave the cover of the pan on (for about 10 minutes). Even if they are...
Grow A Holiday Tree Year Round
Until it got too big, we had a fir tree in a pot in the house all year round. We decorated it for Christmas and birthdays. We put cards we received up on it too. People seemed to like the idea of a birthday tree. Cantate
Tips for Singles on Valentine's Day
St. Valentine was a (single) priest who was willing to die for the Lord he loved. He would be surprised at the use his day has been put to.
Dog with Recurrent Feet Sores?
My doctor wont give salve to animals because he says animals will just lick it off-- he always puts them on oral antibiotics, and so far it has always worked. However, I havent had to keep them on the antibiotics for a long time, so maybe yours is an entirely...
Directions for Cooking Thai Rice Sticks?
And if theyre like the ones we get here, you should rinse them in clear cold water after you boil them. Cantate in Japan
Uses for Old Wooden Spindles?
Your local elementary music teacher might like some; there are some rhythmic activities that use spindles, for example, keeping a steady beat by passing the spindle around the circle (they are easier to pass than beanbags). Cantate
Give Consumables To Older Friends or Relatives
This also works for teachers. We especially appreciate home-baked Christmas goodies since we dont have time to bake until schools out. If they can be frozen, so much the better! Cantate (the happy recipient of many home-baked goodies)
What Kind of Dog is Buddy?
A cute kind! (Do you know any that arent?) The tail curl makes me think he has some kind of shiba or other wolf dog in him. Cantate
Adding Bra Strap Retainers to 100+ Choir Dresses?
I have no suggestions, but as an elementary and middle school choir director I want to say THANK YOU for doing this kind of service! Im sure every choir director in the world would join me in saying thanks! Cantate in Japan
Cooking Red Beans Azuki From Oriental Trading Co.
I live in Japan where we eat azuki beans sweet. They are not supposed to get really soft but they will if you soak as jsham said. We cook them for a couple of hours with a lot of sugar and skim off any scum or bubbles every once in a while. We use them as a...
Cooking Red Beans Azuki From Oriental Trading Co.
Yes, most Westerners dont think sweet when they see bean. I mean sweet-- like a cup of sugar to three cups of cooked beans. Lots of foreigners see dark anko (which is the sweet azuki bean paste) and think chocolate and are quite disappointed. However, they...
Saving School Paperwork
You are the kind of parent any teacher would love! We call it portfolio-ing and encourage families to help kids make portfolios. The school also keeps one paper from each academic subject from the beginning and end of the year to pass on to the next grade. At...
Cinnamon Sugar For Coffee
I always put a shake of cinnamon (no sugar) in my teacup or pot before pouring hot water on. It gives the tea a nice smell and I find Im less tempted to use sugar that way. Cantate
Looking For a Recipe to Make Mirin?
I live in Japan so can buy mirin easily, but I usually use brown sugar to replace it in recipes that call for soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Since it is fermented I should think it would take forever to make. Brown sugar (medium dark) gives you the same taste...
Craft Ideas For Fur Fabric?
Lap robes for elderly people and half-size blankets for tucking over your feet and legs when you are sitting in a cold living room are great. You can even put a foot pocket at the bottom and make it big enough to go up over your waist. (Be sure to tell your...
Uses for Cardboard Milk Cartons
I use them as trash baskets in the bathroom (by the sink for cotton balls, dental floss, etc.) and toilet area. On trash day you can just throw the whole thing, basket and all, in the trash, and start over with a new one without having to touch any of the yucky...
Recycled Object To Use As a Soap Holder?
Cut out the bottom of a cardboard milk carton. You can stretch rubber bands criss-cross across the top to make a drainer so your soap can dry out in between uses. (I use 6 or 8 rubber bands to make a grid.) If you buy fruit in a mesh-type bag, you can make...
Fans To Supplement AC
Keep them out for the winter too. Point them to an upper corner and they wont blow on you, but they will get all that nice warm air that collects on the ceiling to come back down where you want it. Cantate
College Survival Kit
My friends oldest daughter did it in reverse: a mom survival kit after sending child to college. She wrapped 30 tiny presents (chocolate, hand-written cards etc.) to be opened one a day for the first 30 days she was gone. Since the parents are in Japan and...
Severe Itching Caused by Okra Plants?
I dont know about okra, but I discovered this summer that Virginia creeper does it to me. I Googled poison ivy and learned that Virginia creeper does affect some people this way. Its a vining plant that has 5 leaves instead of poison ivys 3. Just sending this...
Dry Tea Leaves as Deodorizer
Quantity: about 1/4 cup for a small enclosed room (the largest room I tried this in is about 6x3) or car. I used the same amount in one container in a larger room (9 by 6) and it didnt work as well. I think it might work if I used two containers on opposite...
How Old Should a Girl Be To Go Places On Her Own?
You sound like a very intelligent 13-year-old! (I say that because of your writing skills and because you thought to ask advice from a group of adults.) Since you are intelligent, I think you can understand when I say that growing up can happen in many ways...
Is 2007 a Bad Year For Roaches?
Hot weather brings them out. Read all the advice in other posts on this forum about roaches-- theres a lot of good stuff in there. I add, make sure you keep the stoppers in your drains when youre not using them-- roaches can crawl in through the pipes!
Need Recipes For "Unusual" Vegetables?
Japanese recipes: Turnips: peel, slice thinly, and sprinkle with a little salt. Rub slices together so the salt gets spread around. Eat immediately for crunchiness or put in refrigerator for a Japanese kind of pickle-- they soften a bit due to the salt. Turnip...
Newborn Kitten Eyes Not Opening?
I raised a kitten from 3-days-old and she is now a healthy 5-year-old who still thinks I am her mom. I got tetramycin drops from the vet for her eye infections. When they were not available I just used a soft cloth dipped in very mild salt water (about 1/2...
Release Your Inner Child
I collect children: the ones at school (Im a teacher) sponsored kids through World Vision (they dont take up house space but they do take up heart space) and my own adopted one. Also, children at heart like YOU, friends! Cantate
