Misc. Tips

POTS OF FLAVOR     Parsley, thyme, rosemary, and sage are easy to grow indoors.  To keep your herbs thriving, follow these easy steps:   Choose a location with southern or western exposure that receives 4 – 6 hours of sunlight a day.  Water potted herbs once every 2 – 3 weeks.  Don’t over water.  The soil should remain slightly dry.  Lightly mist the herbs in between waterings to keep them from dehydrating.  Source:  Weight Watcher Magazine Jan./Feb.  2010

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS          Dryer sheets cause a film to build up on the lint filter causing the heating element to overheat, which is a potential fire hazard.  About every 4 months, run your lint filter under very hot soapy water and scrub with a brush. This will extend the life of your dryer and lower your electric bill.

KEEP YOUR PURSE OFF THE FLOOR          The bottom of a woman’s purse contained up to 10,000 bacteria per square inch – and more than a third tested positive for fecal bacteria.  Much of it comes from bathroom floors, but parking your bag in other nasty spots, like the floor of a bus or beneath a restaurant table, is also to blame.  The bacteria themselves aren’t a problem; it’s what you do after you put your bag down that matters.  You can end up touching the bottom of the purse with your hands; then touching your face or worse, placing it on the kitchen counter or the dining room table, so that the bacteria could end up in your food.  If ther’s no hook in a bathroom stall, try placing your bag on your lap or over your shoulder.  At the office, stow your purse in a drawer you use only for that purpose.

WALKING IN THE RAIN?          Use a snack-size ziplock bag to keep your ipod dry.  You can scan through the tunes and adjust the volume right through the plastic.

GARDEN WEEDS          Put wet newspaper in layers around plants, overlapping as you go, cover with mulch and forget about weeds.  Weeds will get through some gardening plastic but they will not get through wet newspaper.

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

REDUCING STATIC CLING          Pin 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.  Place pin in the seam of slacks and the static will disappear.

FOGGY WINDSHIELD          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.

SHAVING YOUR LEGS           Use hair conditioner to shave your legs.  Its’ cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth.

CLOGGED DRAIN?          I tried this on 2 clogged drains and it worked!  1. Pour 1/4 cup baking soda into the clogged drain.  I had to kind of push it down with a nail file.   2. Top off with 1 cup vinegar.    3. Let it bubble and fizz for five minutes.   4. Pour boiling water down the drain.

SKUNK SPRAY          If you get caught in the cross fire, shower using a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 liter white vinegar and 1 tsp. dishwashing detergent.

MOSQUITOS          Put a dryer sheet in your pocket.  It will keep the mosquitos away.

MOSQUITO BITE TREATMENT          Make a paste by mixing three parts baking soda and one part water; apply to bites to reduce itching and swelling.  An ice pack also helps.