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Post by _Linda_ on Apr 20, 2010 21:13:29 GMT -5
About 4 months ago, I had a BAD problem with gnats. I was too embarrassed to bring in an exterminator, so I did some research on the web. I found where if you put out small bottles of white vinegar and dish soap where you see the gnats, they will be drawn to it. I used some old water bottles and poked holes in the lids. I set them all over the house and it worked! It took me about a month to get rid of them completely. But it saved me money and the embarrassment of having someone in my house. Does anyone else have other odd ways of dealing with things?
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Post by disorganizeddragon on Apr 20, 2010 21:44:15 GMT -5
Back in the past, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth and Frontline and Advantage had not yet been invented, I had one cat who developed a nasty flea problem. I couldn't afford enough bug bombs (and they weren't all that safe or effective at that time, either), so a friend told me about less conventional method to rid my apartment of fleas. I took my kitty to the vet for a flea dip and left her to stay overnight. I then went home and filled up a bowl with beer and set it out under a solitary light in a completely darkened room and left it that way all night. I also did that for the following two nights (my kitty was confined to my bedroom with me) and by the third day, my flea problem was gone. Weird, huh? Who knew you could get rid of fleas just by opening a little bar?  |
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Post by success19 on Apr 20, 2010 22:09:02 GMT -5
Who knew you could get rid of fleas just by opening a little bar?
ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was cheaper too!
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Post by StuffNoMore on Apr 21, 2010 9:53:26 GMT -5
Using Skin So Soft spray on fur kids is a great way to eliminate fleas and ticks. It also helps keep their skin conditioned. I dilute the oil with some H2O in a spray bottle and give a few spritz so not to make the fur greasy. I do however use preventative flea medication on a monthly basis but the SSS is an added plus.
SSS is also great to spray along door ways and on window screens to keep bugs away.
SNM
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Apr 21, 2010 10:39:26 GMT -5
I bout SSS for my human kids, but it never really worked on them. smelled nice but the mosquitos kept biting.
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Mess Lyby
New Member
Wherever I go, there I am.
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 19
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Post by Mess Lyby on Apr 22, 2010 8:38:25 GMT -5
Had terrible problem with fleas last year after indoor kittie snuck out for the night -- old house with unfinished hardwood floors and 1970s carpet == perfect environment to raise baby fleas. Made a powder out of non-iodinized salt and baking soda; the baking soda scratches their ecoskeletons and the salt sucks out all their water. I sprinkled liberally on the floors, furniture (all cheap stuff anyway), under beds, etc. Tricky part was waiting a day or two before vacumming/sweeping (actually that was an easy task to put off -- just put the kids in slippers). Treated three times, 7-10 days apart, no more fleas! No kids sicker than a dog because of allergy to flea pesticides -- those are often made with extract from ragweed.
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611 
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Post by MiSC on Apr 22, 2010 8:46:42 GMT -5
We should rename this thread "neat tricks and tips".  Pepe taught me this one: If you have baked on grime on pots or pans, put a dryer sheet in the pan and pour boiling water on it, covering the burnt on gunk. Let it stand for a few hours (overnight?). Pour out the water and you can wipe the glop off with a paper towel. I've done this one many, many times. Works like a charm. It is a mystery...  |
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Mess Lyby
New Member
Wherever I go, there I am.
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 19
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Post by Mess Lyby on Apr 22, 2010 8:55:39 GMT -5
Little girl across the street sent home from school for a week because of recurrent head lice. Health Dept kept giving Mom bottles of pesticide but the critters were chemical-resistant and they told her to cut all of her pretty blonde hair off. Little girl was in danger of repeating grade because of missing so much school : ) It is amazing how much discrimination we face with the combination of poverty and hoarding!!!!
Anyway, I bought a bottle of cheap olive oil from the dollar general and tea tree oil from the vitamin area at wallyworld. Used about 1 tsp of tea tree oil to 1/2 cup olive oil and poored it all over the scalp (make sure you've got a washcloth to keep it out of eyes). Put on a $1 plastic shower cap and sent the girls onto the backporch to play barbies -- I dosed up the little girl and my daughter for good measure and to reduce shame factor)....I'm pretty sure barbie got dosed up too. After an hour, I used a narrow-toothed comb to carefully combfrom root to tip --wiping comb on papertowel after every pass to clean it. It was soooo rewarding to see the little jellified bodies smeared on the paper towel -- apparently the oil eats through their shells mmmmmm and the tea tree destroys the nits/eggs.
I made up a couple of bottles for Mom and teenage sis so they could take care of it with privacy and dignity. We treated a second time at 10 days and didn't have a recurrence. Little girl is now a beautiful high school freshmen who never did have to cut her pretty hair.
I try to keep spreading the word because 1) it WORKED! 2) so many of us suffer with these kinds of things in silence and shame 3) every tip somebody shares helps somebody and I need all the help I can get.
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Apr 22, 2010 11:22:21 GMT -5
getting back to the original topic, I found an unusual way to clean my oven. It was so bad there was caked-on burned cherry pie filling in the bottom. I don't like the smell of Easy Off. So I looked at it, decided what I'd do. I took my big metal spatula, scraped the burned bits off, but then what ? I could pick up the disgusting mess with my hands or some paper towels. But that's too messy. So I got out my canister vacuum and stuck the hose end on the floor of the oven and sucked up all the burned bits. My husband was amused, I mean who has a wife who vacuums her oven? He does!
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Post by def6 on Apr 22, 2010 14:27:40 GMT -5
I think I handle just about everything oddly, That would make me a "Real Individual" When cleaning the toliet, I get a little toliet paper dampened so that the nasty stuff (when you lift the seat up) will cling to the toliet paper- it is then and only then ,that I can commence to clean the toliet.
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Post by hurtnbroke on Apr 22, 2010 14:54:14 GMT -5
I totally agree with def6. Anything that gets done at my place is very likely done oddly. Chronic pain and muscle weakness seems to always mean doing any cleaning and sorting and fixing in a way that others usually do not. Other than the physical unpleasantness I don't mind since doing and being different can mean being creative and non-conformity itself. Yep that's me! Yesterday I finished a project of making front screen door secure (framework) so my canines cannot break through and do a Houdini (again). Originally I just stapled screening on with heavy duty staples (mesh screen with outer layer of finer screening). Anyone who can do typical do it yourself projects would find my ways of getting things done out of the ordinary (and forever to get done) but it works for me so why not? However I think my method of floor cleaning does deserve to be called different ? since I squeeze dish detergent (cheapest brand) on wood floor in kitchen, slop a little bit of hot water on it, let it soak and then put several sheets of newspaper down on floor and push it around with one foot.  The used newspaper is a bit sloppy to pick up but I keep the garbage can close by. A quick swipe with a damp mop does the rest. This method does eliminate a lot of bending and stooping and pushing/scrubbing mop around and degreases a nasty floor. I have also in the past used a roofing brush connected to a mop handle to scrub floor (with comet cleanser and or lemon juice or dish detergent). My kitchen floor currently is definitely in need of this treatment. Hmmmmmm I've also been known to empty last bit of ashes from woodburner with a large shop vac with blower fan set in open doorway to prevent filling kitchen with the stuff. This worked great but is not good on shop vac and I once sucked up some still hot coals.  Definitely not good!  Be Blessed! |
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Apr 23, 2010 1:51:25 GMT -5
I hung a couple of my metal baking pans on my wall and use them as "overflow" for the paper items and magnets from my refrigerator. They're so handy.
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Post by dandelionhunter on Apr 24, 2010 20:13:21 GMT -5
When I need to clean legos or anything small and plastic, I put it in a mesh bag like you'd wash "delicates" in and throw it in with a load of wash. Then I just spread it on a towel to dry. This also works for cucumbers if you need to clean them to make pickles. Only use cold water and put it on gentle. No soap or clothes of course.
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Post by _Linda_ on Apr 24, 2010 20:18:24 GMT -5
I would have never thought of washing cucumbers in the washing machine.
But I did find out today that about 6 dowel rods make for a good rake for all of those hard to reach areas.
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Post by jkordestani on Apr 25, 2010 0:42:42 GMT -5
Yes, Dandelion, I just washed some legos in the washer on Friday! They were the big ones, so I just threw them in there with some towels and ... voila! That was the first time it ever occurred to me to do this, and it worked great. The legos at my son't preschool get sooooo gross and seemed impossible to clean. wanna hear something funny? The first year at the school, I was the parent responsible for keeping all the toys, and inside areas of the school clean! ME?  I guess nobody saw my house before assigning me to that job. I tried my best, but I'm sure I didn't do it very well. My tip ... Endust does a great job cleaning dust jackets on books, and gets all the ick from the price tags off! Do they sell Endust anymore? You just spray a little on a rag and wipe it around. Also, I think lighter fluid does the same thing. HMMMM ... do you think I've been dusting with a product made from lighter fluid? |
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