Dog Tuggie Toy

Dog Tuggie Toy from Recycled T-Shirt

Materials:

20 1 inch x 20 inch (2.5cm x 50cm) Recycled stretch knit

from pants or tops in assorted colors.

This home made dog toy is perfect for tug of war games or fetch. It is so simple to make that even kids can put it together. It is a great project for fetes and fundraisers too. You can use recycled stretch knit from old t-shirts or pants or if you like you can use new fabric.

Cut the fabric into 20 pieces that measure approx 1 inch x 20 inch (2.5cm x 50cm) for a large dog. For smaller dogs reduce the length and quantity but not the 1 inch width.
Lay your pieces together in 2 sections of 10. Twist the 2 sections together and tie a large knot at each end as shown in the picture. Your knot should be tight and secure.

There is no need for gluing or sewing.
Alternatively you can plat your strands together or add extra knots depending on your dogs desire.

Photo Decorative Marbles

Photo Beads

Materials:

Clear marbles (the ones with one flat side, can be found at any craft store)
Cardboard photo index cards
Clear Silicone or PVA (white)craft glue or modge podge.

These photo beads are a great way to use up the small photo index cards you receive with photo processing.

Cut a piece of cardboard or paper backing the size of your marble. Then glue your image onto the cardboard. Then Glue the marble to the top side of the picture so that you can still see the picture. Let it dry. When the glue dries you will be able to see the picture through the marble. Then use these beads as magnets or jewelry pieces. You can wire wrap them or adhere them to frames for some fun projects.

Tin Can Frankenstein

You will need:

empty aluminum can
1 sheet green felt
1/2 sheet black felt
scraps of white and light green felt
1 black skinny chenille stem
white craft glue
2 small black pom poms
scissors
4 round magnets

Make this darling little Frankenstein out of felt, glue and a tin can. Fill him with lollipops for Halloween or use as a Halloween pencil holder for your homework desk!

Make sure can does not have any sharp edges around the opening. If it does, use a piece of sandpaper to sand them down.

Lay green felt on work surface. Lay the can down on to the felt. Roll the can up in the felt to see exactly how much you will need to go all the way around the can. Trim, leaving about 1/2" overlap. Leave about 1" overlap that will fold over the bottom of the can as well as a 1" overlap for the top (mouth) of the can. Glue the green felt around the can, glue the excess overlap to the bottom and inside the mouth of the can.

To create the hair, lay the black felt on the work surface and place the can on top like you did for the green. Roll can up in the black felt and measure about 2" down from the top of the can. Trim excess. Before attaching black felt, cut one side in a grass-like scissor cut for the hair.

Glue the hair in place, lining up the straight edge with the top of the can.

Cut out the patterns for the eyebrows from black felt and the eyes from white felt. Glue in place (see photo).

Cut out the pattern for the nose from the light green felt and glue in place.

Cut chenille stem into a 4" long piece. Bend into a squiggly mouth as shown in the photo. Glue in place.

Glue the black pom poms to the centers of the white eyes.

Place 2 round magnets on each side of the head for the bolts, no glue required! The magnets should stick through the felt directly to the can. You can glue them in place if you prefer.

Let him dry before filling with candy, pencils or anything else you can think of.

About the Author:
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine.

Tank top Bag (5 min project)

Recycled Tank Top Bag

Materials:

Old Tank Top
Sewing Machine
Optional items for embellishing

This recyced project shows you how to upcycle an old tank top into a environmentally friends shopping tote in just 5 minutes.

For this project we used a plain tank top that has the most basic embellishment on it. Fabric painted dots.

Your embellishment ideas will only be limited by your creative abilities. You can add ribbons, iron on transfers or use marker pens to write environmental slogans onto the tank top tote such as. "Go Green", "This is not plastic" etc.

To create your 5 minute tote you will need a sewing machine or serger overlocker to close up the bottom of the tank top. Sew across the bottom a few times to make it extra strong for vegetables or fruit.

You can sew directly across the bottom as shown or turn the tank top sideways with the arm holes on top of each other and then sew (this placed the handles directly in the middle of the tote. )

This project is so quick to make it is perfect as a school or group craft project, the children can take turns at sewing the bottom closed or have an adult standing by. The activity duration can be lengthene by allowing the group to decorate and embellish their finished totes.

Seashell Candle - Great for bathrooms and summertime!

Make your own Seashell Candle

How to melt the Wax:
Place your required wax amount into the heavy Pan and place it on the heat. Slowly heat the pan till all the wax in your pot melts. Don't allow the wax to get too hot.

Adding the Dye:
Once you have melted your wax you can add your dye. Add a small amount at a time as it is very strong.
Note: When dried the color is much lighter.

Getting the wick ready:
Dip your wick several times into the melted wax to give it a wax coating to insure it burns evenly.

Getting the mold ready:
Start by cutting down your milk carton so that your candle mold is of appropriate size for the candle(or use other mold).
Next attach your wick to a pencil or length of wood that will sit across the top of your candle mold (top is the open end).
Next make a small hole in the bottom of the carton to thread your wick through. Pull it tight so that the wick from the pencil to outside of the carton is firm. A loose wick will cause your candle to have problems burning later on.
Now stick down the wick at the bottom with some sticky tape and using a piece of blu-tack or plasticine close up the hole so no wax can seep out.

Adding the Shells
Meantime place your seashells into your milk carton mould. Do not place them neatly as the candle will need to form in the cracks of the shells. The less organized the better. Do try to keep the center of the candle (around the wick) free from shells, so that the wax can form around the wick insuring a consistent burning candle.
Slowly pour your melted wax over the seashells and around the wick area till the milk carton is full.
For best results place the shells along the outside edge of the mould.

Jug O'Lantern - Fun, Easy Halloween Craft

Jug-O-Lantern

You can sometimes pick up handy one gallon glass jugs from thrift stores or garage sales. Or perhaps you buy the occasional gallon jug of apple cider? You can put those empty glass jugs to very good use by making them into illuminated pumpkin jars in this free Halloween project.

Material:

Gallon Glass Jug (Wine Vinegar Jug)
Orange & Black Paint (acrylic enamel or glass paint)
Set of 35 Mini Lites
Raffia
Sea Sponge

How to:

Begin by painting your jug with a sea sponge, gently patting on orange paint over the entire outside surface of the jar. A regular sponge will work but the effect will not be as nice when the jar is illuminated.

Allow the paint to dry and follow paint manufacturer instructions if heat setting the paint is required.

Once the paint is completely dry, paint a face with black paint; refer to the photo for details or look at other pumpkin face designs for inspiration. To add a little extra to your design, paint fine lines with black paint around the jar (see photos for detail).

Tie raffia around the neck of the jar and insert mini lights after all the paint is dry and light up. They really are pretty!

Homemade Oatmeal Soap on a Rope

Oatmeal Soap on a Rope

½ cup of either oatmeal or cornmeal
½ cup of soap crumbs
(broken small pieces or hotel bar sized soap)
1-2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1-2 Tablespoons of water
Rope- 6 inch piece of rope or cord with a knot tied at the end of it

Take the soap and oatmeal and place in your blender. First blend and then using the pulse option, pulse until the mixture becomes fine.

Put the soap and oatmeal mixture in a large deep bowl. Add both the oil and water. Using your hands form a ball out of the soap/oatmeal mixture. Using your index finger make a 1/8 inch depression.

Place your cord with the knot part in the depression. Bring the 2 sides of the small depression and "bury" the cord into the ball of soap. Let the soap dry for about 24 hours, then take a bubble bath!!

Stylish Blanket

Lap of Luxury

Warm up your winter with a luxurious lap blanket in periwinkle micro-suede.

What You'll Need

· 2 pieces of periwinkle micro-suede, 36 inches by 48 inches
· Polyester batting, 36 inches by 48 inches
· All-purpose sewing thread to match micro-suede
· Sewing needle
· 7-inch letter stencils, Gothic font (available at Staples)
· Silver metallic craft paint, 2 ounces
· Sponge paintbrush with flat, round bottom for stenciling
· Paper plate
· Tape measure
· Straight pins
· Sewing machine
· Scissors

Directions

1. Lay one piece of periwinkle fabric face up and mark the center of one end with a straight pin. Center the stencils “C-H-I-L-L” 7 inches from the bottom edge. Pour some of the paint onto a paper plate and apply to the sponge brush. Lightly dab the sponge paintbrush on the plate to remove any excess paint, then dab the silver paint into the cutout spaces of each stencil. To keep the paint from seeping underneath, use a very small amount of paint with each dab and hold the stencil edges down firmly. Allow the paint to dry.

2. To make the throw, lay the second piece of periwinkle fabric face down on the stenciled fabric, then place the batting on top. Pin the fabric and batting together all the way around, placing the pins 1 inch from the edge. Using a sewing machine and the matching periwinkle thread, stitch the fabric and batting together ½ inch from the edge. Remove the pins as you go. Sew almost all the way around, leaving an 8-inch opening at one end.

3. Reach through the opening and turn the throw right-side out. To sew the throw closed, fold the hems of the opening inward and pin together. Using a sewing needle and the periwinkle thread, hand-stitch the opening closed with a hidden ladder stitch.

TIP

Find Your Center: To find the center of the fabric, fold it in half, stick a pin along the fold, and open it back up. The pin will be in the center!

Make your own Apple Candle! Great for Fall!

Apple Candles

Fall is just around the corner and who doesn't have fun decorating the house with festive fall colors and great seasonal decorations. Especially around Thanksgiving time when the family and friends arrive, and this easy craft is a quick way to liven up the house and set a great ambiance with festive flames and light apple scents.

You Will Need:

Toothpick
Paring knife
Melon baller
Votive candles or Tea Candles
Several medium-size apples, any colors desired
Lemon juice (Great for keeping cut or sliced apples from turning brown)

Set one apple stem side up. Set the bottom of the candle over the stem. With a toothpick, poke holes around the base of the candle about 1/4 inch apart. This delineates the area to be removed so that the candle can fit into the hole.

Using a paring knife, cut along dotted circle and straight down about three-fourths of the way into the apple. Do not cut through the bottom of the apple.

Using the melon baller, scoop out the core and insides. Trim the opening with the paring knife to smooth any ragged edges. Rub the edges with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Repeat procedure with remaining apples.

Place a votive candle into each apple. You can place the prepared apples in the refrigerator until you are ready to set them on the table. Or try keeping them in a bowl of water in the fridge. This will also help to keep the candles burning longer! Light the candles just before guests come to the table.

TIP: I would recommend purchasing a glossy clear acrylic spray to help preserve your apple candle and give it that extra sheen for your flame to bounce off of!

Make your own plastic bag holder

Make your own plastic bag holder

We receive plastic bags everywhere they go. Whether it is the convenience store, grocery store, or apparel shop, almost everything we buy is given to you in a plastic bag. Well, did you know, you can use those plastic bags to line small trash cans in your house? You can! But, first, you will need an attractive place to store them. Read more to learn how to make a cute and efficient plastic bag holder.

Things You'll Need:

Cotton fabric 18 inches long and at least 13 inches wide
8 inches of 1/4 inch ribbon
2 feet of 1/4 inch elastic
scissors
straight pins
sewing needle and thread
Sewing machine
ruler, pencil

Go to your local fabric store to purchase a decorative piece of fabric.
Lay the fabric out on a table in your home. Lie the up side of the fabric face down. The inside of the fabric will be facing you.
Use a ruler to mark one inch from the top of the fabric and mark with a pencil. Use straight pins to pin down the material. Do this for both the top and the bottom to form a hem. Sew the material into place.
Measure one foot Take elastic. Use the scissors to cut the elastic in half. Put one piece aside for later use. Take your first piece of elastic and pin the top of the hem to the fabric. Leave at least a half inch of elastic extending beyond the top of the fabric. Sew the elastic into place. Repeat this procedure for the bottom half of the fabric.
Fold your fabric in half, with the right sides facing each other. You will see the wrong side of the fabric facing you. Take your straight pins and pin the two sides together.
Sew a half inch seam from the top of the fabric to the bottom of the fabric.
Put your tube aside for a few minutes and pick up the ribbon. Fold your ribbon in half, making a four inch loop. Take the loop with the loose ends facing downward. Pick up the tube of fabric and pin the loop to the top of the seam. This should be around an inch from the top of the fabric. Use your sewing machine to sew the loop to the fabric.
Turn your tube inside out. With the right side of the fabric now be facing you, you are ready to hang up your plastic bag holder.

Help save the earth and RECYCLE!!!

Even Better Homemade Oil Candle

Even better Oil Candle

Floating Bottlecap Lamp

Candles are boring. So instead, make floating oil lamps out of things you already have. You can use almost any type of oil (canola, vegetable, olive, seal), and it is highly effecient.

You Need:

Bottle with twist-off cap
Tissue or paper towel
Transparent Container
Oil
Water Screwdriver/nail/center punch/bb gun
Fire Starter

Just punch a hole in the bottle's cap large enough for a rolled-up sheet of tissue paper to pass through. Then do just that: make a small wad of tissue paper and pass 1/8" of it through to one side of the cap and trim the other side to about half of an inch.

Fill the bowl part of the way with water and the rest of the way with oil, assuring that the oil is more than half of an inch (or deeper than the long side of your wick is long) deep.

Place the cap afloat on the oil, wait for the wick to soak up its fuel, and set it on fire. Nice!

Make an Olive Oil Lamp

It is not widely known, but olive oil will actually burn with a very nice flame and it is, therefore, possible to rig a simple lamp that will burn the olive oil. Such lamps have been used since ancient times. Since the principle is simple, there is lots of room for experimentation and crafting a beautiful lamp.

Things You'll Need:

olive oil or any other kind of cooking oil
an empty glass jar or plate to hold the oil
a candle wick or any kind of string, cord, or wooden object that will hold the flame
wire or any other contraption that will hold the wick

It is easiest to experiment on a flat plate, so pour some oil onto a flat plate
Cut off 2 inches or so of wicking material and soak it in the oil.
Wrap the wire around the wick so it will hold the wick about 3/8 of an inch above the oil. An easy way to do this is to make a spiral shape where the point holds the wick and the foot of the spiral makes the base. Exactly how high the point should be over the oil depends on the capillary action of the wick which again depends on the type of the wick.
Light the top of the wick. Try adjusting the height of the wick to see how it affects the light.
Do not worry. The oil on the plate will not burn. What is happening is that the heat evaporates the oil, and it is the oil vapors which burn. In fact, to extinguish the flame, just dip the wick back into the oil.
Tips & Warnings
- For more light, you can have several wicks burning in the same lamp.
- The wind will easily blow the light out, so make a lamp out of a glass jar.
- Raise the jar above the table for more light. Unlike a candle it will shine directly downward too.
- If you don't have a wick, cut off a narrow strip of cotton from an old rag.
- You can use a fork to prop up the wick. If you use a flat plate and lay the fork down with the tines up and put the wick between two of the tines, it will be about the right height over the oil.

Home Remedies For Cracked Lips

Home Remedies For Cracked Lips

What are cracked lips?
Cracked lips (chapped lips) is a condition where the lips crack and dry out.

Lips are more sensitive to chapping than the skin because, unlike the skin, lips do not produce oils to protect them against drying. So when the weather is dry, cold, or windy the lips get cracked.

How to Cure Cracked Lips with Natural Treatments

1. Smear olive oil on lips (do not put Vaseline on lips it will make them more dry).

2. Indian remedy: Rub melted unsalted butter on the cracked lips.

Home remedy for cracked lips:

1. Apply some table salt on your lips, peel, wipe and apply some olive oil on the lips.

2. Apply some Aloe Vera gel on the cracked lips.

3. Smear honey on the lips.

4. Mix 1 tablespoon of Vaseline to the same amount of butter; then put 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar and apply on the cracked lips.

Natural treatment for cracked lips:

1. Apply some fresh orange juice drops on the afflicted area of the lips (might sting).

2. Apply some cocoa butter on the cracked lips.

3. Smear some Vitamin E oil caplets on the chapped lip

4. Slice a cucumber and rub the chapped lips with a slice.

5. Dip a wet toothbrush in baking soda and gently scrub the cracked lips.

6. Apply some hand/body lotion on the chapped lips.

Lip Service: The Best Ingredients for Smooth Lips

Chapped lips. Dry, cracked lips. Sunburned, wind-burned, winter-chilled lips. We need year round care for one of the most sensitive areas of our face. With all the products available how do you choose which will moisturize and protect your lips without caking on all the muck that so many lip balms produce. Look for the following ingredients to help you find the perfect treatment for smooth lips.

The worst ingredient we found is petrolatum. It leaves a greasy film on your lips and it’d be no wonder, it’s sometimes used to slow corrosion on car batteries. No thanks! Petrolatum is also a non-renewable hydrocarbon that comes from crude oil. There’s really no need to use a lip balm that contains petrolatum when there are lots of other choices that include great natural ingredients like these.

The bases of many great lip balms start with beeswax which comes naturally from bees of course, and carnauba wax which comes from the leaves of a palm tree that is referred to as “the tree of life” – you can’t go wrong with a name like that. Both are known to keep lips moist and create a hydrating barrier that holds moisture on the lips.

Next comes the butter. You’ll find a wide variety of butters that help heal and maintain smooth lips including cocoa, olive, raspberry, avocado and shea. Another amazing butter you’ll find in super moisturizing and healing lip balms is mango butter. It is a natural emollient that has the ability to aid in the process of healing small skin wounds like extremely cracked lips. Mango Butter is widely used for its skin softening, soothing, moisturizing and protective properties and to restore flexibility and reduce degeneration of skin cells. It also protects against the effects of sunburn and prevents frost bite making it a great year round choice for lip care.

Oils are another key ingredient for smooth lips. Again the choices are vast and the results are naturally smooth lips. Clove Oil comes from the buds of a tropical evergreen and has soothing, warming pain relief properties. It also serves as an antiseptic and disinfectant to keep lips healthy.

Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, including soy, and is a natural antioxidant. Vitamin E has many soothing, regenerating properties. It is one of the most commonly used oils in lip care.

Pomegranate oil made from the fruit extract of pomegranates is highly antioxidant and protects your lips while keeping them smooth and supple. It replenishes moisture and restores texture to reveal smooth, healthy lips, and coats them for a smooth, even-toned appearance. Also look for sunflower seed oil, coconut oil and avocado oil.

Be sure to include sunscreen protection in your lip wear. Oxybenzone 5% is a common sunscreen ingredient.

Tip: Camphor and menthol are both useful to treat chapped, hurting lips.

Homemade Bath Salts

Bath Salts

Bath salts not only create a relaxing, peaceful, spa experience, but they may also have beneficial effects on the muscles and nervous system.

What you need:

Baking soda
Sea salt or table salt
Epsom salts
Essential oil(s) of your choice
Food coloring
Large mixing bowl and spoon
Measuring cup

How to make your own bath salts:

1. In a mixing bowl, add 3 cups of epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of sea salt (or table salt). Mix thoroughly.

2. Once these ingredients are very well mixed, then add the food coloring.

TIP: Feel free to mix colors to get your desired color, or to use less or more to make the salts a lighter or darker color. If you do decide to mix food colors to get the color you want, be sure to mix the food coloring outside your mixing bowl and then add it already pre-mixed once you have achieved the color you want. Otherwise, there is a possibility your bath salts will be multi-colored.

3. Once the color has been evenly stirred throughout the mixture, then add essential oils for scent.

TIP: Stressed out? Try lavender, it has calming properties that help me to relax after a hard day of working or busy day with the kids. However, you can choose any scent available as an essential oil or even mix essential oils to get new scents personalized just for you!

Now, take some time out for yourself and enjoy!

Lip Gloss Recipes

Do you love lip gloss but hate how expensive it is nowadays?

Here are some recipes for your own home made lip gloss!

Save money and have a whole collection of gloss in different flavors and with great benefits!

I will post later some oils and nutrients that are great for lips for you to add to your new gloss! Be sure to come back and check it out!

General Directions:

Melt recipes using beeswax or petroleum jelly as the base ingredients in a pyrex jug in the microwave or in a double boiler.
Don't overheat: watch carefully, using small increments of microwave time, and heat only until just melted.
Use individual recipe directions for instructions on heating paraffin wax.
Make sure the containers used for preparation and storage are clean and sterile. You can reuse old lip gloss pots or tubes, but thoroughly clean out the old product, then wash with soap and water, sterilize with rubbing alcohol, rinse with clean water and dry the container before reuse.
Use only cosmetic grade Beeswax or food grade ingredients.

Methods of Melting Lip Balm:

Microwave: If melting the base ingredients in the microwave, use short increments of time and watch carefully, removing as soon as the ingredients have just melted.
Over Hot Water: Some recipes recommend melting the base ingredients in a ziploc water placed in a pot of hot tap water. Once melting is complete, unzip the bag, add flavorings, rezip, then knead lightly to mix all the ingredients together. Snip off a small corner of the bag and pour lip balm into containers.
Double Boiler: If using a double boiler to melt lip balm, use low heat and remove as soon as melting has occurred.

Storage:

Once your recipe is complete, pour the melted lip balm or lip gloss into small containers and let cool completely before using.

Shortening Lip Balm

Melt shortening in the microwave, or over hot water, then add sweetened or unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix using enough drink mix to color the lip balm and add flavor. Some flavors to try: strawberry, raspberry, watermelon or blueberry.

Chocolate Lip Gloss

Melt equal parts shortening and petroleum jelly in the microwave, or over hot water, then stir in cocoa powder to taste.

Candy Melt Lip Gloss

Add 1/4 teaspoon of grated paraffin wax, 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil, 1 teaspoon vaseline and 1 candy melt to a ziploc bag. Place bag in a bowl of hot water until ingredients are melted. Knead bag slightly to mix liquids together. Snip off a corner of the bag and pour into lip gloss pot. Let cool until set before using.

Cranberry Lip Gloss

Microwave one tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil, 10 fresh cranberries and 1 teaspoon honey until mixture starts to boil. Gently crush berries and stir well. Strain liquid through a fine sieve to remove any solids; pour into containers.

Lipstick Lip Gloss

Grate one teaspoon of beeswax and half a teaspoon of red lipstick into a pyrex measuring jug. Add half a teaspoon of petroleum jelly. If desired, add 4-6 drops of peppermint essential oil and 2 drops from a Vitamin E capsule. Pour into pots and let set.

Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Taken a trip down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket lately?

If you believe the ad hype, you can't keep a clean house without loading your shopping cart with a different cleaner for each surface, floor and sink in the house.

WRONG! Simple recipes using products from your pantry make effective household cleaning solutions. An added plus: these natural products are more environmentally friendly than commercial alternatives. Stock your cleaning tool tote with these homemade cleaning sprays and solutions to make short work of household grime--without harsh chemicals or irritating fumes.

Try these easy recipes to clean your organized home faster, better and cheaper:

White Vinegar - Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won't smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.)

With no coloring agents, white vinegar won't stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin.

Try these recipes to harness the cleaning power of white vinegar:

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas. In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet. For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

Undiluted White Vinegar - Undiluted white vinegar straight from the jug makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum.

Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings. Clean shower heads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish.

Add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue--a plus for family members with sensitive skin.

Baking Soda - Baking soda's mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders.

Put baking soda to work in your organized home:

Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.

Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]

Rubbing Alcohol - Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions. Use this glass cleaning spray recipe for windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles:

Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Ammonia - A strong alkaline solution, clear, non-sudsing ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar. Choose non-sudsing varieties of household ammonia for these cleaning recipes. Suds may look like they're working, but they're tough to rinse and remove.

Try these formulations for spring cleaning or tough chores:

Strong Glass Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia

Strong All-Purpose Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1 T clear laundry detergent
2 cups water

Furniture Polish - Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny. Our "salad dressing" version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed.

Lemon juice - Dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:

Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.