Trust us, of all our fantasies about what we wanted to grow up to be, a modern day Heloise was not among them. But we’re always looking for ways to save a penny here and a penny there so we can go out and splurge on the really good stuff.
We were gifted this formula by a really nice professional carpet cleaner after he had been over once too often to clean up after the supersized poodle, Mr. Noodle. Instead of that $99 dollar carpet cleaner’s visit, this solution, dubbed “Mr. Noodle’s Super Cleaner,” costs just pennies and is (almost always) just as effective. A big fat disclaimer: test this on a corner of the carpet to make sure it doesn’t wreck the fabric or turn it to some odd neon green color.
First remove whatever the mess is you are trying to clean. Vacuum the area. Fill a jar with 2 parts water, 2 parts white vinegar, 1 part alcohol, and 1-2 tablespoons Woolite. Shake vigorously.
Once the area is cleaned, soak the stain with “Mr. Noodles” formula. Use a clean white towel, apply pressure and blot up the liquid. Repeat this until you see most of the discoloration come up. (You may need several towels and lots of pressure. ) Then cover the stain with a thick wad of paper towels and place a stack of very heavy books on top. Check back the next day.
Let us know how it works for you, and send us any other clever (or not so clever) household tips you’d like to share.
I love lemon in my water. I think it's good for my skin and a detox for the body. And MUCH cheaper on the budget than any other drink. I squeeze the juice from a lemon half in a big glass of water. Then I save the lemon for cleaning. If you sprinkle the half with baking soda, you can scrub surfaces and dishes with it. It is great at removing stains. Scrub the sink and then put it down the disposal to freshen that stinky thing and your kitchen. Throw a few halves in a bowl of water (sans baking soda) and microwave for five minutes. Take a cloth and wipe out your microwave… no more stains or smells from leftovers… fresh and clean. Easy, peasy LEMON squeezy. Sorry I couldn't resist!
I love to drink lemon in my water. I think it's good for my skin and for detoxing! I slice my lemon in half, squeeze the juice into a big glass of water and then save the halves for cleaning. If you sprinkle them with baking soda it makes a great cleaner for surfaces… especially the kitchen sink or dishes. When you are done scrubbing, put the lemon down the disposal to clean and freshen it! Also, you can throw a few halves in a bowl of water, microwave for five minutes. Then wipe out the microwave with a cloth. Fresh and clean, easy peasy LEMON squeezy. Sorry, couldn't resist!
I have a few household tips passed down from my Granny.
For gum in carpet/fabric; freeze with ice till it hardens, thin chip away.
Spilled wax or crayons messes; cover with several paper towels/newspaper, then iron.
Febreeze/ Downy Wrinkle Releaser; its only diluted fabric softener. Purchase your favorite fragrance fabric… softener and a spray bottle. Use 1 part fabric softener to 10 parts water (or more if you prefer stronger fragrance). Works wonderfully for removing wrinkles; just mist and shake out clothes. For more stubborn wrinkles, spray generously and toss in dryer for few minutes.
Make-up!!!! If you use loose powder; buy it a shade or 2 darker and mix 1/2 n 1/2 with baby powder to lighten to your desired shade.