Grandmas Tips and Hints
Through the years we have had certain hand-me-down ideas, from moms and grandmas, that are the tried and true way of doing things. Cleaning and Organizing shortcuts that have been used, are passed down through generations. Most of the tips and hints that they give us are, home made cleaners, that we usually have right in our kitchens
No matter what new and improved things come on to the market, Grandma’s and mom’s ways usually work the best.
Here are a few of the best ones that most of us remember and should be passed on to future generations just.like mom and grandma did for us!!
REMOVE TAR
To remove tar, take baking soda and add enough water to make a paste, then rub on tar. Let soak for a little while, add a little more water, so it slides easier and rub off with a paper towel. Works great!
REMOVE RUST FROM CHROME AND METAL
To remove surface rust from chrome bumpers, crumple up some aluminum foil into a ball, dip it in water and rub on the rust area, rinse with clean water. This does not work on pitted rust areas.
Put some household ammonia in water, Rinse and dry the chrome well afterwards to polish it up. This also removes grease and insect marks. If it is a stubborn chunk of tar, use the ammonia straight from the bottle and don’t dilute it.
Toothpaste works well for grease and bug marks on chrome. Put it on a soft bristle brush and go gently over the area and rinse and wipe dry.
Free Up Rusted Bolts
Pour on a small amount of fizzy coke(it has to be coke) soda. The acids and carbon dioxide in the drink will help to eat away the corrosion and release the hold on the threads. Wait until dry before trying again to move the nut. Please be sure that you wipe the area thoroughly dry because it will rust again if you don’t.
Clean up Grease and oil Spills
Dilute any spills with paint thinner or white spirit, sprinkle with cat litter and sweep up when the liquid has been absorbed.
Getting stuck in the snow
If you get stuck in snow or on ice, don't spin the wheels as this will melt the frozen surface making the problem worse.
Place gravel, an old sack, a small piece of carpeting, kitty litter or twigs, etc. under the front of the driving wheels, with minimum acceleration, slowly pull forward
Stop a Radiator Leak in an Emergency
Place a piece of chewing gum over the hole. If the hole is in a hose you can wrap with insulating tape, duct tape or anything that will hold it in place. Remember this is good for about 5-8 miles, enough time to get to a service station.
Clean the Leather on a book
Using saddle soap, or petroleum jelly apply sparingly and gently with your fingers or a piece of muslin, felt or chamois leather. Leave for several hours and then repeat.
Uses for Old Jeans
Make a grocery bag. Cut open the crotch area and turn the material inside out. Now sew across the bottom portion about 1 inch from the bottom. If you would like you can cut material from the leg of the pants and use the pant leg to make a strap.
Make a purse, the same way as a grocery bag, only make it to your size
Use as trim on sweatshirts around the bottom and the cuffs
Cut out animals and sew them on shirts and sweatshirts
Use the pockets, for on sweatshirts or other pants and use the leg to make trim on the bottoms to match
Take the leg or a pair of pants and sew it at the bottom and make a holder for a bottle of booze to give as a gift
Old Doilies-what to do with them
Sew doilies on sweatshirts or plain sweaters, they really look nice
Use on the top of canning jars and fill the canning jar with potpourri
DRY HANDS
Take a large scoop of petroleum jelly and two drops of olive oil, rub into hands (rub hands together as if washing them). Put hands into plastic freezer bags and cover with a warm towel. Relax for thirty minutes, then wash in usual way.
Dirt down in the pores of your hands
Rub Vaseline into the pores of your hand or legs, leave for five minutes and then wash in hot soapy water, pat dry and you have smooth skin. Repeat often during the winter.
Smelly hands
To remove smells from hands, use either, lemon juice, vinegar or salt, however, for onions rub dry mustard well into the hands then rinse off. Always use cold water to wash hands to prevent "setting" the odor.
Stained hands
Try lemon juice as this will remove most stains, however, some will need hydrogen peroxide (USE 20 VOLUME STRENGTH). Dab on stain until it vanishes, then wash hands very well.
Stained nails
Put a drop of smokers' toothpaste on a brush and gently brush onto nails. Rinse off your hands with warm soapy water and the stain should have disappeared.
Nail strengthener
Dip your nails into a salt solution (2 teaspoons of salt to a glass of water) for 2/3 minutes, gently pat dry; do this two times a week for 6 weeks and you will notice a big difference.
Face mask for oily skin
Take the white of an egg and mix with 4/5 drops of lemon juice. Apply to skin with brush. Leave ten minutes and then remove with hot water.
Face mask for dry skin - Mix an egg yolk with one spoon of honey. Spread on face and leave for ten minutes. Rinse off with warm water
Old tea bags make perfect eye pads to reduce swelling around eyes.
Place a slice of cucumber on each eye to relieve tired eyes.
Hairspray on a clean mascara brush keeps curl in eyelashes. (Be careful)
Dusting Powder
Purchase a bottle of your favorite cologne and an inexpensive baby or non-perfumed powder. Soak a cotton ball with the cologne. Place it in a dusting container and place the lid back on. Store away for about 3-4 days. Now open the container and you will have your favorite scenting dusting powder without paying the full cost
Inexpensive bath salts
Take a cup of Epsom Salts and place in a container that can be resealed. Add no more than a teaspoon of your favorite perfume to the salts and seal. Shake and leave two weeks. This makes bath time fun with your favorite scent.
Camping ideas
Keep the toilet paper dry!! Cut down a large plastic drink bottle, put a slit in the side through which to pass the sheet of paper - and the paper stays dry.
Place loops over the tent rails which can be used to hang things from without causing water seepage through the canvas
To help light a fire in difficult circumstances use cotton swabs soaked in petroleum jelly
Remove cigarette smoke
To remove all traces of cigarette smoke, leave a saucer of vinegar in the room overnight.
Removing pet hair from furniture
A clean, dry, green kitchen scourer is ideal for removing pets hairs from furniture, carpets and clothes
Clean out old vases
To clean the inside a flower vase, particularly one of a difficult shape, fill with hot soapy water, add a teaspoon of dry rice and shake vigorously.
To clean glass decanters, put broken egg shells and water into decanter, shake vigorously. Leave overnight, rinse out well - should be sparkling.
Sewing and Ironing hints
When lengthening clothes to remove the crease left by the old hem, try sponging with white vinegar and press with a warm iron
Use double sided sticky tape, as a quick repair for a loose hem.
Skin Irritations
If a favorite piece of jewelry e.g. ring or watch bracelet, irritates your skin try painting the inside with clear nail polish
Sticking Zippers
To prevent zippers sticking rub them with a lead pencil or with edge of a bar of soap
Plastic Material
Use a hair dryer to remove wrinkles and creases from plastic material.