Tips for the home

	Tips for the home
	Reduce the water you flush If you don’t have new low-flow toilets, fill plastic soda bottles with water, put on the lids, and place one in each toilet tank to reduce the amount of water per flush.
	Conserve water at the sink Turn off the water while you soap your face or hands, shave, or brush your teeth. Keep an old milk jug under each sink. When you have to run water until it’s hot, catch the cool water in the jug, then use it for your houseplants or humidifier.
	Replace your showerheads to save water Installing inexpensive, low-flow showerheads will cut the amount of shower water you use by half. It’s a simple job that you can do yourself. Look for a brand with an on/off switch that lets you interrupt the flow while you soap up, shave, or shampoo and resume the flow to rinse.
	Put up a clothesline to lower laundry costs Sunlight actually kills many odor-causing bacteria, so your clothes will smell fabulous naturally. Line drying is easier on fabrics. Most shrinkage occurs in the dryer and machine drying wears down fibers, so line drying will make your clothes last longer and look better, too.
	Set the washer for cold-water rinses to use less energy Although laundry detergents clean your clothes better in warm water (at least 65 degrees F), the rinse can always be cold. If you want to wash in cold water, liquid detergent may be your best bet because it doesn’t have to dissolve.
	Use your washer efficiently Run only full loads. Washing small loads wastes electricity and water. If necessary, toss in tablecloths, dishtowels, or seldom-washed items to fill up the load.
	Don’t overdo the detergent If you find a lot of lint on your laundry, it’s a sign that you’re using too much detergent. Excess detergent doesn’t actually clean any better and it may not be fully washed away in the rinse cycle. It can leave a film that attracts dirt and causes garments to look dingy.
	Do laundry at off hours Check with your energy and water utilities to find out whether they offer lower rates early in the morning or late at night, whether weekday rates are less than on weekends, and whether they have any tips on lowering your operating costs. Regions differ with respect to energy and water resources.
	Get a programmable thermostat and save on your heating bills If everyone is out of the house during the day, invest in an automatic thermostat timer that raises the temperature about one hour before you get up, lowers it 5 to 10 degrees during the hours when the house is empty, and turns it back up just before you get home.
	Keep dirt out with mats To cut cleaning time and costs, keep dirt from entering your house in the first place. Place an all-weather, heavy-duty mat just outside every exterior door and put a thinner mat or throw rug just inside. Even if your home is carpeted wall-to-wall, small throw rugs for mats will control dirt and cut carpet wear.
	If you’re replacing light bulbs in outdoor fixtures…. Coat their bottoms with WD 40 so they won’t freeze.
	Float a Ping-Pong ball in your room humidifier tank So you can see at a glance when it needs filling.
	Decorating with stencils Instead of wallpapering or carpeting, paint the floor of your child’s room (or any room for that matter) and then stencil designs onto the ‘carpet’. It’s cheaper, easy to clean and brings a charming and delightful atmosphere.
	Think twice before machine-laundering an oil-soaked kitchen towel It could be a fire hazard. If terry-cloth towels are soiled with vegetable, cooking, salad or furniture oil, the oil residue left after laundering can cause them to burst into flames when exposed to the heat of a dryer. Use paper towels to clean up oil spills. For small oil spots, wash and dry on a cool cycle.
	To remedy a sticky drawer…. Rub the sides with a candle.
	Smooth nicks on good glassware by…. Rubbing with a very fine emery board.
	Put the glide back into sticky sliding doors Wipe the tracks and then rub them with bar soap.
	Anchor a screw in a plaster wall Make the hole by driving a nail into the plaster and then plug the hole with fine steel wool. The screw will go in firmly and stay.
	Need to patch wallpaper? Hold a piece right side facing you and tear all four edges off AWAY from you. This will leave feathered edges. Apply with wallpaper paste.
	Fix a tear in a screen…. With household cement.
	When leaving on vacation, turn your refrigerator to a warmer setting This saves electricity. As long as the door stays closed, the temperature will remain cool enough.
	It’s cheaper to leave fluorescent lights on when…. You exit a room if you’ll be back within 10 minutes. They consume less energy when kept burning than when they’re switched on and off.
	Get more linens and towels into a small space Fold them neatly and then roll them up tightly.
	Get professional results when painting a wall Roll the first coat on the diagonal and the final coat with careful vertical strokes.
	Keep tarnish at bay Put little squares of camphor wrapped in foil or inside glass containers into silver drawers and cupboards.
	Stop a screwdriver from slipping out of a screw slot Put a little chewing gum, putty or glue on the tip.
	Dust with a sock Slip an old sock over your hand to dust venetian blinds.
	Dust windows and glass with old newspapers now and then You won’t have to wash them so often.
	Remove dust from draperies Take them off their hooks and tumble them in the dryer on the fluff cycle for 15 minutes. EXCEPTION: fiberglass curtains leave a residue in the dryer.
	Dust 75 percent faster with…. An ostrich-feather duster. They far ‘out dust’ a cloth or other types of dusters.
	Instant remedy for grease spots Sprinkle with cornstarch immediately and wait till the grease is absorbed. Then brush away.
	Check out off-peak rates from your electric company Some power companies offer off-peak rates. If bathing, laundering and dishwashing can be done those periods of time, your power bill will go down.
	Use your water heater wisely Next to your home’s heating and cooling units, your water heater is your largest energy user. Unless you need a high temperature for your dishwasher, set the thermostat at 120 degrees. This can cut your hot water costs by 50%. If you’ll be away for a week or more, turn it down to its lowest setting.
	Clean lightbulbs save money Dust your lightbulbs with a dry cloth. Believe it or not, a dust-free bulb shines up to fifty percent brighter than a dirty one. This saves you money because less energy is used.
	Economic small trash can bags Line your smaller trash cans with the ‘free’ plastic bags you carry home from your shopping. It doesn’t get any more economical that that!
	Hang pictures with fishing wire No more frayed or rotten string breaks. Fishing line will keep your pictures hanging securely.
	Non-slick floor rugs To keep a rug from sliding across your floor, glue ‘rubbery-foam’ fabric softener sheets to the bottom of the rug.
	Shine your brass Shine your brass with a fabric softener sheet to get a beautiful shine. This also helps to repel dust.
	Rinse containers before throwing away Rinse cleaning product containers out when empty and you’ll find an additional sink full of dishes can be washed and even one more load of clothes.
	Save on electricity when using your dishwasher Turn the dial to “off” after they finish washing and let them dry themselves. The washing water is so hot that it has already sterilized them. Since you aren’t going to use them until the next meal, this method of drying will cut down your electric bill.
	Sanitize your mop Soak it overnight in a detergent solution (add some pine solution for disinfecting and deodorizing purposes). Rinsing several times with cold water will remove the dust and grime. Then, air dry it in direct sunlight. You now have a sanitary mop.
	Child’s play broom can assist Mom in her cleaning Play brooms fit between the washer and the wall, beneath the dryer, the dishwasher, just about anywhere there are tight spaces. They are cheap and will simplify some of your chores.
	Put ‘rubber bumpers’ on the back of your furniture Prevent your walls from being scratched by inserting ‘rubber bumpers’ with little nails into the back of the furniture. They come in various sizes at a hardware store. Sometimes they’re called rubber ‘stoppers’.
	Ideal drawer liners Plastic place mats make great drawer liners. They are stiff and flat and with one swipe of a damp sponge they are clean. They are also easy to cut with scissors and can be cut into any shape.
	A note of wisdom when putting up wallpaper After you wallpaper a room, write with a pencil on a wall behind a picture, the amount of wallpaper and border it took to do the job along with the date. The next time you have to wallpaper, you will know exactly how much to buy.
	Save those handy spray nozzles Most spray nozzles will fit on bottles other than the original bottle top it came on. Save them and reuse them to spray all kinds of things: ammonia, bleach, liquid hand creams, window cleaner, etc.
	Wax shelves before lining with shelf paper If you wax your shelves before lining them with shelf paper, the paper will not stick to them and if something is spilled, it’s easier to wipe up.
	Lazy Susan does a good job Take a Lazy Susan and cover it with wax paper. Place your supplies of soaps, detergents, etc. on it. With a spin of your finger you can get to whatever you need with no effort, immediately.
	Make your house smell good with a vacuum Put a few drops of cinnamon oil in your vacuum cleaner bag and as you vacuum, the air will smell as if there’s an apple pie in the oven. You can use any oil you prefer (lemon is great) and it lasts a long time.
	A shoe bag in the cleaning closet keeps things organized Store spray cans of wax, window cleaners, whisk brooms, clean dust cloths, vacuum attachments, extension cords, etc. in them. Everything is handy
	Towels substitute for curtains Do you have an odd sized window and no curtains? Towels work great until you can find just the right ones. Simply stitch a hem along one end and put them on a curtain rod. For wide windows, put up more towels. You can tie them back or leave them hanging straight.
	The right screen for the right window When you remove your window screens for cleaning or painting, if you will number them with a ball-point pen on the edge and number the window where they fit, you will have no trouble getting the right screen back into the correct opening.
	No more fighting the ‘fitted sheets’ Contour sheets will go on the mattress much easier if you fix diagonally opposite corners first.
	Club soda cleans carpets Club soda makes a great stain remover for carpet, upholstery, and other fabrics. Saturate the area with club soda and blot up with an old, clean rag.
	Clean faucets with club soda Scrub away hard water stains from your faucet with an old toothbrush and full strength club soda.
	Club soda cleans walls A dab of club soda on a soft cloth easily removes grime on your painted walls and wallpaper.
	Cola removes grease To remove grease from rags or a mechanic’s clothing, pre-wash the stained clothes in cola for fifteen minutes, then throw three cups of cola in the washing machine when you launder them.
	Keep your shower curtain from ‘floating’ Clip three evenly spaced clothespins to the bottom end of your shower curtain to keep it from floating around. Use plastic clothespins or else cover wooden ones with clear nail polish to protect the wood.
	Charcoal briquettes keep tools from rusting Put a couple of briquettes of charcoal in your toolbox to absorb moisture and prevent your tools from rusting. Replace every couple of months with new briquettes.
	Fix a nail hole in drywall Fill the hole with a paste made from crushed chalk and water. Allow it to dry, sand smooth and then paint the wall.
	Use cat litter as a dehumidifier An open box of cat litter placed in the middle of a musty or moist room will absorb the moisture and prevent mildew. Put the used box outside in the sun on a hot day to dry out and use it again.
	Easy cleanup of lawn mower Apply a coating of car wax to the underneath and on the blade of your lawn mower. This will help with cleanup and prevent rust.
	Prevent your tools from rusting Put a coating of car wax on your shovel and other tools to prevent rusting.
	Protect your outside furniture against the elements Wax your outdoor plastic furniture with a carnauba car wax. This will sheet away rain and protect the sun from fading the furniture.
	Protect your tape measure Put a thin coating of car wax over the tape to prevent dirt from sticking to it. This also keeps the tape retracting freely.
	Wax the threads of a screw Covering the threads of a screw with car wax will stop the friction when screwing the screw.
	Clean un-washable wallpaper with stale bread Ball up a slice of stale bread and rub vigorously over the stained or greasy area to remove stain.
	Receive help from your local utilities company Call for a free evaluation of your energy usage. Some utility companies give away energy-saving devices such as low-flow shower heads, water heater blankets and fluorescent bulbs.
	Save on buying home products Buy donated building materials, appliances, furniture and other merchandise at more than 500 Habitat for Humanity stores around the U.S.
	Lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums Leaking or broken washing machine hoses that cause costly damage are a leader in insurance claims. Many insurers offer discounts of up to 10% on premiums to home owners who simply replace rubber hoses with stainless steel burst-proof hoses. The small expenditure may save many times that off your insurance premium.
	Iodine covers scratches on dark wood Dip a Q-tip in iodine and then apply to a scratch on dark wood furniture. Wipe away any excess so as not to stain the rest of the furniture surface. The scratch should completely disappear.
	Homemade dye to repair scratched furniture Place a black tea bag on a plate. Drop a few tablespoons of hot water onto the bag. Steep 2-3 minutes. The longer the steep, the darker the dye. Dip a Q-tip into the tea. Dab onto scratches. Repeat until it matches the wood. Once dry, the scratches vanish.
	Use corn oil to remove rings on wood furniture Wet a paper towel with corn oil and rub it over the residue ring until it disappears. Wipe the area down with a clean rag or paper towel to clean up any excess oil.
	Make your own furniture cleaner Olive oil and lemon make a great furniture polish and cleaner. Two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice is the ideal ratio. If you don’t have any lemons on hand, try using three parts olive oil to one part white vinegar. The results are equal for both solutions but the lemon version does smell better while you’re polishing.
	Remove melted plastic on appliances A damp cloth and some baking soda will remove melted plastic wrap from toasters or toaster ovens.
	Sweeten smelly, stale sponges Mix two tablespoons of baking soda and one pint of warm water. Soak the unpleasant smelling sponges for a fresh smell.
	Restore original shine to your silverware Line a baking pan with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Make sure it covers the pan completely. Lay your silverware on it and cover with warm water and several tablespoons of baking soda. Let sit for ten minutes and the tarnish will be gone.
	Make your own dustpans Cut a pie tin in half to make two sturdy dustpans
	Make a rack to store your sanding discs Cut an aluminum pie tin in half. File or sand down the sharp, exposed edge and then secure it to the wall. You can now safely store your abrasive sanding discs.
	Organize and store your nuts, bolts, screws, etc. Mount an old muffin pan under a shelf or bench top by securing it with a screw on one end. Use a washer as a spacer and you’ll be able to swing the muffin pan out to find just what you need. Swing it back under when you’re through.
	No more bathtub rings Sprinkle a little talcum powder in your bath water. Not only will it feel good on your skin, but your tub will stay clean from a ring.
	Clean a crystal lamp base with ammonia Mix a few drops of ammonia in water. Apply solution with a soft cloth and then rinse it off with another cloth dampened with clear water. Dry it and enjoy the sparkle.
	Remove a stain on a marble tabletop Mix a few drops of ammonia with hydrogen peroxide. Apply it to the stain and leave it for a few hours. Rub with a clean, dry cloth, then wipe with a cold, wet cloth to remove any remaining solution.
	Ammonia removes mildew out of wood Mix one cup of ammonia with one-half cup of vinegar, a quarter cup of baking soda and one gallon of water. Apply to mildew for quick removal.
	Clean your carpet with ammonia If you need to do a quick shampoo, try this: mix one-half cup of clear ammonia with one pint of water. Mop VERY lightly across the surface of the carpet. NEVER use on a WOOL carpet. It doesn’t take much. Before you begin, test the solution on a hidden spot to be sure it won’t damage the carpet.
	Ammonia makes excellent oven rack cleaner Lay your oven rack on an old towel in your bathtub. Fill the tub with warm water and some ammonia. Let it sit a while and clean.
	Be careful when combining ammonia with other products containing chlorine Ammonia and chlorine can form a deadly gas when combined. NEVER mix any product containing ammonia with bleach or products containing chlorine. Be sure to read label directions and warnings carefully before combining cleaners.
	No more splattered paint on fixtures Cover faucets, door handles, and other fixtures with aluminum foil prior to painting. Foil scrunches around things, stays firmly in place and is easy to remove (no messy cleanups).
	Increase a radiator’s heat in your home Take a piece of rigid insulation or poster board and cut it the same size as the radiator. Cover it with aluminum foil and place it between the wall and the radiator. The reflected heat will increase the heat in the room.
	Fix a worn spot in a mirror Tape a piece of aluminum foil to the backside of a mirror where the reflective coating has worn off.
	Lubricant for a hand saw Baby oil on the saw blade helps cutting through wood easier.
	Ammonia makes for easy oven cleaning Spray ammonia over the inside of your oven and leave it for six to eight hours and then wipe clean. Cover burned food with a rag saturated with ammonia for a couple of hours and then wipe it clean.
	Protect furniture when shampooing carpet When you shampoo, protect the heavy furniture from any water damage by placing aluminum foil under it.
	Make your curtain rods slide easier A shower curtain rod with a coat of Alberto VO5 on it causes the curtain rings to slide easier.
	Programmable thermostats save money Maintaining a steady temperature saves on the heating budget, whether it’s heating or cooling.
	Save on heating bills by not heating dead space Turn the heat down or off in unoccupied rooms. Don’t close the vents where you have a heat pump because it could cause damage.
	Use the heat of the sun to supplement your home heating system Keep drapes and shades open on windows facing the south and take advantage of its warm rays. Close them at night to help keep the chill away from cold windows.
	Ventilating fans can pull out your warm or cool air Use ventilating fans wisely (kitchen, bath, etc.). These fans can pull out a houseful of warm or cool air in just one hour. Turn them off as soon as they have done their job.
	A simple degree can make a difference in your heating bill For each degree you lower your thermostat in winter, you can save about three percent on your heating bill.
	Cranking the thermostat doesn’t make it heat (or cool) faster Moving the thermostat past the desired temperature doesn’t make it work any faster. And, it wastes energy (and money) when you forget to adjust it.
	Replace furnace filters regularly for efficiency and economy Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
	How to reduce exterior wall leaks On new construction, thoroughly caulk and seal the exterior walls, tape the joints of exterior sheathing, and install house wrap.
	How does air flow in and out of your home? 31 percent enters through openings in ceilings, walls and floors; 15 percent - ducts; 14 percent – fireplace; 13 percent – plumbing penetrations; 11 percent – doors; 10 percent – windows; 4 percent – fans and vents; 2 percent – electric outlets. Every hole, nook and cranny is an invitation for the escape of air.
	Flue dampers allow warm air to escape Be sure to close the flue damper, tightly, when not using the fireplace.
	Installing storm windows helps keep cold out Storm windows reduce drafts, water condensation, and frost formation. You can also use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the colder winter months. Be sure to seal tightly to the frame.
	Block up holes in your home that are leaking air Look for dirty spots. This often indicates holes where air leaks into and out of your home. You can seal the holes by stapling sheets of plastic over them and caulking the edges of the plastic.
	Install rubber gaskets to stop air leaks Put them behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
	Use right sealant when sealing air leaks Seal leaks between moving parts (door and its frame) with weather-stripping. Fill leaks between parts that don’t move (window frame and wall) with caulking.
	Common sources of leaks that cost you lots of money A dropped ceiling, chimney penetration, recessed light, warm air register, attic entrance, window sashes and frames, electric wires and box, baseboards, coves, interior trim, plumbing utilities and penetration, plumbing access panel, water and furnace flues, electrical outlets and switches, all ducts, light fixtures, door sashes and frames.
	Keep insulation away from vents It’s important to keep it at least three inches away from recessed lighting fixtures or other heat-producing equipment unless it is marked “I.C.” This means it’s designed for direct insulation contact.
	Ventilation helps control moisture and reduce summer cooling bills Attic vents can be installed along the entire ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic.
	When installing insulation in your home consider…. Your climate, your home’s design, and your budget.
	Save ten percent or more on your energy bill by reducing air leaks One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is to caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.
	Insulation usually comes in four types Although insulation can be made from a variety of materials, it usually comes in batts, rolls, loose-fill and rigid foam boards. Each type is made to fit in a different part of your house.
	Insulation is measured in R-values The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the nation.
	Increase your home’s comfort while saving on energy You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to thirty percent by investing just a few hundred dollars in proper insulation and weatherization products.
	Leaking windows waste energy and money Some homes have enough leaks around the windows and doors to equal an open window measuring three feet by three feet! Checking your home’s insulating system is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste and save money.
	Hire a professional contractor to analyze your homes energy system For a fee, a contractor will analyze how your home’s energy systems work together and compare the analysis against your utility bills. They will use equipment to find inefficiencies that cannot be detected by a visual inspection and then give you a list of recommendations that will save you money and make your home more comfortable.
	Contact your local utility company for information on lowering energy bills Many utilities conduct energy audits for free or for a nominal charge.
	Saving energy on your lighting use results in lower energy bills Look for ways to light your living room, kitchen and exterior lighting with daylight. Reduce the time the lights are on and replace incandescent bulbs and fixtures with compact fluorescent lamps or standard fluorescent lamps.
	Regular maintenance of appliances will save on your energy bill Regular maintenance of appliances, heating and cooling systems will lower your energy bill.
	Close your fireplace damper when not in use Save on your energy bill by making sure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use.
	Find out which parts of your home uses the most energy Check the level of insulation in your exterior and basement walls, ceilings, attic, floors, and crawl spaces. Does it meet recommendations for your area of the country? Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
	Seven things to do before hiring a contractor Start with the Yellow Pages. Focus on local companies; look for licensed, insured contractors; get three bids with details in writing; ask about previous experience; check references; inquire with the Better Business Bureau.
	Make sure the basement stairs are always visible Add fluorescent stripes to the treads. Affix adhesive strips of tape or apply a 1-inch stripe of fluorescent paint (both available at hardware stores) to a clean, dust-free surface; position each strip 1 inch from edge of step to minimize wear.
	Drilling a simple hole in a wall Put an opened envelope just below the hole you are drilling. This minimizes the cleanup!
	Hang a board Run a nail through the solid part of a ring from a canned drink placed on the back of a board. You can now easily hang the board on the garage wall.
	A string in your paint bucket prevents drips By extending a string across the middle of your paint bucket, you can wipe the brush and the excess paint will drip in the bucket instead of on you.
	To keep paint brushes overnight before cleaning Just wrap the brush(es) up tightly in a sheet of aluminum foil
	Cleaning rusty tools Clean the rusty parts with a wire brush and then rub them with an onion cut in half.
	Easier removal of corroding nuts and bolts If you don't have a penetrating oil to use on nuts and bolts corroding by oxidation, simply pour on a few drops of COCA-COLA and let set a few minutes. The result is surprising!
	Keep putty soft To keep it, just remember to wrap it in a piece of aluminum foil.
	Eliminate chimney smoke Always warm your chimney before setting fire to the wood. Put a piece of newspaper inside the stove, close to the hole in the chimney, and light it. Once warmed up, the chimney will do its job (smokelessly).
	Nail without splitting the wood To nail without splitting the wood, simply pass the nail on a bar of soap before hammering it.
	No more smashed fingers while hammering nails Place the nail into a piece of cardboard. Hold onto the cardboard instead of your fingers and they will be safe from injury.
	To remove the ash from the fireplace Spray a little water on the ash to keep it from flying into the air. If the bricks of the hearth are dirty, clean with vinegar water.
	Remove paint on the hands When finished painting, clean your hands with cooking oil and then wash them with soap. Rewash with soap if necessary.
	Extra storage above the sink To store your beauty products, toothbrushes or even cleaning products, place a small shelf just above the sink. Make sure that you can always turn the taps.
	Prevent silicone from sticking to your fingers Dip your fingers in water containing a lot of dishwashing liquid. It will prevent the silicone from adhering to your skin.
	Baby wipe tubs keep small tool-related items organized Use empty baby wipe tubs in the garage to organize different types of nails, screws, nuts and bolts, etc.
	To recover a tiny object lost on the carpet Take your vacuum’s suction hose, put a nylon stocking on the bottom it, run the vacuum over the area where the object is suspected to be lost. It will stick on the nylon stocking instead of winding up in the vacuum bag.
	Magnetize screws Put a magnet in the box holding the screws. After a while, the screws will hold all alone as the screwdriver is used on them.
	Absorb smells of paint Put pieces of onions and breadcrumbs in the middle of the room on a plate.
	No more messy drawers! Cut the tops off baby wipe tubs and use to organize messy drawers anywhere in the house.
	Store plastic grocery bags neatly Fold and put in a baby wipe tub. Pull them out as needed, one at a time.
	Use dryer sheets for polishing rags Dryer sheets make mirrors and chrome appliances shine. They're also great for cleaning windows and other glass.
	Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds and window coverings Wipe the blinds with a sheet is said to prevent dust from resettling.
	Freshen the bathroom with a dryer sheet Roll up a dryer sheet in your toilet paper roll. Each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into your bathroom.
	Dryer sheets handy in kitchen cleanup Soak cookware with burned or baked-on food in warm water, with a dryer sheet or two. Makes clean-up easier than you’d expect. Also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.
	Clean your laundry room When you finish drying a load, hold on to the dryer sheet and wipe down the inside of your dryer’s drum, your lint trap, the outside of your washing machine and dryer, and scrub away any excess or spilled laundry detergent.
	Freshen your home Place (or tape) a dryer sheet on your HVAC vents to scent the air circulating through your home. You can even place one alongside your filter in your central heating unit to distribute the scent. Also works on ceiling fans, and on the back of box/portable fans.
	Dust-free blinds Not only do spent dryer sheets make a handy wipe for metal and plastic blinds, but the chemicals in them help to repel dust.
	Shine your shower and your bathtub Use wipes after each shower to remove soap scum and prevent future buildup.
	Remove crayon marks from walls Don’t buy expensive chemicals to erase the crayon. Use a wet baby wipe.
	Substitution on your swiffer broom Use baby wipes on your swiffer broom. They also work well on walls, hard to reach areas, furniture and for shining faucets.
	Baby wipes make great dusters They are great for dry and wet dusting. Use them to clean wood, window sills, dust bunnies along walls and corners, televisions, stereos, remote controls, other appliances and items around the house where dust accumulates due to static electricity.
	What is an Energy Star Rating? The next time you need to buy a major appliance, choose one that has the blue-and-white Energy Star label. They must meet stringent government guidelines in order to carry the label, and are typically ten to twenty percent more energy efficient than non-rated models. You will save money operating the appliance while helping the environment.
	Choosing a paintbrush When choosing a paintbrush, consider the surface area you will paint, the type of paint you will use, and whether you want to invest money in a quality brush to use for years, or a disposable variety intended for one use. All of these factors can help you choose the best paintbrush for your painting project.
	Use solar lights for your outdoor lighting needs If you've been contemplating accenting your yard with lighting, you may want to consider using solar lighting. Easy to install, environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and inexpensive, solar lights for exterior accents are the best choice for your outdoor accent lighting needs.
	Selecting room colors When you decide paint colors for rooms of your home, consider objects which will stay in the room, such as furniture, curtains, and accent pieces. Incorporate colors from those stationary objects when choosing paint colors, and if you use neutrals, select bold furniture and accent colors to make a statement.
	Hang bamboo window shades inside and outside your home Just as bamboo can accentuate the windows inside of your home, they are just as stylish outside. Consider hanging bamboo shades at your screened-in deck or patio since bamboo can withstand high temperatures, sun, and the elements, while they provide shade on sunny days.
	Remove carpet stains Avon bubble bath works great at removing all types of stains from carpet. It will even take out red wine stains. You can use it in your carpet cleaner. It comes out really clean (no soap residue) and it also smells really nice.
	To remove rust and mineral stains Add 1 cup of bottled lemon juice in the wash to remove discoloration from cotton laundry.
	Treat and remove spaghetti stains Wet the fabric and then sprinkle with powdered dish detergent. Scrub gently with a toothbrush. Rinse the item and launder normally.
	Tub and shower cleaning To clean tubs and showers use a product that contains phosphoric acid, there is no scrubbing involved.
	Extra vacuum saves both time and energy If you live in a two-story house, keep a second vacuum cleaner upstairs. No more lugging it up and down the stairs. Having 2 makes it easier to whip off some vacuuming when the mood strikes.
	Spot clean with small rug cleaner Consider investing in a small rug cleaner to use for quick cleanups of pet stains and kid spills.
	No streak mirror cleaning Use an alcohol (isopropyl) /water solution for cleaning mirrors. 1 part alcohol to 4 parts water. Cleans with no streaks. Coffee filters make great glass cleaning cloths.
	Cleaning the refrigerator Never use disinfectants to clean the refrigerator. Foods will pick up the taste and odor.
	Clean and remove odors from plastic and thermos bottles with baking soda Fill thermos and plastic bottles with a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda to one quart of warm. Just fill the bottles and let stand for several hours or overnight, rinse well and allow to dry. It is good for getting rid of the “plastic” smell and taste from new water bottles as well.
	Clean all plastic containers with baking soda All plastic dishes, bowls, containers, freezer containers and plastic covers for bowls and appliances can be cleaned by soaking in the general cleaning solutions (4 tablespoons baking soda to one quart of warm) for several hours or overnight. Scrub as necessary. Rinse and dry.
	Clean stained plastic dishes or utensils If you have stains on your plastic dishes or utensils, combine equal measures of baking soda and liquid chlorine bleach. Put this mix on the stained areas for 5 minutes before washing and rinsing thoroughly.
	Keep drains odor-free with baking soda About once a week, thrown in a handful of baking soda followed by hot water for at least 30 seconds. For more aggressive cleaning, pour 1 cup of baking soda in the drain followed by one cup of vinegar. The mixture will foam up noisily. Allow to work for a few minutes before flushing with plenty of hot water.
	Use less bleach in laundry by adding baking soda When using liquid chlorine bleach, add baking soda (1/2 cup to top loaders, ¼ cup to front loaders) with half the usual amount of liquid bleach. Your cloths will get just as clean and you’ll be spared some of that strong bleach odor.
	Eliminate dirty laundry odors with baking soda To eliminate odors from dirty camping clothes or in bedroom laundry bags and baskets, sprinkle a little dry baking soda on top of the dirty clothes AFTER putting them in the laundry bag. This will help until you can do your laundry.
	Baking soda acts as a fabric softener and well as a deodorizer Add ½ cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle to help remove sour smells and perspiration odors. It also acts as a fabric softener. For tough perspiration stains, cover with baking soda paste and let sit for a while before washing.
	Get rid of chemical stains and splashes with baking soda Soak clothes in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of chemical stains and splashes, or use baking soda paste on the affected area. Leave for as long as possible before washing.
	Freshen dirty mops with baking soda Cleaning rags and dirty mops and brooms can smell terrible. Freshen them by soaking them in a general baking soda cleaning solution of four tablespoons baking soda per quart of water.
	Remove crayon marks on WASHABLE painted walls with baking soda Sprinkle some baking soda on a wet sponge and scrub GENTLY.
	Homemade scented scouring powder substitute with soda Add an aromatic herb or flower to baking soda powder and then use a blender to mix them. You can add a little water if you want to make a paste. Be sure to choose an aroma that is not going to give anyone allergy problems.
	Keep your dishtowels fresh-smelling Sprinkle a little baking soda on them after using. Shake off the excess in the sink before hanging up.
	Baking soda effectively cleans shower stalls, tubs, toilets and tiles Sprinkle soda on a damp sponge. For a creamy soft scrubber, mix baking soda with enough vegetable-oil-based soap to make a paste and rub on with a damp sponge. Rinse and buff dry. For textured surfaces, apply a baking soda paste or the soft scrubber mix, allow to set a few minutes, then sponge clean and wipe dry.
	Remove mildew from fiberglass shower stalls with baking soda Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and gently scour. Sponge clean and wipe dry. Wipe down the shower stall with a towel or squeegee after each shower to help keep it looking that way. The real trick is to do this every time and not let the shower gunk build up.
	Put out small electrical fires with baking soda. Baking soda is great for putting out small electrical fires such as in a toaster or other small appliances where you don’t want to use water because of the dangers of electrocution and shorting out your house electrical system. Turn off the appliance before throwing handfuls of baking soda on the flames.
	Baking soda deodorizes trash containers A handful of baking soda sprinkled in your trash container will take care of odors.
	Homemade air-freshener made from baking soda To get rid of cooking odors and other smells in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in 2 cups of hot water. Make sure the baking soda dissolves completely before storing in a spray bottle. Undissolved baking soda will clog the spray nozzle.
	Deodorize trash compactors with baking soda Sprinkle a tablespoon or so of baking soda in the compactor three or four times during the course of filling each bag. Also, before putting the bag in, put several newspapers in the bottom and sprinkle baking soda on top. This will help absorb any excess moisture and odors.
	Keep refrigerators and freezers fresh smelling with baking soda Put a 1-pound box of baking soda inside your refrigerator and freezer. Change every three months. To prevent spills, the baking soda can be put into a plastic container with a lid (such as a plastic margarine tub). Punch a few holes in the lid before closing.
	Freshen the air throughout the house with baking soda Place jar lids or margarine tubs of baking soda under beds, in closets, under the sofa, and beneath other furniture pieces where it can be hidden.
	Kill mildew with baking soda To deal with mildew, use two parts baking soda to one part borax as your scouring powder. Let the mix set on the area you are cleaning for a while before washing off. Pay particular attention to the grout surfaces between tiles. Used regularly, this will help keep mildew at bay.
	Baking soda helps keep septic systems working efficiently Pour one cup of baking soda down a toilet every week (it creates a favorable pH environment).
	Whiten piano keys with baking soda Rub them with a soft cloth and a tiny amount of a baking soda and water paste (be careful not to get paste between the keys). Wipe off with a damp cloth; buff with a dry cloth. Ivory turns yellow with age, so no amount of work will whiten them, but baking soda paste will clean them wonderfully.
	Eliminate musty smelling closets with baking soda Let worn clothing air before hanging back in the closet. Leave closet door slightly ajar for some air circulation. Put a box or two of baking soda into the closet to absorb any musty odors.
	Freshen your carpet with baking soda Use a flour sifter to distribute evenly over the carpet. Leave for some hours, or overnight, to absorb odors and then vacuum. Make your own scented carpet freshener by adding powdered cloves, cinnamon or other spices to a shaker filled three-quarters full with baking soda.
	Remove grease stains from WASHABLE wallpaper with baking soda Most grease stains can be removed from washable wallpaper by applying a baking soda paste to the stain. Let dry and then brush off with a clean cloth. You may need more than one application for a tough stain.
	Clean vinyl with baking soda A baking soda paste cleans vinyl and gets rid of its plastic smell. It should be rinsed off thoroughly. Vinyl can be hardened by oil, so you should avoid using oil-based cleaners or polishes on vinyl upholstery or cushions.
	Clean the toilet bowl with baking soda Use baking soda powder and scrub with the toilet brush as you normally would. It helps to allow the powder to work for a while before a final scrub and rinse off. You can add a few drops of pure pine oil at the same time as the baking soda for its fresh smell and disinfectant action.
	Remove buildup of coffee oils and tea stains in pots with baking soda solution Shake baking soda on a damp sponge and rub until clean if the stain remains. Rinse and dry. It is also wonderful to clean the outside and the heating plate of your coffee maker too, and a sprinkle on a damp sponge wipes away coffee stains in a jiffy.
	Keep microwave smelling fresh with baking soda Rid the microwave of a persistent odor, such as burned popcorn, by putting a few tablespoons of baking soda in a microwave safe bowl, filled with water. Cook in the microwave for about 5 minutes, until it steams. This will also help to soften up any cooked-on residue that is hard to wash off.
	Use baking soda as a general cleaning solution A solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in a quarter of warm water is ideal for wiping out the inside surfaces of your refrigerator and microwave (when it is turned off and cold). This will both clean and deodorize. Don’t forget to rinse and wipe dry.
	Clean non-stick pans and utensils with baking soda Heat a solution of 3 tablespoons of baking soda and enough water to cover any stains in the dirty pan, or in a pan large enough to hold the non-stick utensils you want to clean. You can add a slice or two of lemon to help cut the grease and simmer until the pan or utensils are clean.
	Use baking soda in your automatic dishwasher When loading the automatic, sprinkle a handful of baking soda on the dishes or over the bottom of the dishwasher. It will absorb residual odors in both the machine and the drain hoses. You only need to add detergent to the second-cycle receptacle. The sprinkled baking soda takes the place of detergent in the first cycle.
	Add baking soda to sink of greasy dishes Add ½ cup of baking soda along with your detergent to help cut grease and food. It will also clean stubborn coffee or tea stains from dishes. It helps if you can let the dishes soak for a while before scrubbing. Sprinkle a small amount of dry baking soda on the stained areas and rub with nylon net.
	Remove burned-on gunk in saucepans Wet well and sprinkle with plenty of baking soda. Let stand for several hours and you’ll often find you can lift the burned portion right out. Tough areas can be sprinkled with dry baking soda and scrubbed with a wad of used aluminum foil or a nylon net scrubbie. Wash in normal way with soap and water.
	Clean burned-on food spatters with dry baking soda Wet the areas and sprinkling liberally with dry baking soda, or by wiping on enough baking soda paste (3 parts soda to 1 part water) to cover the spatters. Leave for a while before wiping away. If some stubborn residues remain, repeat the process. Be sure that the paste is wet enough to soak into the burned-on patters.
	Clean tarnished silver items with baking soda paste Remove tarnish from your silverware, silver trophies and ornaments by cleaning and polishing them with a baking soda paste of 3 parts soda to 1 part water. Finish by rinsing in hot water and buffing dry. This works for gold items as well.
	Clean and deodorize butcher blocks and wooden cutting boards with baking soda paste A baking soda paste of 3 parts soda to 1 part water cleans and deodorizes wooden cutting boards and butcher blocks while removing food smells.
	Remove stains off countertops 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water is great for taking stains like mustard, tea and fruit juice off countertops. If stains persist, wipe with a cloth moistened with chlorine bleach diluted in water. Be very careful, as full-strength bleach will damage most surfaces and can ruin colored counter tops. Rinse well; clean again with baking soda paste.
	Clean and polish all your metal fittings Chrome faucets, stainless-steel sinks, metal cupboard door handles, microwave, refrigerator and other appliance handles and metal trims, etc., can be polished with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Use less water for a drier paste or more water to make a wetter version to cover a large area like a sink.
	Safely clean ceramic and glass surfaces Dry baking soda on a damp sponge can be used to clean your kitchen’s ceramic and glass surfaces. Gently go over the surfaces, rinse well and rub dry with a soft cloth.
	Dry baking soda as a deodorizer Baking soda performs a double duty. It works as a cleaner but it also absorbs odors at the same time it is cleaning. You don’t just remove dirt, grease and grime but you get rid of unwanted smells as well!
	Dry baking soda good substitute for harsh scouring powders Clean kitchen appliances and fixtures with dry baking soda. Just shake form the box and use a damp sponge to rub on to the area to be cleaned. It’s practically non-abrasive, so you don’t have to be as cautious about causing damage as you do when using commercial scouring powders.
	Large wicker baskets provide additional storage Baskets that look like trunks and have flat lids can hold more folded sweaters orT-shirts than a drawer. You can also use the baskets as bedside or coffee tables.
	Utilize space beneath beds with underbed carts Buy read-made ones, or screw small casters to the bottoms of shallow wooden boxes or discarded dresser drawers. They can be easily rolled out when you need them.
	Vacuum-seal plastic bags save storage space Vacuum-seal plastic bags let you store seldom-worn clothes, such as evening gowns and tuxedos, in a very small space. Put the clothing in a bag and suck out the air with a vacuum; then seal the bag.
	Clear plastic shoeboxes keep you organized Clear plastic shoeboxes stack to save space and yet let you quickly see the contents (whether they be shoes or other items of storage).
	Save space storing panty hose and socks A hanging shoebag with clear plastic pockets works great for storing panty hose, socks, mittens, gloves, etc.
	Space savers when hanging skirts and pants Use a six-tiered hanger for skirts and pants to maximize closet space. Hang the pants upside down from the cuffs so the bulkier waistbands fall below shirt level.
	Insecticides and fungicides are standard ingredients in wallpaper paste When large areas of the home have wall coverings, exposure to harmful chemicals is much greater. Paint removers may also contain a variety of ingredients that can be lethal if handled improperly. Treat removers containing benzene and toluene with extreme caution.
	Chemicals released from solvents, cleaners and adhesives Solvents, cleaners, and adhesives can be released in large quantities during use or when improperly stored. Many organic solvents are known to be harmful to the liver.
	Polishing compounds can be health hazzard Polishing compounds (e.g., for shoes, floors, furniture, silver, brass) used in the home contain ingredients that can cause adverse effects when used indoors without adequate ventilation. Many polishes often are petroleum-based materials that can cause sluggishness, tiredness, loss of concentration, and headaches when used in poorly ventilated areas.
	Sealing off and neutralizing off-gassing materials For building materials constructed with formaldehyde gas seeping from the resins, some of the odor can be sealed off by applying low-permeability paints, shellac, varnish, polymeric coatings, and other low-diffusion barriers. Many chemical cleaners also can be professionally applied to neutralize off-gassing.
	Insecticides mixed with petroleum-based solvents are a potential health threat Many insecticides used in the home are relatively insoluble in water and instead are mixed with petroleum-based solvents, to which a large number of people are sensitive. Not only are the major chemical ingredients potential problems but also the carrier.
	Paints and varnishes can cause major health problems as they evaporate An individual suffering from eczema, hay fever, arthritis, depression, or other symptoms may discover the condition worsens when exposed to a freshly painted area. A sensitive individual may be able to detect paint fumes for three months or more after application.
	Chemical exposure can be cumulative from out-of-home sources You're exposed to benzene vapors when you fill your vehicle with diesel or gasoline. Tetrachloroethylene clings to newly cleaned clothes. Respirable particles emitted from tobacco smoke contain such harmful compounds as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocyanic acid, and a highly active enzyme poison, hydrogen cyanide.
	Many chemicals used in insect control are potentially lethal Most homes rely heavily on insecticides to help control termites, roaches, plant pests, fleas, and other insects. The fact many of these biocides have been federally banned and removed from the market place serves as a reminder of how potentially lethal they can be.
	Fixing windows sealed with excess paint To break a paint seal, tap a broad-blade putty knife between the sash and the frame and then work it back and forth. Repeat this at several spots until the sash is free. Once you get the sash moving, lubricate with a paste wax, paraffin, or soap.
	Removing asbestos It is not always necessary to remove asbestos. Usually it is best to leave it alone unless it is in a friable state.
	Repair hard-to-turn locks Use powdered graphite in a hard-to-turn lock and around the latch. Do not use any oil on the locks, since dust adheres to it, and the lock is difficult to clean.
	Save money by caulking doors and windows All exterior doors should be caulked and weather-stripped. Research proves this is a place where you can save the most on your utility bills for the least amount of money.
	Eliminate indoor air pollutant sources Eliminate indoor air pollutant sources Keep paints and cleaning solvents in the original, tightly sealed containers, and store them in cool, well-ventilated areas. Read the manufacturer's label before making a purchase. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully in using a product that emits pollutants. Use the proper protective equipment. Make certain your work space is well-ventilated.
	Lessen the possibility of indoor air quality problems Do not smoke tobacco indoors. Use adequate ventilation and circulation of fresh air for gaseous pollutants such as cooking odors, combustion gases from gas ranges, kerosene heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, and aerosol propellants. Eliminate using aerosols in the home. If you have gas appliances, check them regularly to make sure the pilot lights are burning a clear blue flame.
	Solving indoor air quality problems Regularly clean air conditioners, air ducts, air filters, heat exchanges, and humidifiers. Be sure your house is adequately ventilated. Increase the air mixture within the residence through natural ventilation by opening windows and doors. Use an air-to-air heat exchanger to minimize the amount of heat loss.
	Knowing whether to use oils or grease Select an oil for your particular purpose. Sometimes the wrong oil aggravates the problem rather than helps it. There are lubricating oils and penetrating oils. Use lubricating oils to remove rust or to aid in loosening screws or movable parts.
	Repairing casement windows Accumulations of paint, dirt, and grease interfere with the operation of the hardware on casement windows. If you have one that is not operating properly, open it wide and check all sash and frame edges. Clean thoroughly with a wire brush, scraper, or sand paper. Add a good lubricant and tighten all the screws.
	Repairing the failure of springs in double-hung windows Raise the window and get a good grip on the tube holding the spring. Loosen the screw holding it to the jamb. If the window raises too easily, let the spring turn a couple of revolutions. If it is too hard to move, tighten the spring by turning it clockwise. You may need to adjust both lifts. Replace the screw.
	Repairing windows that swell due to moisture Refit the window to allow for more clearance. This is a job for a carpenter.
	Out of shape doors or doorframes If the door or frame is badly out of shape, you may have to remove the door and plane down the part that drags.
	Stop rattling doorknobs To stop the rattle in a knob, loosen the setscrew on the knob. Remove the knob. Put a small piece of putty or modeling clay in the knob. Put the knob back on and push it on as far as possible. Tighten the screws.
	Stop squeaky door hinges If the hinge seems to be the cause for the squeak, tap out the hinge pin with a hammer and screwdriver. Apply a drop of oil and rub over the inside of the hinge, wiping off excess oil. Place powdered graphite over the hinge, then reassemble. If the hinge pin can't be removed, use powdered graphite only.
	Repairing hinged doors that stick Damp or damaged weather stripping is a possible cause for sticking doors. Inspect your weather stripping carefully for damage. If you find a damaged area, straighten with small-nosed pliers and re-nail if it is loose.
	When a door sags at the hinges or swells from moisture Sticking may be apparent at the threshold. Tighten screws at the hinges. If longer screws are needed, replace them one at a time, or insert a matchstick or wooden peg into the hole. Cover the peg with epoxy glue and allow to dry thoroughly. Re-drill the hole and insert the screw.
	Finding the spot where a door sticks Look for a shiny spot on the door where it sticks. Open and close the door slowly to find the spot. Sand down the shiny area but do not sand too much or the door will not fit as tightly as it should.
	Never put chemical cleaners into a garbage disposal Regardless of the manufacturer's instructions, the bottom of the disposal is made of pot metal and is not strong enough to withstand the caustic materials in chemical cleaners.
	Simple storage for small clothing items An inexpensive cardboard shoe-storage box is ideal to store gloves, scarves, and hats on an easily reached shelf.
	Clothesline for mittens Run a clothesline (complete with clothespins) on the back of the closet door for the kids’ (and others’) winter mittens to be hung. Put the string low enough so the kids can hang their own mittens.
	Lower closet rod helps organize children’s clothes To put children’s clothes within their reach, add a second, lower rod in the closet. Install new clothes-rod sockets on cleats along the wall or simply suspend the new rod on chains from the higher rod. Use the upper rod for out-of-season items.
	Keep clothes hamper handy for children Keep a clothes hamper in your child’s room rather than in the bathroom, since it’s complicated for a child to move clothes between rooms. Put it near the closet to collect dirty clothes as soon as they come off.
	Perfect clothing storage for children In a child’s room, keep storage at the child’s level. Install low horizontal shelves and cabinets instead of tall ones. Also, shallow drawers allow a child to find socks, underwear, and shirts more easily. To keep a deep drawer from becoming cluttered, add dividers.
	Adding lights give incentive to keep things neat Most garages and attics are dimly lit, making the impulse to just add to the pile almost irresistible. Consider extra light fixtures or keeping a battery-powered light, such as a camping light, on hand so you can see better.
	Donating your broken gear will open up more storage space Donate your broken gear such as VCRs, toasters, and computers stashed in your various storage spaces to your local recycler or, better yet, throw them out. If you’ve bought a new one, you’re not going to repair the old one so why let it take up needed space?
	Add shelves to your garage If your garage has an open stud wall, narrow 1x4 shelves installed between the studs are ideal for storing small items. An easy way to secure the shelves is to put long drywall screws through the studs into the shelf ends. Stagger the shelves in adjacent spaces so that you can screw into the ends.
	Hidden storage bin in staircase Create a storage bin out of the wooden bottom step of your staircase. Pry up the top of the step and screw a pair of hinges on the back and a cabinet catch inside the front edge. It then becomes a lid for your new storage space. It’s a great spot to tuck away tools, batteries, or spare lightbulbs.
	Safeguard against burglary when away Having newspaper and mail delivery stopped when you go away is no safeguard against being robbed. Ask a neighbor or close friend to pick up your paper or mail. Ask them to drop by at different times of the day. The more activity burglars see, the less likely they will be to target your home.
	A ‘generic’ alarm system sign can be a good deterrent against burglary Posting detailed alarm signs identifying the alarm company allows the burglar to buy a diagram of how that system is wired so he can disable your system. A generic sign from a hardware store saying “This House Is Protected By An Alarm System” doesn’t give specific information and can be a good deterrent.
	Outsmart burglars on hiding places for valuables The first place burglars look for valuables is the bedroom. Keep money or rarely worn jewelry in a safe-deposit box. Hide valuables in unlikely places such as the garage, above removable ceiling tiles, in the freezer or in fake soup cans made for this purpose. Don’t hide valuables all in one place.
	Big dogs do NOT scare burglars Getting a big dog might look scary but burglars know better. Most big breeds, unless they are trained as guard dogs, aren’t barkers. You want a “yapper”, a small dog that makes a lot of noise. Breeds such as Chihuahuas are better deterrents than large dogs.
	Hiding windows with shrubs is no deterrent to burglars All bushes should be trimmed to below window level. Hiding windows with landscaping with tall bushes and shrubs allow burglars to jimmy windows without being seen. Thorny plants are not a deterrent to professional thieves who carry cutting tools and dress prepared for such obstacles.
	Leaving lights on all the time assists burglars Leaving lights on all the time are no more of a deterrent than a dark house. It actually helps burglars see better once they are inside. Use timers that turn lights on and off in different parts of the house at different intervals.
	The #1 mistake that makes homeowners targets for robbery Leaving the burglar alarm off when running out of the house for even 15 minutes can leave you a victim of robbery. Sophisticated burglars watch neighborhoods, learn habit patterns of prospective victims and then wait to swiftly pounce. Over fifty percent of the time, people don’t engage the alarms when leaving for just a few minutes.
	Plumbing and shutoff water valves The most important thing to know about the plumbing in the house is the location of the main shutoff valve. If a pipe breaks or the water heater bursts, turn off the main shutoff valve FAST! There also should be various "local" shutoff valves under each sink, on toilet tanks, and on the washing machine.
	Water noises in plumbing "Water hammer" is annoying but not serious. It is a phenomenon that occurs when a valve abruptly stops the flow of incoming water.
	Ways to correct water noises in plumbing Replace a manually closed faucet with a spring-closed one; reduce the high water pressure by closing the main shutoff valve slightly; check the temperature on the hot water heater. It should never be above 140 degrees F. Or, install a shock absorber to prevent the vibration. This is a job for a professional plumber.
	Supplies needed to repair faucets Box of assorted sizes of washers, unless you know the size; a screwdriver, and an adjustable wrench
	Clogged drains Do not put anything but waste water down the drain. Keep grease, coffee grounds, hair, lint, and all other unflushables out of the drain.
	Maintenance helps keep drains clog free Add a small amount of chemical drain cleaner every month or so, but remember that the chemicals ARE poison. Handle with care.
	When drains occasionally become clogged try a "plumber's friend" Stuff a cloth into a sink's overflow opening, remove the drain plug, and put a little petroleum jelly on the rubber rim of the plunger for a tight seal. Pump the plunger up and down. If the drain does not open in a short time, the next step is usually a chemical cleaner, but follow manufacturer's directions CAREFULLY!
	Caution on combining a plunger and chemical cleaners on a clogged drain NEVER use a plunger after you have poured a chemical cleaner into a clogged drain.
	Cleaning the trap on a clogged drain The trap is the U-shaped section of pipe under the sink. Place a container under the pipes to catch water. Unscrew and remove the cleanout plug. Clogged material may come out. If so, run water into sink to flush out remaining clog. If there is not a cleanout plug, remove the trap. Clean it and the adjoining pipes.
	Clean clogged drains with a drain auger or "snake" A “snake” is a good investment and moderate in cost. Push the auger through the cleanout plug or, after removing the trap door, directly into the clogged pipe. When the auger stops, work it back and forth, but do not force it. Some drainage problems may be severe enough to call in a professional plumber.
	Repairing toilet tanks If your problem is too much water in tank, adjust the float arm by bending it until the level at each filling is correct. Most tanks have a water level mark inside. This mark is one inch below the top of the overflow pipe.
	Fix continuously running water in your toilet tank The stopper gets worn and soft or mushy and will not seat properly. Install a new stopper with the wires, positioning it to drop straight down when released. The wires must be straight for correct seating. If sediment is around the flush valve the stopper cannot seat properly. Clean the valve with steel wool.
	Septic tank problems A septic tank should be cleaned periodically by a professional. A septic tank works on the action of bacteria that can be killed. Avoid problems by not pouring oil, fat, and grease down drains.
	Detecting water leaks If you want to find out if the water stain on your ceiling is caused by a water leak or a faulty roof, use your meter. Turn all faucets off. Watch the one-foot pointer on your meter 20 minutes. If ANY movement, there is a leak. Plumbing supply stores have amplifying devices to help determine possible leaks.
	Repair leaking faucets Leaks are annoying, wasteful, cost money, and stain fixtures. Most leaking faucets are caused by worn out washers which are available at your local hardware store.
	How to repair a leaking faucet Turn water off at shutoff valve nearest faucet. Turn faucet on until water stops. Loosen packing nut with wrench. Use handle to pull out valve unit. Remove screw holding old washer. Put in new washer and replace screw. Put valve unit back in faucet. Turn handle to proper position. Tighten packing nut. Turn on water at the shutoff valve.
	Is a water faucet leaking around the packing nut? Try tightening the nut. If it still leaks, remove the handle and loosen the packing nut. If there is a washer under it, replace the washer. If there's no washer, you may need to wrap the spindle with "packing wicking"; replace packing nut and handle. Turn water back on at the shutoff valve.
	Homemade baking soda scouring powder works as well as commercial cleaners Have you ever noticed your commercially made scouring powder is made from sodium bicarbonate or simply baking soda? Make your own for pennies on the dollar: mix 1 part baking soda, 1 part salt and 1 part borax.
	Remove hard water spots and soap scum Make a scouring powder of lemon juice and baking soda. The lemon juice is an acid and makes a great cleaning agent.
	Make your own silver tarnish cleaner Why buy an expensive silver tarnish cleaner when you can make it for pennies. Polish your silver with a paste of water and baking soda and then wipe it clean with a damp cloth.
	Homemade rust remover Remove rust stains from floors, clothes or countertops by scrubbing the spot with water and baking soda paste.
	Boost the cleaning power of your laundry detergent Add ¾ cup of baking soda to your laundry. The baking soda will “boost” the cleaning power of your laundry detergent and give you cleaner, more attractive looking clothes. If you add the baking soda to the rinse cycle of your washing machine it will act as a fabric softener.
	Homemade general purpose bathroom cleaner For a general bathroom cleaner, mix ½ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of white vinegar and 1 gallon of water. You may substitute ammonia for the vinegar if you prefer.
	Dry cleaning with baking soda When you need to remove grease or other stains from clothes or stuffed animals, clean them with dry baking soda.
	Return copper to its original shine To clean copper, mix 3 cups of white vinegar, a few tablespoons of salt and cover the copper surface. Buff with a cloth until the copper returns to its original shine.
	Remove rings left on furniture White rings left on furniture can be buffed away using a tablespoon of white vinegar, a tablespoon of olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Then polish as usual with you standard furniture polish.
	Prevent coolers from molding After each use, wipe down the inside of your cooler with vinegar to prevent mold and odor.
	Economic homemade toilet bowl cleaner To clean your toilet bowl easily and inexpensively dump ½ to ¾ box of baking soda and 1 cup vinegar into the bowl. Let it sit for a couple of hours before scrubbing.
	Inexpensive homemade dishwashing detergent Baking soda is very inexpensive, dishwashing detergent is not. To mix up a batch of your own, simply mix 1 part baking soda and 1 part borax.
	Homemade sink and bathtub cleaner To clean sinks and bathtubs that need an extra “bleaching” action make a scouring paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. It is best if you allow the paste to cover the stain for 10 minutes before scrubbing.
	Unclog a sink with baking soda and vinegar To unclog a sink using baking soda, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, immediately followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Quickly follow up by pouring another cup of very hot water.
	Easy homemade oven cleaner Nasty oven spills can be easily cleaned if you immediately cover the spill with baking soda. Give the baking soda time enough to absorb the spill. Now it can be easily scraped up and cleaned with soap and water.
	Baking soda cleans glass To clean glass end tables, windshields, or windows try a little sprinkle of baking soda and a damp cloth of 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar.
	Economical upholstery cleaner Sprinkle baking soda on your furniture on a monthly basis then vacuum. This will help remove pet, smoke, and other odors in the house that your furniture has picked up.
	Clean your range hood easily Those nasty, greasy range filters can easily be cleaned by soaking them in a sink full of hot water and 2 cups of baking soda. Or, simply wash them in your dishwasher, with an added cup of baking soda.
	Eliminate noisy friction catches on doors To stop an excess amount of noise on friction catches, you can use a stock lubricant on a catch at the points of contact. If the friction catch is on something like an oven door (which is near heat), use a lead pencil at the meeting points. On spring hinges, powdered graphite eliminates the noise.
	Effectiveness in small lubrication jobs Avoid excess oiling or lubricating. Use powdered graphite in hard-to-clean areas where oil would combine with dust, becoming gummy. It is easily "puffed" into inaccessible areas. Petroleum jelly is good for sliding metal surfaces; stick lubricant for lubricating metal at points where friction may develop; paraffin or paste wax to lubricate points at which wood rubs on wood.
	Keep smells down in the clothes hamper Take an old sock or a leg of panty hose and fill it with baking soda. Hang it inside the hamper to help keep odors down until the laundry gets done.
	Stainless steel sinks To make stainless steel sinks really shine, use white vinegar. The results are fantastic!
	Homemade stainless steel and porcelain sink cleaner Clean your stainless steel sinks with baking soda. It won’t scratch the surface like some commercial cleaners will. Make a paste of baking soda and bleach to clean your porcelain sinks.
	Remove water spots from stainless steel Add a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent to 3 cups of vinegar to make stainless steel look great.
	Inexpensive carpet and rug deodorizer Sprinkle baking soda over your carpet and rugs. A large box of baking soda is much less expensive than carpet freshener. Allow the baking soda to sit on the carpet for 20 minutes to absorb the odors before vacuuming. This should also remove pet odors.
	Closet and room deodorizer Place an open box of baking soda in a room or closet that tends to keep odors. The baking soda will absorb the smells. You will have to replace the box every so often because it will lose its effectiveness over time.
	Fireplace Soot Odor In the Spring, when you're fireplace will be out of commission for a while, clean out the ashes, then fill the fireplace with crumpled newspapers (non-glossy pages). Leave the newspapers for a couple of days, then discard.
	Eliminate odor producing mold and bacteria in garbage cans Sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can.
	Keep odors down in your cat’s litter box Mix 1 cup of baking soda in with the litter. Some commercial brands of cat litter already contain baking soda, but adding your own baking soda to an off-brand litter may be less expensive.
	Carpet Stains Baby wipes are miracle-workers on carpet stains. From motor oil to blood, they remove almost anything!
	Remove water stains and rings from wood Buff the area with a dab of baking soda and a soft damp cloth. This should remove the stain. If the problem is on furniture, following the cleaning with a furniture polish.
	Simple odor remover In a pan, boil apple cider vinegar to remove unpleasant smells.
	Remove wallpaper easily Spray full strength white vinegar on the wallpaper. Allow it to soak for approximately 25 minutes. The vinegar will dissolve the paste for easy removal.
	Clean plastic shower curtains Wash your plastic shower curtain in the washing machine adding 3 cups of vinegar in with the washing detergent. The vinegar should remove that nasty soap scum.
	Wash your no-wax floors with vinegar To clean no-wax floors, add 2 cups of vinegar to the rinse water. Your floors will look shinier. The vinegar will also kill any germs.
	Kill mold and mildew forever Where mold and mildew thrive, wipe the area weekly with full strength vinegar. The acid in vinegar will cure the problem forever.
	Cleaning black soot around your fireplace The black soot around the fireplace can be cleaned with baking soda and vinegar.
	Kill the germs in sponges with vinegar Sponges are horrible for breeding germs. Before each use, soak the sponge in a 50/50 mixture of hot water and vinegar. This way, you won’t be spreading germs around the house while cleaning.
	Remove deposits on a showerhead Boil the showerhead in a pan of vinegar. This will remove the lime from the showerhead.
	Remove soap scum on shower walls To remove soap scum from the shower walls make a cleanser of 1 cup of baking soda, ½ cup of salt and white vinegar. Scrub the walls with an old pair of panty hose and this mixture.
	Home remedy for carpet spot cleaning To clean your carpet, combine 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Work it into the spot with a soft cloth and leave it for 2 days, then vacuum. You’ll find this works like magic.
	Secure knobs on dresser drawers When putting loose knobs back on dresser drawers, first dip the screws in fingernail polish or shellac before resetting them. This makes them stay tight much longer.
	Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
	Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth
	Installing vinyl siding When putting up vinyl siding by yourself, use a piece of duct tape to hold one end while snapping the other in place.
	No more confusion with electrical cords With multiple electric cords plugged into a surge protector, it’s difficult to figure out which cord belongs to which appliance. Put one colored twist-tie on the cord where it attaches to the appliance and a second tie of the same color near the plug end. Then it’s easy to tell which cord belongs to which appliance.
	Remove marks from painted walls Small marks on painted walls can sometimes be removed with a clean pencil eraser. This works particularly well on slight marks caused by furniture touching the wall.
	Use a wooden skewer to clean corners Keep a wooden skewer in your scrub pail for cleaning corners. Since it floats on top of the water, it’s always easy to find when you need it.
	Raising the nap of carpet Spray the area with warm water until it’s fairly damp. With a mildly stiff brush, such as a vegetable brush, raise the nap by brushing in all directions. Use a hair dryer to dry the carpet. If still wet, an old bath towel will help to dry it and also raise any pile that brushing didn’t bring back up.
	Cleaner wooden picture frames Apply a thin coat of wax to your wooden picture frames. It improves their appearance and makes them easier to clean.
	Wallpaper removal made easier Dip a sponge into hot vinegar water and rub over wallpaper you want to remove. Before you know it, the wallpaper will peel right off!
	Easy polishing of hard to reach spots on furniture To clean hard-to-reach areas on furniture, apply polish to a cotton swab. The tip can reach those crevices on furniture with carved designs.
	Protect floors while moving furniture Put old socks on the legs of your furniture to prevent floor scratches when you move your furniture.
	Cane chair repair made simple If your cane chair seats show signs of sagging, just wet down the seat and let it dry. Repeat several times. The drying process will cause the cane to shrink and tighten up again.
	Fixing nicks and scratches in furniture To color in nicks or scratches in wood-stained furniture, cabinets, trim, etc., rub with a pecan nut. The oil of the nut will ‘restain’ the wood.
	Phillips-head screwdriver A large nail may do the trick if you can’t seem to locate a Phillips-head screwdriver. Grip the nail with pliers to give it some extra leverage.
	Old leather belts protect woodworking projects Use old leather belts to protect woodworking projects when working with a vise. Cut leather strips the size of your vise and place them between the vise jaws and the wood. You’ll still have a strong grip, but prevent the vise from marring the wood.
	Keep shower doors shiny and clear Use a soft cloth moistened with baby oil. It prevents scum build-up from dirt and soap. And hard water spots won’t appear for several months.
	Woolen rug protection from moths Newspaper repels moths, which is quite helpful when storing woolen rugs.
	Cheap coasters for your porch furniture Use the caps from plastic liter soda bottles as coasters on your porch furniture. The caps fit nicely and can be replaced whenever you finish another bottle of pop. The caps help protect both furniture and the porch.
	Durable and longer lasting shelf paper Instead of buying white shelf paper, line your shelves with heavy freezer wrap, with the waxed side up. It can be wiped off with a damp cloth and outwears regular shelf paper.
	Plastic silverware trays keep bathroom organized In your bathroom drawer, keep those odds and ends of hairpins, clips, rubber bands, etc. in a plastic silverware tray.
	Recycled clothes hamper provides storage A discarded clothes hamper makes a good storage place for overshoes and boots. It is ventilated and you can paint it to go with the décor on your porch or in the hall.
	Re-varnish twice as fast Re-varnishing with a small soft lint-free cloth is twice as fast as using a brush. Rub in any direction and the varnish goes into the wood better. There will be no splatters and no brushes to clean out. Throw the rag away if it gets too dirty. Use rubber gloves or clean your hands with paint remover.
	Eliminate mildew from bathmats Coil the ends of your rubber bathmat toward the center and stand it on end to drain in the tub. If the mat doesn’t stay coiled, snap the rolls together with a clothespin. Draining the mat will keep it from getting mildew.
	Protect floors from getting scratched Instead of letting floors get scratched from chairs sliding back and forth, cut little pieces of carpet and glue them to the bottoms of the chair legs. The chairs are much quieter, too.
	Prevent falls by painting bottom step Paint the lower step of your basement stairs with white enamel. It can be easily seen and may prevent a bad fall.
	Protect outdoor padlocks from rain, snow or frost Put a piece of rubber inner tube over them. It works especially well in the winter.
	Remove rust stains from concrete Rust stains from metal outdoor furniture can be removed from concrete by using lemon juice and rubbing with a soft linen cloth.
	Add traction to an icy wooden deck Sprinkle on some cornmeal. It can later be easily swept away and it won’t damage the wood, plants or lawn.
	No more struggles opening metal-type, storm-screen windows To end all the pushing, tugging and broken fingernails in trying to open metal type, storm screen windows, spray Pam along the metal frames and they’ll simply glide up! Stuck or hard-to-open-and-close drawers also respond to this treatment.
	Keep yard tidy! Paint and decorate a couple of 5-gallon cans and place them in the yard for the kids to dispose of soda cans and wrappers from candy and other junk food. It’ll help keep the yard tidy.
	Bathtub strips provide safe footing for steps Place some nonslip strips, normally used in bathtubs, on painted porch steps to give your family and visitors nonslip safety in wet weather.
	Potato peelings clean soot from your chimney To clear soot from your chimney, save potato peelings until you have a good amount of them. Dry them, then burn them in your fireplace or stove. They burn with such a fury that they carry the soot right up and out of your chimney.
	Vacuum provides simple retrieval from hard to reach places To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
	Cleaning drip pans on electric stove tops Clean the drip pans from your electric cook top by spraying them liberally with oven cleaner and placing in a plastic garbage bag overnight. In the morning, take them out and wipe with a paper towel. Then wipe again with a damp rag.
	Paper grocery bags deodorize refrigerator When your refrigerator has stopped and it smells of spoiled food, crumple brown paper grocery bags and pack them into the refrigerator, changing them for fresh ones whenever they begin to smell. In no time the odor will be gone.
	Lemon oil furniture polish removes soap scum To remove soap scum from glass shower doors, apply lemon oil furniture polish with a soft cloth. This makes the doors sparkle for several showers.
	Easy cleaning of microwave Place in a bowl in the microwave 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice or baking soda. Heat on high until the mixture boils, then let it boil for 5 minutes so that steam accumulates on the walls and door of the oven. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior.
	One process does two cleaning tasks If you have a small plastic wastebasket in your bathroom, empty it and use it as a bucket when you clean your bathroom so it gets cleaned, too.
	Organize bottles in drawers Keep bottles from sliding around in a drawer. Grab a spare piece of elastic and attach the ends to each side of the drawer with thumbtacks.
	Towel storage Roll up towels and place them in the slots of a wine rack.
	Great shelf and drawer liners Leftover pieces of wallpaper make great shelf and drawer liners.
	Clean window tracks Use an old but clean mascara brush to get out dirt and soot.
	Eliminate stained grout Cover it up by painting on white correction fluid.
	Curtain tiebacks Don’t ditch that doorknob if you’re in need of a tieback. It’s ideal for lightweight curtains.
	Keep pictures straight on the wall To keep pictures hanging straight, paste a small piece of sandpaper on the back of the picture near the bottom.
	Washing painted walls and wood trim Wash from the bottom up. This will prevent water from running down over a soiled surface and causing streaks that are almost impossible to remove.
	Spraying casters protects flooring Humidity may cause casters to discolor wood flooring or carpeting underneath. This may be prevented by spraying clean casters with shellac.
	Use soap on nails and screws Nails and screws will go into wood and plaster much more easily if they are first lubricated with soap.
	Iodine removes rings on furniture To remove white spots and rings on furniture, cover with cotton soaked in iodine, and then rub.
	Put an end to steaming up the bathroom To avoid steaming up the entire bathroom, run cool water in tub first, then add the hot.
	Cleaning Venetian blinds To wash Venetian blinds, wear cloth gloves moistened with the cleaning solution. Just dip the gloves in water with a bit of vinegar or detergent added and wring out. Your hands will mold to the blinds better than any brush or plain cloth.
	Difficult places to clean To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty giftwrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
	Clean window and mirrors Wipe windows and mirrors with a coffee filter for a streak-free shine.
	Winterizing Exterior Water Faucets While you're putting your garden hoses away for the winter, take the time to turn off and drain your outside water faucets. While you can easily replace a burst garden hose, the same cannot be said for replacing a burst water pipe.
	Jammed windows To open a door or window that sticks when the weather is wet, put talcum on it and it will absorb the moisture.
	Easy paint tray cleanup To avoid cleaning trays of paint, cover the pan with a garbage bag. Pull bag off with paint inside. No muss, no fuss and you’ll save time, money and patience.
	Static electric from carpets When your carpet shocks you, the air is too dry. Install a few green plants. They’ll wet the atmosphere and eliminate the shocks.
	Storing paint cans Store paint cans upside down. There will be no formation of a skin on the surface.
	Chimney cleaning To keep your chimney clean, throw a handful of salt on the fire.
	No more smashed fingers Protect your fingers while hammering. Use a simple machine tong to hold the nail as you are hammering.
	Cleaning a paint brush Practical idea when running short on time. If, after painting, you lack the time to clean your brushes, just wrap them in foil or in a plastic bag. They retain their flexibility for several days.
	Rusty screws or nuts Cleaning rusty screws or nuts. Soak rusty screws or nuts in vinegar to clean them.
	Clean latex paint, paint brushes Simple cleanup after painting with latex paint. When you're painting (latex paint for the walls), always clean your brush in cold water if the paint sticks on the brush.
	Eliminate paint odors Easy way to remove paint odors. To remove the smell of paint while painting, add 4 drops of vanilla essence to your gallon of paint.
	Removing a rusty screw Quick solution for removing rusty screws. Heat the end of an old screwdriver and hold it into the head of the screw a few minutes and then remove the screw.
	Creaky floors Silence creaky floors. On a perfectly dry, creaky floor, very carefully put talcum powder into the slots that creak.
	Painting wooden chairs Paint the entire chair including the legs. Plant a nail in each foot of the chair. No missed spots!
	Painting with drip free brush Little trick prevents drippy mess when painting. Prevent drips by cutting a tennis ball in half and make a hole in the middle of one of the halves. Insert brush handle through it to move your brush and it will catch all the drops of paint.
	Gloves for painting Kitchen product makes a non-glove glove for painting. Wash your hands directly with dish soap (without water). Let it dry and then paint. The dish soap acts as a dishwashing glove. When finished, rinse and wash your hands.
	Painting window frames Paint window frames while avoiding paint drying on the glass. Before painting the frame of a window, cut an onion in half and rub it on the glass around the edge of the window frames. The paint won't stick.
	Prevent paint from hardening in the can Simple way to prevent OIL BASED paints from hardening in the can. Before you close your can of paint, pour a little water in it and then close it. The water will remain on the surface and prevent the paint from forming a crust on top. THIS TRICK WORKS ONLY FOR OIL PAINTS.
	Thick paint Thin thick paint without diluting. When paint is too thick, don't dilute. Soak the gallon of paint, without the lid, in hot water until it thins to the desired consistency.
	Renew hardened paintbrushes Renew the life of hardened paintbrushes. Give a second life to paint brushes that are very hard by boiling vinegar and water and dipping your brush for a few hours.
	New paintbrushes Simple step prolongs life of new paintbrushes. Soak a new brush twenty-four hours in water before using and it won't lose its hairs.
	Removing a painted screw Remove a painted screw with heat. To remove a painted screw, heat the head of the screw. The paint will soften and remove under pressure.
	Fixing a screw that does not hold Simple way to fix a screw that does not hold. To make a screw hold, put pieces of a match in the hole. Fill it with wood glue, let it dry and then tighten the screw.
	Making sandpaper last longer Lengthen life of sandpaper with simple process. Wet the smooth side of the sandpaper and wrap it around a piece of wood.
	Protecting windows when painting Oil makes cleanup much easier. Rub oil on the windows. Once the paint dries, the drips of paint and oil will easily remove with a cloth.
	Storing tools Store tools in an organized manner. Make a chipboard panel with a nail for each tool. Draw the form of each tool with a marker and you will quickly notice if a tool is missing.
	Storing a saw Safe storage of a saw. Store a saw without any risk of injury. Place the blade in a garden hose that has been cut lengthwise.
	Renewing rusty objects Two step process to remove rust. To renovate rusted objects, soak the rusty items in soda or oil, then rub them with sandpaper.
	Leaky faucets Quick fix while waiting for repair. While waiting for repair, attach a string or cord to the head of the faucet tap and let it fall into the sink or bathtub. The drops of water will flow silently down the string. No more drip, drip, drip!
	Slippery cellar or basement steps Make your steps safe when wet. If your cellar or basement stairs look slippery, and therefore dangerous, paint it while incorporating a bit of sand into the paint you use.
	Removing glued carpet Easier way to remove glued carpet. When you want to remove a carpet that is glued to concrete or wood, cut it to length. Pull on the edges and you will have to pull less.
	Cutting round holes in metal Simple way to cut a perfectly round hole in metal. When you make a hole in metal, put a cloth between the screw and where you want the hole. The cloth will hold in place during the drilling and the hole will be perfectly round.
	Space saver Have twice the storage in half the space. When you have a shelf and you need to store boxes of screws, nails, etc., take glass jars with a metal lid and screw the lid under the shelf. Then, place the jars with their lid. The shelf is above and below, so twice the storage!
	Putting screws into hardwood Effortless way to put screws into hardwood. To facilitate putting screws into hardwood, there are two solutions: put soap on the screw or, better yet, rub the screw on a candle. No force will be needed.
	Clean limestone from showers Heat white vinegar and rub the tiles with a rag or sponge soaked with the vinegar and then rinse.
	Anti-mold shower curtain Before you hang your shower curtain, soak it in a little salted water to prevent mold.
	Under door drafts To prevent the flow of air (or light) from passing under a door, make a long sausage from a nice fabric and fill it with rice before sewing it closed. Lay it at the bottom of the door (or window) and your problem is solved.
	Bathroom facelift The most easy and economical method for giving your bathroom a facelift is by painting your bathroom cabinets.
	Kitchen surfaces To clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces, mix in spray bottle, 1 part ammonia to 3 parts water or try diluted bleach solution in a spray bottle. It will remove stains AND disinfect.
	Moving furniture on a carpet For problem free moving of furniture on carpet, place each leg of the furniture in a jar lid for easy sliding.
	Hardened paintbrushes Simmer hardened paintbrushes in boiling white vinegar for a few minutes, then wash in warm, soapy water.
	Determining the height of cupboards To know how high your cupboards should be built, try to place your hand flat on where you want the top shelf to be.
	Frozen toilets To prevent the freezing of water in a toilet that is in an unheated room, put salt in the bowl.
	Counter tops and sinks Pour some bleach into a spray bottle and add water. Spray counter tops, sink, bathtubs and showers with this solution and let set for ten minutes before wiping off. This also helps in removing mold.
	Removing a broken light bulb Unscrew a broken light bulb with a potato. Stop first at the circuit breaker and turn the power off to the light. Cut a raw potato in two, push the flat potato end into the broken glass and the casing and then unscrew it.
	Dragging drawer To lubricate dragging drawers, just rub rails with soap or wax candle. If this is not enough, rub them with fine sandpaper before rubbing with soap or candle.
	Maintaining a nail in plaster To hold a nail in plaster, wet it beforehand. Rust will then form, and the nail will hold perfectly in the plaster.
	Cheap insulation For cheap insulation, keep all your egg cartons and paste them on a wall. They make a good insulation. You can decorate to your taste. You can use this trick in a garage, a boiler room, a laundry, etc.
	Measuring around a pipe or other objects To measure round objects, surround the pipe or the object with a string and note the point of intersection with a pen. Then flatten the string on a table and measure it to get the measurement you needed.
	Wallpaper bubbles To flatten wallpaper bubbles, take a pin or sewing needle and drill each bubble in the middle. The air escapes and you can then flatten the area where the bubble was.
	Homemade furniture polish To make furniture polish, take a slab of spam and rub it on your wood and then wipe with pantyhose. Or, make a concoction of 1 tsp olive oil, juice of a lemon, 1 tsp whisky or brandy, and 1 tsp water. Mix together and rub on furniture with cloth, buff for a deep shine.
	No streak window washing When washing windows, wipe the windows with newspaper, it won't leave streaks.
	Simplify window washing Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
	Window washing Use crumpled up black and white newspaper dipped in vinegar to wash windows. Dip paper in vinegar and wipe the glass until almost dry, then shine with dry newspaper or cloth.
	Exterior lighting for parties The next time you have a summertime backyard party, consider hanging string lighting to enhance the festivities. You can find a wide range of string lighting from the festive and fun, to the sophisticated and classy.
	Painting Corners If you are painting walls that meet in a corner two different colors, it's best to use painter's tape. But if your walls are the same colors and you're simply trying to avoid getting paint on your trim work, you can use the paint-and-wipe method. Just remember to allow sufficient time for paint to dry between coats.
	Brightening Basements If your basement is portioned into rooms, consider placing a windowpane between two rooms to allow natural and artificial light to travel between the rooms. Not only is it a great way to encourage lighting, it is a great focal piece for your basement decor.
	Eliminate drafts An easy way to check to see where a draft is coming from is to stand with a lighted candle next to a window or door. The flame will flicker where the draft is, and you'll most likely find a crack to seal.
	Use mirrors for decorating illusions Small rooms appear larger by using mirrors to enhance the lighting and decor. One of the easiest and fastest ways to make a room appear larger with a mirror is to place it in such a way that it reflects another—larger—room. That way, when you enter the small room, your eye is drawn to the mirror reflecting the larger space.
	Smashed Down Carpet To make the carpet stand back up after moving a piece of furniture, place an ice cube on the spot. As it melts, the piles will go back up.
	Ceramic tile cleaner Regular rubbing alcohol works wonders for a ceramic floor. Just pour straight on and rub around with mop until it dries. Make sure children are not in the area during this process and have good ventilation in room.
	Hard water deposits To get hard water deposits off of your fixtures try some diluted muriatic acid (available at pool stores or hardware stores), but don't store it near chlorine- they can combine and become explosive!
	See better in poor lighting If you have poor lighting in garage, place reflector tape on objects that might be hit.
	Cover nicks, chips and scratches Use top-quality typewriter correction fluid to cover nicks, chips, and scratches on enameled ranges and refrigerators, porcelain tiles, and sinks. Works like a charm and it comes in a variety of colors.
	Choosing Furniture Furniture affects the perceived size of a room. Several tall pieces make the ceiling seem lower, bulky pieces make a room seem smaller, etc.
	Wallpapering patterns When wallpapering a small room, select a pattern that is small and light. Use bolder or darker patterns only in larger rooms.
	Homemade plaster Mix white carpenter’s glue and baking soda into a paste and use to fill small holes.
	Worn sandpaper Even though worn sandpaper feels smooth, it may just be clogged. Revive it by rubbing with a soft brush.
	Tightening loose screws To tighten a loose screw when the hole is too large, pack the hole with a wooden match, a toothpick or a splinter of wood.
	Sanding made easier To make sanding easier, moisten the back of the sandpaper and wrap it around a block of wood.
	Repair scratched furniture Scratches on light finished furniture can be hidden by using tan shoe polish.
	Nailing plaster When driving nails into plaster, cover the spot with transparent tape first to hold the plaster together.
	Removing broken bulb from light fixture To remove a broken bulb from a light fixture, make certain the power is off and use a pair of long-nosed pliers to remove as much of the glass as possible. With one hand on each handle of the pliers, insert them into the base of the bulb and open the pliers so that they press against the side, then turn carefully.
	Defrost frozen pipes To defrost frozen pipes, open the tap and begin heating with a hair dryer at the tap. As the ice melts, move on down the pipe.
	Unclog a showerhead Mineral deposits from hard water can quickly clog a showerhead. To clear the deposits from a metal head, remove it and boil in a solution of one-quarter of a cup of vinegar to one quart of water. Plastic showerheads should be soaked for a longer period in the same solution, hot, but off the heat.
	Clean non-washable walls Most non-washable walls can be cleaned with a soft art gum eraser, available at art stores.
	No streak wall washing When washing painted or papered walls, work from bottom to top to avoid streaks from drips.
	Window and door screens cleaner Clean window and door screens by dusting both sides with a brush, then brushing with kerosene and wiping dry.
	Oil based paint remover Remove oil base paint from hands and face with baby oil instead of turpentine.

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