Ellen Phillips So many readers responded to last summer's ideas to utilize everyday items for other purposes, I decided to run another column with additional tips, thanks to Bottom Line Personal. Some may help get us all through this week's Thanksgiving festivities.
Health issues
- To cure hiccups, slowly dissolve a teaspoon of sugar in your mouth and let it slide down your throat. Or touch a Q-tip to the uvula - that small piece of flesh that hangs in the back of your throat.
- Scallions help a stuffy nose. Overuse of OTC nasal sprays can cause increased congestion.Instead, cut the top fronds off two scallions and very gently place the thick white root part into each nostril. (Never shove it high up.) Your nose should start to clear in one minute.
Plant rescue
For sick plants:
- Garlic saves the day. Grate one garlic clove into two cups of water; pour the mixture around the plant's base.
- Use bleach to help cut flowers last longer. Add a few drops to the water in the vase to prevent bacteria and mildew growth. An alternative is to drop a pre-1982 penny into the vase's water; because these dated coins were made with copper that kills bacteria, it's well worth your time to find a few pre-1982s and stick them in a drawer to use just for this purpose.
Cleaning suggestions
- Scratches on CDs/DVDs? Toothpaste is almost a jack-of-all-trades. Place a small amount on a cotton ball and gently apply it over the scratch, starting at the middle and working outward. Take another cotton ball with a small amount of water to remove any excess toothpaste and let the disk air dry.
- Make dull diamonds and gemstones sparkle again, by placing a small bit of toothpaste on an old, soft toothbrush and lightly scrubbing around the stones. Rinse well, pat dry, and throw on your sunglasses!
- Those of us who don't want to fork out bucks for a new rain jacket or a water-resistant cloth jacket can make these articles water-repellent again. Set a hair dryer to high, then slowly move it around the jacket's outside.
- A dab of mayonnaise becomes magical when placed on residue left behind after peeling stickers/tape from mirrors or windows. Because of the mayo's vegetable oil component, simply wiping the sticky residue away with a paper towel usually works.
- Clean toilets with mouthwash. To both disinfect and make toilets twinkle and shine, pour one cup of mouthwash into the bowl. Wait 15-20 minutes then wipe with a toilet brush. Voila!
- Pick up broken glass with slices of bread. After sweeping away or cleaning up the larger pieces, press a few slices of bread into the area where shards may have landed. It goes without saying to immediately throw away the bread.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com