Ellen Phillips photo for ConsumerWatch column that runs every Sunday – Please use this photo from now onAs readers know, one of my consumer pals and a great resource is Mary Hunt, author of Everyday Cheapskate.
A regular column feature that I thoroughly enjoy and often utilize in my own life is product reinvention and their various uses. Here’s a few to put to good use this summer and beyond.
– Orajel, while great to soothe toothache discomfort, also can be used for other numbing issues. Insect stings, such as bee or wasp, are instantly numbed following application as are the pain and itch of “regular” insect bites and rashes caused by poison ivy.
Burn pain, whether sunburn, stove or otherwise, can be immediately relieved by gently applying Orajel. Even removing splinters or cutting ingrown toenails becomes much easier – particularly with small children – by rubbing Orajel over and around the affected area. By numbing the tissue, removing the splinter or working on the nail becomes much more comfortable.
– Dawn dishwashing detergent is truly a miracle cleaner. One of Mary’s ideas is to keep a small bucket on hand in the bathroom, filled with a bottle of Dawn, an automotive detailing brush and an old toothbrush. After showering, clean the space to cut out soap scum with no gritty residue.