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Dryer Lint & Egg Carton Firestarters

Recycling dryer lint and egg cartons can make some great firestarters. Dryer lint burns well and is a wonderful material to use for making fire starters.

All you need to do is save the dryer lint from the clothes dryer vent, a few cardboard egg cartons, and some old candle wax. I added some bits of wood and yarn scraps to enhance the firestarters. You can use cardboard and scraps of paper also for additional material in your firestarters.

Fill the egg carton with bits of the materials such as dryer lint, yarn and paper about 1/4 full. I just use whatever materials I have on hand at the time to fill each egg cup hole. Warm old candle wax and dibble it in each hole over the material. Add more dryer lint and/or yarn and wood bits and dibble more hot wax over the materials until Continue Reading →

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Storing Potatoes

Storing potatoes for long term use is very important. When potatoes go on sale, I like to buy a big bag and use it as needed but many times the potatoes spoil. So I set out to try a new method to successfully store potatoes in my basement.

The method for storing potatoes that I tried was very similar to the one I use for storing my tomatoes over the winter. It involves using newspaper to wrap and cover the produce for long term storage. For the potatoes, I used a plastic laundry basket that I had on hand and newspaper. The step I used are as follows:

First, cover the bottom of the laundry basket with a double sheet of newspaper as shown.

Next, put the potatoes on the newspaper and leave room between them for air flow and so they are not touching each other.

Next cover them with another double layer of newspaper. Continue Reading →

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Decluttering your Closet

I have been working on downsizing and decluttering my home. I started in the closets and found several helpful tips on doing this tough task. Experts say to get rid of stuff you don’t need, use or want. Donate the usable items to charity or give them to friends and family who can use them.

My hall closet was just jammed with years of stored stuff on the floor and on the overhead shelf. I first took out all the stuff on the floor which included a box full of hats and gloves. Some of the gloves and hats were from my children who are all adults now and haven’t worn the items for years. I got three big bags out. One for the garbage, one for charity, and one for my family. After going through all the items and placing them in the appropriate bags, I had just a few remaining things that I needed and wanted to keep.

Next I moved to the shelf and took all those things out of the closet. I went through all the rest of the items including the coats hung up on the rod. After I had everything sorted through, I cleaned the inside of the empty closet. It was dusty and the vinyl floor needed mopped.

I placed the boots and shoes on the cleaned floor in a nice row. I put all the gloves and hats that I was keeping inside a plastic container on the floor in the corner of the closet. The coats that were kept were re-hung. A remaining few things were placed on the overhead shelf and my closet decluttering was complete.

I stood back and just had to admire my work. The closet looks so good and organized now. Continue Reading →

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Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Conditioner

I was inspired by this DYI post about how to make homemade apple cider vinegar hair conditioner. Here is my recipe for homemade hair conditioner.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Condioner

Supplies Needed:
1 cup Apple Cider vinegar
2 cups water (filtered)
Empty container to hold conditioner mix
Lemon essential oil – 10 drops (optional)

Pour the apple cider vinegar and water into the empty container. I used a plastic quart wide-mouth jar. Because I am on well water with no chlorine and it’s filtered, I just used water from my tap. I added 10 drops of lemon essential oil to my hair conditioner mix. Stir well. That’s all — Very simple and fast to make.

The combination of apple cider vinegar and the lemon oil, adds a wonderful citrus fragrance to the hair conditioner. I just pour the mix onto my hair, making sure to keep my eyes closed and head tilted back as not to get the mix into my eyes as it does sting a bit if it gets into your eyes. Use about a 1/4 cup of mix depending on your hair. Work thorough your hair and ends; let it sit in your hair for a minute and rinse with warm water. Oh and don’t worry about the vinegar smell, it goes right away after rinsing. Continue Reading →

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Reusing Plastic Containers

Reusing and repurposing plastic containers such as bleach and juice jugs as well as a ketchup bottle can be very useful.

Here is a wonderful idea for reusing a bleach jug to create a bird feeder. Just cut the jug using some sharp scissors and hang it up for a unique recycled bird feeder.
Photo Credit: Indiana Ivy Nature Photographer on Flickr

Cut the bottom of a bleach jug off at an angle for a handy scoop to use for dirt, grain, sand or other material that you need to scoop up.

Photo credit: Erica McCartney

Here is example of a Ketchup bottle being reused for pancake batter. It allows for easy batter pouring and provides a perfect shaped pancake.

Photo credit: Mark Lund

Here is a recycled plastic apple juice container. It makes an outstanding watering jug for your garden. Just poke holes in the lid with a nail to make a water spout. I used a hammer and a nail to punch the holes around the top of the cap as shown. Just put the cap on a old board and hammer the nail through the plastic to create your watering holes.

You can gently sprinkle water on plants or squeeze the jug to create pressure which allows you to spray water quite a distance.

Conclusion: Plastic containers can be recycled and repurposed into new and useful items.

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Citrus Vinegar Spray

Homemade Citrus Vinegar Spray

Useful Idea for the Day:
Save those pieces of citrus peelings to make a homemade citrus vinegar cleaning spray. Save the peelings from oranges, grapefruits and lemons. Here is a leftover piece of lemon slice I had from a water glass. Cut it into small pieces as shown to put into a bottle sprayer. Add vinegar to the sprayer and use the homemade citrus spray for cleaning countertops, sinks, and your bathroom.

Lemon Slice Pieces of Lemon cut

After a month or so, the peelings do begin to break down. I use a strainer to remove any decomposed pieces as needed. Add more vinegar and peelings to keep your homemade citrus cleaner filled. You can use the old pieces as a scrub too for your sink before throwing them out.

Conclusion: The citrus vinegar solution makes a useful homemade cleaning solution that leaves your kitchen and bath looking and smelling wonderful.

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