Tips-A2Z: The best tips on (Useful things) Miscellaneous

Sub-categories

Useful things (187)

Category | Discussion (0)Miscellaneous (General)

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
No-wax floors: To wash no-wax floors, add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Carpet stain removal: A mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water will remove non-oily stains from carpets. Apply it to the stain with a soft brush or towel and rub gently. Rinse with a towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. Then dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer. This should be done as soon as the stain is discovered. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Streakless windows: Simply wash with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. This solution will make your windows gleam and will not leave the usual film or streaks on the glass. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Washing woodwork: You can ease the job of washing painted walls, woodwork and Venetian blinds by using a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white distilled or cider vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water. Wipe this solution over walls or blinds with a sponge or cloth and rinse with clear water. Dirt and grime comes off easily and the solution will not dull the painted finish or leave streaks. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Water or alcohol marks on wood: Stubborn rings resulting from wet glasses being placed on wood furniture may be removed by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and olive oil. Rub with the grain and polish for the best results. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Garbage disposal cleaner: Garbage disposals may be kept clean and odor free with vinegar cubes. Vinegar cubes are made by filling an ice tray with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and enough water to fill the ice tray and then freezing it. Run the mixture through the disposal, and then flush it with cold water for a minute or so. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Coffee maker cleaner (automatic): White distilled vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers from hard water. Fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished. (Be sure to check the owner's manual for specific instructions.) ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Clean the microwave: Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Deodorize the kitchen drain: Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Clean the refrigerator: Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards: Wipe with full strength white distilled vinegar. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Brass polish: Brass, copper and pewter will shine if cleaned with the following mixture. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir in flour until it becomes a paste. Apply paste to the metals and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water and polish until dry. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Ant deterrent: Ant invasions can sometimes be deterred by washing counter tops, cabinets and floors with white distilled vinegar. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances: Apply vinegar with a soft cloth to remove streaks from stainless steel appliances. Try in an inconspicuous place first. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Toilet bowl cleaner: Stubborn stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Unclog the showerhead: Corrosion may be removed from showerheads or faucets by soaking them in diluted white distilled vinegar overnight. This may be easily accomplished by saturating a terry cloth towel in vinegar and wrapping it around the showerhead or faucet. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Kill grass: To kill grass on sidewalks and driveways, pour full strength white distilled vinegar on it. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Kill weeds: Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have starved. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Increase soil acidity: In hard water areas, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid loving plants like rhododendrons, gardenias or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Neutralize garden lime: Rinse your hands liberally with white distilled vinegar after working with garden lime to avoid rough and flaking skin. Clean pots before repotting, rinse with vinegar to remove excess lime. ^[guest]

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach
Whitening sheets and clothing:

Use the right amount. You need about a cup for a normal load, 1-1/4 cups for a heavy load.

Don't pour bleach right onto clothes. Dilute it: 3 cups water to 1 cup bleach.

Don't bother to soak items in bleach more than fifteen minutes. It's ineffective after that and may damage fibers.

Some items (though usually not towels) yellow when chlorine bleach is used on them. Check the label. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach
Warning:

Don't mix bleach with ammonia, or it will create chlorine gas, which is highly poisonous, and can kill you. Things like glass-cleaning solution often contain ammonia. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Bleach
Countertop stains in your kitchen, or on linoleum or vinyl floors, can sometimes be removed using bleach. Soak a couple of paper towels in bleach and put them over the stains. After that, soak a couple more paper towels in water and lay them over the bleach-filled paper towels. Let the stack soak overnight so that the bleach can reach the stain and destroy it. For safety, test on a part of the surface that won't be noticed, before you clean the stain. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia
Freshen carpets: For non-woollen carpets only, you can often revive a carpet by using an ammonia solution on it. Start off by mixing the half cup of ammonia with the two cups of water in a mixing bowl. Before you begin applying it all over the carpet, test the solution on a hidden area of your carpet to make sure it does not cause any damage. Then, use a sponge mop to lightly apply the mixture on your carpet. You could also apply the ammonia solution with a spray bottle and gently rub it in with an old rag. You won't need to use much. Using too much may also bother your guests, since ammonia smells much like urine. So ventilate your home well afterwards. Another problem, if you have pets, is that they will think the smell is urine and will mess on it to mark their territory. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia
Oven cleaner: A dish full of ammonia overnight in an oven will loosen baked on food. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Ammonia
Make your own "soapy ammonia" solution:

Purchase a bottle of ammonia.

Use rubber gloves and goggles - ammonia can burn skin and eyes. And be sure to make your mixture in a well-ventilated area, using a sink. Do NOT lean over the bottles while you are pouring.

Fill a plastic spray bottle with water, but leaving enough room for a third of a cup of ammonia. Note that you must always add ammonia to water, rather than the other way around.

With a funnel, pour about a third of a cup of ammonia into the bottle, and then add a squirt of dishwashing liquid.

Close the bottle tightly.

Shake gently.

Write "Soapy Ammonia" on the bottle with the indelible marker.

Then write "Danger: Do not mix with Bleach"

Write "POISON" and keep the mixture, and the bottle of ammonia out of children's reach. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > White vinegar
Removing labels: This can often be done by soaking the label in vinegar for a few minutes. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
Vaseline can be used on dry skin to make it smoother and prevent it from drying out. It can be applied to your lips in cold or dry weather. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
Can help to prevent chaffing-related rashes or irritation caused by clothes. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
Ease off rings that are stuck on your finger. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
Lubricate things. Can be used to lubricate door hinges, sticky zippers, etc. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
Avoid battery terminal corrosion by applying vaseline to the terminals of your car battery. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
DO NOT use vaseline on burns. It is non-sterile, promotes bacterial proliferation on the surface of the wound, and may lead to infection. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Vaseline / Petroleum jelly
DO NOT use vaseline as a moisturizer. Use a moisturizer instead. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Duct tape burns easily, so you can use it to help start fires. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
For blisters on your feet, duct tape can provide some emergency protection. And if you ever find yourself without shoes, you can wrap it around your feet as emergency foot protection. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Mark the position of your car seat using small strips of duct tape, so that you can quickly return the seat to your preferred position after somebody else has adjusted your seat. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Use duct tape with a circular saw to make a clean edge when cutting wood. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Fix the tips of broken shoelaces with duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Patch a torn or punctured tent with duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Create a sling out of duct tape, for emergency first-aid. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Pull out cactus spines from your skin with duct tape, by sticking down the tape and then pulling off. Hopefully the spines will stick to the tape. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Fold the End of the duct tape, so that it is easier to find the end next time you want to use it. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Vacuum cleaner hose repair. When the hose of your vacuum cleaner is cracked or leaking, wrap duct tape around the damaged spot, to seal it up. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Repair a shower curtain: When the shower curtain tears away from the rings, apply duct tape along the edge, and then make new holes with a paper hole punch. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Broken vacuum cleaner bags can be sealed up with duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
When a car window is cracked, you can put duct tape over the crack for a temporary repair. If the window is almost shattered, placing duct tape over the whole window will hold the glass in place until it is replaced. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
In an emergency duct tape can be fashioned into a rope, or a belt, or used to mark a trail. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
If you need to write a note, and don't have any paper, you may be able to write on duct tape. ^{thesource (378)}

– –– ——— –– –

Main > Miscellaneous > Useful things > Duct tape
Emergency shoes. If your feet get injured, you're not going anywhere. ^{thesource (378)}

Click to enlarge

– –– ——— –– –

« < 1 2 3 4 > »

To post a new tip, sign up for a free account.
(Unfortunately this is a necessary spam prevention measure)

Who is online

In total there are 2 users online :: 0 registered and 2 guests (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)