Cheap Home Solutions…

STORE WINTER CLOTHES WITHOUT THE MOTHBALL SMELL –

Storing winter clothes like sweaters, coats, and wool pants with mothballs will protect them but that mothball odor can be hard to get rid of. Instead, place a handful of soap slivers inside brown paper bags and poke a dozen or so holes in each bag. Store the bags in coat pockets or in between folded sweaters and pants. No soap slivers? I pick up a few bars at the dollar store or use bars from hotel stays and make my own slivers. Cheaper than mothballs and a much more pleasant scent.

SQUEAKY DOORS –

Have a squeaky door but no WD-40? Grab your cooking spray from the pantry and give the hinges a good spritz and then let air-dry. It works just as good, effectively lubricating the hardware for perfectly smooth, quiet movement.

DUST ELECTRONICS –

When your computer’s keyboard gets dusty, not to mention those crumbs, you can buy a keyboard cleaning kit or simply use a dryer sheet. Cut off a small piece of dryer sheet, wrap it around the tip of a cotton swab or pencil and wipe between the keys and USB ports. The dryer sheets picks up dust and dirt easily without any damage to your keyboard.

REMOVE LABELS EASILY FROM JARS –

I reuse glass jars all the time for food storage, flower arrangements, and even as fun drinking glasses. I also like to use them as containers for homemade salsa and sauces I make for friends and family. But getting the original labels off can be tough. I’ve used lots of different methods in the past to get the adhesive off but my new favorite way is with baking soda and vegetable oil. It seriously gets every bit of goo off without a lot of scrubbing or broken nails. Just make a paste with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Rub on the label and let sit for 10 minutes. Wipe the past off with a cloth and rinse.

FRESHEN THE FRIDGE –

Most everyone I know keeps an open box of baking soda in the fridge to help eliminate odors but sometimes, it’s just not enough. I had a bag of sliced onions in the refrigerator and the bag wasn’t sealed, which meant the next day, the fridge reeked of onions, even with that box of baking soda already in there. A fast fix? Fill a ramekin or small bowl with baking soda and add about 5 drops of essential oil. The oil immediately masked the odor, while the baking soda continued to absorb the odor.

KEEP DRAINS RUNNING SMOOTHLY –

If you have a slow draining sink here’s a fast fix that isn’t harsh like store-bought drain cleaners and it’s super cheap. Simply pour 1/2 cup of dish soap in the drain and wait 10 minutes. Next, pour a pot of boiling water into the sink. Supposedly the soap breaks down the greasy buildup while the water washes it away. I personally didn’t try this since all our sinks were draining just fine.

GET RID OF PESKY GNATS & FRUIT FLIES –

Leaving a bowl of fresh fruit out or bringing in fresh herbs from my garden occasionally means I also have those pesky little gnats or fruit flies. A great way to get rid of them is by filling an empty bowl or dish with apple cider vinegar (about halfway) and adding about 5 drops of dish soap. Set it wherever the little critters have congregated, like next to the fruit. The bugs like the apple cider vinegar smell which will draw them in and the soap creates a sticky layer on the surface that traps the bugs in the liquid. I personally use empty dark wine bottles to put my mixture in, which the cats won’t get into and I won’t see the dead bugs floating.

KEEP YOUR SINK CLEAN –

You can keep your clean sink looking cleaner with a bit of oil. Someone I know who cleaned homes professionally would always wipe down the cleaned sink with a bit of oil…vegetable, olive, mineral, etc. (Whatever type you have on hand.) After you clean your sink, put a bit of oil on a cotton ball, cloth, or paper towel and rub it all over the sink. Water won’t stick to the oil which means anything you pour in the sink will bead up and go down the drain. I tried this on a stainless steel sink and it worked great. (Depending on what your sink is made of, you might want to spot-test first in an inconspicuous area.

QUIET SQUEAKY FLOORS –

Woods floors can have spots that squeak when stepped on. If so, sprinkle a bit of baby powder on  the spot and then sweep up. The powder fills up any gaps in the wood, which keeps them from shifting and creaking.

CLEAN DECK OR PATIO STAINS –

Oxygen bleach is a great way to clean deck or patio stains (like OxiClean.) Not only will it easily remove stains, but it’s nontoxic which means it won’t hurt grass or plants. Sweep the area first then pour oxygen bleach on the area. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and then use a stiff-bristled brush or broom to scrub with. Rinse off. This is a lot cheaper and easier than using a power washer!