HELPFUL HINTS THAT THAT MIGHT MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER

To clean your microwave, just heat ½ a cup of vinegar in the microwave. The vinegar loosens all fat. Wipe the microwave with a clean cloth. ------------------------------------

If you have cut yourself, and this cut is deep and does not want to stop, pour a heap of pepper on the cut, it does not burn, and the bleeding will stop immediately. ---------------------------

Alcohol-based mouthwash was first developed as an
antiseptic for surgery, so next time you get a small cut,
dab the area with a mouthwash soaked cotton ball! ---------------------------------------------

Whenever you repair something or take it apart, tape the
nuts, bolts or screws to the object so that you won't
misplace any tiny pieces. ---------------------------------
　
The most important item below is the last one, about the clothes dryer! It could save your your home from a fire, and maybe your life! DID YOU KNOW? ------------------------------

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it.. That's how the primates do it. I tried this and it works---------------------------------

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster. ---------------------------------------

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold! ------------------------------------------

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking. ----------------------------------

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking. -------------------------------------

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up. ------------------------------

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting. ------------------

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic. ---------------------------------------------

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yum -----------------------------------------------

1. Reheat PizzaHeat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.-------------------------------------------------

2. Easy Deviled EggsPut cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.----------------

3. Expanding FrostingWhen you buy a container of cake frosting from the st ore, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.-------------------------

4. Reheating refrigerated breadTo warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.-------------------------------------------------

5. Newspaper weeds away Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.---------------------------------------------------

6. Broken GlassUse a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.---------------------------------------------------

7. No More MosquitoesPlace a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.-------------------

8. Squirrel Away!To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.--------

9. Flexible vacuum To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.---------------------------------------------------

10. Reducing Static ClingPin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone. ------------------------------------

11. Measuring Cups Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.-----------------------------------------------

12. Foggy Windshield?Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car . When the windows fog, rub with the eraser!
Works better than a cloth!--------------------------------------------------------

13. Reopening envelopeIf you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two.
Viola! It unseals easily.----------------------------------------

14. ConditionerUse your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...---------------------------------------

15. Goodbye Fruit FliesTo get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!---------------------------------------------------------

16. Get Rid of AntsPut small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it"home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!--------------------------------

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like.Well,...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the bestway to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share! Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. Thewater ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it -- the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any pudding at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about
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I have done the sock and rice as a heating pad thing as well,tell your readers to add dried lavender or rosemary and mixthem up with the rice. It’s so soothing when they are heated up. Lavender especially!
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Hints #1
Share your popcorn when you’re at the movies instead ofbuying multiple cartons or bags. You’ll save money andpackaging. Americans today consume seventeen billion quartsof popcorn each year (54 quarts per person), 30 percent ofwhich are eaten at movie theaters.
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Hints #2
For a quick and luscious icing, place a layer of chocolatemint patties over a freshly baked cake while it is stillhot and leave until the mints soften. Spread with a spatula.For a variation, try flavors such as orange or rum patties
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Kathie shares a tip with all of us…..I’ve found something better than salt for cleaning burnt on foods…even works on Corning Ware. Put a scoop of powdered dish washer soap in the container, fill with HOT HOT waterand let set overnight. Most burned on residue will floatoff in the morning and requires minimal scrubbing.
Hints Holly
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Save Money Behind The Wheel Carpooling limits the amount of time you spend behind the wheel which reduces stress and saves you time. Secondly,carpooling cuts down on the wear and tear on your car, the amount of gas you use every week, not to mention reducing the pollutants in the air by having less cars on the road. You can carpool to and from work, kids´ activities, etc.
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Hints
Pack as little in your car as necessary so it has less weightto carry. If your car has less weight to carry, it usesless gas, therefore saving you money.
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HINTS
Some insurance companies will give you a package deal ifyou purchase more than one type of insurance with them.Therefore, if you buy auto insurance and home insurance,you could get a discount for having two policies with thesame insurance agency. Doesn´t hurt to ask.
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Hints
Prevent fresh fruit from getting crushed in your grocery bags. Simply blow air into the plastic bag containing thefruit and tie it so that the air cannot escape. When thefruit is packed in the paper bag, the air in the bag actsas a cushion for the fruit on its ride home.
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Hints
If you have trouble closing seals on tupperware, run themunder hot water for approximately 20 seconds and snap close!
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Hints
Many chains, like Starbucks, will give you 10 cents off whenyou skip their throw-away cups (which clogs landfills) andbring your own mug!
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Hints
Don’t panic if your soup’s too salty: Add cut raw potatoes and throw them away once they are cooked and have absorbed the salt. Your soup’s saved!
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Hints
After drying sheets, put both sheets and one pillowcase inthe other pillow case. Fold neatly in a square. Next time you change sheets, you just take the one pillow case and all the sheets and pillow case are inside. No need to look for matches.
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Hints
Applying mud to a bee sting will take away the sting, as well as the stinger.
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Hints
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that wererefrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup ofwater. The increased moisture will keep the food moist andhelp it reheat faster.
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Hints
To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in withthe litter.
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Hints
Many nurseries give unsold healthy trees and shrubs away
for free at the end of all seasons. Check your local nursery.
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Hints
Using a dishwasher actually uses about 35% less water than
washing dishes by hand. And, if you skip the drying cycle
and let the dishes air dry you’ll use about 15% less
electricity. But, always make sure that the dishwasher has
a full load before running it. Although a dishwasher saves
on water, running several half loads per day will end up
wasting more than it saves.
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Hints
Ladies this ones for you...No more mascara clumps! Give your
wand a glance before sweeping on your mascara: if it looks
cakey, apply a little Vaseline over the bristles, then wipe
with a paper towel--the excess mascara will glide right off,
giving you a clean want -- and great looking lashes!
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Hint
Thinking about buying a new car? Four-door cars generally
have lower insurance rates than two-door cars. Check the
insurance rate on your prospective car before buying.
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Hints
Athlete's Foot: Sprinkle cornstarch on your feet and in your shoes.
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Hints
When you've finished a bottle of ketchup, make use of the
residue: add a little water or vinegar and shake, then use
the liquid to flavour soups, stews or salad dressings.
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Hints
Unclog sinks by....
Pour 1 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 3 cups
boiling water. Repeat a few times. Still clogged? Follow up
the baking soda with 1 cup white vinegar. Then cover the
drain so the mixture doesn't bubble out. Leave overnight.
In the morning, flush with 2 cups of boiling water.
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Hints
Keep rubber bands in the fridge....they'll last longer.
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Hints
Remove furniture dents by running a key or coin over the
indentation. The carpet will fluff up again!
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Hints
Crush dry, used tea leaves, sprinkle on carpet and let is
sit for 10 minutes or so to absorb odors then vacuum up the
leaves. Your carpets will be odor-free.
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Handy Hints #1
No-rinse shower sprays really work as long as you use them
regularly; and since they prevent buildup, you never have
to scrub!
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Hints
Flush your toilet bowl rings. Put 1/4 cup of white vinegar
in a spray bottle and fill with water. Spray under the rim
once a day and flush--and you'll go twice as long before
you need to don those rubber gloves and scrub!
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Hints
Out of glass cleaner? A strong, alcohol-based mouthwash
will work as well as, or better than, glass cleaner on your
computer monitor or TV screen. Apply with a damp, soft cloth
and buff dry. Remember to use only on glass screens, not
liquid crystal displays! The alcohol can damage the material
used in LCDs.
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Hints
After you shave your legs, they may feel rough and irritated.
Rub on hair conditioner; it acts like a lotion and can
soothe the hurt away.
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Hints
You could donate the shredded paper to your local vet's
office. When cats and kittens get declawed they cannot use
cat litter in their boxes for at least a week as it is
very harsh on their sensitive paws. The vet's suggest
shredded paper as it is softer on their sore paws and it
is easy to dispose of.
-- Use it as kindling for your fireplace
-- Packing material for my household glass and knic-knacs.
　
-- Take some of you shredded paper, as long as there is no
plastic in it, and use it as mulch in your garden. After
applying, be sure to wet it down and cover it with a
little dirt so it won't blow into you neighbors yard.
Also, shredded newspaper is good for mixing with the soil.
It will help the worms burrow and they will also eat the
shredded newspaper giving your yard a little softness to
it. In my area, the soil was a very thick clay like
substance and I started doing this to my yard and my grass
is greener and a lot spongier than my neighbors.
-- You can uses shredded paper in place of easter grass. If
you really want the colored cellophane grass, use some
shredded paper underneath and the expensive grass on top.
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Hints
If one of your birthday wishes is to keep candle wax off
the frosting on the cake, try this trick: Push each candle
into a marshmallow and set the marshmallow atop the frosting.
The wax will melt onto the marshmallow, which you can
discard. Meanwhile, the marshmallows will add a festive
look to the cake.
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Hints
An annoying, buzzing housefly has been bobbing and weaving
around your house for two days. Make it bite the dust with
a squirt of hair spray. Take aim and fire. Watch the fly
drop. But make sure the hair spray is water-soluble so that,
if any spray hits the walls, you'll be able to wipe it
clean. Works on wasps and bees too.
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Hints:
Replacing your car's air filter can improve gas mileage
by 10 percent.
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Hints
Wrapping rubber bands around the ends of hangers can
prevent clothes from slipping off.
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