Looking For Bluing?
Items of a nylon blend often yellow - bleach will also yellow nylon ans some other synthetics. Id only use bleach if the item is cotton or linen. Regards Jo
Dieting Tips and Recipes?
Keep things simple - simple straight forward meals - meat, potatoes and 3 veg, fish veg and rice for instance. The trick is in portion control - meat about the size of the palm of your hand, a tablespoon or two of rice, pasta or potatoes and as much veg as...
Daisy at 8 Weeks
I would be discouraging the pants grabbing - whats cute at 8 weeks may be the dominant behaviour of a large dog at 2 years. Being pack animals dogs need to learn at an early age their place in the pecking order and your pup has to learn its below your baby...
Anti Aging Moisturizers?
From the point of view of the title of this question I would say neither! Despite the manufacturers claims for creams and lotions to halt aging or disguise the visible signs of aging nothing applied to the skin will stop aging. The state of the skin is dependent...
Can You Hand Wash Velvet?
Depends what its made of - some velvets are made with synthetic material that washes fine, others are cotton velvet that may end up with marks where the pile has settled in alternate directions. Does it have a label telling you what the fabric is? If you do...
Antique Desk Smells Like Urine?
Can you pinpoint the exact area the smell is coming from? Theres probably no delicate way to do this - youll just have to get down on your hands and knees and sniff it! Its highly unlikely to be human urine so my thoughts were maybe an animal had marked on...
How Do I Patch Sheetrock?
Cut the hole out with a narrow blade saw to form a neat rectangle, avoid the corner angle itself if possible. Cut a piece of board slightly larger than the hole and put a small screw through the centre to give you a handle. Manipulate the piece of board at...
How Do Frugal People Store All The Stuff They Save?
I assume, maybe wrongly, that this question refers to saving for example toilet roll holders or jam jars - things you are going to recycle. My advice would be 1. Only save things you have a use for - there is no use having a room full of popsicle sticks if...
Tinting White Tissue Paper?
You could apply the diluted food colouring in a fine spray using a small spray bottle for an interesting speckled/streaky effect - practice on a piece of newspaper until you get the effect you want. Regards Jo
Removing Crayon With Toothpaste
Toothpaste works because its a very mild abrasive and OK in an emergency, if you have nothing on hand, but why would you use expensive toothpaste when a smear of cream cleanser would work just as well? I see many tips like this which may be convenient in an...
Uses For Old Refrigerators
Lay fridge on its back and remove everything you can from the inside. Use to store chaff or grain for horse feed - keeps the vermin out. Dont use this if you have small children - they can climb inside and be unable to get out and the fridge door seal is often...
Cleaning Built Up Wax off a Table?
If the table is antique take advice from an antique furniture restorer first - removing the aged patina can reduce the value of the piece. If this is not a valuable piece use very very fine steel wool and mineral turpentine. Soak steel wool and rub gently with...
Looking For Home Makeover Advice For My Mom?
What is actually wrong with your home? How does your mother want it to look when its finished? If you get some ideas from her and post them it will be much easier to give appropriate advice. Needing a serious makeover could mean anytnhing from a good clean...
Re-Evaluate Your Food Needs From Time To Time
What a good tip. Having had to throw out stuff in the past too Id like to add that you should critically evaluate new recipes as well. While Im all for trying new things buying a bottle or pack of an ingredient for a new recipe that uses 2 teaspoons is not...
Uses For Skateboards
Moving heavy planters full of soil around a flat verandah/patio - you need 2 people to balance them if an awkward shape or if youre going down steps. Regards Jo
Removing Advertising Logos From Coffee Cup?
If the logos are under the glaze they will never come off.
Solution For A Flooded Garden Allotment?
Theres not enough information here Jane. Where is the water coming from? Rainwater? Ground water? Where is the nearest place you can drain it too? What is the soil type? Do the surrounding allotment holders have a drainage problem? What do they do? If you find...
Store Papers In a Notebook
In a similar vein I use an A4 2 ring binder with individual clear plastic inserts to hold the instruction books for appliances, with the receipt and guarantee stapled to the front. If something malfunctions everything is together in its clear sleeve and its...
Inexpensive Shoe Storage Ideas?
Plain low shelving, shoe depth and as long as you need(!) - you could butt join/glue and nail some small squares of wood, approximately 10 x 5, to the ends of a 10 plank to give you 2 layers, floor and shelf top. This would be simple, cheap, could be painted...
Honey Stain On Carpet?
With plain water - wet and blot, wet and blot - and quickly before dirt becomes stuck in it and you end up with a stain! Regards Jo
Using Fireplace Ashes In Your Garden
Coal ahses are not good for the soil and woodashes should be added sparingly - a sprinkle as Palma suggests - too much wood ash is also not good for the soil. Regards Jo
Lickable Stamps Equal Unwanted Calories
Of course! Why didnt I think of this? This clearly explains why Im overweight(NOT)! Regards Jo - who has to believe this is a joke........
Taking Apart Glued Furniture Joins?
It should be dry and brittle - try scraping it off with a sharp blade. Regards Jo
Black Scuff Marks on Doors and Walls?
Im sure youll get lots of hints re the marks but Id like to add a hint for the future. When redecorating use scrubbable easy clean paint - its slightly more expensive but well worth the money. I have 3 dogs and there are always areas that get dirty or scuffed...
Decorating a 14 Year Old Boy's Bedroom?
Id start with a 3 bag declutter with your son - any clutter will make the room look even smaller. Go through the closet and every shelf and cupboard and sort into Give away, (to friends, family or the charity shop - anything he doesnt use/has grown out of), Put...
Decorating a 14 Year Old Boy's Bedroom?
Id start with a 3 bag declutter with your son - any clutter will make the room look even smaller. Go through the closet and every shelf and cupboard and sort into Give away, (to friends, family or the charity shop - anything he doesnt use/has grown out of), Put...
Problem with Washing Machine?
If you havent got a friend that knows what theyre doing youll have to get a repair man to look at it. Why is your washing piling up? If you dont live near a laundrette you could ask a friend if you could use their machine or, (shock horror), even wash your...
Drywipe (Dry Erase) Marker Disaster on Light Clothes?
Soak for 24-48 hours in a bucket of nappy soaker and detergent - for bad stains I use an extra strong solution. Just tip the whole lot into the washing machine after the soaking period and do a long wash. It doesnt remove the colour. For whites, (non synthetic...
Looking for Soy Milk Advice?
When soy milk is produced it is manufactured in such a way as to remove something toxic - Im sorry I cant remember exactly what it is. So unless you get a home recipe that takes this into account you will end up with a very unhealthy product, although it may...
Buying a Wedding Ring With Bad Credit?
Probably what you dont want to hear but if your credit is bad and you dont even have enough saved to buy a simple wedding ring do you really think you are mature and responsible enough to get married? How will you pay for the wedding? How will you afford to...
Question About Using Vinegar In The Kitchen?
If you use a chopping board for all raw meat, (kept solely for that purpose - do not mix chopping boards for cooked and raw foods), you can wash it in very hot water with detergent and then just wipe over with vinegar if you want - but this should not be necessary...
Garlic Flavored Dog Biscuits
Another poster on here suggested that garlic was bad for dogs, (one of the alliums/onion family). I have read elsewhere that garlic is good for dogs. Do any readers know which is correct and how do they know this please? Thank you Jo
Selling Our Home - What Should I Renovate?
I agree cleaning - very thorough cleaning, (especially if you have a dog!), and decluttering are the most important things. All items that are not used very frequently should be packed and stored. Less is more - this goes for ornaments and furniture. All flat...
Making Your Own Vinegar?
Try winemaking with a defective air lock - I ended up with a gallon of vinegar once - unfortunately I was trying to make wine, not vinegar! lol! Regards Jo
Chlorophyll For Skin Problems
Heres a link for wheatgrass which seems to negate the claims for chlorophyll but explains how they may have arisen. http://www.wheatgrassprofessional.info/Letters/letter_jul03.htm And why buy a product containing chlorophll when its present in all leafy green...
Stocking Up - Storing Dry Goods
I have a very small house and was looking for somewhere to store my pantry stocks too. I have had a purpose built cupboard put under the carport so I dont have to carry everything into the house - straight out of the car into the cupboard. Dried dog food and...
Removing Nicotine From Mustache?
Bleach - start off with a very dilute solution so you dont burn your skin and increase the strength until you get the desired effect. Peroxide and bleach may also remove the colour from your mustache - OK if its white I suppose! And take the cigarette/pipe...
Sanding an Old Wood Floor?
Hire a large belt sander from a hire shop and follow their instructions or look for detailed instructions on the net. Preparation is important - you have to knock in all protruding nails or they will rip the sandpaper - also fill any gaps in the boards if you...
Composting Pine Needles?
Pine needles can acidify the soil so are best around acid loving plants - or presumably on alkaline soils! Regards Jo
Blackberry Vines are Consuming my Backyard?
In Australia blackberries are not the lovely fruit for eating or jam/wine making they were when I lived in cool climate England. Because of the climate here they are a noxious weed and take over farmland as Susan said. There are major government initiatives...
Taking Honey for Energy
Honey has no magical properties - it is sugar and will give you as much energy as a spoonful of sugar! It is very yum though! Regards Jo
Picking a Puppy
I agree............maybe.....! The pup who cringes submissively to a raised hand may have been abused OR just been at the bottom of the pecking order in the litter - but no worse for that - maybe a good and loving companion! I was told my pup had to be watched...
Bad Electrical Circuit?
You could check each fuse is seated correctly - I had this problem and just needed to push one in slightly so it made the correct contact. Otherwise get an electrician - theres no second chance if you make a mistake - electricity can kill. As your condo is...
Removing Fold Lines from Rugs?
Do you mean a floor rug? You could spray with a fine mist of water on the backing and put a heavy weight on the area overnight - piece of furniture or stack of books for example. If its large do a section per night. Regards Jo
Does anyone know how to start a bartering group?
In Australia we have the L.E.T.S. system. (Local Economic Trading Systems). Each participating area/group has its own currency which you accumulate/spend withing the group. This evens out the discrepancies in cost if you offer sewing or an item to barter for...
Taming A Snake To Keep Out Drafts
The velcro tip is a good one. One year I had a real very poisonous snake in the house that came in under the door - luckily my good old dog killed it before I got out of bed in the dark and stood on it! Since renovating, the adjustable flap on the base of the...
Traveling Toiletries?
I usually decant all my toiletries into small bottles to save space, (I travel light!). I put them in plastic bags as previously suggested, but if I have anything I particularly dont want to lose, (expensive lotions, etc.), I carry it in my hand luggage - the...
Microwaved Scrambled Eggs
I agree Kara - I always use the microwave for scrambled eggs but I like mine creamy so, after the first 30 seconds I cook them in 10 second bursts and take them out after each one and stir to mix the cooked and uncooked areas. Stop cooking when just underdone...
Yearly Mammogram
Thank you Joesgirl. I am an RN, who has been putting off a mammogram for 3 years, (since I turned 50 when they are recommended in Australia bi-annually if you have no family history). Your tale has prompted me to stop procrastinating and actually get it done...
Love Those Carbs?
Could you give me some references for the studies that prove this please Patty? Preferrably unrelated to the people who are trying to sell any Phase 2 products! Also, people need to be aware that, from the calorie point of view, fats have twice as many calories...
What to Do with Queen Sized Comforters?
Also you could attach the leopard print one to an old worn rug/carpet or piece of stiff canvas and make a floor rug for light traffic areas. Or hang as a door or window curtain to keep heat/cold out. Regards Jo
Free Home Renovations?
To get some assistance you need to provide more information on what you have to start with and what exactly you are looking for Felisa. Then Im sure there will be loads of suggestions. Regards Jo
Sour Smelling Bedding?
Its me! Im the nappy soaker queen! Yes - it is for diapers. In Australia the best known brand is Napisan. I use generic brands. The one I have at the moment has the active ingredient sodium percarbonate and is called Nappy and Laundry treatment/laundry soaker...
Need Christmas Gift and Other Ideas?
I know this isnt what you asked for :-) but Im afraid I agree with Becky. Gifts are for family and close friends. Cards are for friends and acquaintances - in fact I have even stopped sending cards as I think bought ones are a complete rip off - I just send...
Looking for Snake Advice?
You seem to have done the main thing - get rid of their food source, the mice. Keep on top of them and the snakes will have no reason to come in. Keep the area around the house clear of long grass, debris, building materials so they have nowhere to hide and...
I Don't Shop In January
Bargains in the January sales are only bargains if you need then anyway. When I was younger I used to shop seasonal sales and impulse buy because it was so cheap but now, unless its on the list(!) I tend to avoid them. This getting a jump on New Year frugality...
Dishwashing - Water Saving Tip
Another tip I got about dishwater from this list, sorry I cant remember the smart lady who posted it :-( ,is to use your washing up bowl of reasonably clean water to wipe down dusty surfaces with it or clean cuoboard fronts, bathroom areas, etc. Im much more...
Use for Cotton Baby Blankets
I do a similar thing with queen sized flannelette sheets. Buy them in charity shops for $2-4(Australian), then snip and rip them into small squares - any size you want really. I get over 50 cloths from each sheet and they last me for ages as paint rags, dish...
Toilet Brush Tip
OK in theory but in practice placing the brush in boiling water will not sterilise it - if boiling was a reliable method of sterilisation hospitals would still be doing it for their surgical instruments! Keeping anything in water, even with bathroom cleaner...
Keeping Eggs from Sticking to the Styrofoam Carton
Luckily styrofoam egg cartons havent made it to Australia, (?my part of Australia antway), yet. If they did I wouldnt buy eggs in them. Egg shells are porous. Styrofoam gives off fumes. And besides that it is a major pollutant. Take a stand! Demand your eggs...
Dog has Horrible Spreading Hot Spots and Skin Smells Like Bleach When Bathing?
I agree with Vicki - this vet has had a very good chance to solve the problem. You sound like a caring owner - change vets! Regards Jo
Remedy for Sore Gums?
Why would you ask a frugal site about sore gums? This could be anything from tooth decay to leukaemia. See a doctor/dentist! Regards Jo
Mysterious Pests Brought Home with New Kitten?
These just sound like cat fleas which are smaller and blacker than human fleas. Regards Jo
Break The Chain - Don't Forward "Drug Costs" Email
I couldnt agree more! I am continuously seeing health scare stories forwarded and quoted with no sources and no evidence of the studies to back them up. Just because something is written on the internet or in other media sources does not make it true. If you...
Clean Dishes, Clean House
What a brilliant idea Jayne - this tip is perfect for me! All my water comes from rainwater tanks so mustnt be used wastefully. I am also in the middle of kitchen renovations and do all my washing up in a small bowl. The dust from the renovating work collects...
Problem with Featherbed?
I would approach the store you bought it from. When I was small we always had feather pillows and a feather bed which never shed feathers as the covers were of very fine weave to prevent this. I recently bought 2 feather pillows in Woolworths, (in Australia...
Using Half Of Products
Excellent tip Sharon - I always use half strength shampoo and conditioner, (in spray bottles), and cut up scouring pads, (Scotch Brite type) but now youve got me thinking........what else can I just use half? Suggestions please! Regards Jo
Cleaning Dust In a House with Poor Ventilation?
I dont understand this question. What is the relevance of the painted shut windows/poor ventilation to the dust? Where is the dust coming from? If the windows all opened the dust wouldnt just blow away - in fact you may get more dust entering! If you are tired...
Keeping a Leather Lounge Soft?
Contact the manufacturer and see what they recommend. Saddle soap is good but may darken it depending on the colour. Regards Jo(in WA!)
Nicotine Stains on Linoleum?
Are they nicotine stains or burns in the surface? You should just be able to remove stains with soap and water or a mild abrasive cleaner. You cant remove burns but you could try sanding them with very fine grit sand paper to remove the burn and any raised...
Motor Oil Stains in Sink?
If the porcelain surface is in tact it is unlikely the sink itself is stained. Have you tried a mild abrasive cleaner? Or try filling the sink with water, adding bleach and leave overnight. Regards Jo
Stained Swim Suit?
Soak for 24-48 hours in nappy soaker and then wash as normal. I wash everything in plain water - no detergent. Any stained items get the nappy soaker treatment and then a wash in plain water and usually come up like new. Regards Jo
Sweat Odor in Room?
We all have 2 sets of sweat glands - apocrine and eccrine. One lot doesnt usually kick in until puberty - which is why most children dont have the body odour problem that us adults have. At nine years old I wouldnt have thought he should have a body odour problem...
Making Sure Clothes Are Really Clean?
You are being needlessly overcautious here. I have been an RN for over 30 years and dealt with all sorts! The pathogenic, (harmful), bacteria you are worrying about live on the skin or within the body - not on dry clothes. Higly infectious people will be barrier...
Explaining Credit Card Fine Print?
Not too sure about deciphering the mumbo jumbo - like phone companies they make everything so complicated its hard to compare! You could start by ringing your present credit provider, asking to speak to someone with the authority to adjust interest rates, and...
Save Money Using a Wood Burning Stove
I dont think youre a nervous ninny Rosalie! Treated pine is injected with arsenic and, here in Western Australia where many people have woodstoves, it is a big no-no to burn treated wood because of the fumes given off. Regards Jo
Whiter Whites with Borax Rinse
Be careful with borax if you recycle your graywater to the garden, (common here in Australia where we have droughts and water restrictions). Boron is a mineral essential to plant growth but too much is poisonous to plants. Regards Jo
Fabulous 4 Bean Salad
Dont know if its the same in the US but in Australia dried beans are cheaper. A little preplanning by soaking dried beans in the fridge overnight and cooking up the next day can make this a thriftier meal. For convenience the cooked dried beans can be frozen...
Are Extended Service Warranties Worth It?
Do you read the Dollar Stretcher newsletter? Gary is a pretty smart guy. Heres a link to some of the replies to a similar query to yours but if you do a search on the Dollar Stretcher site you will get a lot more info. http://stretcher.com/stories/01/010430a...
Frugal Tree Removal?
No direct frugal advice Im afraid - just make sure the company you engage is well insured. I had a large tree cut down and its hair raising to watch them work from the top down. I checked they had proper insurance, and with my insurance company before engaging...
Prevent Cat from Peeing on Friend's Clothing?
He obviously sees them as an invader and is marking his territory. Have you tried putting him outside, or confining him to one quiet area away from company, when your guests are there? The only other thing I can think of as a last resort may be to get him neutered...
Add Vodka to Your Shampoo
Vodka removes toxins from the hair???? Sounds like youve been doing more than just adding it to your shampoo Debbie! LOL! What are the toxins in our hair? And even if you could name some - e.g. related to air pollution or something similar, how would they enter...
Soup Recipes and Freezing Information?
You must have a very good sense of smell Mara! Its getting cooler her in Australia - just coming into winter - and I have a pot of soup stock bubbling away at the moment. First a hint - any recipe that calls for a can or a jar of something will be more expensive...
Keep Baby Wipes Handy in Your Car
When I used to commute 1200km to work and back every 3 months I always carried a couple of soapy flannels, (face washers), in a plastic bag to pull out for a quick freshen up, to mop up spills or tidy up at the end of the journey. I then just threw them in...
Treatment for Skinned Knees
Just a hint here on the use of antibiotic ointments - they are contraindicated for use on skin scrapes and grazes. A healthy body is quite capable of containing and killing any bacteria on the surface of a wound if the surface is kept moist with an occlusive...
Spring Maintenance: Gutter Tips
Forget cleaning out your guttering, thats what I say! Here in Australia we have something called EnviroFLO guttering. It has only been available in Western Australia for a few years. It is a completely enclosed gutter with little perforated filters on top, about...
Paper Tip
Carrying this tip to its logical conclusion, do what I do.......the majority of home printing I do I use recycled paper. Anyone who works in an organisation will have access to mounds of used A4 printer paper. I work in a hospital and there are always loads...
Looking for Meals for One?
Im not sure what you mean by not liking leftovers more than once. I live alone and actually plan for leftovers. Any meal I make thats more than one portion I freeze the rest in one meal portions and defrost when I fancy it - which can be weeks later. Stews...
Stains Above Toilet Water Line?
Ive never used pumice for these mineral stains but a simple cheap way is to don a glove and rub the stains with wet and dry sandpaper - thats the very fine black one available in hardware stores. You dont have to remove the water and with a very moderate amount...
Make Your Own Baby Wipes
Baby shampoo? Baby oil? Natural? What tree do they grow on? LOL! They are manufactured. There is nothing intrinsically good about natural - nature has some very toxic poisons and dog poop is natural!!!! If you want to be sure of what is going into personal...
Newbie to Frugal Living?
I notice most of the replies suggest spending money to get frugal, i.e. buying a book! lol! Just kidding! Like one other reply I think the library is a great resource for frugal/simple living books. Here in Western Australia we can search the West Australia...
