where homemaking, glamour and reality collide
Did you know you can easily clean a paintbrush that has hard, crusted, dried up paint on it? Paintbrushes can be expensive and I always try to clean them as soon as I'm done using them but if I know I'll be using them again the same day I usually wrap them in foil and place them in a zip lock bag in the freezer...strange, I know, but that works to keep the brush from drying out. A few months ago I had to get a new … [Read more...]
Make your own gentle scrubbing cleanser that's eco-friendly and saves you money using only 3 ingredients. With this 'recipe' you can get rid of yet another potentially harsh and costly chemical from your home. Ingredients: 1/4 cup baking soda 1 tablespoon dish/liquid detergent cleaning or distilled Vinegar ~ add enough to the above ingredients to make a smooth paste Mix all of the above … [Read more...]
I have a confession....I am a bit of a cleanaholic....in days past I used any chemical spray-spritz concoction available that promised me shine, clean and dead germs. I put aside the cleaning style I had seen my Mom and Grandma use....the chemical-free cleaning with items from their pantry. Their houses always were fresh and clean but I was sure I knew so much more than they did. Oh my!!! Well, … [Read more...]
With the Holidays just around the corner it's time to start thinking about getting your serving items {silver, dishes, linens} ready. I love silver, especially antique silver, but I have always been hesitant to use it because of having to POLISH it ~ groan ~. When I was younger I remember my mom having a plastic tray with a metal insert that she would put in the sink and then fill with water and something else that I … [Read more...]
I have been overrun lately with pesky fruit flies. I have been buying fresh fruit like I usually do but the last few weeks have been absolutely ridiculous with fruit flies. They seem to be everywhere and obviously they're vain....I find them on my mirrors....ewwww and yuck! In an effort to not use chemicals I came across this recipe for getting rid of fruit flies....and....it works! You'll need … [Read more...]
A few months ago I was given {jumping up and down} a Martha Stewart enameled cast iron casserole. I use this often in both the oven and on the stove top. I had been able to keep it pretty sparkly and new looking but we were invited to a picnic for the 4th of July......I made my 'homemade' baked beans to take and the hostess didn't want them to get cold so she heated them up.....way too long.....and I was left with a … [Read more...]
I have tried many stain removers over the years sometimes with good results and sometimes not. I have been trying a lot of DIY recipes for cleaning products lately and this one definitely works. I tried it on a set in stain {mud} on a white sock that I had soaked in bleach and used several store bought stain removers on without any success. I also used this directly in the wash water with socks that I usually add … [Read more...]
I saw this 'recipe' on pinterest several times. I used to be a sucker for buying new products that promised me cleaner and shinier and an easier way to of doing things but the cost and the chemicals have caused me to look for alternatives and this is definitely a great one! Easy and cheap...and IT WORKS!!! All of the pins I saw said to use Dawn blue dishwashing liquid...Dawn only..but I had the Aldi brand of blue … [Read more...]
When I change my sheets and wash my bed linens I like to spray the mattress, sheets, blankets and pillows with a linen spray. I also, twice a year ~ once in the spring and once in the fall ~ like to sprinkle a fragrant baking soda mixture on my mattresses and pillows, letting it sit for about an hour. I then use my vacuum cleaner with attachment to vacuum away the baking soda leaving a light clean scent … [Read more...]
I'm starting a new series...Homemaking 101. I love homemaking tips and over the years have acquired quite a few. I thought I would start sharing these once a week. I would LOVE to hear about any of your favorite tips and perhaps feature them in the following weeks. My first tip is a real basic one and it came about because of my absolute dislike of ironing boards...they wobble, are cumbersome, take up room, don't … [Read more...]
