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| Unusual uses for Vodka |
Treat Poison Ivy
Contact with, or for a few people even relative proximity to, poison ivy can lead to a nasty, long-lasting rash. Unfortunately, poison ivy is spreading, largely thanks to global warming. This is caused by poison ivy's unusual proclivity for carbon dioxide. All green plants turn carbon dioxide into food via photosynthesis. Recent studies have shown that poison ivy is turning rising carbon dioxide levels to it's advantage even more quickly than many other plants. Unfortunately the study also found that poison ivy with access to higher levels of carbon dioxide also boasted a more potent strain of urushiol (the substance which causes the rash reaction).
To avoid the uncomfortable reaction, immediately pour vodka on skin that has come into contact with poison ivy, and the alcohol will wash away the itchy culprit, urushiol oil. Some have suggest that the vodka should be at least 100 proof to work.
Others have argued that straight rubbing alcohol works better, but we're guessing you may not have that as handy if you are on your average picnic, besides you can't use the rubbing alcohol to make a cocktail when you aren't washing off your poison ivy contact.
Freshen Laundry
Very few people actually enjoy doing laundy. If you find the task calming, that's great. However the rest of us would prefer to wear our clothes as much as possible without having to count quarters or lug baskets up and down stairs.
Vodka can keep your clothes smelling fresher! Simply spritz your duds with the stuff, then hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. (Do a spot-test first to be safe.)
Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, and doesn't leave a scent when dry. (Don't spray the clothes while you are wearing them and/or just before leaving for work. While vodka doesn't leave a scent when dry, it will not dry properly on your skin or on clothes while you wear them, leaving your boss wondering what you've been doing just before coming in!? Probably not good for your job.)
Shine Your Fixtures
It's easy to get your chrome, glass and porcelain fixtures shining like the top of the Chrysler Building. Guess what does the trick?
Moisten a soft, clean cloth with vodka, then apply a little elbow grease.
Repel Insects
Unless you have a bizarre fetish, you probably prefer not to be feasted on by insects. But you have concerns about the health and safety of DEET-based repellents, and you are pretty sure you don't want to spray yourself in the face with poisonous bug killers.
Who knew that vodka can kill those pesky insects? Pour a little of the saucy spirit in a spray bottle and squirt on the little biters, or on yourself as a repellent. But please don't take aim at any of those beneficial bees!
Get Great, Shiny Hair
Vodka doesn't just make you think people look prettier. It actually can make people prettier. Try this remedy for healthier, lush and shiny hair: Add a shot of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.
Clean Away Mold
Got mold? The stuff spreads easily and can severely diminish indoor air quality. Instead of harsh chemical sprays, try filling a recycled spray bottle with some bottom-shelf vodka. Spritz on and let it sit for 15 minutes. Scrub away with an old toothbrush.
Make a Lavender Tincture
Do you find the scent of lavender soothing? Did you know that herbalists have used it for generations to naturally ease aches and pains? Here's a fun DIY tip:
Fill a clean glass jar with fresh lavender flowers, then top off with vodka. Seal the lid tightly and place in the sun for three days (same idea as making sun tea!). Strain the resulting liquid through a coffee filter, and poof! You have a homemade tincture to rub into aches and pains. You can pour into smaller bottles, decorate them and give them as unique gifts.
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| 26 Apr 2010 - 15:31 by daisy |
General
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| Stretching the food dollars |
Unless you are a big name celebrity you probably haven't been eating steak and lobster with any frequency in the last year, but for some of us even stepping down from steak to hamburger still isn't cutting enough dollars from an ever growing food budget.
Shopping: How you shop is just as important as where, here are a few tips to help keep your shopping habits healthy for your wallet as well as your body.
- Eat prior to shopping - going to the grocery store hungry always results in impulse buys
- Make a menu and build a shopping list from that, be sure to check your cabinets for staples you will need to fill out meals.
- You have the list, stick to it! Adding an item you forgot to put on the list is fine, but do not pick up items you see because it trips your fancy (see item 1)
- Look for mark down items, if you were planning to purchase meat, check the marked down section of the meat department before putting any meat items in your cart. You may substitute marked down items for ones you planned to purchase, for example marked down boneless pork chops may be cheaper than bone in if available, and you don't end up paying for bones that won't be eaten.
- Be aware of the tricks stores use to get you to buy things you don't need and avoid falling for them. The sample trays are yummy, but don't be guilted into making a purchase just because you had a taste. The end caps (ends of the aisles) are where they put the name brand items "on sale", the store brands are almost always cheaper than the name brand items even when they are on sale, so avoid buying from the end cap, look for the name brand item on the aisle and check the store brand price against the sale (and if its not on your list don't buy it!).
- Keep your eyes down, the most expensive items in the store are put at eye level, the bargain stuff is on the bottom shelves.
Look for new recipes online, many recipe sites are now featuring budget cooking type recipes as well as the traditional fares (we have added that new category to our own recipe section). Budget recipes are typically rich on flavor and light on your wallet, many times these recipes are meant for large groups, so go ahead and make a large amount, you can freeze it in smaller portions for easy heat and meals with out the store bought convenience price tag.
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| 14 Apr 2010 - 20:00 by daisy |
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| Eco-friendly money savers: Glass Cleaner |
You can be eco-friendly and health concious while saving money around your home. Here is a fast and easy tip to save money on one of your household cleaners while avoiding the spray of toxic cleaning chemicals as well.
Homemade glass cleaner: Rinse out an emtpy glass cleaner spray bottle (24 or 32 ounce) and fill it nearly full with water. Add about 1 tablespoon of concentrated lemon juice (available from any grocery store). You may wish to add the lemon juice prior to the water, this is helpful because the water mixes it as you add it. Twist your sprayer cap back on and you are ready to go.
The acidity of the lemon juice makes an excellent glass cleaner, its 100% natural and contains no amonia or harsh chemicals that will harm your health or the environment. It also gives your glass an excellent shine and leaves no residue (unless you put too much lemon juice, be sure you only use 1 tablespoon to a 24 or 32 ounce bottle).
You could also use white vinegar in the same amount (1 tablespoon) mixed with water, however I feel that the lemon juice has a fresher smell.
To remove lint from the paper towels used in cleaning you can either avoid the paper towels entirely by using a squeegie, or after cleaning with the paper towels you can go over the glass with a coffee filter, this will pick up the lint and leave no streaks behind.
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| 28 Dec 2009 - 15:35 by daisy |
General
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| Cleaning your Microwave |
Cleaning the microwave... YUCK! What a chore! Well it doesn't have to be as difficult as you think. There is a simple and inexpensive way to loosen up the burnt on food splatter that inevitably builds up inside our microwaves.
Get a microwave safe bowl and put about one cup of water and one tablespoon of lemon juice in it. Microwave on high for three to five mintues (the water should be boiling). The steam released from the boiling water will also contain some of the acid from the lemon juice. The combination of steam and acid will loosen that burnt on food splatter and it will wipe out easily.
Be sure to wear oven mitts when removing the bowl from the microwave, it will be hot. And you should also wear a rubber glove on the hand you use to wipe the interior of the oven as it may be pretty hot as well (steam is hot!!).
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| 12 Dec 2009 - 15:39 by daisy |
General
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