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Banish Pantry Bugs

Glass - Bay laurel

A bay leaf slipped into a container of flour, pasta, or rice will help repel bugs. Either dried or fresh leaves work.

Remove Tree Sap Easily

Setting up or taking down the Christmas tree can leave your hands sticky with sap. Remove it quickly and easily with a few squirts of liquid hand sanitizer. The alcohol dissolves the sap. Toothpaste (the paste kind) also works. Just work in a dab until the sap is gone, then wash hands as usual.

Tape Saver

Dentistry - Tooth

Packing tape is notoriously known for losing its end and causing much frustration. Try putting a penny or a bread clip under the end of the tape when finished using it. This should help you find the end easier next time.

Eliminate Static Cling!

Farmers' Almanac - Eggplant parmesan

Save money and eliminate static when doing laundry. Roll a ball or two of aluminum foil and place in your dryer with wet clothes. Reuse these foil balls for several loads. They’re a great alternative to commercial dryer sheets which can contain toxic chemicals. [Illustration by Martina Fugazzotto]

Clever Way To Recycle Newspaper

Newspaper display advertising - Journalism

Here’s a clever way to recycle newspaper pages: Line your refrigerator’s vegetable drawers with sheets to absorb odors, catch spills, leaks, and excess moisture.

How To Predict Winter Weather With Persimmon Seeds

Seed - Persimmon

Remove the seeds from a locally grown persimmon and soak them in hot water for about an hour to soften. Gently pry apart the seed’s outer shell (you can use your teeth or a sharp blade —just be careful!) to reveal the shape inside. According to folklore, the majority of the shapes you see determine the

Better Laundry Results

Glass bottle - Bottle

When doing laundry, add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the final rinse cycle. It leaves towels fluffy, whites whiter, and colors more vibrant.

Skunk Deodorizer

Striped skunk - Mammal

To remove skunk spray odor from skin, fur, or fabric, mix 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and a teaspoon of grease-cutting liquid dish soap. Work into the affected area with gloved hands, rinse, and reapply as needed.

Easier Gutter Cleaning

For easier gutter cleaning, attach some PVC pipes to your leaf blower and then “blow” the gutters clean.

Don’t Let Your Tent Get Moldy Or Musty

Camping - Glamping

Before packing your tent up for the season, put some clean kitty litter in a sock and tie it in a knot. Put it in the tent. This will help keep mold and mustiness away.

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