{Home} Charcoal Briquettes for the Smell

Just like a charcoal water filter, charcoal briquettes can be used to absorb moisture and odor from the air in your home.

As for how to distribute them, you can simply lay a few out in a metal tray. Other options: sew pouches for them or use an old sock, then hang them in inconspicuous areas. Line a basket with foil or plastic and lay the briquettes inside. Or simply set them out on a tray on a shelf or side table: the black little pillows actually look kind of cool!

Be sure to get natural briquettes without mesquite or easy-light additives.

via Charcoal Briquettes for the Smelly Home | Apartment Therapy Chicago.

{Home} Right Shoe Size

Trace the feet onto paper in order to have shoe sizes.

via BTB Tip #22: Right Shoe Size | Simply Modern Mom.

{Home} Removing Pen Marks From Clothes

To remove the ink [from couch slipcover]..., I grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and poured some on the ink. Rub it a bit and toss it in the washer with your regular laundry detergent. Wash and dry. This works on clothes too from ball-point pen ink.

via BTB Tip #21: Removing Pen Marks From Clothes | Simply Modern Mom.

{Home} Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe

Natural Mosquito Repellent Ingredients

If you are making large amounts of mosquito repellent, a good rule of thumb is to mix the repellent so it's 5-10% essential oil, so mix 1 part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol. For a smaller batch use:

• 10-25 drops (total) of essential oils


• 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil or alcohol

The essential oils that work well against mosquitoes are:

1. cinnamon oil


2. lemon eucalyptus oil


3. citronella oil


4. castor oil

Safe carrier oils and alcohols include:

• olive oil


• sunflower oil


• any other cooking oil


• witch hazel


• vodka

Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe

Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil or alcohol. Rub or spray the natural insect repellent onto skin or clothing, using care to avoid the sensitive eye area. You'll need to re-apply the natural product after about an hour or after swimming or exercise. Unused natural insect repellent may be stored in a dark bottle, away from heat or sunlight.

via Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe - How to Make Natural Mosquito Repellent.

{Home} Use Chalk To Rid Your Clothes Of Greasy Stains

Instead of using extra laundry detergent to pre-treat, we turn to our old school friend: white chalk. Simply rub onto greasy stains and the chalk powder will absorb the grease, making the stain easily removable by the laundry soap in the wash.

It might sound silly, but it's worked wonders for everything from lipstick to bacon grease.

via Hot Tip: Use Chalk To Rid Your Clothes Of Greasy Stains | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest.

{Home} The coloring placemat!

The coloring placemat! I can't wait to make one of these!



via The coloring placemat! » Wee Baby Stuff | Get ready for baby. « Keywords: placemat, Art, colouring, coloring.

{Home} 18 Tips For De-Bugging Your Kitchen and Bath

No matter how clean your bathroom or kitchen, you can expect a visit from ants, roaches, flies and other bugs at some point. Before you bring in the toxic chemicals, try these tips.

Ants:

• A spritz of soapy water makes them retreat.


• Something as simple as leaving on a night light can confuse and discourage ants.


• Mint tea or crushed mint leaves, garlic and cloves work as ant deterrents.


• Set out a line of cucumber peels or slices, cayenne pepper, a soaked string of citrus oil or lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds to make a border ants won't cross.


• Soak cotton balls in a mixture of one gallon of water, one teaspoon of Borax and a 1/2 cup of sugar. Put them in a container covered with a hole-punched lid so the ants can get in. Ants will carry the bait back to their colonies where it will eventually kill the colony. Important: use indoors only; must be kept away from pets and children.

Roaches

• Roaches like high places. Put boric acid on top of your kitchen cabinets. (important: keep boric acid away from children and pets.)


• Sprinkle Diatomaceous earth near roaches. At first you may see more bugs; the powder dehydrates them so they're out looking for water but most of them will be gone within two weeks.


• Try small bags of catnip or spray catnip tea.


• Soapy water will also keep away roaches.


• Bay leaves, cucumber slices or garlic are natural deterrents.


• Hedgeapples, the fruit of the Osage orange tree, work on many kinds of bugs. Place one in each room to deter bugs for up to two months. Click here to order.

Flies

• Mint also works to discourage flies.


• Hang small bags of bay leaves, cloves or eucalyptus by open windows or doors.


• Fresh Basil and clover will keep flies away from pet food.


• Try a few drops of eucalyptus oil.

Silverfish

• Drown them in soapy water.


• Diatomaceous earth works on silverfish. Sprinkle around plumbing and damp areas.


• Citrus is a natural repellent. Try sprays, peels and oil.

via 18 Tips For De-Bugging Your Kitchen and Bath | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest.

{Home} The $1 C-to-D adapter

Here's a common problem: You want to power your gizmo that runs on D cells, but all that you have handy are C cells. In many but not all circumstances, you can solve this problem by using the C cell and making up the battery length difference with a few quarters-- typically three or four.

via Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter - Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

{Home} How To Remove a Stripped Screw Without an Extractor

Placing a wide rubber band inbetween the stripped screw and the screw driver can sometimes help give enough grip to remove a slightly stripped screw head.

via How To Remove a Stripped Screw Without an Extractor Home Hacks | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles.

{Home} 12 Easy DIY Air Fresheners

Bathroom Air Freshener: Dip a q-tip in your favorite perfume or essential oil then tape it inside a roll of toilet paper. Each time the roll is used the fragrance will be released.

via Winter Detox: 12 Easy DIY Air Fresheners : TipNut.com.

{Home} Ways To Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up

Ways To Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up

1. Fool the eye: Sometimes warmth is a matter of perception. Warm colors and textures make you feel warmer so change out your decor. Try a throw so you can snuggle under it.


2. Cut a rug: Cover up your bare floors with a rug.


3. Bake something: Stews, roasts, casseroles and soups are made for the cold weather because they cook at low temperatures for a long period of time and, of course, they warm you up going down.


4. Drink something: Wrap your hands around a warm mug of tea, cocoa or coffee.


5. Let the sun in: Open curtains and blinds during the day.


6. Change your bedding: Switch to flannel sheets, a down comforter, use extra blankets.


7. Clean the house: Not only will your house be cleaner but activity will get your blood pumping.


8. Cover your head: It sounds silly but wearing a hat (and socks) to bed at night, even if the rest of you is clad in skimpy clothing, will keep you warm.


9. It's muggy in here: Use a humidifier. Humid air feels warmer. No humidifier? Open the bathroom door while you're showering.


10. Reverse the fan: We've heard that, since heat rises, running your ceiling fan in reverse will push the warm air back down to the ground.


11. Do your laundry: Nothing warms you up like clothing straight from the dryer.


12. It's drafty in here: Block drafts with weather stripping, a rolled up towel or a draft stopper.


13. It takes two: Snuggle up with your friends, or your significant other.


14. Something old fashioned: Try a hot water bottle or, before you get into bed, running a hot pan over your sheets. Bags of rice or dried beans, warmed in the microwave, are another option

via 14 Ways To Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest.

{Home} An Alternative to the No Gift Birthday Party

"But instead of going completely gift-free, we recently attended a birthday party that involved a book exchange. Every attendee brought a wrapped book to the party. At the end, each attendee left with a different wrapped book. The birthday child received one gift as did every other kid. Not only are books universally well-received, there is no need for goody bags for attendees."

via An Alternative to the No Gift Birthday Party | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh.

{Home} No-Slip Dish Towels

Hanging a dish towel from an oven door makes sense -- the towel is always at the ready, and the oven's warmth quickly dispels dampness. Here's a way to improve on the idea, keeping the towel from slipping off:

Make it into a loop by attaching Velcro strips to two ends, one on the front and one on the back, below. Stitch in place, or use iron-on Velcro strips.

From Martha Stewart Living, September 2009

via No-Slip Dish Towels and more creative crafts projects, templates, tips, clip-art, patterns, and ideas on marthastewart.com.

{Home} Green Tea to Refresh Your Home

Carpets and Vacuum. Sprinkle dry tea leaves onto your carpet, crush them lightly and let them sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh your carpet and deodorize your vacuum cleaner and bag.

via Green Tea to Refresh Your Home | Healthy and Green Living.

{Home} 12 Kitchen Tip Quickies

You can use water and lemons to steam clean a microwave easily, why not an oven too? Place a shallow pan of water and fresh lemon juice on the middle rack of the oven. Heat at 450°F. for about 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and wipe down the walls. This is good for light cleaning jobs.

via 12 Kitchen Tip Quickies : TipNut.com.

{Home} Uses for Lavender

# Apply lavender essential oil to insect bites and stings, cuts, scrapes and abrasions. Lavender is very anti-septic and helps destroy germs that can cause infections.

# Infuse fresh or dried lavender flowers as if to make a tea. But instead of drinking it, let it cool down and use as a hair rinse to reduce dandruff.

via 10 Uses for Lavender | HealthMad.

{Home} Vinegar the Wonder Household Cleaner

Uses for Vinegar

1. All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 50% water and 50% vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean sinks, counter tops, and other surfaces.

2. Floor Cleaner: Add ½ cup distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water to clean hardwood or laminated floors. No need to rinse.

3. Dish Cleaner: Mix 2 tablespoons white vinegar to liquid dish soap to help cut grease.

4. Scouring Cleanser: Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

via Vinegar the Wonder Household Cleaner : Heart at Home

More @ Vinegar the Wonder Household Cleaner : Heart at Home

{Home} Use Vinegar and Dish Soap for Fruit Flies

To get rid of fruit flies I pour apple cider vinegar with a couple drops of dish soap into a small container. Then set it where you see the flies, and they will be gone in no time.

via Use Vinegar and Dish Soap for Fruit Flies.