I've never made a fortune,
and it's surely too late now,
But I don't worry 'bout that much,
I'm happy anyhow.
As I go on life's journey,
reaping better than I sowed;
I'm drinking from my saucer ...
'cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have lots of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough;
But there are kids who love me
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for His blessings
and the mercies He's bestowed;
I'm drinking from my saucer ...
'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember bad times
when my faith got awfully thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke
and sunshine poured right in.
So Lord, don't let me gripe about
the tough rows that I hoed,
I'm drinking from my saucer ...
'cause my cup has overflowed.

And if God gives me courage
when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll want no other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.
And may I always stop
to help another bare his load ...

And we'll both drink from our saucers ...
'cause our cups have overflowed !!!

~I'm drinking from my saucer
'cause my cup has overflowed~

Tags: DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER , swalk1955

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For housewives, students, bachelors, and everybody in-between, keeping a house clean and organised can seem like a mammoth task. Housework is never fun, but it doesn't have to be such a time-consuming chore if you know your goals and keep up a little home maintenance every day.

The key to keeping a tidy home is in developing good habits. Learn to pick up after yourself and wash up after you cook; make sure that everything has a place of its own and ensure that it always ends up there. If you develop good habits in being generally tidy, there will be less for you to clean in the long run and you will have more time to spend on having fun!

Set yourself a small routine of daily maintenance to prevent clutter and unnecessary debris gathering up around the house. Here are a few hints for daily home cleaning that take only a few seconds for each task, but will dramatically reduce the effort required when you come to do a major clean and will make your home appear instantly clean and tidy:

Kitchen -

• Wash up or load and unload the dishwasher
• Wipe down the sides, cooker and floor
• Clean the sink after washing up
• Ensure kitchen is wiped, washed up and straightened each night so you are ready for the next day

Bathroom -

• Wipe the sink, toilet seat and rim
• Wipe mirrors and taps
• Give the toilet bowl a brief scrub with a toilet brush
• Wipe down the shower door or straighten the shower curtain to avoid mould

Bedroom -

• Make the bed
• Put away clothing and jewellery
• Generally straighten room and clear any cups etc away

Sitting room -

• Use a handheld vacuum to suck up visible crumbs, dust, and pet hair
• Fluff and straighten cushions
• Wipe visible tabletops and cabinet surfaces
• Put away CDs, videos, books and magazines you took out

General Tips

Below is some general advice on how to get and keep your home clean, and how to make the job easier as you go!

Sit down with pen and paper and make a plan. Figure out your problem areas, like those which contain the most clutter and those that require regular cleaning, and allocate yourself some good time to them. Parts of the house where people don't see (tops of cupboards) or rooms that are not used as regularly (spare rooms) don't have to be cleaned as often.

If you identify points like these you can make yourself a realistic and manageable plan to which you can dedicate certain time. As opposed to haphazard cleaning, if you are aware of times when you have to clean, you will also be able to focus on your free time as a goal and know how much time you have left to complete the task. This will make the cleaning appear more manageable and only a small part of your time.

Before your cleaning can any effect, it is important to de-clutter first. Pick up and find homes for all the objects in the room that don't belong, and throw out any rubbish. To prevent clutter accumulating:

• Put things away as soon as you have finished with them. Go through your post as soon as you pick it up. Make a file or box for bills and letters, and throw junk mail away immediately.
• Whenever you walk from one room to another or from downstairs to upstairs, makes sure that you take things with you that don't belong in that room and put them away. For example, take the clean washing upstairs when you go, and put it away.

When cleaning, avoid distractions. Turn off the TV and your phone. Some upbeat music however, can inspire to get on with the cleaning at a pace and get it finished quickly.

Do one room at a time, and work around the room from top to bottom as you go. Carry your supplies in a basket or bucket so that you have everything you need with you:

• Use a disinfectant wipe on door handles, light switches and phones to remove germs.
• A wrist sweatband will prevent liquid running down your arm when cleaning a vertical surface, keeping you and your clothes dry.

Make your house a shoe-free zone. If people take their shoes off at the door, you will avoid a lot of dirt being trodden through the house and into your carpet.

If your home smells fresh it will create the impression of cleanliness. Start by throwing out full and smelly rubbish. Baking soda can be sprinkled in ashtrays to prevent smells, as well as on the carpet and vacuumed in the morning to eradicate any musty odours.

Take clothes out of the tumble drier as soon as it finishes; they will not require ironing as they are warm and creases will not have formed. Fold them or hang them up straightaway.

Tags: Keep it Clean - Hints on Managing your Home

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Dusting and polishing your home can sometimes seem like an unnecessary chore, perhaps something that is only properly done when visitors come around. However, regular dusting can reduce the offensive articles that cause asthma and other allergies while polishing your furniture can keep the wood healthy, clean, and with a longer lasting shine. As with all types of cleaning, there are ways in which you make keeping your home shiny and dust free a much simpler task.

Polishing

Aside from the usual spray 'n 'wipe technique with commercial furniture polishes that is applied throughout the house, real wood furniture requires proper polishing to prolong its life and vitality. It is important to maintain the natural moisture in wood to prevent it from drying out prematurely. Too much cleaning can cause build up and require a clean itself. For general maintenance; buff lightly with a damp cloth.

The potential problem with using standard supermarket products on real wood is that it is not always possible to find out what chemicals they contain. Manufacturers do not wish to reveal their ingredients to competitors, and as such consumers are also left none the wiser. There is consequently little way of knowing whether these products are harmful to your furniture, especially if the ingredients are changed without notification.

While aerosols are a convenient way to clean, they do contain solvents which can attack varnishes and lacquers on wood. Particularly avoid polishes containing alcohol or silicone. Often a benign aerosol cleaner is no different to using a damp dust cloth.

A commercial brand polish containing real lemon oil is the best kind, but you can also create polish and nourishing solutions from home ingredients:

• 1. One cup of mineral oil with three drops of lemon oil
• 2. Two ounces of grated beeswax with 5 ounces of turpentine
• 3. One cup of olive oil with one quarter cup of white vinegar

The third solution can be used as a spray while the first two should be kept in glass or plastic containers. In each case, the solution should be applied to a soft cloth first and not directly onto the wood. Always wipe with the grain to allow the solution to fully penetrate. If the wood has detail or carvings, use an old soft toothbrush to work into the grooves.

If you find you have applied an excessive amount, sprinkle corn starch onto the sticky residue and clean with a soft cloth. The excess solution will be easily wiped off with the starch.

To remove old polish, pour boiling water onto two tea bags, steep, and leave to cool. Ring a soft cloth out in the tea and then wipe the wood. The tannic acid contained in the tea will clear any dull polish and re-shine it.

To restore dry and ageing wood, rub some petroleum jelly into the grain with your fingers and leave on for some time if necessary. Buff off with a soft cloth.

Polishing alone will not be sufficient to remove heat and water marks from wood surfaces. Allow a small amount of mayonnaise to soak into the stain overnight and then wipe clean and polish as normal.

Never use furniture polish on hardwood floors. TV and PC monitors should be cleaned with a dry cloth only.

Dusting

Dust gathers in every home, and is comprises a collection of dead skin, pollen, dead insect parts and much more beyond. The aim of dusting is remove this unwanted microscopic debris from your home, therefore regular vacuuming in all the places you can reach with a filtration vacuum is recommended.

For accessing hard to reach places, a feather duster is a good tool. Dust cloths are designed for flat and smooth surfaces but by and large the surfaces in your home will be irregular and with plenty of nooks and crannies that gather dust. Brightly coloured cheap feather dusters are not a good choice as they will not work effectively. Lambs wool or ostrich feather are ideal duster materials as ostrich feathers are fine but have a large surface area that hold the dust. They also adapt well to uneven surfaces to whisk dust away. It is inevitable that using an ostrich feather or lambs wool duster will still stir up some dust, but it will generally fall downwards and can be vacuumed up n the next stage of your cleaning.

Microfibre cloths and mitts also collect dust effectively, and as worn as mitts you make sure that you get into the hard to reach corners.

As well as purchasing these items, for an immediate solution there are things that you can grab from around the home. A pair of old socks on the hands can be your dust mitts, as can wet rubber gloves rubbed over upholstery. Sellotape wrapped around your fingers can be dabbed over upholstery for similar results, while old tumble dryer sheets can be used as a dust cloth with equal effectiveness and resulting in a pleasant smell. The simplest method is just to use a damp cloth; this also cleans any slight grime that has gathered.

The key to dusting is to pay attention to the areas that are often missed or ignored as this will prevent dust build up in other areas. Pictures, skirting boards, lightbulbs and lampshades often go un-dusted. A tip for dusting pleated lampshades is to use a clean paint brush of the correct size to slide easily down each pleat.

Dusting wicker furniture can be a trickier issue. A damp cloth may again be effective, or use the vacuum with a brush head attachment. If the wicker is grimy, wash it with a solution of 2 tablespoons of ammonia to about 4 litres of water. A clean paintbrush or toothbrush can be used to access the grooves

A home remedy for a dust repellent spray combines 2 cups of warm water to � cup of liquid fabric softener. This can be kept in a spray bottle and used on static surfaces like glass tables and the fridge.

Dust and Allergies

It is not the dust in our homes that causes us to sneeze, but rather it is the creatures that live within it. Dust mites are microscopic arachnid bugs that breed in furniture, carpets, and upholstery. They feed on our dead skin and food debris that we create. Unpleasantly, it is their droppings to which humans can become allergic.

The presence of dust mites does not indicate an unclean home; dust mites thrive in more humid atmospheres and in higher temperatures. They also prefer a home with more upholstery or carpeting. Therefore, your home is particularly prone to dust mites in the summer, but also in the winter if your central heating is on high and all the doors and windows tightly shut.

If you are allergic to dust mites, it is advisable to install vinyl or hardwood flooring wherever possible in your home. Dust mites struggle to survive on these surfaces, but love carpets and rugs. You should also try to reduce the number of surfaces on which dust can collect, that means opting for a minimalist approach in your home and keeping clothing tidied and shut away in your wardrobe. Avoid upholstery fabrics where possible and try to use wooden or metal furniture.

Clean and vacuum regularly, but wear a filter mask to prevent irritation. When washing upholstery fabrics like curtains or cushion covers, wash them at a high temperature to kill the mites. Low temperature washing will not be effective.

Further advice for reducing dust mite allergies suggests buying a dehumidifier to prevent the mites from thriving in humid conditions. Pets should be banned if possible in case of further allergy, and cuddly toys are a similar allergy threat. However, removing cuddly toys from a small child (or fully grown adult) may seem unreasonable, so ensure that they washed at a high temperature regularly.

Allergies - are we too clean?

The recently developed "hygiene hypothesis" argues that our modern obsession with cleanliness and killing germs to prevent illness and allergy is in fact causing them.

In the last 20 years, the number of people with reported allergies has increased fourfold.

• 4 out of 10 school children have at least one allergy
• 1 in 5 children have asthma
• 1 in 3 people will develop an allergy at some time

With our rigid attitude to cleaning and war against dirt, humans come into contact with less good bacteria that build our immune systems. Therefore, our bodies are technically weaker when it comes to fighting allergens or infections. In developed countries we spend the vast amount of our time indoors in clean environments and remain largely unexposed to the natural dirt of the outside world. Recent studies have shown that farm children develop fewer allergies than city children, with similar results on children from developing countries compared with developed nations.

Another theory argues that it is not necessarily the cleanliness that causes the increase, but that the products we use could be part of the problem. A huge number of chemicals are introduced into our home and outdoor environments with little testing of the possible effects on humans. Our cleaning products could be part of the problem of increased cases of allergies.

Moreover, indoor air quality has reduced as buildings are more air tight to conserve energy. We are trapped in our home with dust mites and little fresh air, so it is important to air your home regularly if you are dust-sensitive. In addition, our homes our warmer due to the energy conservation and the prevalence of central heating, and as such these are perfect conditions for dust mites to thrive.

Tags: Dusting and Polishing

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It is all too easy for the kitchen to become messy, grimy, and smelly. However, it is equally easy to keep it clean if you wipe up after yourself and spend a little time on frequently used appliances and sides. Wash up your utensils as you cook and mop up spills as they happen, and your kitchen will instantly become a tidier and more manageable room.

A good multi-purpose cleaner that can be applied all around the kitchen can be made from water and a liquid dishwashing detergent combined in a spray bottle. Do not squeeze too much liquid in though, or the solution will be too foamy to spray.

Do not mix ammonia and bleach as it will create toxic fumes.

Stain removal -

Most stains can be removed by blotting with a solution of 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water. Leave it to work for half an hour, and then scrub with a little baking soda if required.

Shaving cream is also an effective agent against harsh stains, and water with baking soda paste has been known to work well against coffee stains.

Marble -

Only clean marble surfaces with a detergent and water solution, as harsh cleaners like vinegar or orange based products contain acids which can damage them.

Whenever it is washed or cleaned, always dry it thoroughly to prevent water spots from forming. Marble stains easily, but you can still use a peroxide/water blotting solution to clean it safely.

Tile -

Tile grout is a porous substance which is unfortunately prone to staining, and absorbing cleaning products without removing the stains. Use a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle; apply to the stained area and leave to work for half an hour. Repeat the process if necessary.

Do not use peroxide on coloured grout or it will remove the colour.

Shaving cream can be an equally effective stain remover on problem areas.

Cupboards -

To get streak-free white kitchen cupboards, baking soda and water are a good cleaning combination. Baking soda will not damage the surface, but does remove all grease and splatters.

Streaky cupboards are often caused by the built up detergent used when cleaning them. A thorough rinsing should be sufficient, but a vinegar and water solution is guaranteed to finish the job. Vinegar is an excellent degreaser. A window cleaner can also be used here.

Stainless steel -

If food residue has been burned on to a stainless steel cooker or work surface, simply boil some water and pour it onto the spillage. Leave it for a few minutes to loosen the food with its heat, and then can scrape or rub it off.

Water spots can be wiped away with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. Wipe the area dry after treating with a clean cloth to avoid further marking.

Sinks and taps -

The water stains and mineral build up around your kitchen taps can be treated by wrapping vinegar-soaked paper towels around them and leaving for about an hour. Rinse and buff dry with a clean paper towel for shiny chrome taps. Chrome can also be cleaned with dry baking soda.

Clean a porcelain sink by using a paste comprising cream of tartar and water. Superficial scratches to the porcelain surface that are caused by washing up or cleaning can be smoothed with a pumice stone. First fill up the sink with water and then use the pumice to gently scour and smooth the porcelain bowl. Deep scratches cannot be treated in this manner.

The sink should be filled water to ensure that the pumice stone remains soaking wet, or else you run the risk of scratching the sink with the stone itself.

If it is the sink's plughole that is causing you problems, you can flush it out with simple home ingredients. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the plughole followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Allow the solution to foam for several minutes and then rinse out with hot water.

Ovens and cookers -

Keep the bottom of your oven lined with tinfoil so that any food spillages and drips are caught.

If food has already bubbled over and burnt to the oven floor, shake some salt onto it. It will make less smoke and be easier to clean in the cooled oven.

For an easy overnight clean, put a large bath towel soaked with ammonia into the oven. Close the door, leave it overnight and then wipe clean with fresh water. For an immediate solution, a commercial foaming cleaner is good for vertical cleaning. It will stick well to the walls, allowing the product time to work and dissolve the dirt.

Grime-encrusted grill pans and oven shelving that cannot be cleaned by normal means can be salvaged by spraying with ammonia and sealed in a bin bag for 4 hours or more. For the oven window, coat it with a paste of baking soda and water and wash off after 10 minutes.

Microwaves -

Scrubbing inside your microwave can be tricky, so make the job easier by cooking a � cup of water on high for 2 minutes. The steam loosens the dried spills and splatters so you can spray with a detergent and water solution and wipe dry.

Refrigerators -

The fridge should be given a regular and thorough clean. Empty it of all foodstuffs and then wipe down the insides and separate compartments with a baking soda, vinegar and water mixture. A foaming cleaner can be used where necessary to thoroughly dissolve the grime on the fridge walls.

Make sure to clean under the rubber gasket, as trapped food debris here can cause odours. To counteract smells, leave an open pot of baking soda in the fridge.

Floors -

Vinyl flooring can be kept clean and fresh with a regular mopping from a detergent solution. Vinegar can also be used on vinyl, as it is a good degreaser.

As a result of all the cooking, and perhaps even from some strong smelling cleaning products, the kitchen can play host to some unpleasant smells. To eradicate kitchen odours, you can:

• 1. Simmer a pot of cinnamon, orange peel and whole cloves on the cooker.
• 2. Put a couple of small bowls of vinegar around the room to absorb the smells.
• 3. Sprinkle cinnamon on a baking sheet and warm it in the oven.
• 4. Leave an open tub of baking soda on the side.

If it is your chopping board that is retaining bad smells from fish, garlic etc, simply rub it with half a lemon and then wash normally.

Tags: Cleaning Kitchens

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The bathroom is one of the most important areas of the home to keep clean. If receives all the dirt and grime not only from you and your family but also from any guests that use the facilities. To prevent any unhygienic build up, the bathroom should be cleaned thoroughly on a weekly basis, with baths or showers wiped down following each use.

As well as brand name household products, there are a number of natural substances and alternative products that can clean your bathroom just as effectively. Below are listed a variety of methods for cleaning the separate areas of the bathroom, ensuring that it looks and smells fresh and clean for everyone to use.

Key items are:

• Baking soda: a natural scourer and odour remover
• Lemon/lemon juice: a natural degreaser and lightener for stains
• Vinegar: another good degreaser

Windows, glass and mirrors -

Use shaving cream as a method of prevention against the build up of steam on your bathroom mirror.

To clean a grubby mirror, you can spray on a solution of either: white vinegar, rubbing alcohol or dishwashing detergent. Wiping it clean with newspaper or a coffee filter will avoid streaky residue.

When cleaning a mirror, it is important to keep the frame dry. Moisture in the backing can cause it to come loose.

Baths and showers -

Water spots and stains on bath and shower facilities are caused by alkaline in the water. The harder or more alkaline the water, the more at risk you are of getting water marks.

� To prevent alkaline staining, use a car wax on the doors and walls, but be careful of making the area too slippery.

Orange based cleaning products are effective on bath and shower grime. On a weekly basis, spray it on and leave for about 10 minutes to work on the dirt, and then rinse or wipe clean.

If you have heavy soap scum that will not cleaned so easily:

• Apply hot white vinegar and continue to scrub until it dissolves, OR
• Sponge with solution of 1 cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of rottenstone and � cup of water softener, OR
• Use 1-2 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of hot water.

To treat bathtub rings, try wiping it with undiluted ammonia or a sponge sprinkled with baking soda. Stubborn stains can be cleaned by scouring with dishwashing detergent or rubbed with a white vinegar covered cloth.

If the showerhead is particularly clogged, remove it and soak it in vinegar. This will both clean and sanitize it. Blocked holes in the showerhead can be freed by poking out the dirt with a pin prior to the soak.

Once the shower base has been cleaned, don't forget to give attention to the shower door or curtain. Lemon juice wiped clean with newspaper will provide a streak-free shower door, while plastic shower curtains can be machine washed. Alternatively, spray it with an orange based cleaner or baking soda solution and wipe clean. Air drying will prevent further mold and mildew build up, and as a further prevention try cutting off the seam at the base of the curtain, as this is where mildew is likely to collect.

Toilets -

Rings in the toilet are again created by the alkaline water. To combat this and other stains, there are several methods you can try:

• Pour in 1-2 cups of white vinegar on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour to overnight and then brush and flush.
• Drop in a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets and leave for an hour before brushing.
• Cola poured into the toilet bowl and left for an hour has the same effect.
• Vitamin C capsules or denture cleaning tablets can be left in the toilet overnight.

A sponging solution that is effective contains 1 tablespoon of detergent to 1 gallon of hot water. For stubborn stains, gently buff the surface with a pumice stone and flush to see the results.

Sinks -

To prevent scum and blockages in the sink, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup white vinegar down the plughole on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour and rinse with warm water.

Shaving cream wiped clean with newspaper is a good general cleaner for the bathroom sink. To tackle stains; rubbing lemon can treat light staining, while borax and lemon juice can remove darker stains like rust.

Taps -

Taps can easily appear dirty as water deposits collect round these areas. To dissolve this, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and wrap it around the tap, allowing about an hour to loosen the alkaline. Then scrub the tap with a stiff toothbrush.

Orange based or powder cleansers should not be used on brass or gold plated taps and fittings as it can scratch or corrode the surface. To prevent damage, always dry them after use.

Tiles -

To make tile cleaning easier, run the shower on hot for a few minutes so the steam will loosen the dirt.

Ceramic tiles can be regularly maintained with detergent and water or with commercial cleaning solutions that are specific for the job. A general polish and mildew removal can be achieved with either a water and ammonia or water and vinegar solution.

For a more thorough clean, especially concerning tile grouting, sponge on a solution of water with chlorine bleach and leave for several minutes. Do not use bleach on coloured grout. When it is washed clean, you can apply lemon oil or an acrylic sealer to protect the grout.

More Tips

Mildew - To ensure that mildew does not become as issue in your bathroom, treat your ceiling and potential problem areas every six months with a 50/50 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Spray the solution and leave it alone. If you are already affected by mildew, re-spray the area after 24 hours and repeat as necessary.

Air freshener - To create a air of freshness in your bathroom, leave a sheet of fabric softener in the bin. Another tip is to dab a bit of fragrance or scented oil onto the light bulb so that when it releases heat it also disperses the pleasant scent.

Tags: bathroom, cleaning

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White Teeth

Tags: White Teeth, SWALK1955

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8 Foods For Your Skin

Tags: Foods For Your Skin, SWALK1955

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Milk cows organically.
Clean milking equipment with unperfumed dish detergent followed with a vinegar rinse. Pipes, hoses, and bulk tank will come out squeaky clean without any odor, lowering the bacteria count.

Kill bacteria in meats.
Marinating meat in vinegar kills bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Use one-quarter cup vinegar for a two to three pound roast, marinate overnight, then cook without draining or rinsing the meat. Add herbs to the vinegar when marinating as desired.

Dissolve warts.
Mix one part vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.

Remove stubborn stains from furniture upholstery and clothes.
Apply white vinegar directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.

Grow beautiful azaleas.
Occasionally water plants with a mixture of two tablespoons white vinegar to one quart water. Azaleas love acidic soil.

Relieve arthritis.
Before each meal, drink a glass of water containing two teaspoons vinegar. Give this folk remedy at least three weeks to start working.

Kill unwanted grass.
Pour white vinegar in crevices and between bricks.

Remove corns.
Make a poultice of one crumbled piece of bread soaked in one-quarter cup vinegar. Let poultice sit for one-half hour, then apply to the corn and tape in place overnight. If corn does not peel off by morning, reapply the poultice for several consecutive nights.

Clean the hoses and unclog soap scum from a washing machine.
Once a month pour one cup of white vinegar into the washing machine and run the machine through a normal cycle, without clothes.

Cure an upset stomach.
Drink two teaspoons vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.

Kill germs on bathroom fixtures.
Use one part vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the bathroom fixtures and floor, then wipe clean.

Clean soap scum, mildew, and grime from bathtub, tile, and shower curtains.
Simply wipe the surface with vinegar and rinse with water.

Deodorize the air.
Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.

Relieve itching.
Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with vinegar straight from the bottle.

Clean lime deposits and calcium sludge from an automatic drip coffee maker.
Once a month fill the reservoir with white vinegar and run through the brew cycle. Rinse thoroughly with two cycles of cold water.

Relieve a sore throat.
Put two teaspoons of vinegar in your humidifier.

Soothe sunburn pain.
Apply undiluted vinegar to the burn.

Clean food-stained pots and pans.
Fill the pots and pans with white vinegar and let stand for thirty minutes. Then rinse in hot, soapy water.

Clean rust from tools, bolts, and spigots.
Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted white vinegar overnight.

Turn a chicken bone into rubber.
Soak a chicken bone in a glass of vinegar for three days. It will bend like rubber.

Prevent bright colored clothes from fading.
Before putting the article in the washing machine, soak it in white vinegar for ten minutes.

Keep a garbage disposal clean and smelling fresh.
Mix one cup of vinegar in enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze the mixture, grind the cubes through the disposal, and flush with cold water.

Clean a toilet bowl.
Pour in one cup of white vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.

Prevent yeast infections.
Douche with one tablespoon white vinegar to one quart warm water to adjust the pH balance in the vagina.

Clean dentures.
Soak dentures overnight in white vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.

Remove perspiration stains from clothes.
Apply one part white vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.

Deodorize a room filled with cigarette smoke or paint fumes.
Place a small bowl of white vinegar in the room.

Cure the hiccups.
Mix one teaspoon vinegar in one cup of warm water, and drink.

Eliminate odors from used jars.
Rinse peanut butter and mayonnaise jars with white vinegar.

Condition dry hair.
Shampoo, then rinse hair with a mixture of one cup vinegar and two cups water. vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.

Clean mineral deposits from a steam iron.
Fill the water tank with white vinegar. Turn the iron to the steam setting and steam-iron a soft utility rag to clean the steam ports. Repeat the process with water, then thoroughly rinse out the inside of your iron.

Remove light scorch marks from fabrics.
Rub lightly with white vinegar, then wipe with a clean cloth.

Repel ants.
Use a spray bottle or mister filled with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water around door jambs, window sills, water pipes, and foundation cracks.

Keep drains open.
Pour one-half box of old baking soda down the drain followed by one cup white vinegar. When the bubbling stops, run the hot water.

Prolong and brighten propane lanterns.
Soak new wicks for several hours in white vinegar and let them dry before inserting. Propane lanterns will burn longer and brighter on the same amount of fuel.

Remove decals or bumper stickers.
Soak a cloth in vinegar and cover the decal or bumper sticker for several minutes until the vinegar soaks in. The decals and bumper stickers should peel off easily.

Deodorize a wool sweater.
Wash sweater, then rinse in equal parts vinegar and water to remove odor.

Prevent lint from clinging to clothes.
Add one cup vinegar to each wash load.

Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight.
Coat the window with a solution of three parts white or vinegar to one part water.

Prolong the life of flowers in a vase.
Add two tablespoons of white vinegar plus three tablespoons of sugar per quart of warm water. Stems should be in three to four inches of water.

Prevent cracked hard-boiled eggs.
Add two tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water before boiling to prevent the eggs from cracking. The egg shells will also peel off faster and easier.

Clean windows.
Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle. Dry with a soft cloth.

Eliminate unpleasant cooking odors in the kitchen.
Boil one tablespoon of white vinegar with one cup of water.

Remove wallpaper.
Mix equal parts vinegar and hot water. Use a paint roller to wet the paper thoroughly with the mixture. Repeat. Paper should peal off in sheets.

Eliminate animal urine stains from carpet.
Blot up urine, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.

Relieve a cold.
Mix one-quarter cup vinegar with one-quarter cup honey. Take one tablespoon six to eight times daily.

Deodorize a stale lunch box.
Soak a paper napkin in vinegar and leave it inside the closed lunch box overnight.

Prevent soapy film on glassware.
Place a cup of white vinegar on the bottom rack of your dishwasher, run for five minutes, then run though the full cycle. A cup of white vinegar run through the entire cycle once a month will also reduce soap scum on the inner workings.

Unclog a shower head.
Unscrew the shower head, remove the rubber washer, place the head in a pot filled with equal parts vinegar and water, bring to a boil, then simmer for five minutes.

Relieve a cough.
Mix one-half cup vinegar, one-half cup water, one teaspoon cayenne pepper, and four teaspoons honey. Take one tablespoon when cough acts up. Take another tablespoon at bedtime.

Retard patching plaster from drying.
Add one tablespoon white vinegar to the water when mixing plaster to slow the drying time.

Tags: Everyday Uses For Vinegar, SWALK1955

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Deodorize your feet.
Boil three or four tea bags in one quart of water for ten minutes. Add enough cold water to make a comfortable soak. Soak your feet for twenty to thirty minutes, then dry and apply food powder. Do this twice a day until odor is under control. Then continue twice a week to keep odor under control. Tannin, which can be found in tea, is a drying agent.

Dye graying white fabrics.
If Clorox bleach won't whiten a graying white garment, soak the item in hot, strong brewed tea until it is a shade darker than you desire. Then rinse in cold water and let dry.

Highlight brown hair.
Rinse red or brown hair with brewed tea for golden highlights.

Relieve sunburn pain.
Pat your sunburn with wet tea bags.

Accelerate the germination of grass seeds.
Mix two tablespoons of cold, strong brewed tea into each pound of seed, cover, and set in the refrigerator for five days. Before sowing, spread the seed to dry for a day or two on newspapers on the garage or basement floor.

Deodorize stuffy rooms.
Mix one quart brewed tea and four tablespoons lemon juice, strain through a coffee filter, and store in empty spray bottles.

Soothe a sore throat or laryngitis.
Drink brewed tea with lemon juice or honey.

Invigorate house plants.
Water ferns and other houseplants once a week with a weak, tepid brewed tea.

Polish black lacquer.
Wash black lacquer pieces with strong brewed tea, then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Help relieve diarrhea.
Drink plenty of tea and eat toast. The tannin in tea is reported to be helpful in cases of diarrhea, while its liquid replaces fluids lost by the body.

Soothe tired eyes.
Place tea bags soaked in cool water or lukewarm water over your eyes for at least fifteen minutes.

Soothe a burn.
Apply wet tea bags directly to the burn, or secure in place with gauze.

Stop gums from bleeding after having a tooth pulled.
Press a cool, moist tea bag against the cavity with your finger.

Fix a broken fingernail.
Cut a piece of gauze paper from a tea bag to fit the nail, coat with clear nail polish, and press gently against the break. Then cover with colored nail polish.

Clean varnished woodwork.
Cold tea is a good cleaning agent for any kind of woodwork.

Tenderize meat.
Add equal parts strong brewed tea and double strength beef stock to a tough pot roast or stew. The tannin in tea is a natural meat tenderizer.

Tags: Everyday Uses For Tea Bags, SWALK1955

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