help around the hearth

"Household Tips"

Fixing A Shower Curtain:
Here's an easy way to give new life to that shower curtain: You can patch those torn places in a plastic curtain (where the rings have pulled away) simply by cutting a 2" x 1" piece of clear contact paper and folding it lengthwise over the top of the tear to fully cover the rip and shower ring hole. Then take a hole puncher and punch directly over the ring hole. This will give you a near invisible fix and save the cost of a new curtain! This trick can save you some money, especially if you have kids or a husband who are always pulling on the curtain. You can also wash it in the washing machine with a towel and a small amount of bleach and detergent. BUT, be careful about putting them in the dryer. Be sure to use a LOW heat setting as they can, and will, melt on a high heat setting.
Adhesive Tape:
Remove tape residue from skin using cooking oil or peanut butter. on hard surfaces such as glass use solvent, rubbing alcohol or paint thinner. or FRED'S TIP "old fashioned lighter fluid", soak on for a few seconds and wipe off. Great for those annoying sales stickers on auction items. \:

Softer Bristle Brushes:
If your pure bristles paint brushes are stiff, boil them in vinegar for 30 minutes. Allow brushes to cool, remove from pan and let dry. Bristles will be nice and flexible.

"Sanding Drywall:
To clean up the dust created when sanding drywall, add vinegar to the cleaning water.

Clean Brass:
To clean brass combine one-quarter cup of salt in enough vinegar to dissolve the salt. Add flour to make a paste.

Polish Brass:
Polish brass with Worcestershire sauce and then brighten by rubbing with olive oil after each polishing.

Clean The Dishwasher:
One cup of orange juice crystals (Tang) added to the wash cycle of the dishwasher will help remove brown stains on the inside of the dishwasher. (Or us ascorbic acid crystals)

Vitamin C:
Put one or two 1,000 mg vitamin C tablets down a clogged drain and let sit overnight. Flush with clean, hot water. You can also put one or two vitamin C into the toilet and let sit over night. It makes a great natural deodorizer. (Vitamin C is also great for cut flowers)

Crayon On Wallpaper:
To remove crayon marks from wallpaper, wipe the mark with a paste made of cornstarch and water

Keep The Dampness Out:
Fill a coffee can with charcoal briquettes and place in the back of your closet - it'll attract moisture so your clothes stay dry and never smell musty.

Add Lemon For Bathroom Sparkle:
If water deposits are making the bathroom fixtures dull , rub them with half a lemon and watch them shine.

Drain Opener:
Dissolve 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in boiling water and pour down the drain. Continue to flush with hot tap water until the clog breaks.

To Remove a BrokenLight Bulb Out Of a Socket:
First turn of the power, then stick a soft bar of soap (or raw potato) into the jagged edges of glass and then use the soap (or potato) as a handle to unscrew it easily and safely. ... after the lightbulb's been removed "Don't eat the potato, don't wash anyone's mouth out with that soap".