Although mosquito season is over for many of us, there are still some areas who are dealing with these annoying pests. Everyone knows that no matter how much they itch, scratching the affected area makes it itch even more. This is more difficult for children. During the warm summer months, my grandchildren loved playing outdoors, but would come in with numerous mosquito bites and would scratch them until they bled. A simple mosquito bite relief is to add some soap to the affected area. This will actually stop the itch!

2. Do you have a problem with shoe scuffs on your vinyl floor? My grandchildren are lovers of their cowboy boots, although they have not yet learned how to walk in them without shuffling their feel along my kitchen floor. The result is those ugly black scuff marks that often do not clean up with just a simple mopping. Using a sponge and a bit of baking soda will easily remove those ugly marks from your vinyl flooring without harming the surface of your floor.

3. Have you noticed after carefully placing your clean smelling laundry in a drawer or linen closet that shortly afterward they tend to lose that clean, fresh smell? Place a dryer sheet in a drawer or linen closet to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

4. Has your dishwasher begun to smell stale after months or years of use? You don’t need to toss it out for a new one, just add ½ cup of vinegar to the dishwasher detergent cup and run it empty on the normal cycle. The result is a clean, fresh smelling dishwasher.

5. Everyone hates that ugly tomato stain left behind on your Tupperware or plastic storage containers. It just makes them seem dirty even though they’ve been cleaned numerous times. Here is an easy prevention to those unsightly stains. Spray your plastic containers with a non-stick cooking spray before placing your tomato based sauce inside for storage. The result? No more stains!

6. Here is an easy and cost effective tip to keep your home smelling fragrant. Use your favorite perfume or essential oil scent and place a dab on a light bulb for a burst of fragrance when it is turned on. I love changing out the scent to go along with each season. This time of year I use cinnamon essential oil to give my home a holiday feel.

7. Are your windows starting to look a bit dingy? This is an easy way to clean your windows and allow the light to shine in during the dreary winter months. Use straight vinegar to clean the outside of your windows. It cleans your windows with ease. Do not do this on a sunny day as the windows will dry too quickly leaving streaks on the window.

8. Everyone loves corn on the cob! The next time you serve this delectable dish, try adding a pinch of sugar to bring out the natural sweetness of the corn.

9. Do you love fish, but hate the lingering fishy smell in your home after cooking it? After cooking your fish dinner, put a little vinegar in a pot and let it boil for a few minutes to remove the annoying fish smell.
10. Are you like me and have a collection of appliance chords but have no clue which one goes with which appliance? Well, here is a great use for recycling those empty toilet paper rolls. Roll up your appliance chord and place it inside an empty toilet paper roll. You can write on the outside of the roll which appliance the chord goes with. They store easily inside a drawer, nicely labeled for the next time you need the chord.
11. Oh, I so love decorating my home with artificial foliage, but I hate the dust they collect. Here is an easy tip how to clean your artificial flowers. Pour some salt into a paper bag and add your artificial foliage. Shake the bag vigorously and the salt will absorb the dust and dirt from your decorations.
12. It’s true we waste a lot of money on food that gets forgotten in the vegetable bin of our refrigerator. Here’s a helpful tip to savor one of my favorite veggies, celery. When storing celery in the fridge, wrap it in aluminum foil. It will keep your celery fresh for weeks!
13. Do you love ground beef but hate the greasy taste? Add a teaspoon of water while frying ground beef. It will pull the grease away from the meat.
14. We all dislike that stale remnant smell that remains in the refrigerator from days of forgotten leftovers and smelly food. Here’s a helpful tip; place coffee grounds in the fridge to eliminate odors. Replace about every two months.
15. I don’t know about you, but I so dislike washing pans with burnt on food. Here is a helpful tip to make that task a whole lot easier. Add a drop or two of dish soap to enough water to cover the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. The burnt on food will come off with ease.
16. We all tend to forget about wiping out the inside of the microwave after each use. I just plain disregard it until it the build-up can no longer be ignored. Then I learned about this easy helpful tip. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Mic the juice for about 2-5 minutes in the microwave then wipe the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth. It cleans up amazingly and leaves a fresh lemon scent inside. I have also used the bottled lemon juice with great results.

Do you have a favorite household tip you would like to share with our readers? I would love to see what other helpful tips you have found that works for you. Views:]]>