Those minor, everyday irritations that occur around home can sometimes be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. After a long, trying day, coming home and having to fumble around for several minutes trying to get the key in the front door lock can reduce a grownup down to a blubbering, profanity-spewing volcano. Here are several quick home fixes that will solve the front door key issue as well as laundry, bath and kitchen problems.
Never Fumble with Door Key Again
If you are forgetful about turning the porch light on and find yourself fumbling around in the dark trying to unlock the front door more often than you’d like, fix the problem quickly with fingernail polish. Place a dot of glow-in-the-dark fingernail polish at the top of the door lock and another drop of polish on the top of the door key. The glow-in-the-dark gives just enough glow so the lock and key can be lined up in the dark.
Quick Home Fix for Mildewed Towels
When damp towels get forgotten about, the smell of mildew will remind you of them in a few days. Remove the smell and any black mildew spots with this quick home fix: Pour one-fourth cup of vinegar and one tablespoon of salt onto visible mildew stains and rub in, then launder towels as usual. If only the mildew smell exists, pour one cup of vinegar into wash water when laundering the towels. Wait until about five minutes into the wash cycle to add the vinegar to give the laundry detergent time to work.
Quick Clean Shower Head
Shower heads become crusted and clogged with mineral deposits in some areas of the country. All shower heads, regardless of where you live, are a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean and disinfect a shower head by filling a Ziploc bag one-third full with vinegar or mouthwash and attaching it over the shower head with a rubber band. Let shower head soak for 30 minutes, remove Ziploc bag and turn on water to rinse out shower head.
Prevent Tomato Stains on Plastic Bowls
Plastic bowls are the perfect utensil for storing leftovers, however any tomato-based leftover, like chili or spaghetti sauce, can stain the plastic. Prevent the tomato stain with this quick fix: Fill the bowl with ice water and let sit for five minutes before filling the bowl with a tomato-based leftover. Chilling the plastic makes it less porous, so it is less likely to absorb the tomato’s red pigment.
Source: Vinegar Tips and Frugal Families, accessed Oct. 27, 2011
Helen Stewart - Ms. Stewart resides in Georgia where she is enjoying her career as a freelance writer. She writes for many online publications including ...
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