Household Hints

Household Hints - Eat Your Parsley for Fresher Breath

2011-10-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

That cute sprig of parsley on your plate while dining out at a restaurant isn't just for looks - it'll naturally freshen your breath! It's especially helpful to clean up your breath if you've eaten a meal loaded with garlic or onions. So, leave that parsley for last, and chew on it for fresher breath, naturally.

Household Hints and Tips - Beauty Tips - Store Nail Polish in the Fridge

2011-01-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a beauty tip of the day! Store your favorite nail varnish or nail polish in the fridge to make it last a lot longer. Embarrassed to have beauty products stashed in the refrigerator? Store all the nail polish containers together in a small box or bag to conceal.

Household Hints - Removing Tea Stains from Teacups and mugs

2010-11-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

A delicious cup of freshly brewed tea is perfect just about any time of day, but tea stains are some of the most difficult to remove from cups and mugs! Here are a few of my favorite household hints for removing tricky tea stains:

Barkeepers Friend removes tea stains better than almost anything else I've ever tried. It's a multi-use product, since you can also use it to get your stainless steel cookware gleaming, along with copper, and even porcelain surfaces. Just shake a little of the powder in, and scrub with a scrubby pad. It even works to remove built up stains.
Baking soda - a little sprinkle of soda, a bit of elbow grease and you're good as new, or at least your precious teacup is.
Regular table salt - again, a sprinkle of this works on tea stains, along with a good scrub and rinse.

Household Hints - Pets - Chamomile Tea to Soothe Cats

2010-10-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

One way to ease stress in cats is to give them chamomile tea! Just as it is soothing to humans, chamomile tea can naturally calm aggressive or upset cats. Make a tea with pure chamomile tea leaves and then add it to the cats' water dish. It should help to calm that upset kitty!

Household Hints - Keep Brown Sugar Soft

2010-10-16T11:18:00.001-07:00

Susan sent in another tip to keep brown sugar soft, or to get it soft again once it's gotten hard. She wrote: "to soften brown sugar or rather to keep it soft store with a big marshmallow on top of the brown sugar."

Remember, you can also get your brown sugar soft again or keep it soft by placing a small piece of bread on the top, or a slice of apple.

Household Hints - Beauty - Beer as a Hair Conditioner

2010-07-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's true - beer really does work to condition your hair! Use it as a final rinse to add extra shine and a boost of healthy body.

Household Hints - Gardening - Tea for Your Plants

2010-06-30T09:11:00.001-07:00

A few different people have told me this tip, so I had to make sure to share it! Apparently, if you've got some leftover regular black tea in the teapot - you might want to give your garden a bit of a boost by watering the tea right over the plants! One lady told me that her mother always used to do this, and they could trace the pattern of where her mom through out the leftover tea, because those plants always thrived the most.

So, enjoy that cup of tea, and then share a little with your plants!

Household Hints: Removing Melted Wax from Glass Candleholders

2010-03-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

We love the ambience created by burning candles, but once those candles are burnt the wax can be hard to remove. Try putting your glass candleholder into the freezer for a few hours. Using this method, I've been able to remove even really old melted wax. It should pop right out, or use a wooden skewer or butter knife to edge it out. If the wax is very stubborn, let the holder sit in the freezer overnight.

Household Hints - Pistachio Nuts - Recycled Nuts Ideas

2009-12-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

Recycle those old nut shells, including pistachios, walnuts, peanuts and other nuts. Once you're done eating the delicious nuts, break them up and use to line plant pots or use as mulch for your garden! (A great tip I just saw last night on the Food Network -- Unwrapped)

Helpful Hints: Keep a Reusable Bag in Your Purse

2009-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Keep a reusable bag in your PURSE (not the car) all the time. We all have good intentions to use canvas bags, but if we don't carry them with us, we usually end up leaving them in the trunk. And that doesn't help us - or the environment - much at all!

Household Hints - Kitchen Hints - Opening Tight Jar Lids

2009-07-29T09:25:00.001-07:00

Tight jar lids got you down? Try a few of these helpful household hints to open a tight jar lid:

- My favorite is to tap along the edges of the jar lid with a butter knife. It seems to break the seal, and then you can easily open the jar.

- Wear a pair of rubber gloves! The extra grip will make loosening a tight jar easy!

- Run the jar lid under hot water...again, this seems to help loosen the tight seal.

- Use a Jar opener to open the jar. There are specialty jar openers available that make opening tight jars a breeze. Great gift for anyone with arthritis, too. Here are just two available on the market:

Do you have any other ideas to share on how to open a tight jar lid? If you do, please post a comment!

Household Hints - Cooking - Found a great way to soften brown sugar

2009-03-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

It's pretty frustrating when you open up the canister of brown sugar and find that it's somehow become a huge, organic, solid lump. Sort of like a sandy rock, and totally impossible to use! I'm a big fan of a slice of bread stuck inside to keep the brown sugar nice and moist.

But, what can you do when the brown sugar is ALREADY completely hardened?

I put the canister (microwave safe) right into the microwave and microwaved on high for about a minute. I'd heard of this tip before, but had never tried it. It worked!! I could get out the brown sugar I needed. It's definitely the fastest way I've ever tried to soften brown sugar. Hope it helps!

Household Hints - Cleaning - Sweeping Tips

2009-02-25T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a handy hint to help with your household sweeping...

Spray a little furniture polish on the bottom of your brooms bristles. It'll make it easier to sweep stuff up, and dirt, pet hair and other gunk won't as easily accumulate on the bottom!

Household Hints - Cleaning Hints - Easy Lemon and Boiling Water Trick to Clean the Microwave

2009-01-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

This is my new favorite way to clean the microwave. And it's so easy and all-natural, with no chemicals for cleaning!

Pop a quarter or half lemon into a microwave safe mug or bowl filled with water. (Whatever old lemon you have left in the fridge will work just fine.)
Set power to high and microwave for about 5 minutes or so - long enough to get a good boil happening.
Let the steamy bowl or mug stay in the microwave for about fifteen to twenty minutes without opening the microwave door. All of that glorious steam will make cleaning the microwave super simple later on.
Dunk the lemon into some salt or baking soda and use as a little scrubber in the microwave to remove any burnt on bits of food. (Be careful - the lemon will still be a bit hot!)
Finally, wipe all the gunk and mess away with a moistened sponge or cleaning cloth. And enjoy your beautifully clean new microwave oven!

Want more housecleaning hints? Visit http://www.happyslob.com for the Happy Slob's Guide to No-Hassle Housecleaning...Housecleaning for the rest of us.

Household Hints - Saving - Change Jar to Save Money

2009-01-21T20:03:00.001-08:00

Here's an easy way to let your pennies, dimes and quarters accumulate into larger savings! Have a family change jar, where every member of the family dumps their extra change every week or so. Have the kids roll up the coins, and take the coin rolls to the bank. Use the extra money for savings, or towards a family vacation or special dinner out. It's a great way to teach kids (and adults too!) how small savings can really add up over time.

Household Hints - Cleaning - Cleaning Plastic Toys

2008-11-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

Plastic toys can seem incredibly hard to clean, but using a paste of baking soda and water is a natural way to scrub those toys clean. Just use the baking soda/water paste on the toy, dipping a damp clean cloth into the paste and then using the baking soda as a natural abrasive. If a little extra cleaning power is needed, add a small squirt of natural liquid soap to the baking soda before adding a little water to create the paste.

A nice, natural way to clean plastic toys!

Household Hints: Lampe Berger Lamps Remove Stubborn Household Odors

2008-11-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

Lingering, stubborn household odors such as cooking odors, pet odors or smoke can really be frustrating to remove with any success. My favorite way to remove these types of odors is by using a Lampe Berger fragrance lamp. This lamp, complete with a catalytic burner is briefly lit and then left to 'eat up' odor molecules in your home! It was originally developed for hospitals in France, and along with bad odors also kills 67% of airborne bacteria.

I have one, and my current scent is a wonderful Spiced Pumpkin oil. You can get lots of different scented fuels for the lamps (and you must use one of the Lampe Berger oils - not just any alcohol blend will do). Some of the most popular scents are:

- Neutral - if you don't want to add scent at all, just want to take bad odors out
- Eucalyptus - a fresh, green scent, perfect for bathrooms and nurseries
- Creme Brulee - a rich, warm vanilla scent (perfect for the kitchen or any other room!)
- Grapefruit Passion - very light, grapefruit citrus scent. One of my favorites.
- Green Apple - another light fruity scent that is very popular
- Lavender Fields - a really pretty lavender scent, smells like real lavender essential oil

and many more!

Natural Way to Keep Drains Running Smoothly

2008-07-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

A great way to prevent nasty clogs in drains is to pour a kettle full of boiling hot water down the drain about once or twice a month. This natural alternative will help keep your drains running smoothly - and thus prevent nasty old clogs!

Get Rid of Stinky Onion and Garlic Odors - Rub Your Hands on Stainless Steel!

2008-06-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Did you know that by rubbing your hands after cooking with garlic and/or onions, you can remove the odors? You can invest in a cute little stainless steel 'bar of soap' like the one below:

OR...you can rub your hands on the inside of a stainless sink, or even a stainless steel spoon for the same effect! Just wet your hands first under clean water, and then let the stainless steel get rid of the lingering odors. Works like a charm!

Household Hints - Knife Sharpening - the Difference Between Honing and Sharpening Knives

2008-05-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

There is a big difference between honing and sharpening your knives. Good knives (some of my favorites are Wusthof and Henckels) only need to be sharpened once or twice a year. But honing is an entirely different thing! You should hone your knife on a honing steel every single time you use your knife. (On large chopping or slicing jobs, you might even want to hone once in between all the knife work!)

Honing your knife basically realigns the edge of the knife - making a ragged edge smoother again, but not removing any metal (as sharpening does.)

To properly hone your knife, invest in a decent honing steel. (I love )

You'll be amazed by how much this will help the efficiency of your knives - AND make them last for years and years. Enjoy, home cooks!

Household Hints - Easy Way to Perfect Boiled Eggs

2008-02-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

I've finally found the easiest way to get perfectly boiled eggs every time! (I love boiled eggs - from using them to make deviled eggs or to use in egg salad sandwiches OR just to eat on their own for a big boost of protein!)

Here's the way to make perfect hard cooked eggs:

Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water.
Add a splash of white vinegar to the water. (This prevents the eggs from leaking out of the shell in case the shell cracks.) I also add a pinch of kosher salt.
Bring the water up to the boil - JUST to the boil.
Turn off the heat, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and allow to sit on the burner for 14 minutes. (Make sure to use a kitchen timer to time this properly.)
Place the saucepan in the sink, pour out the hot water and run cold water over the eggs until they're cool enough to handle and peel.

Voila - perfect hard cooked eggs!

Household Hints - How to Clean Brass

2008-02-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Clean brass with fresh or bottled lemon juice - just apply with a soft cloth and polish and it will sparkle!

Household Hints - Pets - Making Cat Litter Cleaning Easier

2008-01-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some helpful household hints to make cleaning the cat litter easier!

Clean the litter everyday. It's far easier (and a less yucky) job if you clean the litter on a regular, consistent basis.
Use scoopable litter - it makes your job simpler AND it seems that most cats prefer the feel of the softer scoopable litter on their paws than the old-fashioned gravel type litter.
Sprinkle soda - baking soda that is! After you've completed the cat litter box cleaning, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into the litter to absorb odors. It's a natural air freshener.
Lampe Berger to the rescue! I use my Lampe Berger to clean the air everytime I've cleaned the cat's litter box. It works unbelievably well and completely soaks up odors and leaves things smelling pleasant. Love it!!

Household Hints - Knives - Don't Put Knives in the Dishwasher

2007-12-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

Question: Can good quality knives be cleaned in the dishwasher?

Answer: Well...answers on this one can vary. For example, fine knife makers like Wusthof say right on their website that technically you CAN clean their knives in the dishwasher. BUT - handwashing any fine knives is always recommended. In fact, even if you only have regular old cheapy knives, it's still going to maintain a sharp blade far longer if you carefully handwash these in the sink with some soapy water.

Why? The high temperature and bleaching agents in the dishwasher detergent cause damage to the knife's surface. If you've invested in quality knives by Wusthof, Henckels or Global, then take the time to wash the knives in some soapy water - by hand. You'll be taking much better care of your investment.

=============
I LOVE Kitchen Gadgets!
(Including fine knives...)
See my favorites at:
http://kitchengadget.blogspot.com/
==============

Household Hints - Cooking Hints - Freeze Leftover Stock or Broth into Cubes

2007-12-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

Freeze leftover homemade stock or broth in an ice cube tray, and then transfer the frozen stock cubes into baggies for storage. This makes it so easy to add a little bit of homemade stock to recipes that call for stock or broth cubes - you can use your delicious homemade stock instead!

Make sure to label the baggies so that you know what type of broth you have frozen inside.

Household Hints - Easy Cheap Way to Clean Copper

2007-12-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

For a cheap formula for cleaning copper, just make a thick paste of lemon juice and salt. It really is that easy!

If you prefer to spend a little money on a good cookware cleaner - Swiss Cleaner is the cleaner that I recommend. It's great on copper AND stainless.

Household Hints - How to Keep Brown sugar Soft and Moist

2007-11-23T18:11:00.000-08:00

Keeping your brown sugar soft and moist (not one big, unusable hard lump!) is very simple. Try one of these handy household hints to keep brown sugar soft:

1. Use a brown sugar bear -- a small terra cotta disc (often in the shape of a bear or other decorative shape) made just for this purpose. You can find them in kitchenware shops for a few dollars. Simply moisten the terra cotta disc in some water, and then pop the disc into the sealed container of brown sugar. Voila! Gorgeous, fresh brown sugar.

2. Add a slice of bread or apple to the sealed brown sugar container. This adds moisture to the brown sugar for a really long time.

3. If your brown sugar has already gone hard, you'll find that microwaving a portion of it will soften it up instantly!

Household Hints - Change your Dishtowels Often

2007-10-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here's another helpful household hint for you.

Change your kitchen towel/dishtowels often to prevent bacteria from growing. Changing your towel everyday is sufficient.

And besides, changing the kitchen towel means changing up the whole look of your kitchen! You can find some fun kitchen towels at my online kitchenwares shop - everything from stripes or polka dots, to palm trees -- kitchen towels are a lot more fun than they used to be!

================

Shopping Alert:
Freshen up your kitchen with our fun
range of Kitchen Dishtowels

================

On the other hand, if you're looking for the most PRACTICAL dishtowels, then definitely check out the Flour sack tea towels - they never leave lint behind, and are amazingly absorbent. And they're cute, too! :)

Uses for Fabric Softener (Bounce) Sheets - Prevent Thread from Tangling

2007-10-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Use a fabric softener sheet to keep your thread from tangling! Before you start to sew, rub the Bounce sheet along the thread - you'll find it much easier to work with.

Open Tough Jars and Bottles with a Rubber Glove

2007-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

Open tough jars and bottles by putting a rubber glove on! That'll give you all the grip you need to open just about any stubborn bottle.

I also find that using a nutcracker works great - again, it just gives you a good grip on the bottle, allowing you to open it easily.

If you STILL can't open that jar...then try tapping the edges of the jar lid with a butter knife. Somehow it opens the jar seal and makes opening it much easier.

Have another handy tip on opening stubborn jars or bottles? Please send it in, or just post it in a comment below!

Cleaning Tips - Use Club Soda to Clean up Glass

2007-09-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know that club soda is a great way to clean glass and mirrors? It doesn't matter if it's fresh or stale, just pour some into a clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting and spray away! Use newspapers or microfiber cloths to wipe up, so that you don't leave lint on the surfaces.

Also try club soda to clean faucets and taps - it'll leave them sparkling!

Household Hints - Cleaning Hints - Making Your Own Natural Cleaners

2007-08-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Many families are making their own natural, organic cleaners to replace the harmful chemical varieties they've used for years. Why? Making your own simple cleaners is not only healthier for you, your family, and your pets, but it's better for the environment. Here are two of my favorite resources for natural cleaning recipes, and all of these are FREE recipes:

http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/cleaningrecipes.html
http://www.happyslob.com/cleaningrecipes.html

Included are all-purpose cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, natural air fresheners and much more.

Household Hints - Microwave your Dishcloths to keep them clean (and no more stinky dishcloths!)

2007-07-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Keeping your dishcloth clean, fresh and sanitized makes your whole kitchen smell a lot nicer. (Isn't the smell of a musty dishcloth just AWFUL?) Here are two of my favorite ways to keep the dishcloths clean:

Just clean the dishcloth in the dishwasher! All I do is leverage a bowl of cup against the dishcloth on the top shelf of the dishwasher and let it run as usual. Because the dishwasher gets so incredibly hot, it will completely clean and sanitize your kitchen cloth.
Or...a few people have now told me to try cleaning the dishcloth in the microwave. Apparently you can put a thoroughly moistened dishcloth right into the microwave and heat on high for about 30 seconds or so. Be careful not to burn yourself when you take the dish cloth out again! Or...how about killing two cleaning chores with one stone? Try popping the above mentioned dishcloth in the microwave for 30 seconds or so, and then just let it sit in there for about ten minutes. Your dishcloth will get cleaned AND all of the accumulated steam inside the microwave will make it easy to clean - just wipe that dishcloth around the interior of the microwave and you've got a gorgeous, lovely, clean microwave now!

Household Hints - Use Shaving Cream to Anti-Fog Your Bathroom Mirrors

2007-07-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun tip for the day: use foaming shave cream (not shave gel) to make your bathroom mirrors anti-fogging! No more foggy, steamy mirrors after a shower. Just use some as a cleaner on the mirrors and then wipe off.

Household Hints - Cleaning - Removing spilled Candle Wax from Furniture

2007-06-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

I love candles, but I hate the pools of spilled wax that I sometimes find left behind on furniture. It's not as hard as you might think to remove the wax...here are a few tips to help:

1. Remove as much of the surface spilled wax as you possibly can. Use something that won't cause further damage to the furniture - something like a plastic spatula with a squared off edge will help you scrape off the wax.
2. Use a soft cloth to remove more of the wax - adding a little furniture wax will help.

Another handy tip - to get old bits of candle wax out of your favorite votive candle holders - just pop it in the freezer! After a few hours, the old bits of wax should pop right out, leaving you with a lovely, fresh candle holder just waiting for a new votive.

Household Hints - Haircare - Easy Homemade Conditioning Spray

2007-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

From my Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Newsletter back in 2001!

Easy Conditioning Spray
Here's a super-simple idea that I like to use occasionally. When even
regular conditioning isn't enough, you can add a few tablespoons of
good hair conditioner to a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with water,
and shake well to combine. You can then use this as a leave-in
conditioner that will make your hair feel great.

Household Hints - How to Clean a Baking Stone

2007-06-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

CLEANING Household Hints - Baking Stones
Thanks to our newsletter subscribers for these great tips on how to clean a baking stone! For more household hints and to join our newsletter, just visit Kitchen Crafts 'n' More's Website.

1. "To clean your pizza baking stone - sprinkle with baking soda & rub lightly with a damp cloth. Rinse well. Works great!"Submitted by Connie

2. " Scrape off as much as you can using the edge of of a plastic pancake turner or something similar. Don't worry about leaving a stain; as you use the stone and it gets older you''re bound to get more stains..It just helps to "season" the stone. The next time you use the stone give it a light spray of Pam.This may help with any discoloration and any stuck on food." Submitted by Paula

3. "I have one and it looks totally disgusting! But I understand from several sources that the more you use it, the better it works. And cleaning it only with warm water is against our idea of "cleaning." But if you use any soap or cleaner on it, it absorbs the soap and leaves that taste. So keep using, rinsing with water. The uglier, the better the food tastes. It's also good for baking french fries & onion rings (frozen), cookies & biscuit (I use parchment paper here)." Submitted by Ann

Household Hints - Use a Fabric Softener Sheet to Dust With

2007-05-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Just use a used fabric softener sheet (such as Downy or Bounce sheets) to dust your electronics and all around your home! It works really well.

More fun cleaning tips all the time at http://www.happyslob.com - the Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning

All of our Baking Soda Hints and Tips and Uses

2007-04-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

P.S. If you're looking for all sorts of ways to use baking soda around the home, check out the list I've compiled so far at: Baking Soda Hints Database ...Enjoy!

Household Hints - Baking Soda Uses - For Bee and Wasp Sting Relief

2007-04-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Here's an email I just received from Renee...

Hi,

Here's something you might consider adding in your Baking Soda Database.

For bee and wasp stings, make a thick paste and apply. Stops the stinging almost immediately.

I'm told it works for ant bites too but haven't tried it myself.

Love your website! Renée :-)

Household Hints - Free Sewing Tips - Sharpening Shears

2007-03-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

You can't just sharpen your pinking shears as you would normal scissors. Instead, cut your pinking shears through coarse sandpaper to get them sharpened - just a few cuts will do the trick and you'll be surprised by how much sharper the shears will be!

Household Hints - Free Sewing Tips - Sewing on Buttons

2007-03-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a handy tip on getting your buttons to stay on longer. The trick is to use nylon fishing line to sew the buttons on to the garment! It is far stronger than regular thread, and will keep your buttons securely attached to your clothes for a lot longer. Meaning: less buttons to sew on later!

Household Hints - How to get T-shirts and other clothes SUPER White and Clean - Laundry Tips

2007-02-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

This one was submitted by Carol in my Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Newsletter way back in 2001.

Add 1/2 cup 20 mule team borax along with bleach and laundry detergent to keep white things white. Of course remember Hot water with whites whenever you're washing.

Household Hints - How to Make Your Own Hummingbird Feeder Nectar

2007-02-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

I have always made my own Nectar for the hummingbirds at a 3 to one ratio of water to sugar. For example 3 cups of water to 1 cup sugar, and then I boil the mixture to prevent it from spoiling.(This will fill 2 feeders).I have also seen recipes that call for a 4 to 1 ratio, but I prefer to make it with the 3 to 1 ratio. Do not use honey or artificial sweeteners it must be sugar. You will cause malnutrition with honey or artificial sweeteners.I always have lots of hummingbirds around who really enjoy this nectar. (I have heard that red food colouring will ruin their kidneys, I don't know if this is true or not so I do not add it to the nectar just in case it is true, I just make sure the feeder is red.)

Submitted by Cheryl

Household Hints - Removing Odors and Stains from Carpets

2007-02-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

1 bottle hydrogen peroxice
1 T. baking soda
1 T. dish soap

Mix together, put on area where smell is. I rub it with a scrub brush and then blot with a towel.So far, I have had a great experience with it. And I used it on bright blue carpet and avocado green carpet, no problem.

Thanks to Laura for sending in this great tip on removing carpet stains and odors! For more natural cleaner recipes, visit http://www.happyslob.com

Household Hints - Cleaning - Microfiber Cloths to Dust

2007-02-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

Use microfiber cloths for dusting and you don't even need furniture polish! They're also great for wiping fingerprints off stainless appliances as well as cleaning mirrors and eyeglasses.

Submitted by Laura

Household Hints - Make Your Own Flavored Microwave Oatmeal

2007-02-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Instead of buying those pre-made packets of flavored oatmeal, I just make up interesting flavors myself! I use regular, quick cooking oats (which are more healthful for you than the instant kind in those envelopes of pre-made mix), and experiment by adding spices like cinnamon, dried fruit (raisins, apricots, craisins - dried cranberries - dried cherries, etc) and even some chopped nuts.

All it takes is 1/3 cup of uncooked quick cooking oats with 2/3 cup of water. Mix together, and cook in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Stir well and add your favorite additions to the mix, and cook on high for 45 more seconds. Let sit for a minute or two to thicken up a bit. Delicious! It's cheaper and better for you - and it really does taste a lot better.

Other ideas to flavor your own oatmeal:

* Maple syrup or maple sugar add a lot of natural sweet flavor

For more fun ideas and household hints, visit my website: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net

Household Hints - Keep Fresh Herbs Fresher Longer

2007-02-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a handy household hint that we tell people at the kitchenwares shop where I work. To keep your fresh herbs (that you buy at the grocery store) fresher longer in your fridge, just wrap some moistened paper towels at the bottom of the herbs, and place loosely in a plastic zipper-type baggie. :) It should keep your fresh herbs useable and lovely for longer - and tasting delicious for all your favorite recipes.

Household Hints - How to Clean CDs - Using Windex to Clean CDs

2007-02-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law uses windex to clean the DVD's and CD's.
Submitted by Charles

Household Hints - Pet Hair Removal - Getting Pet Hair off Furniture and Clothes

2007-02-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

We love our pets, but we don't love the fur they leave behind all over our clothes and furniture! An easy solution: lightly mist a pair of rubber gloves with some water. (Some people also swear by using the Very Vinegar Solution all Happy Slobs know and love.)

Wipe the moistened rubber glove all over the clothing or furniture that you want to remove the pet hair from. The hair should collect up into a ball, and will be easy for you to pick off and remove from the surface.

Have any great household hints to share? Please send them to me (Christina) at christina@happyslob.com

Household Hints - Natural Cleaning Tips - Baking Soda Cleaner

2007-02-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

One of my very favorite natural, non-toxic cleaners that you can find right in your own pantry is baking soda. Of course, there are many uses for cleaning with baking soda (many of my favorites are listed at: Baking Soda Uses on HappySlob.com) but one very easy use you can try right away is to replace your harsh, chemical powdered cleansers with good old baking soda.

It's especially great for cleaning out pots and pans, scrubbing the bathtub, or cleaning out sinks. Just sprinkle the baking soda on, scrub it with a scrubby sponge, and rinse away the gunk and goo. :) It'll look great!

Household Hints - Disinfect Surfaces with Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

2007-02-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

How to Disinfect Surfaces - Handy for in the kitchen or bathroom

To disinfect surfaces, spray with a mist of straight vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide. Allow to sit for five minutes. Then wipe with a paper towel or clean cloth.

Submitted by Laura

Household Hints - Cleaning Wood Floors - Simple Cleaning Tips for Hardwood Floors

2007-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

I'm all about EASY cleaning and so I really loved this tip that Laura sent in about cleaning hardwood floors. Here's what she wrote:

Use only a damp mop to clean wood floors.

Not only is this (obviously) completely NON-TOXIC, but it's incredibly cheap and easy. Just be sure to use a lightly damp mop - you don't want to soak the hardwood floor. You just need enough moisture to pick up the dirt. A little spray of an essential oil such as lavender or mandarin would just make the floor (and the whole room for that matter) smell really great!

Happy Slob's Housecleaning Tips - FREE

Household Hints - Cleaning Tips - How to Clean a Coffeepot

2007-01-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

Wondering how to get your glass coffee pot (carafe) clean and sparkling? If it's become foggy looking, this is a great tip on how to get it clean again. Sent in by Karen.

Swirl Ice cubes in pot. It does the trick and it’s easy. You could also put vinegar in it or lemon juice in with the cubes.

Household Hints - Substitutions - Substitute for Buttermilk in Recipes

2007-01-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Carolyn for this handy household/baking hint:

When you need to substitute 1 cup of buttermilk, just use 2/3 cup of regular yogurt and 1/3 cup of plain milk. Mix together and use in place of the buttermilk called for in your recipes.

Household Hints - Cooking - How to Make Perfect Hard Cooked Eggs (for Sandwiches and Egg Salad)

2006-12-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

From: Joe Nouhan, chef, Bay Wolf, Oakland:

For perfect hard-cooked eggs with no green ring, start the eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.

Household Hints - Cleaning - Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Countertops & Cutting Boards

2006-12-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a
fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishcloth when you wipe, or spray it
on the counters.

Submitted by Carolyn

Christina's Note:
I also love using hydrogen peroxide to clean cutting boards - it works to kill germs, but isn't as hard on you as bleach is.

Free Household Hints - How to Keep a Mixing Bowl from Slipping

2006-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Slippy mixing bowls can be a bother in the kitchen - so try these tips to keep your mixing bowls in place on your countertop:

Moisten a kitchen towel with water, and place on the countertop. Put the bowl on top - the bowl will stick to the moistened towel, leaving both of your hands free to make dressings, sauces, etc.
Or...create a rope snake with a kitchen towel, and make a donut-shape of it on the kitchen counter. Place the bowl inside the towel and it will hold your bowl in place.

Have great kitchen or household tips to share? Please send them to christina@happyslob.com and I'll include them on the blog!

Household Hints - Cooking - Make a More Flavorful Roast Chicken

2006-12-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

To up the flavor of your roast chickens, try stuffing the cavity of the bird with whole heads of peeled garlic, large chunks of peeled onion, whole bunches of fresh herbs or even wedges of lemon. The flavors will make your roasted chicken taste delicious - plus the veggies or wedges of lemon will create a moister chicken as well. :) Enjoy!

Household Hints - Making Sauces/Cooking - Cooling a Sauce Quickly

2006-12-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

If you need to cool a sauce or pudding quickly, try this trick: Just put the pan into a shallow baking pan that has been partially filled with cool water. You may need to change the water with cooler water again, as the hot pan will warm the water.

This will cool your sauces/puddings or custards quickly and easily, so they'll be ready to serve faster!

Household and Baking Hints - How to Make Softer Cookies

2006-11-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

If you want cookies like sugar cookies or peanut butter cookies to stay soft when they cool, bake them with a loaf pan with about 2 inches of water in it also in the oven (don’t let the pan touch the heating element). After the cookies cool, store them in an airtight container.

**Thanks to Carolyn for sending in this hint!**

Household Hints - Cleaning - Cleaning Chrome and Removing Rust from Chrome

2006-11-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

To remove rust from chrome, wipe it with aluminum foil dipped in Coke. To polish chrome, use a crumbled up piece of aluminum foil and rub

Household Hints - Natural Ant Repellant

2006-11-22T09:14:00.000-08:00

Ant Repellant: To keep ants out of the house, find where the ants are entering the house and sprinkle a "barrier" of cinnamon or any type of ground pepper to block their way. The spices are too hot for the ants to cross.

Household Hints - Laundry - Lint Removal Tips

2006-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

When you are washing things that attract lint put some heavy net in with your clothes. It grabs all the lint. Every now and then wash the net to get the lint off of it

Thanks to Shelly for this household hint!

Household Hints - Cleaning Stained Marble Surfaces

2006-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

For heavier stains, take three or four cakes of Ivory soap, cut them up and disolve in hot water until you have a "slurp."

Paint this on the marble and let it sit for five days or so. If the gunk starts to dry during that time, consider slopping some more on -- or wetting it down.At the end of the period, hose and wash it all off. Presto, the marble is as good as new!

Thanks to Carolyn for submitting this household hint!

Household Hints: Baking - Instead of Using Pam and Cooking Sprays - Try This

2006-11-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Instead of using Pam and other cooking sprays, just use olive oil or canola oil (or any other heart healthy oil) in a spray bottle. You'll find specialty spray bottles just for use with oil at kitchenwares shops or online at places like eBay.

This way you're using a natural product, which is actually good for you. But, by using the spray on cookware and on salads, you'll limit the amount of oils you're eating.

Household Hints - Keep Kitty Litter Clean and Fresh Smelling

2006-11-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

Here are two ways to keep plain kitty litter smelling fresher and cleaner:

1. (Submitted by a reader) Sprinkle baby powder in the litter every time you change it.
2. My favorite tip - I sprinkle baking soda in the kitty litter every time I change the cat litter box. It helps to neutralize odors SO well, and it's natural so it's safe for my pets. :)

Household Hints - Baking and Frosting Cakes - How to Turn Chocolate Frosting into Black Frosting

2006-10-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

To turn regular brown chocolate frosting into pure black frosting, simply add drops of blue food coloring to the icing until it turns the shade of black that you're looking for.

Submitted by Dorina

Household Hints - Fruits and Vegetables - Remove Stickers from Fruit without Damaging It

2006-10-29T10:34:00.000-08:00

Removing Stickers From Fruit
If you don't want to gouge or damage the skin while trying to get the
ID stickers off, try this: Put a tiny piece of transparent tape on top
of the sticker and it should lift right off.
Submitted by Dorina

Household Hints - for Coffee Lovers - Choose Less Oily Coffee Beans

2006-10-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

At work, my boss is a real coffee connoiseur - and as such, she recommends to customers that when grinding their own coffee beans, they should choose a LESS oily type of coffee bean. Some coffee beans (including Starbucks brand) can be very oily, and can actually gum up the workings of many coffee grinders.

She says that when you look at the coffee beans, you should be able to tell that they're not OVERLY oily - the surface should look more matte than glossy.

More coffee tips & recipes all the time at: The Coffee Creations Blog

Household Hints - Use Paper Towel Paper Tubes for Extension Cords

2006-10-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Tammy wrote:

use empty paper towel rolls to store extention cords inside
them

Another use I love for paper towel tubes is to use as a cat toy! My cats have always loved these...I'll even attach a piece of yarn to it so I can drag it along and they have great fun attacking the paper towel roll. Just make sure all the paper towel is off the roll, or else you'll have a real mess on your hands!

Keywords: recycle, paper towels, paper towel tubes, paper towel rolls, re-use, homemade cat toys, fun toys for cats, make your own cat toys, ways to recycle paper towel containers

Household Hints - Pests and Bug Repellants - Keep Bugs Away While You're Walking

2006-10-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Tammy suggests: "put dryer sheets in your pockets to keep mosqitoes and bees
away while you're walking outdoors."

Household Hints - Storing Vegetables - Don't Store Onions and Potatoes Together

2006-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here's one of those crazy hints that I WISH I had known years ago. :) For years I've stored my potatoes and onions together in one bin, and (duh!) always wondered why my potatoes kept going bad so quickly.

Lo and behold, a friend tells me that you shouldn't store potatoes and onions together, because they cause each other to go bad. Now that I store them separately, both the potatoes and onions stay fresher (and usable) longer, and I'm very happy about that.

Thought I'd pass the helpful tip on to all of you readers!
Christina
http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net

Household Hints - Cleaning - Use Salt and Vinegar

2006-10-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Over on my other website - http://www.happyslob.com - I write a lot about using baking soda and vinegar together to clean. But, I've found a new set of favorites too -- using vinegar (or lemon juice) and plain old table salt.

The vinegar is very acidic, and the table salt helps add some grit to the mixture. This is a great mixture to use to scrub the bathtub or shower, or sinks...anywhere you need a scrubby mixture to really clean surfaces. Enjoy!

Household Hints - Use Ziplock Bags for Leftovers

2006-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

I find when cooking meals for a large crowd like the Thanksgiving that we just celebrated there is never enough room in the fridge for the left over food so I store them in zip lock bags they take up far less room in the fridge. Every time I do this every one thinks it is such a good idea so I thought I would pass it along to you.

~Submitted by Cathy~

Household Hints - Houseplants - Use Epsom Salts for Healthy Plants

2006-10-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Epsom salt for your house plants.
1 t. per plant. For large plants, 1 t. per foot. You can put it on dry at the base of plant or mix in the water. This is great for the garden too, especially the tomatoes. You will notice a difference in the foliage within a week or two as the plants just love it.

~Submitted by a reader - thanks!~

Household Hints - How to Remove Sticky Price Tags and Labels

2006-10-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate when that sticky price tag or label just won't come off? Here are a few tips from readers (and me!) for removing price tags without any residue left behind:

Stickers, Decals, and Glue: To remove them from furniture, glass, plastic, etc. saturate with vegetable oil and rub off. (This was submitted by a reader)
Use a small amount of smooth (not chunky) peanut butter. Rub it on the label and let sit for a while. The oiliness will help to remove the sticky residue and the label itself.
Goo Gone is a product that works to remove residue when nothing else you've tried will work. Here's information on it: Goo Gone® - 8oz.

The ladies in the shop where I work all swear by this stuff!

Household Hints - Baking - Using Baking Soda and Salt in Recipes

2006-10-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a hint you can use: When you have a recipe that calls for salt and baking soda, the salt can be omitted entirely. Baking Soda is naturally salty and the better of the two used in a recipe. Hope this helps.

Submitted by Kathy

Household Hints - Cooking and Freezing - Store Flour and Breadcrumbs so they Don't Go Bad

2006-10-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

I freeze fine breadcrumbs and flour to avoid them going bad or attracting bugs. No need to defrost, just take what you need.

Submitted by Linda

Household Hints - Frugal Tips & Cooking - Freezing Ground Beef

2006-10-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Ground beef sale: Buy regular ground beef, cook and season, spread on cookie sheets to cool. Put in Ziploc sandwich size bags – they hold one pound (cooked), then freeze. It defrosts faster (about an hour) and it makes preparing supper faster.

Submitted by Linda

Household Hints - Cooking - Freeze Leftover Grated Cheese

2006-10-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

If you only use grated mozzarella cheese, grate it all, put in container or Ziploc freezer bag and put in freezer. When needed, just scrape amount needed with fork and put in recipe. It defrosted in minutes, and it is cost saving.

Submitted by Linda

Household Hints - Cleaning - Cleaning Screen Doors

2006-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Christina: Just finished cleaning the windows (ready for winter) and for a number of years now, I have been cleaning the screens with a lint brush..works like a charm with no mess.

Submitted by Verona

A Funny Household Hint from the 1600's

2006-10-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

The good chatelaine of the 1600's should strew fresh straw on the floor of her dwelling at least once a month during the winter to keep down the noxious odors? and then remove all in the spring cleaning.

Submitted by Judi

Household Hints - Baking - Great Tip for Scooping Cookie Dough

2006-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Use a tablespoon size ice cream scoop when making cookies. The dough comes out really easily and you get the same size cookies every time.

Submitted by Sue W.

Household Hints - Cooking - Don't Crack Boiled Eggs

2006-10-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

When hard boiling eggs add a little vinegar to the water and if they crack the white won't come out as much.

Submitted by Sue W.

Household Hints - Cooking - How to Make Softer Chocolate Chip Cookies

2006-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Add a little cornstarch to chocolate chip cookie dough-with a recipe of about 2c flour use 1 heaping teaspoon, and with 4c flour use a tablespoon. This keeps the cookie soft on the inside.

Submitted by Sue W.

Household Hints - Ants and Pests - Get Rid of Ants Using Bay Leaves

2006-10-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

This summer I had a bad ant problem in my kitchen. I tried everything I could think of, spraying, ant traps, and etc.

My friend told me this one. She said put bay leaves along your counter top and on floor or any where you see them, and by golly it works. I guess they don't like the smell of them.

Submitted by Joan S.

Household Hints - Laundry and Stain Removal - Removing Grease Stains with Toothpaste

2006-10-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Christina:

My daughter had a grease stain on her sweatshirt, and black marks on
her hockey socks which I could not get off with any stain remover, or by
soaking.

So, I got out the Crest Whitening Expressions, Lemon Ice flavoured
toothpaste, and put it on all of the stains. I rubbed the toothepast on the
garments and let them sit there for 5 minutes.

I put the shirt and socks in the wash with Tide. When the wash was
done there was no grease stain, and nearly all of the black marks were
gone. The marks that were left on the socks were not noticeable.

Submitted by: Catherine

Household Hints - Laundry - Save Time on Laundry Day by Sorting

2006-10-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

To save time and my sanity on laundry day I have everyone sort their own clothes when they take them off each day. I use a different colored basket for different color loads. ie: white basket for white loads, blue for darks, green for hubby's work clothes, and red for brights. This also helped my daughter learn to sort things by color. If you do laundry more than 1 day per week, this will help you see at a glance what you have a full load of to wash.

Submitted by Janice Z.

** Need More Help with the Laundry? **
Linda Cobb shows you how to remove ANY stain:
The Royal Guide to Spot and Stain Removal

Household Hints - How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

2006-10-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

To get rid of those pesky fruit flies

Put a little glass with about a quarter inch of apple cider vinegar and a couple of drops of dish soap, stir, and it attracts those pesky little buggers, and then they are gone.

Replace everyday, till the little critters are gone.

Submitted by Missy

Household Hints - Gardening & Recycling - Use for Old Blinds in the Garden

2006-10-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

If you have an old venetian blind that you're replacing, save the slats by cutting them out of the blind and use them as plant markers in your garden. You can cut them as tall or as short as you need.

Submitted by Roberta

Household Hints - Gardening - For New Seedlings

2006-10-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

When putting out new seedlings in the garden, buy a box of wooden kitchen matches and insert one right up against the stem of the tiny seedling. This prevents the creepy-crawlies from cutting off the stem. It works especially well against cut worms which tend to cut off the stems at ground level.

Submitted by Roberta

Household Hints - Laundry - Use Vinegar as a Fabric Softener

2006-10-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

I no longer waste money on fabric softeners that tend to clog up the screen in my dryer over time. I now use vinegar in the last rinse cycle and the clothes come out softer than with the expensive alternative.

Submitted by Roberta K.

Household Hints - Beauty Skincare - Using a Micoplane to Remove Calluses on Feet

2006-10-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

When people first hear this tip, they're skeptical. But, Microplanes are excellent for getting rid of even the driest and hardest skin on your heels. These have become so popular that Microplane has even developed a special product JUST for removing hardened skin on the bottom of your feet: Microplane Foot File

Use after taking a warm bath, to soften the skin and make it easier to remove the hard calluses. Be careful as these are sharp, and you'll only want to remove a bit of skin at a time, rather than take too much off your heels and cause pain.

After removing hard skin from heels, be sure to moisturize with a rich foot cream. Peppermint foot creams are especially soothing and have a nice cooling feel.

Household Hints - Make Your Own Dried Citrus Peels (Lemon, Lime, Orange)

2006-10-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

Drying your own citrus peels is ridiculously easy AND very cheap to do. You'll need a decent citrus zester - such as OXO Good Grips Lemon Zester . The Good Grips brand is an especially nice one to use if you have Arthritis, as the grips are larger and easier to grasp.

First, ensure that you've properly and thoroughly dried the citrus fruit you're going to dry the zest of. (I like using baking soda and water -- make a paste of it and use to really scrub the outside of the fruit.) Wash the baking soda residue away and then remove all of the outer layer of zest from the fruit. Leave the white pith behind - it's bitter and doesn't have essential oils in it like the outer layer of peel does.

Lay the citrus zests out on a parchment lined cookie sheet for a few days - especially great laid out in a sunny window, as the sun will help dry the peelings even faster. When the peelings are totally dried, pour into a jar and keep for your baking. Easy, and delicious!

Household Hints: Use Lemon, Lime or Orange Peels for Moister Brown Sugar

2006-10-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Another easy tip to prevent your brown sugar from getting hard and lumpy -- add a generous fresh peeling from a citrus fruit such as an orange, lemon or lime. The moisture from the fruit peel will prevent your brown sugar from going hard! (Just make sure to wash the fruit thoroughly before peeling to remove any pesticides, etc.)

Household Hints - Kitchen - Make Fancy Ice Cubes

2006-10-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

Making fancy ice cubes doesn't take any special ice cube trays. Try these easy ideas to add pizzazz to regular old ice cubes:

In a regular ice cube tray, fill as normal with water. Add a small leaf of mint to each ice cube and/or a tiny section of lemon, lime or orange. These are great served with special drinks! Once the ice cubes freeze, the mint and or citrus will be imbedded inside, adding a special touch.
Tovolo Perfect Cube Yellow Silicone Ice Cube Trays, Set of 2

Household Hints - Laundry - Keep Socks together in the Wash

2006-10-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

Another easy way to stop losing those mysterious lone socks is to put them all together in a laundry-safe mesh bag. (Sometimes you can also find lingerie washing bags that will work great too.) This way you'll finally stop losing those socks!

New Colors! Adult Argyle Knee High Riding Socks

Household Hints - Photography - Take Better Family Pictures

2006-10-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

One great hint for new (and always improving) photographers is this - get low. The best pictures are taken when you're on the same level as your subject. If, for instance, you're taking baby pictures, then squat down and get the photo on the same level -- the photos feel far more personal and look a lot more professional this way.

Household Hints - How to Melt Chocolate

2006-10-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

Melting chocolate is easy.

Use either a double boiler OR a pot of barely simmering water over which you've fitted either a Pyrex or a stainless steel mixing bowl. Add your chocolate in the top and gently melt until almost all of the chocolate has melted and then remove the bowl from the heat. The residual heat will help melt the last bits of unmelted chocolate.

The secret to great melted chocolate is to NEVER get any water in the bowl. The water causes the chocolate to seize up, so just make sure to use a large enough bowl on the top and to have the water on at barely a simmer. :) You should get beautifully melted chocolate this way!