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Clever ways to repurpose an everyday item.
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1. Curtain Straightener
Make an opening in the bottom hem, slide in a penny or two, and sew the hem back up to keep curtains hanging level and stick-straight. |
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Tread Checker
Insert a penny into a groove of a tire with Lincoln’s head pointing into the tire. If the groove covers part of his head, you’re safe to drive; if the head is in full view, it’s time for new wheels. (The distance between the rim of a penny and Lincoln’s head is 1/16 of an inch―the minimum suggested tread depth.)
3. Table Anchor
If you dine out and the table is unsteady, put a coin under the leg to restore balance.
4. Game Token
Misplaced the thimble? No problem. Sub in a cent.
5. Reader Tip: Makeshift Screwdriver
Use a penny to screw open a toy’s battery pack.
(Caroline Brant, Collegeville, Pennsylvania)
6. Reader Tip: Icebreaker
Hand out pennies at your next gathering and ask each guest to share a story that happened during the year his or her penny was minted. If the coin predates a friend, let the person improvise.
(Rachel Harrison Massa, Stamford, Connecticut)
7. Reader Tip: Birdbath Cleaner
To ward off algae, toss in a few pre-1982 coins; the high copper content retards growth.
(Suzanne Wesley, Terre Haute, Indiana)
More hidden tricks to get your house sparkling in record time
Aluminum Foil as Glassware Scrubber
To get baked-on food off a glass pan or an oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of a steel-wool soap pad, says Mary Findley, president of the cleaning-products developer Mary Moppins. It's one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/video/default.aspx?vid=8dda961c-bef6-4b5a-ac6c-3931fe871417%26tab=today&from=en-us_lifestyle_your-home
Car Wax as Sink Polish
Polish faucets, sinks, tile, even shower doors with Turtle Wax, which leaves behind a protective barrier against water and soap buildup, so your hard-earned sparkle will last past the next tooth-brushing.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/video/default.aspx?vid=23a4bfdc-4792-4339-9bfd-67f0c01f60bf%26tab=today&from=en-us_lifestyle_your-home
Chalk as Tarnish Prevention
Slow the tarnish on your good silver by tying up a few moisture-absorbing pieces in cheesecloth and store them with your cutlery for shinier flatware that reflects well on you in no time flat.
Cooking Spray as Candlestick Cleaner
Celebrating by candlelight? Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a tea light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out.
Dryer Sheet as Iron Cleaner
Remove gunk from the soleplate of an iron. With the setting on low, rub the iron over the dryer sheet until the residue disappears, and you're left with a pristine press.
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Eggshells as Bottle and Vase Cleaners
Here's an idea for all those eggs you hard-boiled: Use their broken eggshells to clean the hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases. Drop some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can't get to, so you can save your elbow grease for the dinner dishes.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/video/default.aspx?vid=11640c4e-c572-4f6c-be89-d67df9161dc6%26tab=howcast&from=en-us_lifestyle_your-home
Citrus Peel as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer
Keep your disposal smelling fresh by dropping a few peels down the drain and flipping the switch.
Clothespin as Cord Keeper
The secret to keeping a retractable cord from rewinding too soon is to clip the cord near the opening
Hair Dryer as Sticker Remover
A little hot air quickly loosens price labels - with zero fingernail-chipping frustration.
Lemon as Laundry Brightener
Skip the bleach - add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to brighter up those fading whites.
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Mustard Powder as Jar Deodorizer
Deodorize smelly glass jars by washing them with a mixture of one teaspoon powdered mustard and one quart warm water.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/video/default.aspx?vid=237a2795-b911-40d9-810a-4ae5e85991e6%26tab=howcast&from=en-us_lifestyle_your-home
Onion as Basement Deodorizer
Clear the air in a dank basement. Cut an onion in half, place it on a plate and leave it out overnight. Once the initial salad-bar aroma dissipates, you'll have a fresh (non-oniony) atmosphere.
Seam Ripper as Vacuum Roller Cleaner
Restore a vacuum to maximum power by cutting the lint and hair from its roller brush.
Vanilla as Freezer Freshener
Trade frostbite funk for a more pleasing freezer scent and wipe the inside of the icebox with an extract-dampened cotton pad.
Walnut as Scratch Filler
Repair hardwood floors by rubbing shelled nuts into shallow scratches. Their natural oils help hide the flaws.
Lemonade Kool-Aid as Dishwasher Cleaner
Clean lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher by pouring a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid (the only flavor that works) into the detergent cup and running the (empty) dishwasher. The citric acid in the mix wipes out stains; you don't have to.
Laundry Bag as Dishwashing Aid
Keep mini-Tupperware lids, baby-bottle caps and other small items from falling through the dishwasher rack. You'll save time by no longer diving for treasure on the floor of the dishwasher.
Newspaper as Food-Container Deodorizer
Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a plastic container that has developed a funk, and let it sit overnight. By morning the paper will have absorbed the offending smell.
Salt as Egg Cleanup
Sop up a spilled egg by sprinkling salt over the mess. Wait two minutes and wipe it up.
Uncooked Spaghetti as Frosting Protector
Preserve a topnotch frosting job. Poke a few stiff pieces in the surface and sides of a dessert before wrapping it for easy transport.
A LITTLE BIT OF GOD'S BEAUTIFUL CREATION!!! ENJOY!!!
EACH FLOWER IS FILMED FOR TWO DAYS
TO GET THIS EFFECT.
Click For The Dance of The Flowers
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