Dollar Stretcher Tips for October 17, 2013
Free Pantyhose Protector
Pantyhose that are frozen before wearing for the first time last much longer. It does something to the nylon.
P.
Nasty Stainless Steel Pans
A way to get stains, burns, sticky hardened food, or oil out of stainless steel pans is to add about a quarter cup of baking soda to water in the pan and bring to a boil. Then simmer for a few minutes. The residue will wipe out easily.
C.
Halloween Costume Idea
The coolest family Halloween costume idea I’ve seen was a family of stick people. They were dressed in black sweat suits and hats with glow sticks attached to the front and back (down arms and legs) of the people, so when they walked, all you could see was the glow sticks.
JD
Add to Your Compost
I use a paper shredder, but instead of tossing my shredded paper into the garbage can, I toss it into my composter. It balances out the kitchen scraps, helps save the landfill, decomposes fast, and helps to keep the compost smelling clean.
G.
Color Catcher® Surprise
While washing a very dirty baseball uniform, I had forgotten to remove a used Color Catcher® from the machine. Upon completion of that load, I found it to be the same color as the red clay ground into the uniform. The uniform looked like new. So now, when I have heavy dirt and grass-stained clothes of like color, I just throw in a Color Catcher®. They even take on the color of grass stains. It’s amazing, and I’m a believer!
Mary H.
Cleaning Your Sofa
Our sofa was in need of cleaning, especially due to body oil from our black lab that rubs and lies against it. It was recommended to me to sprinkle the area with cornstarch to absorb the oil before attempting to use a cleaner, wait a few hours, and then vacuum it up. I slipped a clean sport sock, terry side out, over my hand and used it like a powder puff to apply the cornstarch. Then I wiped it around gently to get it into the nap. What a difference! I went ahead and used the cornstarch on the rest of the couch and saw a difference there as well. Now it’s ready for its final cleaning to remove the rest of the soil and stains.
Lorraine in NH
Shop Here First
If I need an item, the first place I shop is my Facebook groups. I belong to some area town groups. I have requested things like jewelry crimp beads, a dehydrator, audio books, a charger for my tablet, etc. I have sold furniture, traded quart for pint canning jars, and arranged to buy 50 pounds of potatoes this fall. This service is free, and I have about an 85% success rate. I can’t beat a deal like that.
KRB
Big Holiday Gatherings?
With lots of guests coming for the holidays, I needed a few more glass serving dishes with lids. The cheapest large dish I found was $39 at Wal-Mart. Instead, I checked at a couple of thrift stores and scored a new dish and lid for $4.50 with the original tag still on and three smaller dishes for a total cost of $10! Now my holiday table will look elegant and all my serving pieces will match.
Shaunna
Refill. Don’t Replace.
This tip is about the toilet bowl cleaner/fresheners that hook inside of the toilet bowl. Once the liquid is all used up, just refill it with toilet bowl cleaner. You can use it over and over again, and it cleans and deodorizes the bowl each time you flush.
L.
Freezing Fresh Veggies
I have two freezers full of organic vegetables that I have grown myself. Many veggies can be frozen with no special preparation, such as tomatoes, peppers, peas, and even green leafy veggies. Just put them in a bag and into the freezer. Some, such as carrots, corn and brassicas, require blanching, which is very easy. I save $6,000 yearly growing my own food and have enough to share with my adult children.
Patty
Natural Facial Scrub
Here is a great way to save money on facial scrubs! Just take one cup of granulated sugar and mix well with a 1/2 cup of pure virgin olive oil. Simply wash your face to remove all makeup first, then apply the mixture using soft circular motions, and finish it with a warm water rinse. The sugar acts as a gentle exfoliant, while the olive oil penetrates your skin leaving it moisturized and supple. Department store facial scrubs can cost over $40! Why spend that kind of money when you can achieve the same results at home yourself for only around $5!
Lisa J.
Eliminating Gasoline Odors
About a year ago, my husband thought his dad put the cap on the gas can and was driving around when it spilled. After many useless remedies, we finally resorted to putting clay kitty litter over the area of the gas spill. After a day, we vacuumed it and covered it with the litter again. I think we did this two or three times with great results. There was no more gas odor. Be careful not to allow any moisture near the cat litter or it could turn into “mud” on your carpet, and be sure to clean with a vacuum with very strong suction to get all the litter out.
Karen
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