Simple solutions

KAREN WIGHT

“New Uses for Everyday Things” was the name of the article I came

across last week. Just when I thought I’d heard it all, this article

gave some very clever advice that I’d like to pass along to you.

I’ll throw in a few of my favorites, which you might have heard me

tout before; nonetheless, it’s always good to have a few new tricks

in your repertoire.

Use an ice cube tray to freeze aloe vera gel for single serving

sunburn relief. The ice cools the skin and the aloe sooths the burn.

A plastic straw is an excellent utensil for coring fresh

strawberries. Pluck the leaves from the stem then tunnel the straw

through the berry from the top to the bottom.

In addition to heavy duty moisturizing, baby oil is great for

removing tar from bare feet after a day at the beach.

Place a cold-brewed teabag on mosquito bites and let sit for five

minutes to help alleviate the itchiness. Tea is also helpful in

relieving sunburns. Brew a pot of tea and pour it into a bath of

lukewarm water and soak until you feel relief.

Burned residue on the bottom of an iron (starch is usually the

culprit) can be removed by using aluminum foil to rub off the build

up.

To keep ants out of the house, sprinkle a barrier of cinnamon or

pepper where the ants are entering the house.

Keep your chimney clean by throwing a handful of salt on the fire.

Remove rust from chrome by wiping with aluminum foil dipped in

Coke. To polish chrome, use a crumpled piece of aluminum foil and

rub.

Clean a coffee grinder by adding a cup of rice to the grinder to

clean and sharpen the blades.

Remove tarnish from silverware by lining a cake pan with aluminum

foil. Fill with water and add one tablespoon of baking soda per two

cups of water. Heat to 150 degrees. Lay silverware in the pan

touching the aluminum foil. Watch the tarnish vanish.

Take off stickers, decals and leftover glue from furniture, glass

and plastic by saturating with vegetable oil and rubbing off.

Ink stains on fabric and carpet can be removed by soaking the mark

with rubbing alcohol and blotting off.

Rust and mineral stains on cotton clothing can be removed by

adding one cup of lemon juice in the wash.

Gum on clothing can be taken off by brushing egg whites on the gum

with a toothbrush, let sit for 15 minutes and then launder normally.

Keep clear glass shower doors clean by spraying Resolve spot

remover on the glass and wipe soap scum away with a sponge.

Use a clean, dry paintbrush to dust lampshades, chandeliers,

mini-blinds and hard to reach corners.

White heat marks and water rings on wood furniture can be removed

if the wood has a good finish (not bare wood). Mix equal parts of

baking soda and regular white non-gel toothpaste. Lightly dampen the

corner of a clean soft white cloth and dip into paste, rubbing in a

circular motion on the mark. After a few minutes, wipe the area clean

and buff to shine. Follow with furniture polish.

To avoid stains in plastic storage containers (like Tupperware)

spray lightly with cooking spray to avoid stains from spaghetti and

curry.

If a red shirt accidentally gets thrown in with a load of whites,

do not put them in the dryer. Rewash with regular detergent and color

safe bleach. If that doesn’t work, Rit Dye makes a color remover. To

prevent bleeding in the first place, use a scoop of OxiClean with

every load.

To help deodorize dishes, pans and cutting boards, add 1/4-cup

lemon juice to your dishwasher.

To help garbage disposals smelling fresh sprinkle with baking soda

and add dishwashing liquid. Scrub with a brush under the rubber

gasket and all around the drain. Thinly slice citrus rinds and

process them in the garbage disposal for a fresh scent.

Keep lingerie drawers or linen closets fragrant by placing your

empty perfume bottles (without the lid) in the drawers.

If you have two photos that are stuck together, use a hair dryer

on low and slowly melt them apart.

Remove garlic or onion odor from your hands by rubbing your hands

with a stainless steel utensil under running water.

Clean soiled shirt collars by brushing the collars with shampoo.

The shampoo helps lift the oils out of the fabric.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Thursdays.