Converting a Garage Into a Guest Room?Does anybody have any thrifty ideas for changing a garage temporarily into a guest bedroom?
Ladybug Problem?Would anyone know how to get rid of ladybugs? At first I thought they were so pretty, but they have infested my walls and ceilings. I live in the country, but the windows were closed all winter.
Stray Cat Problem?How can I keep stray cats out of my garden?
Getting Kinks Out of a Necklace?I would like to know how to get the kink out of a necklace.
Tarnished Silver Rope?I have had a beautiful silver rope necklace for about ten years that has gotten terribly tarnished. I can't remove the tarnish with a chamois cloth because of the intricate rope detail.
Removing Beetle Stains?Does anyone know how to remove beetle stains without removing acrylic paint?
Can You Clean Your Drain with Coffee Grounds?Is this an old wives tale or true? Do coffee grounds down your sink really help clean it out of fat and grime?
Homemade Lawn Spray?I am looking for a lawn spray you can make with liquid detergent, water, beer, and ? I don't know the other ingredient, the amounts of each to use, or how to use, but heard it works very well. Does anyone know? -Julia
Cleaning CDs?Does anybody have any safe ways to clean CDs?
Removing Soot from Curtains?Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get the soot out of my custom curtains?
Finding an Honest Mechanic?Being a woman with an older automobile, I feel like I'm taken advantage of when it comes to car repairs. Does any one have any strategies for finding an honest mechanic?
Getting Rid of Household Pests?I need help with a bug problem. We only seem to have them in the kitchen and bathroom. I have one of the sonic boxes that work with the house wiring We haven't had any field mice since getting them, but they don't seem to work on the bugs.
Removing Bird Poop Stains?A bird built a nest behind our new light fixtures on the porch. Now there is bird excrement on the fixture as well as the concrete porch floor. How do I remove the stains?
Marilyn
Removing Bats from a Roof?Do any readers have suggestions on removing bats from a roof? They are going in the soffits and fascia. I've talked to both a pest control agent (who scared me) and a bat expert (who told me I should be thrilled!).
Mold on Mulch?Does anyone have any suggestions on getting rid of mold/fungus on mulch in the flower beds?
Water Moccasins Deterrents?I just found a baby Water Moccasin in my shop. Is there a deterrent I could put in there that would keep them out?
Getting Rid of Bookworms?I ordered an out-of-print book that I would like to keep, but as I was reading it I found several (cute) little bookworms. I don't want the rest of my books infected.
Mildew off Tiles?Does anyone have any ideas what to do about completely getting rid of the mildew on the bathroom tiles? -Anna Marie in Lesigny France
Chocolate Stains/Black Heat Stains?Does anyone have any ideas about getting rid of chocolate stains on rugs and black heat stains on cloth-like wall paper? -Anna Marie in Lesigny France
Need Tips on Using Liquid Fabric Softener?I have been using dryer sheets to soften my clothes in the dryer for a while now. Recently, I found a deal on liquid fabric softener that I couldn't pass up (free!), and am wondering if anyone has tips on using liquid softener in a machine without an automatic dispenser.
Moth Infestation?It seems that overnight our kitchen has been infested with bugs! Most of them are potato bugs and little tiny tan colored moths. They fly around everywhere and leave their egg sacks and larvae in all our crevices! How can we get rid of them?
Underarm Stains on Tank Tops?How do I get underarm stains off of my white tank tops?
Pink Stains on Sink?We have well water and it seems to have a high iron content. All around my sinks there are pink stains. Does anyone know what will remove them? So far Lime-Away hasn't worked.
Septic Tank Tips?I bought a house in the boondocks, with private water and septic. What are the dos and don'ts? I love bleach as a disinfectant, is it okay to use?
Cleaning Granite Countertop?How do I clean my granite kitchen countertop?
Burned Popcorn in Microwave?I burned popcorn in my microwave and the inside is now stained yellow. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this out?
Mounting a Curtain Rod on a Steel Door?We've just installed a beautiful new kitchen door. The old door was wood, but my new one is metal. Any suggestions for mounting a curtain rod? I'd rather not drill holes for screws if I can help it because then I'm limited to only one style of rod/curtain.
Stainless Steel Sink?I would like to restore my stainless steel sink to its original newish shine. Can anyone help?
Orange Stains on Dishwasher?I have a request for information on how to get my dishwasher clean on the inside. The baskets and the walls have all turned a dirty orange color due to extremely hard water.
Throw Up Smell in a Car?My little nephew was unfortunately sick in my sister's car. She cleaned the mess up immediately and has since tried a couple of different solutions to get rid of the smell, but without success. Does anyone have a simple tip to get rid of the smell? -Virginia
How Can I Clean My Dirty Gas Oven?We just recently purchased a house. My problem is the oven. It is a gas range, but I don't think the previous owner cleaned the oven at all. I've tried oven cleaner, S.O.S. pads, and a few other things.
Smelly Mouth Guard?I have to wear a night guard on my upper teeth every night to prevent damage to my teeth because I grind my teeth during the night. Mine has gotten stained and smells terrible. I don't care about the staining, but don't like the smell.
Alternatives to Expensive Spa Chemicals?Does anyone know about some low cost alternatives to expensive spa (hot tub) chemicals? Also any cleaning ideas appreciated, especially filter cleaning.
Uses for Fireplace Ashes?What can I do with wood ash? Besides tossing in the woods. What garden plants or veggies like it?
Squirrel Problem?I have squirrels nesting in my attic. My husband nosed around up there one day and found that they've been chewing through our phone and electrical lines, a huge fire hazard! Does anyone have any suggestions on humane ways to drive them away?
What Can I Do With My Bent Nails?I have a bunch of nails from a construction project. Most are bent and probably not usuable for building. What would you do with them? I have a bucket full. Thanks, Joe.
Removing Stains on Formica?I have been trying in vane to find some way to clean the counter tops in my kitchen. We are renting this house and the counter tops in the kitchen (Formica I think) are beige. There are all kinds of grayish stains and some that look like rust.
Composting in the City?I recently relocated from a house where I had a yard to an apartment in the city where I have none. Does anyone know of any resources, books, or tips for composting in the city? Having composted for years, I would hate to start throwing out compostable material.
Removing Stains on Marble Countertops?My marble countertops in the bathrooms have turned quite yellow in spots. Any suggestions on how to get them clean again? I've tried everything from bleach to Zap.
Water Spots on Leather?Do you have any suggestions for getting water spots out of leather covered tables, also wood tables? Thanking you in advance.
Changing Color of Vertical Blinds?My home came complete with wall to wall verticals in two rooms. Does anyone know of a way I can dye (perhaps) or whatever them?
Strong Musty Odor in Cabinet?I purchased a wood cabinet from an import company. The shelf has a strong musty odor that has not yet worn off. I have tried cleaning the entire shelf with polish, spraying the shelves with vinegar and sprinkling baking soda on the shelves, but nothing has taken away the smell.
Cleaning My Chimney?Does anyone know how to clean creosote out of my chimney? Does stuff like Red Devil work?
Chocolate Stains on Rugs?Does anyone know how to get chocolate and wine stains out of rugs? Or a good universal carpet stain remover?
Buying Cleaning Products Online?I am looking for information about buying cleaning products by mail through Internet. Does anyone know of a good website for buying cleaning products by mail?
Tiger Motif?My teenage daughter went back to school after her spring break. We want to redecorate her room while she is away. She chose a tiger motif. Any ideas? Thanks.
Reupholster Help!I would like to reupholster my fiance's brown plaid couch. I know that reupholstery costs around $1000, so I would like to attempt to do it myself. However, there doesn't seem to be much info on how to do it yourself!
Getting Perfume Smell Out of Clothing?How do you get strong perfume smells out of clothing?
Water Softener Recommendations?The hardness of our water now exceeds 20 grains and we have been told that in order to get clean glasses from the dishwasher we must install a water softener. Any recommendations on this type of appliance?
Inexpensive Framing?Do you know any inexpensive ways to hang pictures on a wall? Framing costs are really high.
More Water Softening Problems?The hardness of our water tested at 20 grains. Best advice seems to be to install a water softener. Since neither sodium or potassium is acceptable in husband's diet we were advised to install softener on hot water only. Is this a viable solution? Is there a better way?
Fire Ants!We are having a terrible time with fire ants this year. I don't want to use anything harmful to children or pets. Does anyone have any good way to get rid of them?
Grease/Oil Stains on Asphalt?Can anyone tell me how to get grease/oil removed from asphalt? I've heard kitty litter works, but some of the stains could be as old as 5 months. Thanks a bunch.
Two Way Heavy Duty Zipper?I would like to purchase a 24" heavy-duty two-way zipper for my husband's winter jacket. The original zipper is a Talon; however, I cannot buy any zipper like this locally. I received a Talon catalog, but there were no two-way zippers listed.
Smoke Smell?I'm moving into a house where a smoker has lived for 30 years. It smells like it, too. Any suggestions to get that deep down smoky smell out?
Adding a Fireplace Mantel?I've decided I would like like to add a mantle above our fireplace. I have a big picture hanging there right now, but I would love to have a mantle so that I could set pictures on it and maybe make a pretty swag to hang over it.
Cleaning a Teflon Griddle?I was wondering if anyone knows how to clean a teflon coated griddle that has a dark buildup of cooking oil and cooking spray and is very sticky to the touch. I just can't seem to get it off.
Campbell Soup Curtains?My daughter is re-doing her kitchen decorations. Over the years she has collected Campbell's soup collectibles. I saw some Campbell soup curtains somewhere and did not mention them to her as I thought she was no longer collecting Campbell's. Now I cannot remember where the curtains were.
Removing Bathtub Appliques?How do you remove those non-skid bathtub appliques without damaging the tub surface? We've tried all sorts of cleaners, Goo-Gone and turpentine and they still hang on.
Pigeons on Air Conditioners?There are a lot of pigeons in our place and they love to stay on top of the air conditioners (wall) outside the house. They build nests and make it their home. The side of our house gets so dirty because of their droppings. It's disgusting!
- Medrid
Getting Tape off Wooden Furniture?Does anyone know how to get Scotch tape and brown tape off wooden furniture? It is impossible to peel off now. Thanks.
Painting Advice Needed?I am painting before the holidays. I painted in the spring and old nicotine stains from a previous resident of our home came through the paint. How can I keep this from happening again?
Dishwasher Stained Glass?Does anyone know of a way to remove the milky haze (stain) that accumulates on glass's after being washed in the dishwasher repeatedly? It scrapes of with a finger nail, so the glass is not etched. Is there a home remedy, or a product I could buy? Please help.
Ink Stains Off Paneling?Help! I am trying to clean a pen mark and permanent ink mark off of paneling in a manufactured home. Any ideas would be appreciated.
How to Decorate My Room?I am 14 years old. I want to decorate my room. I need help with the color schemes. My bed spread is a magenta/maroon color, but it still has a hint of pink in it. But I don't know what color I should paint my walls and ceiling to contrast with it.
Homemade OxiClean?Did you ever see the oxi-clean infomercial? I have the basic recipe for a clone but I need a source where I can buy sodium percarbonate which is the main ingredient.
OxiClean is about 70% sodium percarbonate and 30% washing soda (sodium carbonate) with some fungicides added.
Mold Out of Canvas Tent?Does anyone know how to get mold and mildew out of the canvas from a camper trailer? I am borrowing a friend's camper, but the canvas is full of mold and mildew.
Charcoal and Mothballs?When we visit in Florida you find little trays of charcoal under the beds or couch. Also they use moth balls all over the place. Does anyone know really if all that is necessary? or why?
Solutions for a Mossy Roof?We have a lot of moss on our roof. Does anyone have some good ideas for killing it and keeping it from growing back?
Ink Cleaner/Remover?All Ideas are welcome. IS there any safety ink-cleaner
emover, makes this old (chaired)man happy again?.
My grand father (65 yrs) is an old typewriter, and still using the mechanical-style printer with newspaper ink. And because oldness, he makes a lot of typing mistakes,
May any one help?
- Amayruee
Replacing Lawn with Plants?I want to replace a lot of my lawn with plants. Any advice would be helpful. Does anyone have suggestions of what is good to plant for low care and low water usage?
Kitchen Counter Tops?Does anyone know how to shine up a dingy counter top? After regular everyday cleaning and wiping with a kitchen spray, my kitchen counter is dingy and streaky. I would like it to not look so dull but new and shiny. Any suggestions?
Root Lilacs?I have a large branch from a lilac bush that broke off a neighbor's mature bush. It is easily five feet tall and the stalk is 1-2" in diameter. I brought it home to salvage it's beautiful blossoms, but now I would love to root it and plant it later in my own yard. Is it too big?
Ticks?How do you safely keep ticks off your children and animals. I'm concerned about some of the insecticidal chemicals but don't want my daughter getting Lyme disease either. Does anyone know of any good natural methods for treating large areas?
- Mary
Stain on White Leather Sofa?I have a white leather sofa and my dog got sick on it while I was at work and so now it has a yellow stain on it. I have tried tooth paste and also baking soda to remove the stain, but no luck. Is there any thing else that I can try?
Lilac Bushes?How do you start one from another bush? Do you just cut a piece off - or what?
Thanks,
Annie-M
Cleaning Artificial Trees?Does anyone have an easy way to clean artificial trees. Dusting with a duster doesn't work.
- Loafer98
Black Skirt/White Sofa Help!I sat on my off white sofa with my black skirt. OH No I noticed a few minutes later the black dye rubbed off onto my sofa ....HELP . What can I do to wash it off I really don't have a clue.
- Sue the Hummingbird
Pine Tree Sap?Does anyone know how to get pine tree sap off of outdoor furniture fabric?
Wallet Stain on Khaki Pants?I got wet while wearing my clothes (khaki pants) and my leather wallet stained my pants. Any tips on removing the stain? Thanks
- David
Decorating my Room?The room I'm in now the carpet is hunter green and the walls are white. I'm not sure of what color walls would look good with the hunter green carpet so if you have any ideas please let me know.
Cleaning Griddle?I have a griddle that I can use in my Whirlpool cooktop in place of the glasstop burners. I cannot find any thing that will clean it. Can you help?
Inexpensive Dry Cleaning?Dear ThriftyFun,
I have a ton of clothing that requires dry cleaning. Do you or your readers know of any ways to save on dry cleaning?
Thanks,
Samantha.
Help, Chlorine Stained My Shirt.I bought a new shirt. unfortunately, I washed it yesterday and chlorine stained my shirt. what can I do? Please help...
Post your ideas online or email them to us.
Ideas for Refilling for Bean Bag Chairs?Looking for an alternative for refilling beanbag chairs. Tired of refilling with styrofoam which doesn't last and when old can't be taken to recycling.
Decorating Rec Room with Mexican Theme?I am thinking of decorating my rec room with a Mexican theme. Can you give some tips and how to's on furniture color and accessories that are somewhat inexpensive.
How do I remove gum from a dolls hair?Somehow, one of my daughter's dolls got gum in its hair. Anyone have any ideas for removing it? Who would have thought that dolls chewed gum? :-) Thanks, Sandy.
Post your ideas online or email them to us.
Gasoline Smell out of Towels?How do you get the smell of gasoline out of a load of towels in the washer?
Planters out of Old Tires?Looking for info on how to make planters out of old tires.
Cleaning or Washing Off Mold?Looking for home made product for cleaning or washing off mold growth as in weed killer.
Repairing Lawnmowers?I need to repair our lawnmower but don't know how and no where on internet will tell me how. Does anyone have information?
Dead mice in my new car!I would really appreciate any help that you can give me. we just purchased a new (to us) minivan. We got it from a family that lived on a farm, and when we went to look at it and brought it home, the windows were down, so we really didn't think anything of the smell, as it wasn't that bad and we were on a farm.
Flea Remedy?I need a frugal way to get fleas off dogs that stay outside.
Replacing a Lawnmower Seal?Could I get step-by-step instructions on replacing the main seal in a Techumseh gas lawnmower please?
Bathroom throw rugs with crumbled backing - what to do with them?I have some very good bathroom rugs - the only problem is the rubber non-slip backing which is crumbling. Does anyone know if there's a way to rejuvenate these? Can the backing be removed in some way and a new one sprayed on?
How to Make Countertops Shine?I read in other messages how to clean my laminate countertops and now need to know how to restore the shine to them. Is there a product made especially for this? I have used Countertop Shine but it has to be done everytime you wipe them with a wet cloth.
Tractor Tires for Strawberry Beds?I need information on how to cut old tractor tires to make a raised bed for strawberries.
Slime Mold Problems?I have a landscaped area that faces the north along the side of the house. I just put cedar mulch down this year around my hostas. We have had an unusual amount of rain this July in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It hasn't had a chance to dry out there. From looking at pictures of slime mold that looks like dog vomit (grayish in color and becomes a black powder when struck by a broom), I believe that is what I have. My concern is that it is close to the cinder block foundation and appeared to be heading up the vinyl siding of my house. Is there cause for concern that it is getting between the vinyl and the foam insulation of the house. I just cleaned that area with a 50/50 solution of water and bleach. Please advise.
Pool Products?I have an inground pool with cloudy water. What can I use other than a commercial pool product that will work like a "Floc" and drop floating debri to the bottom of the pool so that it can be vacuumed?
Removing Water Stains from Old Wallpaper?I was wondering what if anything could be done to remove water stains from wallpaper? I cannot replace the stained section as they do not make the pattern anymore (antique victorian).
Stickiness on Kitchen Floor?Hi,
No matter what we try, we cannot get rid of the stickiness on the kitchen floor. It is linoleum and we've tried coat after coat of everything from soapy water to PineSol, and nothing works. What can you suggest?
Lisa
Ink Out of a Load of Laundry?I was wondering how to get ink out of a load of lights.
It is on every piece of clothing.
Thanks,
Sasha
