Getting Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders?
Just because a website said there are no Brown Recluse spiders in Florida, I wouldnt necessarily believe it. We were told there were none in San Francisco, yet my granddaughter spent two weeks in the hospital, deathly ill, after being bitten by one. Its poison...
Getting Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders?
Just because a website said there are no Brown Recluse spiders in Florida, I wouldnt necessarily believe it. We were told there were none in San Francisco, yet my granddaughter spent two weeks in the hospital, deathly ill, after being bitten by one. Its poison...
Rat Terrier Started Peeing Inside?
Dear dyan818, You must be a wonderful caretaker to have your pet survive for so long with kidney failure! I had a similar problem with my 16 year-old cat after we moved from the West Coast. He was not only urinating and defecating on the wood floors, but also...
Make a Needle Threader
Having some difficulty myself, I merely dip the end of my yarn or thread into a little melted wax and before it cools completely, flatten the end, let it cool and it slips right through. Then I either peel off the wax or trim the end of the yarn or thread. I...
Argentina Red Tabu Scented Lipstick?
Try The Vermont Country Store (www.vermontcountrystore.com). I have seen Tabu products in their catalog, although I cant promise you that they have the product youre seeking. I would call their 800 number (from their website) and speak to a real person. Their...
Nail Glue on a Cell Phone?
Actually, it is only the acetone type polish remover that is recommended to remove nail glue. Just apply it to a cotton ball, squeeze out the excess and be very, very careful that none get into the working parts of the phone. Been there, done that!
Stretching Moccasins?
Go to your shoe repair store and pick up a bottle of liquid shoe stretcher (there are several brands) - you just apply it where your shoes are tight and then walk in the shoes. Your shoes will form to the shape of your foot and not return to their original...
Dog Throws Up Snack Bones?
Break up the snack bone in small pieces and feed him a little at a time. Swallowing the whole snack bone runs a risk of him choking and may cause his death.
Does Sewing Your Own Things Save Money?
Cmon, Reality Check! My Mom raised 5 girls and made all of our clothes through high school (when we got part-time jobs and bought our own). My Dad was an invalid, so she had to pinch pennies. She made her own clothes, too, and always made our slipcovers, bedspreads...
Fingerprint Tiles?
You can buy kits in a good craft store. My granddaughter received one as a birthday gift and she made the loveliest coffee mug for her Mom for Christmas. The kit came with all the necessary supplies. She was 8 at the time (11 now) and did it all herself except...
Switching to Advantage?
Barbara has given you good advice - dont use two products back to back. Consult your Vet for the safest method. I have used Advantage with great success. However, DO NOT use Borax. Its a poison (see the skull & crossbones on the box) and can be very harmful...
Gift Giving from Things You Already Have
We have had similar parties like this for years. We call them White Elephant Auctions. No money changes hands, but we all vie for the best (or worst) of the items and have a lot of laughs and a great time! The really awful ones are frequently displayed like...
Cabinets With Too Much Paint?
After purchasing a Victorian home years ago, we were presented with years of paint on pocket doors, paneled doors, decorative molding, window & door frames, a beautiful staircase etc. Underneath all that paint was beautiful chestnut wood. We were going to use...
Covering Ikea Round Wicker Hassock?
Carol and Londa have given you a couple of good ideas, but if you still have the cat, I would suggest you use a very sturdy fabric like canvas because I can guarantee that your cat will go right to the hassock and try to shred it. Ive had years of experience...
Use Baking Soda to Remove Iced Tea Stains
A sprinkling of salt on a damp paper towel or cloth will work just as well, wont leave any residue (as baking soda might), rinses off immediately and is recommended has been recommended by coffee and tea mavens for centuries. Its also cheaper.
Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?
No, Borax is definitely not safe around children or animals. Which is why the warnings are listed on every box of Borax. It will can make children very ill, it may kill your animals. Its not worth taking a chance. Call your veterinarian for suggestions.
Hives After Eating Ice Cream?
Ohdawn, please do not self-medicate. Please see a doctor as soon as possible, preferably an allergist. Food allergies are very serious. The next time you ingest whatever caused the hives you could become deathly ill. I know. I am allergic to certain antibiotics...
Review Of Body Detox Systems?
Ive seen a number of reviews on local news programs recently and they all claim that the pads you put on the bottom of your feet are worthless and a total scam. You had best consult your doctor for any type of detoxification because some of the remedies on...
American Chop Suey
Dear Robin, thank you the contribution of all your wonderful recipes. Do you ever get out of the kitchen? :-). With respect to Chop Suey, are you aware that is an American dish? Legend has it while he was visiting New York City in August 1896, the chefs of...
Removing Marker From A Box?
I have removed black permanent marker very successfully with Goof Off (from the hardware store) and with good success with hairspray. I would try either on a small portion on the back of the box to make sure that it doesnt ruin the box and then immediatly blot...
Cook Up Poultry Giblets for Pets
My mother-in-law lost her beloved Siamese after feeding him a regular diet of giblets in spite of warnings from her vet that it would cause him kidney failure. He suffered greatly before he died. Another food to limit is dry food that has high ash content - over...
Nail Polisher Remover Stain on Tile?
I assume you mean the tile is a ceramic tile like most bathrooms. If so, why not try a nail polish remover; preferably one with acetone, which is the base chemical in nail polish. It wont harm tile although you may have to work a little to get it out of the...
Buy Small Amounts of Veggies at the Salad Bar
Unfortunately, that is not the safest thing to do. You never know who was at that salad bar before you. After buying salad for my family at a very good market, everyone came down with salmonella. We were lucky and caught it in time. A co-worker was not so fortunate...
Guard Your PIN From Other Eyes
Check with your bank or store to see if you can use your ATM card as a credit card at the register. Then you dont have to enter your pin and this prevents a dishonest merchant or its employees from capturing your pin number, as happens more and more. Your bank...
Getting Your Damage Deposit Back?
Its very important to check your lease thoroughly. Some landlords require you to repaint walls white if you have painted them a different color during your tenancy. Aside from that, follow the advice given to have the landlord inspect it before you move out...
Sun Dried Tomato Recipe?
Try pickyourown.org which has a great recipe for drying your own tomatoes and recipes for their use. www.dinnerplanner.com/sun_dried_tomatoes/htm is another website. If you google make your own sundried tomatoes, youll come up with a batch of sites. Have fun...
What Bird Chirps At Night?
Does it just chirp or warble several different songs? Many species chirp at night, usually young birds. Unfortunately, if its the latter it may be a mockingbird. The males sing at night, very loud, and imitate the songs of many other species in an attempt to...
Removing Urine Odor From Wood Flooring?
I had this problem last year after I moved to the East Coast. My cat didnt handle the move well and messed everywhere except his litter box. I tried everything on my wood floors and area rugs that was recommended by a large number of wonderful members of Thriftyfun...
Can Male Cats Eat Liver?
Neither male nor female cats should eat a diet heavy in liver or other organ meats. Too much can cause a fatal kidney disease. I know, because it caused the death of a beloved cat of ours and our vet attributed it directly to the liver we were feeding him. And...
Hand Wash Stained Coffee Carafe With Dishwasher Detergent
Since dishwashing soaps and detergents effect the quality and taste of coffee, a simpler method is to fill the pot or carafe with hot water and add about a tablespoon of baking soda to it. Let sit for about an hour and rinse well. All old coffee residue disappears...
Saving Money on Paper Towels
Why substitute? I buy the Bounty Select-A-Size and wash them. I throw them in the sink with detergent, wash & rinse them out, let them dry and use them all over the house for all kinds of cleaning. Theyre tough enough to take on most household jobs.Theyll wash...
Use Self Cleaning Oven for Hard to Clean Bakeware
Its also terrific for those cast iron pots and pans that have built up a crust over the years. They come out like new. Of course, you have to season them all over again, but it is well worth it.
Re-Dye Lint Covered Black Clothes
You could save time and money by simply using a rubber glove (the kind you use when you wash dishes by hand). Slowly run it over your clothes, furniture, etc. Picks up and removes lint, animal hair, etc. in a jiffy.
Getting Rid of Skunk Smell?
The following appeared in a magazine back in the hippy days. First, wash the article in tomato juice, rinse well and hang it outdoors to dry. If the smell still exists, repeat the process. Repeat a third time, if necessary. If the smell has still not gone, take...
Darkening Room for Day Sleeper?
I live next to a highway and in front of a school that has floodlights on all night. I found the same problem with the block-out drapes until I bought some inexpensive tension rods and hung the drapes inside the window frame. Works great. I used velcro tapes...
Removing Mold on a Motorcycle Helmet?
Be very careful if it is black mold which can be very dangerous. Wear a mask while using the bleach to make sure you dont breathe any of it. Make certain you remove all of it from the helmet and check that you dont get any on your clothes. My granddaughter...
Electrolytic Method For Cleaning Silver
Do not use this method on silverplate or on antique silver. It will damage both. I have used this for years on my tableware and contemporary sterling with good results, but it has ruined my plated pieces and my antique silver.
Perfume on a Lightbulb
Just be careful to make sure that the bulb is cold or you can end up with an exploding bulb.
Getting Rid of Orange Skin from Tanning Cream?
You must be a redhead like I am. The same thing happened to me and my sisters (redheads all). We called the manufacturers help line and they advised that we soak in the tub for awhile and gently scrub with a loofah and it worked! Evidently, if you dont tan...
Shoe Sizes in Inches?
Your question made me curious! Were a household full of gals, all different shoe sizes. So I went and measured the soles of our shoes and found that - consistently - from toe to heel all the shoes and slippers measured an exact 2 more than the stated size of...
Keep A Running Tally Of Medical Expenses Through The Year
I do both and include my travel expenses to & from the doctor, medical facility, pharmacy, etc. And dont forget any costs incurred for obtaining copies of medical records, x-rays & other tests.
Recipe for Pancake Batter with Maple Syrup Flavor?
Try substituting some maple sugar for half the regular sugar. It will give you the flavor and shouldnt affect the results.
Home Remedy to Help Hair Grow Longer?
Not everyones hair can grow long. Some people have a limited growth factor and thats it. Although it grows quickly, my hair will not grow as far as my shoulders and I have tried everything possible for the last 50 years. It certainly didnt grow when I was pregnant...
Removing Dog Hair from Curtains?
My daughter used to collect cats like other people collect stamps or coins and pet hair was always a problem in our house. I found a rubber glove-the kind you use for your dishes-works the best. It takes the hair off everything. Failing that, Eureka makes a...
Can You Put a Metal Coffee Can In The Oven?
I wouldnt worry about the painted cans. So many of us made bread this way back in the 70s and 80s without harm. The cans are sealed under heat before they leave the coffee roasting plants without ill effects to the workers. Thanks for the reminder. Ill have...
Removing Old Dried Blood From an Armchair?
Try hydrogen peroxide. It is very effective on blood and other protein stains. Saturate the spot, rub in a little OxyClean or baking soda, cover it and let it sit for several hours. Rinse off with cold water. Repeat, if necessary.
Are Old-fashioned Fragrances Sold By Mail Order the Original Scents?
You can rely on Vermont Country Store. The fragrances they offer, as well as all their other old time products, foods and candies, are all the real things, made by the same manufacturers you remember. You wont regret it. And, if youre ever visiting in Vermont...
Avoid Fabric Softener in Your Washer
Over the years, I never had a washing machine that needed repair and I used liquid softener in all of them. Each of them lasted at least 10 years and I only replaced them when I moved and sold or donated the old ones. I made sure I cleaned the lint filter after...
Removing Grease Stain on Battenberg Lace Tablecloth?
Try dampening the spot with GooGone and sprinkling a product like OxiClean over it; wrap it tight and let it sit overnight. Then wash as usual. At this point, washing in hot water will only serve to further set the stain. Use cool or warm. If the stain still...
Trouble Finding Correct Web Page?
Have you opened a website called We Are Family? It is a porn site that is aimed at kids. My 11 year-old granddaughter did and her browser was filled with porn. Nothing seemed to stop it, except erasing her browser every day and keep an eagle on the websites...
Mold On Sandals?
I had a similar situation with several pairs of expensive shoes that were stored in a back bedroom which had a mold problem. I used a clean rag dipped in alcohol,let them dry thoroughly and was able to save every pair. Peroxide will also work very well, but...
Sweaty Armpits With No Odor?
Ask your pharmacist for Aluminum Chloride 25%. This is what was used in the modeling agencies a few years back for girls with your condition. It takes a while to dry, but works very well. Good luck.
Cleaning a House with a Long Haired Cat?
Dear Robin, Having had cats all my life, I can assure you that no dustrag will remove cat hair. My daughter at one time had 14 (they had a cat door, so no litter box was necessary) and I can tell you that one longhaired cat was equal to the all the others in...
Not So Frugal Newlyweds?
Hi Crystal, Set up an online account with your bank and check your balances every few days. You will be able to track both of your charges this way which will then help you set up a budget. You can also pay your bills online which will save you postage. This...
Recipe For Garlic Olive Oil?
I peel and separate a head of garlic and put it in my food processor with a quart of good quality olive oil. I save the olive oil bottle and sterilize it. The garlic/olive oil mixture, I refrigerate for a few days and then strain out the garlic, which I save...
Scalp Itches in the Morning?
You should not be scratching with your nails as it only causes further injury to your scalp. I have a number of allergies which cause rashes and a very wise doctor once showed me how to ease the itch. Dont scratch the actual site that itches; it just releases...
Dental Floss for Making Repairs
Terrific idea! The very fine floss is also excellent for sewing button on heavy winter coats, especially kids jackets.
How To Clean Eyeglasses?
If your lenses are polycarbonate, soap may not rinse off completely. Try putting about 4 oz. of plain water in a container, add about 2 tbs. of white vinegar and dip your glasses in it. Then, wipe dry with a clean cloth. Microfiber is best if you have it. You...
Keeping Cat Hair Off Black Clothing?
Wendy, Black Woolite worked for me, too. For a quick removal from furniture & other fabrics, try a rubber glove. It works faster and more thoroughly than a brush or those velvet-type pads. (My daughter is a cat collector - all the black cats sat on anyone wearing...
Birds Eating My Marigolds?
Try tying strips of tin foil on stakes around the plants. Make sure the stakes - which can be small are a little higher than the plants. The movements of the foil in the breeze and the reflection from light are usually enough to scare off most birds. This will...
Musty Smelling Bed?
It sounds as if you have mildew in your mattress, which is a serious health hazard. You probably should replace the mattress with a new one; then purchase a damp-proof mattress cover which completely covers the new mattress. Change your bedding weekly and make...
Recipes Using Blueberries?
Rinse them well, pour about a cup of sugar on them and refrigerate. The sugar prevents them from spoiling. Blueberries will not turn soft as other berries will in sugar and they will keep a long time. You can rinse the sugar off before eating and they will...
Liquid Sugar for Tea?
To make liquid sugar (or bar syrup as it is generally known), boil equal amounts of water and syrup together until all the sugar crystals have been absorbed. Let it cool and pour it into a clean glass bottle or jar. Cover tightly and you can keep it at room...
Putting a Non-stick Pan in the Oven?
The handle is probably not rubber, but silicone. Some of these handles can withstand normal oven heat, but it is wiser to contact the manufacturers website and get the recommended limits for the pan. I have such a product from Kitchenaid and the handles are...
