 1. Facial scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub on skin in a circular motion. Rinse clean. 2. Freshen your mouth. Put one teaspoon of baking soda in a half glass of water then swish, spit and rinse. 3. Treat insect bites. Make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply to affected area. 4. Clean brushes and combs. Remove oil build-up and hair products by soaking combs and brushes in a small basin of warm water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in it. Rinse and allow to dry. 5. Soothe your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a warm bath. Let feet soak and gently scrub. 6. Clean the microwave. Apply baking soda to a clean, damp sponge and scrub out the microwave. Rinse well with water. 7. Clean the oven. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the oven. Spray baking soda with water and let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub and wipe away residue. 8. Hand wash dishes, pots and pans. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of baking soda (in addition to your regular detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and remove foods left on dishes. 9. Clean sponges. Soak smelly sponges in 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water. 10. Polish Silverware. Make a baking soda paste with 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Rub onto silverware with a clean cloth or sponge and rinse thoroughly. 11. Clean floors. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to a bucket of warm water. Mop floor and rinse clean. 12. Clean furniture. Apply baking soda to a damp sponge and rub lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. 13. Remove oil and gas stains. Sprinkle baking soda on stain and scrub with a wet brush. 14. Boost liquid laundry detergent. Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to laundry to help clothes get cleaner, fresher and brighter. 15. Clean shower curtains. Sprinkle baking soda directly on a damp sponge. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. 16. Clean cloth diapers. Dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers thoroughly. 17. Clean batteries. Baking soda can neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. because it is a mild alkali. To clean, disconnect the battery terminals. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth and scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. 18. Freshen your fridge. Place an opened box of baking soda in your refrigerator to neutralize odors. 19. Deodorize trash cans. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your trash can to help cut smells and odors. 20. Extinguish fires. For small cooking fires, turn off the gas or electricity if possible. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire. 21. Fruit and veggie scrub. Sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp sponge, rub on fruit/veggies and rinse. 22. Remove marks from walls. Create a paste with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and use to scrub walls and remove crayon and other marks. 23. Remove grunge from grills. Sprinkle baking soda on your grill and scrub with a brush. Wipe clean with a damp rag. 24. Septic care. Regular use of baking soda in your drains can keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will maintain a good pH balance in your septic tank. 25. Clean baby toys. Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water. Soak toys and rinse well. 26. Clean counters. Sprinkle baking soda on your counter and scrub with a damp sponge. Wipe clean with a damp rag. 27. Deodorize and clean dishwashers. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your dishwasher and run as usual. 28. Freshen rugs. Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and let sit for at least 15 minutes. Shake rugs clean or vacuum off. 29. Brighten dull floors. Dissolve 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of hot water. Mop and rinse for shiny floors. 30. DIY bathroom scrub. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add a little vinegar to give it a creamy texture and use to clean your tubs and sinks. 31. Brush pet teeth. Sprinkle baking soda on a toothbrush and use to safely brush your pet's teeth. 32. Sunburn relief. Mix baking soda with a little water and apply to sore areas to soothe pain. 33. Fight dandruff. Massage scalp with a handful of baking soda to slough off dry skin. 34. Deodorize garbage disposals. Pour baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. 35. Freshen breath. Mix a little baking soda in a small cup of water and gargle to freshen breath. 36. Clean toothbrushes. Soak bristle end of toothbrushes in a mixture of 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup baking soda. Let sit overnight and rinse. 37. Make fluffier omelets. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for every 3 eggs. 38. Deodorize lunch boxes. Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in lunch boxes to absorb odors. 39. Repel rain. Sprinkle baking soda on your windshield and wipe away to help repel rain. 40. Remove insecticides. Fill your sink with water and mix in 1/4 cup of baking soda. Wash fruits and vegetables in the water to safely remove insecticides. 41. Fresh smelling drawers. Pour some baking soda into a sock and tie the top in a knot. Keep the filled sock in your drawer to help keep it fresh smelling. 42. Check soil acidity. Soil needs to be acidic for plants and vegetation to grow properly. To check if your soil is acidic enough, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of water then stir in 1 cup of soil. If the mixture bubbles, then your soil is acidic enough. 43. Relieve itchy skin. Sprinkle baking soda in a bath tub filled with warm water and add 1/4 cup of baby oil to help soften and relieve itchy skin. 44. Deodorize drains. To deodorize sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. 45. Freshen patio furniture. Sprinkle patio furniture and cushions with baking soda before storing them for the winter to help them stay fresh smelling until summer. 46. Resist split ends. Add a little baking soda to your conditioner and lather in your hair to clean and help prevent split ends. 47. Poison ivy relief. Mix baking soda with a little water and apply to affected area to soothe skin. 48. Unclog drains. Pour one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of hot vinegar to unclog a drain. 49. Keep away weeds. Sprinkle baking soda on cracks in your driveway and sidewalk to help prevent weed growth. 50. Deodorize the cutting boards. Sprinkle cutting boards with baking soda, scrub and rinse. 51. Razor burn relief. Rub a paste of baking soda and water on irritated area. 52. Clean finger and toe nails. Dip a nail brush in baking soda and scrub to clean nails and soften cuticles. 53. Make bubbling bath salts. Mix 2 1/2 cups baking soda, 2 cups cream of tartar and 1/2 cup cornstarch. Mix together and store in a container. Use 1/4 cup in each bath. 54. Remove calluses. Massage a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water on heels/feet to smooth rough calluses or heels. 55. Deodorize recyclables. Sprinkle baking soda on top as you add to the container. You can also sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean and rinse. 56. Remove odor from hands. Remove the smell of fish, onion or garlic with a solution of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or liquid soap. Rinse off and dry. 57. Exfoliate elbows and knees. Make a paste with baking soda and water and rub on elbows and knees to remove dry skin. 58. Revitalize your feet. Soak tired feet in a basin fill with warm water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. 59. Chlorine remover. Rinse hair with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 pint of water to remove dullness or discoloration in hair caused by chlorine. 60. Remove odor from carpets. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let sit overnight and vacuum up in the morning. 61. Relieve body odor. Mix a cup of baking soda in a bathtub filled with cool water will help cause body odor causing bacteria to go away. Bathe as usual. 62. Fill holes in the wall. Mix white toothpaste and baking soda together. Fill in the holes and allow to dry. 63. Freshen the smell of your car. Fill your ashtray with baking soda to neutralize and freshen the air in your vehicle. 64. Polish chrome. Make a paste of baking soda and water, dip a rag in it, rub it on chrome and wipe off for a shiny polished look. 65. Deodorize your wash. Smelly clothes can be neutralized with 1/2 cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle of your wash. 66. Remove water rings and spots. Make a paste with baking soda and water and combine with a little toothpaste. Dip a soft cloth in the paste and rub away rings and spots from wood. 67. Freshen up fireplaces. Clean all ashes out of your fireplace and place a bowl filled with baking soda inside of it to remove unwanted odors. 68. Remove bean bloat. Sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda in your water when soaking beans to remove what causes gas and bloat when eating them. 69. Remove hair buildup. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in with your shampoo and wash as usual to remove unwanted buildup. 70. Whiten teeth. Dip your toothbrush in baking soda before every brushing and brush teeth as usual to white teeth naturally. 71. Freshen closets. Place an open box of baking soda on a shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh. 72. Remove sauce stains. Make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub on plastic containers stained with red sauces to remove stains. 73. Melt the ice. Sprinkle baking soda on icy steps and sidewalk to help melt ice and provide traction. 74. Remove sweat stains. Make a paste of baking soda and water, spread on stain, let sit for an hour and wash as usual. 75. Acne clearing mask. Make a paste of baking soda and water, spread on face, let sit for 5-7 minutes and rinse off with warm water. 76. Clean retainers or dentures. Sprinkle baking soda on a toothbrush and brush retainers or dentures then rinse under water. 77. Clean burned on food off pots and pans. Fill pots and pans with hot water, sprinkle in a few teaspoons of baking soda, and let sit for 10 minutes before washing. 78. Remove odors from vacuum cleaners. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and vacuum up to remove odors inside your vacuum. 79. Remove grease stains from garage floors. Sprinkle baking soda on the grease to absorb the oils, scrub and rinse. 80. Clean marble. Add 3 teaspoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water. Dip a clean cloth in the water and wipe down marble. 81. Clean shoes. Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to shoes, scrub with a sponge or rag and wipe off. 82. Freshen stuffed animals. Sprinkle baking soda on toys and let sit for at least 15 minutes before brushing or vacuuming off. 83. Deodorize cars. Eliminate odors settled into car upholstery and carpet by sprinkling baking soda onto fabric seats and carpets. Wait at least 15 minutes, and vacuum up. 84. Clean and deodorize toilets. Add a cup of baking soda to a toilet, let sit for and hour and flush to clean and freshen. 85. Clean stinky pets. Sprinkle baking soda on your pets fur and brush through to help deodorize fur and hair. 86. Sweeten tomatoes. Sprinkle baking soda in the soil surrounding your tomato plants to give them a sweeter flavor. 87. Repel bugs. Sprinkle baking soda along basement windows and under sinks to repel cockroaches and ants. 88. Deodorize kitty litter. Cover the bottom of the kitty litter pan with baking soda and fill as usual. You can also sprinkle baking soda on top of litter. 89. Protect your garden. Sprinkle baking soda around your garden and vegetables to keep rabbits and other animals from eating them. 90. Fix stiff brushes. Boil brushes in 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda. 91. Deodorize smelly dish rags. Soak dish rags in a warm container of water and baking soda. 92. Make modeling clay. Mix baking soda with 1/4 cup of water and 1 cup of cornstarch until it reaches a clay like consistency. 93. Deodorize pet bedding. Sprinkle bedding liberally with baking soda, wait at least 15 minutes then vacuum up. 94. Freshen the air. Mix baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts, place in small breathable fabric bags and place around your house. 95. Relieve jelly fish stings. Apply paste of baking soda and water to a jelly fish sting to draw out the venom. 96. Relieve diaper rash. Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to baby's bath water to help relieve diaper rash. 97. Freshen up stinky shoes. Sprinkle baking soda into shoes when not in use. Shake out before wearing. 98. Longer lasting flowers. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water in your vase with fresh cut flowers to help them live longer. 99. Unclog stuffy noses. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the water in your vaporizer to help clear stuffy sinuses. 100. Freshen linens. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle in your washing machine for fresher sheets and towels. 101. Relieve heartburn. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1/2 cup of water and drink to neutralize stomach acids. 
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 Small ice cubes melt way too fast too often. So, make longer lasting ice cubes - use a clean muffin tin. Pop them out easily by running the back of the tin under hot water for no more than 30 seconds. (Sometimes doesn't take that long.)  Bundt Pan = Vertical Roaster Layer potatoes, carrots, onions on the bottom of the pan. Season chicken according to taste. Place in pan with the cavity over the center hole. Set Bundt pan on cookie sheet (to collect any drippings). Roast. 350* until juices are clear, and veggies are done. (I roast chicken on about 300* - takes longer, but it is more tender to us.)  Wash empty squeeze ketchup bottle. Fill with pancake batter. Squeeze onto hot griddle - size of pancakes preferred. Easy to correctly size and shape pancakes. :-)  With the holidays coming - and then the packing away again after - cool idea.  Bake cookie dough on upside down muffin tins - delicious ice cream bowls!  Not just a Valentine idea - but anytime to show a little extra love.  Organize those cleaners - a tension rod and voila` ...  I have done this for taking cupcakes to kids' school parties. Also, instead of frosting to top them off - use a scoop of ice cream :-)!  A Velcro strip attached to the wall will help keep the soft animals up off the floor ... sigh - wish I had thought of this when my kids were little ...  Storing sheets and extra pillowcases within a pillowcase - makes a neat and organized closet ... easy to grab and go ... keeps all matching ones together.  To keep all those condiments together for a picnic, or any get together.  Wish I had thought of this when my daughter was at home! How many hours of frustration it would have stopped!  I like this! Bread always seems to get smushed just laying around, no matter how careful we are.  This is an awesome idea for traveling with little ones. A complete suit of clothes in a Ziploc bag. No more taking suitcases apart to find a day's clothing and accessories. In fact, this is such a good idea, that I have found a lot of my own clothes/suits/accessories can be organized and packed the same way!  How to organize all those scarves? Especially to keep them from getting so wrinkled and out of shape? Use a set of shower rings on a clothes hanger. Snap!  What a sweet idea for keeping ribbons organized!  Perfect idea for the coming sneezing season! One box of fresh tissues tied with a pretty ribbon to another empty tissue box to be used for trashed tissues.  Wish I had thought of this when my kids were little!
In the craziness of sickness, sometimes it is too easy to forget a dose. Especially when mom gets sick, too!  Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water. Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide: It is found in all living material. Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections. Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system. It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster. Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies. *Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water. *In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle. *Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. *Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste. *Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu. *Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. *Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes. *Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward. *Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off. *Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times. *Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean. *Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well. *Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse. *Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis. *Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants. *Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights. *According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean! *Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad. *Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags. *Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin. *Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system. *Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry. *Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax. *Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts. *Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses. *Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers. *Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle. *Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell. *Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose. *De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water.  |
I need helpful hints
- like all the time! Thought someone else might find them useful. These were taken from various sources around the Internet. NOT my works. While I have tried many of these, I have not tried them all. Categories
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God is God over the storms in my life & world -
and I am His. Trusting in Him. Holding to His Promises as He holds me. Learning to laugh, to love, & to live ... again - without Rick, but with God Life goes on ... even when we don't want it to. Great grief is indicative of a great Love. Rick, my Sweetheart. Margaret, his Beloved. Always & Forever. |
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