Siren
02-02-2007, 8:17 PM
I am reviving a thread that I found useful :)
Please add to this list. My husband and I are always looking for hints to make our life easier... i.e. cheaper, greener, and happier :dance2:
Here's the original- http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54360&page=1
1. White vinegar and salt will clean hard water stained glass aquariums and glass shower doors. Just pour a little salt on a sponge dipped in vinegar and scrub. Rinse well before using. Eco-safe alternative to most cleaners.
Other things vinegar will clean/deodor: the ring around the inside of a glass flower vase where the water evaporated, your fridge (warm the vingegar slightly to work better in a cold fridge), linoleum floors (vinegar and hot water in a bucket with a drop or two of dishsoap for the loosening oily spots), cat litter boxes, garbage pails, and laundry (will de-odor musty towels, just pour a bit of vinegar onto a towel and put into the washer. You might want to check for colourfastness if you have dark towels).
2. If you wipe your dogs feet everytime he comes in from outside, wet or dry, he'll become much more patient with the procedure. Doesn't work on cats. They hate it, always.
3. Never buy the scratch paper in cube (like for your desk) unless it's “sticky”. Ideas don't sem to get lost as easy if it's stuck to something instead of a wee scrap of paper floating free...
4. Buy fluroescent bulbs for your house. They have the potential to lower your light bill considerably, depending on your usage. And they last longer too, saving money on buying new incandecent bulbs. The only ones I think should still use incandescent ones are the bathroom, fluroescent light makes make-up and hair colour look funky.
5. Buy stainless steel dishes for your dog/cat water dishes. They are easy to clean in the dishwasher, hard to destroy, and can be sterilized if needed. But beware, some stainless steel pet bowls supposedly will make your dog's black nose turn pink. (I've been unable to verify this scientifically, anyone have a good link for me?)
6. Keeping fruit flies away from your fruit.
-Put a 20 oz pop bottle with about 2 fingers of vinegar in the bottom (ketchup works well too), and let it sit overnight. Stalk up on it and cap it quickly. A piece of banana, microwaved for a few seconds to give it that “freshly rotton” smell works well as bait, too. I've never been able to find something that will kill 100% of the flies (more come in your house from outside everyday through your window screen and doors), but it will help.
7. Start a compost pile in an out of the way corner of your yard. You'll thank yourself when you don't have to buy potting mix in the spring for your house and garden plants.
8. Buy a good quality vaccuum. They will pay for themselves in a short amount of time, due to not having to replace it every few years, lowering the allergens in your home, and their versitility. Canisters are my personal recommendation (I love our Miele Solaris. We've had it for over 8 years. It's the same vaccuum the US Post Offices near our home used back when there was the Anthrax scare), because they limit the amount of dust that goes back into the air.
Please add to this list. My husband and I are always looking for hints to make our life easier... i.e. cheaper, greener, and happier :dance2:
Here's the original- http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54360&page=1
1. White vinegar and salt will clean hard water stained glass aquariums and glass shower doors. Just pour a little salt on a sponge dipped in vinegar and scrub. Rinse well before using. Eco-safe alternative to most cleaners.
Other things vinegar will clean/deodor: the ring around the inside of a glass flower vase where the water evaporated, your fridge (warm the vingegar slightly to work better in a cold fridge), linoleum floors (vinegar and hot water in a bucket with a drop or two of dishsoap for the loosening oily spots), cat litter boxes, garbage pails, and laundry (will de-odor musty towels, just pour a bit of vinegar onto a towel and put into the washer. You might want to check for colourfastness if you have dark towels).
2. If you wipe your dogs feet everytime he comes in from outside, wet or dry, he'll become much more patient with the procedure. Doesn't work on cats. They hate it, always.
3. Never buy the scratch paper in cube (like for your desk) unless it's “sticky”. Ideas don't sem to get lost as easy if it's stuck to something instead of a wee scrap of paper floating free...
4. Buy fluroescent bulbs for your house. They have the potential to lower your light bill considerably, depending on your usage. And they last longer too, saving money on buying new incandecent bulbs. The only ones I think should still use incandescent ones are the bathroom, fluroescent light makes make-up and hair colour look funky.
5. Buy stainless steel dishes for your dog/cat water dishes. They are easy to clean in the dishwasher, hard to destroy, and can be sterilized if needed. But beware, some stainless steel pet bowls supposedly will make your dog's black nose turn pink. (I've been unable to verify this scientifically, anyone have a good link for me?)
6. Keeping fruit flies away from your fruit.
-Put a 20 oz pop bottle with about 2 fingers of vinegar in the bottom (ketchup works well too), and let it sit overnight. Stalk up on it and cap it quickly. A piece of banana, microwaved for a few seconds to give it that “freshly rotton” smell works well as bait, too. I've never been able to find something that will kill 100% of the flies (more come in your house from outside everyday through your window screen and doors), but it will help.
7. Start a compost pile in an out of the way corner of your yard. You'll thank yourself when you don't have to buy potting mix in the spring for your house and garden plants.
8. Buy a good quality vaccuum. They will pay for themselves in a short amount of time, due to not having to replace it every few years, lowering the allergens in your home, and their versitility. Canisters are my personal recommendation (I love our Miele Solaris. We've had it for over 8 years. It's the same vaccuum the US Post Offices near our home used back when there was the Anthrax scare), because they limit the amount of dust that goes back into the air.