STORAGE

 

Don't look at these containers and say "What are these....!!" .  I try to be eco-friendly and recycle whatever I can. Some stores in our area sell foods in these sturdy plastic containers. I store bulky food (whole chicken, turkey, my most recent "Pasta Bomba" etc...) or to marinate meats and large foodstuffs. I also use them to freeze food items that I'd be using in the future since it is easy to write the date and contents on them with a pen. They are often microwave friendly so the leftovers can be safely transferred from refrigerator/freezer to microwave.
Another way to save the earth and the pocketbook.

FANCY SHADES

I think adding tassles or beads to plain table lamp shades gives them character. I enjoy coming up with these nifty ideas. They are easy and easily changeable for my mood and decor.

DUSTING IS EASY

I don't like to dust much but it is one of those chores that we can not avoid. To make dusting easy my mother came up with this nifty idea. Use a pair of old wool or flannel gloves. After putting them on you can run your gloved hands over the area that needs to be dusted. You can even use your favorite wood polish. Once you are done all you have to is to go outside and clap your gloved hands to get rid of the dust.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

I use my hair dryer daily. To search for and untangle the cord was becoming a hassle so I came up with this idea. I placed a loop towel holder on my bathroom wall next to the vanity mirror. When I am done using my hair dryer I hang it on this holder. No more tangled cords and lots of space in my vanity drawer.

Don't throw away the perfumed inserts you receive in the mail from magazines and fliers. Place them open in your dresser drawers. They do not permeate the clothing but they certainly keep your dresser smelling fresh.

THIS AND THAT

You can use white correction liquid from your desk/office to cover-up the scruff marks on your white shoes/sneakers in a cinch. Apply the liquid on the marks and buff with a piece of paper towel your scruff marks are gone.

Re-use the plastic bags you bring home from the supermarket to line your garbage pail. You'll save money on buying trash bags.

Don't throw away the Velcro ties that come tied to the vegetables. They can be used to tie the appliance cords or an unruly plant without damaging them.

Use frozen berries or grapes instead of ice in your wine and other liquor. They keep your beverage cold without diluting them and they'll look very decorative in the glass.

KEEPING VEGETABLES FRESH

To keep my leafy vegetables fresh after I bring them home from the market, I soak them in a large tub filled with cold water and 1/3 cup of white vinegar*. After drying them with a salad spinner I loosely wrap them with paper towels and keep them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag.

I do the same with the herbs except after removing the lower leaves I put them in a jar filled with water and cover loosely with a plastic wrap just as in the picture (parsley). Removing the leaves below the water line will stop bacteria growth that promotes rut. They'll stay fresh two weeks without loosing their color or flavor.

* Another good use for vinegar. For more uses of vinegar you can click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar

SAVE YOUR LOTION

Don't throw away your plastic tubes of hand creams, lotions, make-up etc. You may not be able to squeeze them out as they empty. However once you cut the tube in half you'll be surprised to see how much is still left in there. You'll have several more uses of your favorite product. To prevent it from drying out just slip the cut lower end over the first end like a sleeve for future use.

GOOD CUP OF COFFEE

To clean your coffemaker pour 1/3 cup of white vinegar into it and add water upto maximum line. Turn on the unit. Once it completes its cycle, empty the pot and fill it with clean water and repeat the aforesaid process. Vinegar cleans the calcium deposits that give coffee a bitter taste. Your next cup of coffe should be delicious. This process also works well with tea kettles. As an added bonus, vinegar will eliminate most kitchen odors.

I'll be posting more benefits of vinegar soon....

FREEZER SAVVY

To keep my freezer organized and find what I'm looking for, I save the plastic wrap from the meat that I purchase from the store. After wrapping the meat with aluminium foil, I re-wrap it with that plastic wrap and put everything in a clear bag. It gives me the date and the contents at a glance. It saves time and I don't have to buy labels.