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Money-Saving Uses for Everyday Household Items

Back to 2008 Press Releases

For Immediate Release – July 25th, 2008

Media Contact:
Cynthia Greenwood
GreenMark Public Relations                   
847-404-8404
cgreenwood@greenmarkpr.com        
   
SAVANNAH, Ga. (July 21, 2008) – Farmers' Almanac, the original sustainable living guide, offers these tips for turning everyday household items into money savers:

  1. Make colorful garden planters out of gently chipped mugs or cups.
  2. Don't fret over a lost leather glove. Turn the remaining one into a small tool carrier. Cut off the fingers at mid-length. Make two vertical slits in the back and run a belt through them. Then, load up the fingers with lightweight tools.
  3. Remove mildew stains with a mixture of lemon juice and salt. Moisten stained spots with the mixture. Spread the item in the sun for bleaching. Rinse and dry, then launder as usual.
  4. Don't spend money on paint remover, rug deodorizer or stain remover. Take off old paint from metal screws and nails with nail polish remover. Sprinkle dried chamomile blossoms onto carpets before vacuuming for a fresh, clean scent. Use a damp rag dipped in baking soda to scrub unwelcome crayon marks.
  5. Make a low-cost drain cleaner. Mix 1/4 cup cream of tartar, 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda. Pour 1/4 cup of the mixture into the drain and add a cup of water. Flush the drain with hot water when bubbling stops. Store extra mixture in a jar and add a label that lists the ingredients.
  6. Use metal cookie cutters as unique napkin holders for special dinners. If you want, spray paint them to match your décor or decorating theme.
  7. To prevent rust in between uses, place steel wool scrubbing pads in a plastic bag and store them in the freezer.
  8. Clean graters, beaters and choppers with a toothbrush. A soft one will clean mushrooms, lemons, limes and fresh string beans.
  9. Hang brooms and brushes to make them last longer. Once fibers and bristles are bent out of shape, these tools no longer function well.
  10. Remove burned food on pots and pans with a mixture of half water and half vinegar. Soak overnight. Burned food comes off easily with a light scouring.
For more great information you can use in and around the home, visit the Farmers' Almanac experts online at www.FarmersAlmanac.com.

About the Farmers' Almanac:
The Farmers' Almanac, which features an orange and green cover, has been published every year since 1818. Available at grocery and bookstores nationwide, it contains useful and interesting articles, as well as long-range weather predictions, gardening advice, recipes and more. Editors Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan are available for lively and informative interviews, either by phone or in person. Both love to talk about the weather, share useful Almanac trivia and advice, and offer tips on how to "get back to the simple life." Visit on the Web at www.FarmersAlmanac.com.