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Post by SAR01 on Jun 25, 2019 12:13:27 GMT -5
Hint 1: Add Extra Storage Space In Your Shower A really cool way to add extra storage space IN the shower is to install an extra shower curtain rod. Put it in the back of your shower, and you can hook a shower caddy right onto it. In fact, this provides plenty of space, so you can store caddies for your whole families overhead this way.
More power! If you're tired of putting elbow grease into cleaning your tiles, grout, toilet and tub, grab your cordless power drill and attach a scrub brush to it.
Hint 2: Moldy Showerhead? No problemo...easy solution here! Is your showerhead getting moldy or developing hard water deposits? Soak it in distilled vinegar. If it's easy to detach you can soak it in a bucket, or you can fill a plastic bag, like a 1 quart Ziploc bag, with vinegar and attach the bag to the showerhead with rubberbands!
Keep your old toothbrushes. They are great for a million purposes in and out of the bathroom. Use them to clean grout in the bathroom or kitchen. They are also handy for cleaning jewelry, and much more.
Try scrubbing your faucets, fixtures, chrome and stainless using toothpaste. You can use one of those old toothbrushes for this. Rinse them off and they should have a nice new gleam.
Keep all your batteries organized and in ONE spot!
'Go Green' Hint: Not only is water a precious resource, but piping it into our homes, heating it, and getting rid of waste water can be very expensive. Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 18 percent of your utility bill after heating and cooling.
Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 F. For every 10 degree reduction in temperature, you can save from 3 percent to 5 percent on your water heating costs.
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Post by SAR01 on Jun 26, 2019 11:09:21 GMT -5
June 26, 2019 Hey Everyone! Summer is finally here and that means gardening! I am a big fan of vegetable gardening in particular. How satisfying is it to go to the backyard for your salad instead of the grocery store? Cheaper too. But once you go from a few potted pepper plants to a hundred or so square feet of garden in your back yard you are going to have to start dealing with pest control. And being health conscious you might not want to soak your vegetables and your soil with expensive poisons when there are safer and even cheaper ways. What are the alternatives? Scroll down for some brilliant ideas. Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives Introducing the HOSE HERO - the hose that never kinks, bursts, or tangles Tobacco or Nicotine Spray. This mixture is great for combating many different types of bugs, but especially caterpillars, aphids, and many types of those nasty worms. Just mix 1 cup of tobacco in 1 gallon of water and let sit for 24 hours. The color should be the shade of weak . Warning: Don't use this solution on peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family. Tobacco chemicals can kill these types of plants as well as the pests! Soap Spray. Another way to stop the slugs is with soapy water. That's right, you can just use your old, dirty dishwater if you want to! Collect some of the water in a pan and pour it into a watering can or even use a pitcher to pour it over the plants. This works really well on hostas and mums, but also can be used on other hardy plants. Many bugs do not like their lunch spoiled by a soapy aftertaste! For a stronger solution, mix 3 Tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water. Use this weekly. Get ready for summer with a Power Flow Twist Nozzle by Gilmour Alcohol Spray. This spray really is great for houseplants. This especially works on meal bugs. Mix 1/2 cup of alcohol and 2-3 tablespoons of dry laundry soap in 1 quart of warm water and spray immediately. You can't store this solution. It must be made fresh for each use. Salt Spray. This solution is used for cabbageworms and spider mites. Just mix 2 tablespoons of salt in 1 gallon of water and spray! Spearmint-Hot Pepper-Horseradish Spray.This works on too many different kinds of bugs to list! Mix 1/2 cup of red peppers (hot), 1/2 cup of fresh spearmint, 1/2 cup horseradish (root and leaves) and 1/2 cup green onion tops in any open container. Mix in enough water to cover. Once you have your solution strain out the chunky bits, dilute with a half to a whole gallon of water and add 2 tablespoons of liquid detergent. You can use this to spray almost any plant safely. Store this mixture for a few days in a cool environment.
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 3, 2019 13:19:13 GMT -5
uly 03, 2019 Hey Everyone! Independence Day is tomorrow and EVERYBODY is having a party, and the central activity for a 4th of July party is ! But as anybody who has cooked for 20 or 30 people knows, it can be stressful, a lot of hard work and pretty expensive. But you don't have to take out a small personal loan just to afford throwing a cookout for your friends and family. Today I have a few simple ideas to help 'trim the fat' off of your expenses. Scroll down for more. Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives Do You Still Have An Ant Problem? Here's the best solution available! Hint 1: Meat is expensive - Avoid specialty cuts. It is a good idea to learn how to carve your own cuts. Buying large cuts of meat is usually cheaper. All you have to so is cut these into small pieces. For instance, buy whole pork loin and cut it into pork loin chops. Also, try shopping at large meat markets where you can find better deals. Chicken is a great choice for any cookout. Inexpensive, versatile, and easy to prepare chicken is always a favorite. The secret to saving money when buying chicken is to avoid the pre-cut pieces. With a little practice you can easily cut up a whole chicken. Or, you can grill whole chickens over low, indirect heat with a little extra time. Try looking up recipes for Beer butt (or beer can) chicken. It's easy and delicious. Whether beef for pork, ribs are an inexpensive solution to any cookout and something everyone loves. The secret to any rib is to cook it low and slow so you get tender meat and great flavor. Give a pot luck Fourth of July party. Ask each of your guests bring a side dish, a fun dessert or snack items. Guests will enjoy showing off their culinary talents. This spreads the cost of the Fourth of July around to everyone instead of you paying for everything. And if you ask for specific items you won't have everybody bringing potato salad! Hint 2: Bye bye fruit flies... I go to the farmer's market every weekend for fresh produce, and rarely do I come home without a few winged passengers (fruit flies). Once home they breed and become an even bigger nuisance! This adorable apple-shaped trap looks right at home next to my fruit bowl to keep everything under control. The kit is made by Raid, the number 1 name in pest control. You'll get 2 separate traps, and 4 lures which lasts up to 120 days total of fruit-fly-fighting power! This is the most effective fruit fly trap around, and all you do is add WATER! Bye bye fruit flies...get yours today! 'Go Green' Hint: Plasticware is environmental losers Plastic plates, and even worse styrofoam plates, are environmental losers. For practically the same price you can buy biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery. Biodegradable partyware is widely available in everything from sugarcane (or bagasse), to bamboo, to naturally shed palm leaves, so there is no reason to pollute your party with plastic. Did you know you can buy sustainably-produced charcoal briquettes? There are several brands that produce charcoal made from recycled industrial scrap wood versus the coal dust, starch and sawdust that most briquettes are made from. Buy all aluminum. You will certainly have tubs or coolers full of ice cold beverages. Make sure to buy pop and beer in aluminum cans and then put recycling bins right next to the coolers. Recycling plastic water bottles is good for the environment, but recycling all that aluminum will bring you 30 to 40 cents per pound, depending on where you go! ABOUT US
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 11, 2019 13:00:03 GMT -5
Hint 1: Don't throw away your old shower curtains! They make great covers for outdoor items in the winter (such as chairs, patio tables, grills, etc.), and they are invaluable as drop cloths. Hint 2: Speaking of showers, do you know that you can use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream? If you are a lady who shaves her legs and under arms in the shower you can save a lot of money just by buying a cheap bottle of conditioner (usually not much more than a buck) to shave with instead of expensive shaving creams or gels.
It leaves your legs and under arms smooth and silky.
Or This Leg Hair Remover is the quick and painless way to get flawless looking legs. 'Go Green' Hint: Have you ever blown cash to buy chemical fertilizer for your garden or your house plants? Of course you have. However, you can save yourself the cash, save yourself the chemicals and save a little fresh water, not to mention the perfect fertilizer, from being poured down the drain.
A lot of water that goes down the drain can be used to water plants. Water that you use to steam vegetables, cook potatoes, corn or boil eggs can be reused to water your plants. All of those nutrients leeched from your veggies go right back into the soil. The plants love it!
Just make sure there is no oil or salt in the water. Also, when you clean out your aquarium you can use that water to water your plants. Great for the soil.
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 16, 2019 12:50:36 GMT -5
Watch out for the specials At a lot of restaurants, the special is whatever they need to sell before it goes bad. Especially watch out for the soup of the day. If it contains fish or if it's some kind of 'gumbo,' it just might be the stuff they're trying to get rid of. Avoid the lemons Never ask for lemon in a drink. Everybody touches them. Nobody washes them. They are just cut up and thrown in your iced . Lobster anything Add "lobster" to any standard dish; lobster mac-and-cheese, lobster-stuffed mushrooms, lobster cakes, and what you're usually getting isn't the expensive lobster meat you think you are. It's often the cheapest claw meat or some type of imitation-meat blend, meaning that you are way overpaying for the coveted crustacean. This Copper Knife is BEST selling knife and it's ONLY $5 Meals You're Probably Wasting Your Money On Chicken Be wary of any chicken entree that's over $25 because chicken only costs the restaurant a few dollars per pound. Plus, in their attempts to prevent salmonella or food poisoning, chefs often tend to overcook chicken. Appetizers You might want to pass on those loaded potato skins or fancy ummus plate. Restaurants do their best to keep main course prices down and they make up for that by jacking up the price of other menu items, namely appetizers. In fact, the price of appetizers has risen at a much higher rate than the cost of food in recent years. Pasta Did you know that restaurants usually make more money off of your fettuccine Alfredo order than they do off the 12-ounce ribeye? Which makes sense, given how cheap a box of pasta is at the grocery store and how easy it is to make. The only exception here would be if the pasta is made from scratch, like at an authentic Italian restaurant. Sorry KitchenAid, we've got this for under $6... NOT $24.99 'Go Green' Hint: Pass on the shrimp Americans eat a lot of shrimp. An average of 4.1 pounds per person annually. But the unfortunate fact is that the process that delivers bags of frozen shrimp to your grocery store at cheap prices has devastating ecological consequences. Farmed shrimp are kept in pools on the coast, where the tide can refresh the water and carry waste out to sea. Ponds are prepared with heavy doses of chemicals such as urea, superphosphate, and diesel. Then the shrimp receive pesticides, antibiotics, piscicides, sodium tripolyphosphate, borax, and caustic soda. Shrimp farmers have destroyed an estimated 38 percent of the world's mangroves to create shrimp ponds, and the damage is permanent. Wild shrimp isn't a better option because it usually involves the use of deep-sea trawlers, which kills 5 to 20 pounds of 'bycatch' (unwanted species of fish accidentally scooped up by the crawler's net) for every pound of shrimp. Trawling is comparable to bulldozing an entire section of rainforest to catch a single species of bird.
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 18, 2019 15:07:24 GMT -5
July 18, 2019 Hey Everyone! A study done by a mathematician showed that getting in the shorter grocery store line is usually faster than the longer express line, even if the people in the shorter line have a lot more items.
Each extra person in line adds 48 seconds to the line length without even considering the items in the cart. Meanwhile, an extra item only costs you an extra 2.8 seconds. Therefore, you'd rather add 17 more items to the line than one extra person!
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Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives
The Joy Mangano Mop is now 1/2 OFF
Another study by people with a lot of time on their hands might save you even more time and money at the grocery store, and maybe even a few pounds as well!
Self-Check Your Way to Savings
Use the self-checkout line at the super-market. According to Consumer Reports your impulse buys will drop by 17 to 32 percent when you use the self-checkout line. Not incidentally, this translates to an annual weight loss of 3.1 pounds for men and 4.1 pounds for women!
Start your engines, and let's race people!
'Go Green' Hint: If you are in the market for a new washing machine, make sure you get a front-loading model, which uses a third less water, heat energy and detergent than standard top-loading designs.
Front loaders are more effective and efficient designs, and they have been working hard at laundromats across the world for decades. Most major brands offer that efficient cleaning power in models made for homes, and many boast the latest in electronic features, cool colors and more.
Make sure your new machine is certified by the EPA's Energy Star program, which signifies high energy efficiency. According to GE, the average family will save enough on energy bills with the company's Energy Star washer and dryer to pay for the appliances in just 12 years.
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 30, 2019 12:06:48 GMT -5
Hey Everyone! 2019 99centWe take our appliances for granted. Imagine if you had to wash your clothes in a tub with a scrub board and a wringer? Or if you had to have a block of ice delivered every other day to keep your 'ice box' cold? But as convenient and reliable as they are, our appliances still need a little loving care to keep them working at optimum efficiency.
Here are a few DIY tricks you can use to help you save big on your annual utility bills.
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Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives
Hint 1: Rinse your washing machine. Over time detergent builds up on the inner working of your washing machine, forcing it to work harder and slowing it down.
Simple fix: 2 or 3 times a year run a couple extra rinse cycles through it. First, add 4 or 5 cups of white, distilled vinegar to a hot water rinse cycle. Follow it up with another cycle of clean water. The vinegar will help clean out the gunk while the second rinses out any residue.
Hands-Free Calling Has Never Been So Convenient.
Hint 2: Give your microwave a lemon steam. Splatters inside the microwave make it work harder, which can wear it down over time. Microwaves heat all the food you put inside it, including the stuff stuck to the walls.
Simple fix: fill a bowl with 1/2 cup water and the juice of one lemon and heat for 3 minutes to loosen debris, then wipe clean. Regular cleaning can extend the life of your microwave by years.
Everything You Need to Be Prepared! 210 Piece First Aid Kit
'Go Green' Hint: Save gas with the right size flame. Match the size of your burner's flame to the size of your pot.
You lose 40 percent of the heat if the flame extends beyond the bottom of the pot. Not only does that waste energy, much of that excess heat is absorbed into the stove or escapes into your kitchen, heating the house and making your air conditioning work harder.
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Post by SAR01 on Jul 31, 2019 13:58:19 GMT -5
Vodka...If the only thing you ever do with vodka is either add orange juice or olives to it, you're missing out! There are soooo many handy ways to use to clean, disinfect, and deodorize. Scroll down for some clever and simple ideas with vodka. Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives This handy gadget Adds-A-Shelf right on top of your TV Screen! Freshen Laundry Save yourself the occasional load of laundry by freshening up your clothes with vodka. If an item is relatively clean but just a little 'worn' simply spritz it with the vodka, then hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, but doesn't leave a scent when dry. Preserve Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water in your flower vase. It should help keep your fresh longer. Change out the mixture with fresh ingredients daily. Clean Away Mold Got mold? The stuff spreads easily and can severely diminish indoor air quality. Instead of harsh chemical sprays, try filling a recycled spray bottle with some bottom-shelf vodka. Spritz on, then let sit for 15 minutes and scrub away. Deodorize your feet Foot odor is caused by bacteria and, or fungus. This is normally a consequence of trapping our sweaty feet in shoes and socks all day. Soaking your feet in a dilute solution of vodka (once again, might as well use the cheap stuff for this) and water will give them a deep clean and deodorize them. This powerful Steam Mop doesn't stop where the carpet begins... 'Go Green' Hint: You may have read this tip before and thought, 'No way.' And I understand your skepticism. But if you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe NASA. According to a two-year study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, many indoor plants absorb air pollutants through their leaves and roots and convert them into breathable air. Within 24 hours, some plants can remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air. Depending on the species, one plant can provide effective cleaning for every 100 square feet of space. For example, between 15 and 20 golden pothos and spider plants can refresh the air in an average 1,800 square-foot home.
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Post by SAR01 on Aug 6, 2019 19:53:21 GMT -5
August 06, 2019 Hey Everyone! Coffee is at least 500 years old, and perhaps more. It is drank in practically every country in the world and has been shown to have many health benefits when consumed moderately. But you might also be surprised to know that coffee has a number of uses outside of drinking, some that can save you time and money!
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Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives
Ease Back Pain with The Copper-Infused Therapy Back Wrap
Kill fridge odor
If your fridge has an odor problem, place a bowl of fresh, unused coffee grounds inside and leave it for a day or two. The coffee will absorb the odors. This trick works for practically anything else as well - as long as you don't mind whatever you are deodorizing smelling like coffee for a while.
Reduce cellulite
Pricey cellulite creams almost always have one major ingredient in common: caffeine, which supposedly enhances fat metabolism, reducing the appearance of these fatty pockets under the skin. To make your own coffee cellulite treatment at home, mix warm used coffee grounds with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin in circular motions for a few minutes before rinsing.
Exfoliate skin
The same properties that reportedly enable coffee to reduce the appearance of cellulite can smooth and tighten your skin, and the texture of ground coffee will buff away dead skin cells, too. Make your own coffee-based scrub by combining a tablespoon of coffee grounds with half a tablespoon of olive oil and, optionally, a drop of your favorite essential oil.
Touch up furniture scratches
Scratches on wood furniture disappear almost instantly by simply rubbing in a little bit of instant coffee dampened into a paste with hot water. Repeat if necessary until the scratch matches the surrounding wood.
Repel ants
Sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants in your home or yard and they might just pick up and leave. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound.
When a flashlight isn't enough, you need the 900 Lumen Do Everything Light
Go Green Hint: What really happens to the plastic you throw away?
We know we should recycle plastic, but what happens to the plastic we do throw away? Follow the life of a plastic bottle and see the dangers these disposables present to our world.
Watch what really happens to plastic that you throw away!
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Post by SAR01 on Aug 14, 2019 11:24:40 GMT -5
Floss With Water
Flossing dislodges debris between teeth to prevent 38 percent of the bleeding gums that allow disease-causing bacteria into the bloodstream. If you're one of the 60 percent of Americans who avoid floss, consider a water flosser. Studies show the devices are 33 percent more effective at eliminating bleeding than string floss.
Dry Brush
Using a dry toothbrush cuts plaque buildup by 63 percent and reduces gum bleeding by 55 percent, according to one study. Just use a dry brush for one minute then brush with toothpaste for another two minutes.
Pick a Better Paste
Many brands of toothpaste contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a surface cleaner that inhibits saliva production. That's a problem since lack of saliva can make the mouth a breeding ground for bacteria that increase disease risk. Opt for a paste made with xylitol, a sweetener that enhances saliva production and has been shown to decrease the risk of tooth decay by 60 percent.
Try an Alternative to Mouthwash
Commercial mouthwashes contain alcohol, which allows bad-acting bacteria to thrive. A better bet is swishing with a DIY rinse made from 3 Tbs of food grade aloe vera juice, 3 Tbs of water and a drop of peppermint oil. One study found that an aloe rinse reduces plaque and boosts gum health as effectively as drugstore mouthwash, but without the harsh ingredients.
Get professional teeth whitening result at home with the Teeth Whitener Kit!
Go Green with Towels and Linens When it comes time to dry off, towels made from materials like organic cotton and bamboo are the way to go.
Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-intensive, pesticide-laden crops on the planet--to the tune of 2 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers and 84 million pounds of pesticides each year, causing a whole laundry list of environmental health problems for those who apply the pesticides and harvest the crop, not to mention the damage done to soil, irrigation, and groundwater systems. Bamboo, in addition to being a fast-growing sustainable alternative to cotton, is also reputed to have anti-bacterial qualities when spun into linens.
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Post by SAR01 on Aug 15, 2019 11:16:46 GMT -5
August 15, 2019 Hey Everyone! It's August and the weather is brutal. Beat warm-weather health hassles with natural, convenient and inexpensive remedies you likely already have on hand. Scroll down for more. Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives Everything You Need to Be Prepared! 210 Piece First Aid Kit Deter Mosquitoes with Clove Oil If you feel like a mosquito magnet each time you step outside, take . There's a quick fix that University of Wisconsin researchers say works as well as many DEET-containing repellents. Simply mix 2 drops of close essential oil into 2 tsp. of your favorite unscented lotion and apply to bite-prone areas like your ankles, wrists and neck. While the warm, sweet scent is pleasant to us, it repels mosquitoes. In fact, researchers say the aroma will keep them away for hours. Or plant catnip! Make your yard a mosquito free zone by planting catnip in your garden. A member of the mint family, catnip contains an oil called nepetalactone that repels 50 percent more mosquitoes than DEET, according to research presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Hands down best bug repellent and after bite cream ever! A Blister Prevention Trick For Your Feet Strappy summer sandals and flip-flops will stay as comfortable as they are cute if you give your feel a spritz of aerosol antiperspirant each morning. UCLA researchers say antiperspirant reduces moisture production in the feet, cutting your risk of sweat-triggered blisters in half. 'Go Green' Hint: Conserving water by only washing full loads and saving energy by using warm or cold water instead of hot are not the only ways you can be environmentally conscious in the laundry room. Detergents. Components such as colorants really aren't necessary - they are often just there to make them pleasing to the eye as you pour them out. Fragrances are of particular concern as companies often aren't required to detail what these are comprised of. Just about every supermarket these days offers "earth friendly" detergents and usually you'll find they are quite a bit cheaper too due to the no-frills, low active chemical approach - yet they can be just as effective. If you need a bit of extra punch to your wash in terms of bleaching, consider adding a 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. By the way, a teaspoon of lemon juice thrown into your wash can also help your clothes to smell fresher.
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Post by SAR01 on Aug 15, 2019 12:57:58 GMT -5
*-- Are Your Household Items Unsafe?--* It doesn't really take that long for sponges to become a hotbed of bacteria. They can spread germs to your hands and then to your food. Be careful if you have a cut on your hand because that is a sure way to get bacteria in your cut. Even if you boil or microwave your sponges after each use, scientists say it's best to replace them once a week.
Pillows obviously lose firmness over time. It also absorbs the sweat, oil, and skin cells you shed while you sleep. Trade in old pillows for new ones every 2 years. You should do it sooner if they're flat, lumpy, or stay folded after you bend them in half.
Any sign of wear on an extension cord means it's time to throw it out. Cracks, damage, or problems with the plug or prongs can be a fire hazard. Inspect cords before use, and don't run one under a rug or overload it with too many appliances. Just because you put electrical tape on it doesn't mean its safe.
Leftover water-based latex paint that hasn't been stored in an airtight container at room temperature can break down in a matter of months or sooner. If you notice the can bulging, there's probably a buildup of gas-producing bacteria inside. Call your local government or public works to find out how to get rid of it safely.
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Post by SAR01 on Aug 28, 2019 16:11:01 GMT -5
ugust 28, 2019 Hey Everyone! Many people suffer from acid reflux; that burning pain in the lower chest area that happens when stomach acid flows back up into the food pipe. It is more common among older folks, and summertime favorites like ice cream and barbecue can make it even worse. Thankfully there are a few easy, natural remedies that can quickly ease heartburn and take care of its uncomfortable side effects.
Handy Hints Holly Email your favorite hints Visit the NEW and IMPROVED archives
Works Like A Computer Mouse, But Feels and Looks Like A Pen
Hint 1: In our 40s and beyond we actually produce too little stomach acid, which triggers heartburn by hindering digestion. Start each meal by drinking 1 Tbs. of unpasteurized cider vinegar mixed with 6 ounces of water and your reflux could disappear in a few days.
Hint 2: Nighttime reflux that disrupts your sleep is trouble. But taking 3 mg. of melatonin nightly can prevent heartburn flares as effectively as prescription PPIs. Melatonin strengthens the valve that stops stomach acid from traveling up into the esophagus. And taking melatonin 30 minutes before bed will cut your risk of insomnia in half.
An Upgraded Hose Nozzle without The Kinks or Hand-Strain - just $7!
'Go Green' Hint: Is it possible to eat 'Green'? Yes! Green eating means choosing a predominantly plant-based diet. Our diets are heavy in animal products and raising animals for food takes a toll on the environment. The Food and agricultural Organization estimates that 60 percent of the world's agricultural land is used for raising animals.
Consuming a plant-forward diet that is rich in vegetables like leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds and lower in animal products is one of the most important ways you can help to reduce carbon emissions, lower our dependence on fossil fuels, and do your part to ensure a healthier planet and food system in the future.
You don't have to become a vegetarian. However, it does mean shifting meat from the focus of the meal to a side dish. With today's wide variety of delicious plant-based offerings it's not hard to build a plant-forward menu and re-position meat as a side dish that is eaten once a day, or even once a week.
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Post by SAR01 on Sept 27, 2019 9:27:00 GMT -5
Washing non-colorfast garments
Epsom salts will help prevent running and fading of non-colorfast items. Add 1 teaspoon Epsom salts per gallon of wash water for the first wash.
Setting Colors
To set the colors in new cottons and keep them bright, soak them overnight in lightly salted water, or a weak solution of vinegar and water.
Brilliant Brightener
A nifty clothes brightener is cream of tartar. It's easier on the fabric than many bleaches, which is great for washing delicates. Just mix 2 teaspoons cream of tarter in 1 gallon of hot water and soak garments for 4 or 5 hours, then wash as usual.
For whiter socks skip the bleach
Soak them in hot water mixed with a half cup of lemon juice. Soaking them in baking soda and water works pretty well, too. Reduce Drying Time
When your wash cycle is complete, remove lightweight garments and place them in the dryer. Run your heavier items through the spin cycle one more time. This will reduce the moisture in the heavy items while the light items dry faster on their own.
If you only have a few items to dry, pop a thick, dry towel into the dryer with them. The towel will help absorb a lot of the moisture.
Handy Laundry Basket...and it's COLLAPSIBLE!
'Go Green' Hint: If you have hard water make sure you use a commercial water softener or washing soda. Soft water is much easier on fabrics than hard water, and repeated hard water use will turn whites gray. In addition to saving garments, soft water will save you money because you need less detergent. If you are using washing soda for the first time, GO EASY on the detergent!
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Post by SAR01 on Oct 3, 2019 19:19:51 GMT -5
Give a dead battery a jolt
Storing your batteries in the fridge can make them last up to 90 percent longer, and popping a dead battery in the freezer overnight can temporarily revive it. Even laptop batteries. Just put them in a sealed bag to protect them from moisture.
Get markers flowing again
If a washable marker has run dry, dip the tip into a cup of water. Hold it there until you see ink start to flow again, then recap it for 15 minutes. The moisture from the water rejuvenates the marker's pigments. Got a dry permanent marker? Repeat the same process using rubbing alcohol!
Boost your bar soap's shelf life
It may sound strange, but simply storing your bar soap unwrapped will give you more suds. The reason? Exposure to air dries out the soap, so it doesn't dissolve as quickly when it comes into contact with water. To get the benefit, unwrap any bars and let them dry out for at least a week.
Please Toss Your Nasty Kitchen Sponges... Get the DishFish Instead!
'Go Green' Hint: For those who are environmentally minded it is important to know what is environmentally friendly versus what is merely "not toxic." For example; a lot of material, including many kinds of plastic, will readily degrade, but not necessarily biodegrade.
* Degradable
A material that breaks down through chemical reactions rather than through the activity of microorganisms (fracture into smaller and smaller pieces). This is largely what the great Pacific garbage patch is made up of.
* Biodegradable
A material that breaks down with the assistance of micro- organisms, eventually returning to its original organic components.
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