All Natural Household Cleaning Solutions
Save time and money by trying these simple household cleaners! (Info)
Window Cleaner -
Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 quart warm water.
Floor Cleaner -
Mix 1 cup vinegar with 2 gallons water.
Glass Coffee Pot Cleaner -
Place crushed ice, salt and sliced lemons in pot and swirl till clean.
Furniture polish -
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 3/4 cup oil (olive, vegetable, lemon).
Brass, Copper, and Pewter Cleaner -
Mix equal parts salt and vinegar, then thicken with flour.
General Cleaner -
Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water, or use plain baking soda with a wet sponge.
Disinfecting/Deodorizing Cleaner -
Mix 1/2 cup Borax in 1 gallon hot water.
Mildew Remover -
Mix 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of cold water.
Telephone Cleaner -
Clean with rubbing alcohol.
Eyeglass Cleaner -
Mix 8 ounces of ammonia with 32 ounces of rubbing alcohol.
Daily Shower Cleaner -
1 cup vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap, and 1/4 cup dishwasher rinse agent.
Oven Cleaner -
Baking Soda and Vinegar.
Drain Cleaner -
Add 1/2 cup baking soda, then pour one cup of vinegar down drain. Let sit for 20 minutes, then flush with water.
Woodwork Cleaner -
Used cold tea for cleaning any kind of woodwork.
Dusting -
Re-use dryer sheets for dusting instead of the new Pledge or Swiffer cloths.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner -
Drop denture cleaning tablet into bowl and let sit.
Carpet Deodorizer -
Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on carpet. Vacuum after 30 minutes.
Aluminum Cleaner -
Mix 2 tablespoons cream of tartar with 1 quart hot water.
Tub and Tile Cleaner -
Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar.
Try some of these all natural solutions next time you clean. They are made with products that you probably have on hand, and they are safe to use. I hope that they work as well for you as they have for me!
Contributed by:
Sandy Shields
©1999-2002 The Frugal Shopper
Website: The Frugal Shopper
I don't spend a lot of money decorating my home. Many people
don't want to spend the time or money to decorate with the
seasons, but over the years I have learned some ways to
creatively seasonally decorate that have cost little or next to
nothing.
Because I work a lot, I don't spend very much time decorating my
home. When I'm updating my home to a new seasonal theme, I don't
spend more than a couple of hours arranging and rearranging to
get a nice seasonal effect. Here are some of the ways I've
learned to organize my seasonal accessories:
- I store my seasonal decorations in several large stackable
Rubbermaid containers: two for Christmas, one for Easter/spring,
and one for autumn/Thanksgiving. When I'm ready to change
themes, I get out the one(s) to put things away in, dust or
otherwise clean the area(s) where the new decorations will sit,
and then get out the new decorations. The storage containers get
put back away, and everything is still organized for next season.
Make sure you mark the containers in some way to know which one
is which. Color coding them buy buying different colored
containers works well.
- You will inevitably forget to put something away and stumble
across it when you're cleaning another day. In each bathroom I
have a corner of a closet shelf reserved for miscellaneous
seasonal decorations. Or if someone gives you a seasonal gift
you don't have anywhere else to put at the moment, this is a good
place to put it.
If you find the task of re-decorating your entire home
overwhelming, look for certain areas of your home that would be
good for displaying seasonal decorations. In my home the
kitchen, dining room, and living room are the focal areas of our
home. There are certain areas where I concentrate when
decorating for the seasons:
- Kitchen: I don't do a lot of seasonal decorating in the
kitchen, but there are a couple of easy things you can do to
liven it up a little. Seasonal dish cloths and hand towels are
really cute, as well as seasonal floor mats. If you use the
towels for decoration only, like hanging from your oven door
handle, they will still be nice for the next year. Seasonal
refrigerator magnets are also easy to update.
- Dining Area: Our dining room table is the focal point of our
dining room. We have a long oak table that is great for seasonal
decorating. A table runner makes a nice seasonal addition. I
have one made out of Easter fabric for spring, a floral one for
summer, and one of Christmas fabric. I just need to get one for
autumn. You can accessorize with seasonal place mats, napkins,
and napkin rings. These you can make yourself or pick up at yard
sales or clearance sales off-season. I also like to decorate the
center of the table for the season. A lot of times I will use a
vase of seasonal flowers. For autumn I have a vase of artificial
fall foliage. I accent the vase with Indian corn, gourds, and
artificial fall leaves.
- Living Room: The main areas of the living room I concentrate on
are the fireplace mantel and hearth, a corner curio shelf, and
the entertainment center. I lay a garland across the top of the
entertainment center that can be changed with the seasons: fall
foliage for autumn, flowers for spring and summer, and evergreens
for winter. On the shelves of the entertainment center and the
curio shelves I rotate my seasonal knickknacks. The last place
I decorate is the top of the piano. Sometimes I just decorate
with houseplants and photographs, but it is also a great place to
showcase collections, like my angels at Christmas or my bunny
village in the spring. I also have a piece of fabric draped over
the piano that I can change with the seasons.
- Other: Window clings are great for any season. Door wreaths
can also be rotated any time of year. My grapevine wreath goes
up in the autumn and is soon replaced by my Christmas wreath.
You could have one for every season. Although I don't have one
yet, a lot of people have seasonal flags or banners displayed
outside of the house. These you could buy or make yourself.
These are just ideas to get in the mood of seasonal decorating.
Learning to bring the outdoors indoors can be fun--there are many
easy, inexpensive ways you can change the look of your home to
get in tune with the seasons.
Copyright 2002. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom
helping other moms to organize their families and their lives.
For other organizing hints visit http://www.Organized-Mom.com or
sign up for her newsletter by sending a blank e-mail message to
Organized-Mom-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
 QUICK CLUTTER CONTROL
10 TIPS FOR A TIDIER HOME
by Colleen Moulding
1. Whenever you have a few minutes to spare
put away five or ten items that are not in their
correct place. These could be toys that the kids
have left somewhere, letters that need filing away
or odd socks that need putting in a drawer.
2. Dump junk mail the moment you receive it.
Deal with other mail at least once a week filing
away what you need to keep in an indexed
concertina file, card or plastic file wallets or even
large brown envelopes.
3. The five boxes method. This will clear clutter
from any room or area of the house, but can look
awful while in progress. Set aside a time when
you won't be disturbed, put on a tape of upbeat
music and have a treat in the fridge for lunch.
First job is to label the boxes - Rubbish, Give
Away/Sell, Keep, Sentimental and Not Sure.
You then go through everything in the area
consigning each item to one of the boxes.
Theoretically, by the time you have got rid of the
Rubbish and Give Away/Sell boxes, you should
have enough space to store the Sentimental and
put the Keep items back in an orderly way. The
Not Sure box should be sealed up, stored in
basement or attic and if not needed after six
months or one year, given away unopened, so
that you're not tempted to keep the contents
all over again.
4. Be ruthless. If you haven't used an item in
the last two years you are not likely to need it
again. Do you really want a clutter free,
streamlined home or not?
5. If you can't face an entire room, break the
job down into manageable tasks - the kitchen
junk drawer, the letter pile, the hats, coats and
shoes area. That way you won't be put off
decluttering as just too big a task.
6. Treat yourself to items that make staying tidy
easier. Cardboard storage boxes are great for
sewing and craft items, Christmas decorations,
treasures that your children have made. Plastic
or fabric hanging shoe bags are perfect for storing
small toys and dolls or for hair brushes, clips,
cosmetics and toiletries. Invest in some of those
drawer dividers that separate drawers into a
dozen little compartments - but don't fill them
with junk!
7. Clean and put away fifty per cent of your ornaments.
Not only will this give your home a more modern
minimalist look, you will get your dusting done in
half the time.
8. Consider enlisting the help of a family member
or friend to be your organizing buddy. She helps you
with your house - you help with her clutter disposal.
Hearing yourself try to explain why you need a whole
kitchen cupboard full of plastic containers can help
you get them into that Rubbish box.
9. Don't keep buying things. Stop and think, do
I really need this and have I got somewhere to
keep this? Some people work on a one in, one
out system, i.e. if you buy a new sweater, toy for
the children etc. then one goes to the charity shop
or is given to a friend.
10. Don't give up. It will take time. All the clutter
didn't come into your home in one day and you
won't get rid of it all in one day. Keep on sorting,
dumping, tidying and labelling, cut back
on bringing new clutter home and it is a battle that
can be won. You will have more time, a neat home
and less stress as a reward for your efforts.
© Colleen Moulding 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------
Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer
based in the South of England. She is
also owner/editor of All That Women Want.com
http://www.allthatwomenwant.com a magazine,
web guide and resource for women everywhere.
Channels for home, parenting, computing, travel, food, fashion,
entertainment, seasonal sites, what kids want, shopping, books
and writing, working from home, women's business, antiques,
something different and lots more.
Subscribe to the free monthly e-zine by sending a blank e-mail
to:
allthatwomenwant-subscribe@onelist.com
 Seasonal Sales Shopping List
Been saving up for that 'something special'? Want to know when you will get the best deal? Are you curious to know when your favorite foods will be going on sale?
Let this seasonal shopping guide help you make those strategic shopping decisions!
 JANUARY
• Post-Holiday Sales
• White Sales
• Sports and Weight Loss Equipment
• Computers
• Winter Apparel and Accessories
FEBRUARY
• Electronics
• Floor Coverings
• Housewares
• Furniture
• Candy and Chocolates
MARCH
• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Winter Sports Equipment
• Gardening Supplies
• Luggage
• Frozen Food
APRIL
• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Coats and Hats
• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Jewish Foods and Eggs
MAY
• White Sale - Linens and Towels
• Spring Cleaning Supplies
• Auto Maintenance
• Home Maintenance
• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments
JUNE
• Summer Apparel and Accessories
• Pianos
• Television Sets
• Building Materials and Hardware
• Dairy Products
JULY
• Air Conditioners
• Summer Sports Equipment
• Sportswear
• Craft Supplies
• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments
AUGUST
• White Sale - Linen and Towels
• BBQ and Patio Equipment
• Back to School Supplies
• Bathing Suits
• Fresh Fish and Vegetables
SEPTEMBER
• Back to School Supplies and Apparel
• Gardening Supplies
• Housewares
• Bicycles
• Canned Goods
OCTOBER
• Cars
• Houses
• Fishing Equipment
• Crystal, Silver, and Glassware
• Candy
NOVEMBER
• Winter Apparel and Accessories
• Quilts and Blankets
• Heating Devices
• Turkey, Sweet Potatoes
DECEMBER
• Toys
• Gift Items
• Partyware
• Post-Holiday Sales
• Party Foods, Baking Goods, and Various Meats
TIP: Be sure to stock up when your favorites are on sale!
Copyright © 1999-2003 The Frugal Shopper. All Rights Reserved.
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