Work[ ] Web[/] Home[/] iPaq[ ] Last updated: 29/08/04 with how tall a child will grow to Previously Updated: 16/10/02 HANDY HINTS =========== Tennis Balls Store valuables. Make a two-inch slit along one seam of a tennis ball, then place valuables inside. Fluff your down jackets or down comforters and reduce static cling. Throw in a handful of balls while jacket is tumbling in dryer. The balls keep the feathers from clumping together so they're spread out evenly throughout the comforter or pillow. Childproof sharp corners of furniture. Cut old balls into halves or quarters and use packing tape to affix the sections over sharp corners, Make parking cars in garage easier. Having a tennis ball on a string from the garage ceiling so it will hit the windshield at the spot where you should stop your car. Prevent a chrome trailer hitch from getting scratched. Slit a ball and put it over the trailer hitch as a protective cover. Make a walker glide more easily. Cut a hole in two balls and fit them on the back feet of the walker. Give yourself a foot massage. Roll your foot over a tennis ball. Remove cobwebs from unreachable places. Wrap a tennis ball inside a dust cloth secured with a few rubber bands and toss at the distant cobweb. Strengthen your grip. Squeeze a tennis ball in each hand. Prevent snoring. Sew a ball inside a pocket on the back of your pajama top to prevent you from sleeping on your back. Prevent a deck chair from slipping through the cracks of a deck. Slit four tennis balls, fit them on the feet of the deck chair. Make a back massager. Put several tennis balls inside a sock and tie the sock at the end. Keep your car door open without wasting the battery. Wedge a tennis ball into the doorjamb to depress the interior light switch. Packing Tape Cork a wine or champagne bottle. Wipe the lip of the bottle dry and seal tightly with a small piece of packing tape. Remove a splinter or bee sting. Place tape over splinter and gently peel off. Hold wires in place while soldering. Clean a metal file. Put a piece of tape over the length of the file, press firmly, then peel off. Provide first aid in an emergency. Bandage wounds with torn sheets and packing tape, or make emergency splints with two-by- fours and tape. Kill ants. Use a strip of tape to pick up advancing line of ants. Tag the pull cord that opens the drapes. Wrap ½ inch piece at eye level around the right cord. Remove fuzz, lint, and hair from clothing and furniture. Wrap a strip of packing tape around your hand, adhesive side out, and pat. Remove a broken windowpane. Wearing gloves, criss-cross tape on both sides of the glass and tap the inside edges with a hammer until the pane breaks free. Organize cables and extension cords. Vegetable Shortening Prevent snow from sticking to a shovel. Lubricate the shovel with shortening before you start shoveling. You can also use floor wax, which will prevent rusting. Clean grease and dirt from hands. Rub into hands before making soap. Remove lipstick from clothes. Rub in a dab, then rinse the stained area with club soda. Prevent diaper rash. Use shortening as a balm on a baby's behind. Revitalize wooden salad bowls and cutting boards. Rub with shortening inside and out, let sit overnight, then remove excess with paper towels. Clean ink from hands and vinyl surfaces. Apply and wipe clean. Remove homemade candles from molds easily. Apply a thin coat to the inside of candle mold before pouring in the hot wax. Remove tar from clothing. Scrape off as much tar as possible, place a lump of shortening over the spot, wait three hours, then wash. Lip Balm Stop bleeding while shaving. Dab on some lip balm if you nick yourself. Prevent car battery corrosion. Smear lip balm on clean car battery terminals. Lubricate a zipper. Rub along the teeth of a zipper. Lubricate nails and screws. Both will go into wood more easily when rubbed with lip balm. Shine leather shoes. In a pinch, rub balm over the leather and buff with a clean dry cloth. Lubricate drawers and windows. Run on the casters of both to make them slide easily. Prevent hair coloring from dyeing your skin. Run lip balm along the hairline before coloring your hair. Whipped Cream Lighten coffee. Use a tablespoon of whipped cream as a substitute for milk or cream. Shave. Apply whipped cream to wet skin as a substitute for shaving cream. Condition your hair. Apply ½ cup whipped cream to dry hair once a week as a conditioner. Leave on for thirty minutes, then rinse a few times before shampooing thoroughly. Soothe a burn on the roof of your mouth from hot pizza. To coat the lesion, fill your mouth with whipped cream and press it gently against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. Repeat if necessary. Make a sour cream substitute. Mix three or four drops of lemon juice with one cup whipped cream and let sit for thirty minutes. Give yourself a moisturizing facial. Whipped cream helps moisten dry skin when applied as a face mask. Wait twenty minutes, then wash it off with warm water followed by cold water. Remove makeup. Wet face with lukewarm water, spread a handful of whipped cream on face, rinse clean with lukewarm water, and blot dry. Furniture Polish Revitalize dull candles. Spray on a cloth and wipe the candles thoroughly. Keep ski goggles from fogging up. Spray the inside of the lens, then wipe clean. Polish leather shoes. Spray on shoes and shine with a cloth. Prevent stains on kitchen drain boards. Coat rubber drain board trays with a light application. Sweep up dust and dirt with ease. Spray the bristles of your broom or mop before sweeping. Prevent water spots and soap scum on shower walls and doors. Coat the tile walls with furniture polish and wipe clean. You can also use car polish or baby oil. Make cleaning grease splatters on the wall behind the stove easier. First, clean the painted wall behind your stove. Then spray the entire area with a generous coat of furniture polish and buff well with paper towels. You will then be able to wipe future grease splatters away easily with a dry sheet of paper towels. Has your sliding glass door stopped sliding? Spray your door tracks with aerosol furniture polish. The wax in the polish reduces friction plus it won't attract dirt. Dental Floss Truss poultry for cooking. Fill the cavity with stuffing, cross the two legs and tie together with dental floss. If necessary, sew the cavity closed. Repair the mesh screening on playpens. Sew up the rip with dental floss. Cut a cake. Dental floss cuts cake into neat slices. Lift cookies from a cookie sheet. Slide a strand of dental floss between fresh baked cookies and the cookie sheet. Repair a tent or backpack. When hiking or camping, dental floss can be used as a strong thread for tough repairs. Sew buttons on heavy coats. Use floss as a long lasting thread. Hang pictures or wind chimes. Oral-B Mint Waxed Floss is stronger and more durable than ordinary string. String beaded necklaces. Erasers Clean piano keys. Use an eraser to remove marks from the ivory keys. Clean gold. The eraser gently scours gold-plated items such as pens and jewelry without damaging the material. Fix a wobbly table. Cut an eraser to fit the bottoms of the table legs and affix with nails or glue. Remove scuff marks from floors. Simply use an eraser. Prevent framed pictures from tilting or scratching wall. Glue at least two Pink Pearl erasers to the bottom edge of the back of the frame. Erase finger prints from woodwork. Gently rub with an eraser. Clean cotton upholstery. Run lightly with an eraser. Store small drill bits. Twist bits, point first, into a large eraser. Clean golf balls. Krazy Glue Remove glue from fingers. When using superglue, keep a bottle of acetone- based fingernail polish remover handy just in case you get glue on your fingers. Remove ticks from inside the ear of animals. Put a drop on a broom straw, apply it to the tick, and pull it right out. Repair a broken fingernail. Use a small drop to secure the nail in place, then coat with nail polish. Fix leaks in inflatable inner-tubes, air mattresses, or air pillows. Apply Krazy Glue to seal the hole or leaky valve stem. Prevent bra pads from slipping. Use Krazy Glue to attach Velcro to the inside cups of the bra and the outside of the pads. Lessen the pain of minor cuts. Apply Krazy Glue to thin cracks in the skin. The glue deprives the nerve endings of air. Baby Wipes Blot spilled coffee from a rug or carpet. Wipes will absorb coffee without leaving a stain. Soothe hemorrhoids. Use wipes instead of your usual toilet paper to avoid aggravating sensitive skin. Clean hands after pumping gas or changing oil. A box left in the trunk of the car will prove a handy grease-cutter. Alka-Seltzer Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two tablets. Polish jewelry. Drop two tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Remove burned-on grease from a pot or pan. Fill the pot or pan with water, drop in six tablets, let soak for one hour, then scrub as usual. Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz white vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water. Get short-term relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms. As long as you're not on a low-sodium diet and you don't have peptic ulcers, drink two tablets dissolved in a glass of water at every meal. Soothe insect bites. Dissolve two tablets in a glass of water, dip a cloth into the solution, and place the cloth on the bite for twenty minutes. Black Pepper Stop small leaks in a car radiator. Add a teaspoon of black pepper to your radiator. The pepper sinks to the bottom, finds its way into small holes, and expands, filling them. Stop colors from running. Add a teaspoon of black pepper to the first suds when you are washing cottons. Keep dogs, raccoons, cats, rabbits, and other animals away from your garden. Sprinkle black pepper around your hedges and flower beds. You can also use mothballs. Repel ants. Sprinkle black pepper in cracks and crevices. Repel moths. Use black pepper as an alternative to moth balls. Fill a cheesecloth bag or the foot of a nylon stocking with pepper and use it as a sachet. Place muslin bags filled with aromatic plants in drawers. Smells nice Shaving Cream Remove spots from rugs or carpets. Squirt shaving cream on stain, scrub, and wash with water. Clean upholstery. Apply shaving cream sparingly to stain and rub gently with a damp cloth. Prevent ski goggles from fogging. Spray the goggles, then wipe clean. Clean grease from hands. Rubbing shaving cream between your hands will dissolve grime without water. Plants Ammonia as fertilizer. Watering soil with a mixture of two tablespoons ammonia to each quart of water will not only enrich the nitrogen content of the soil but keep black flies away. Revive ailing houseplants with Geritol. Give the plant two tablespoons of Geritol twice a week for three months. New leaves should begin to grow within the first month. Grow seeds. Use cardboard or fiber egg boxes, then plant entire tray; it'll disintegrate. Longer lasting flowers. Pick flowers during coolest part of day. Water plants on vacation. Soak soil, place plant and pot (still dripping) in a polythene bag, close bag tightly, place in position to receive indirect sunlight. First-Aid Diabetes. There was a case I personally know of where someone with diabetes was having an increased heatbeat, 120 beats per minute (twice as fast as normal) because he had a high acidic content. He drank Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and his hearbeat went down to normal. Many diabetics who take insulan die, because insulan breaks down the organs of the body, like the liver and kidneys. Instead, it's best to do things which are good for the circulation. Trampolines have had a huge positive effect for those with diabetes. Ulcer Cure. Black walnut extract and colodial silver water. Cancer Cure. Appricot seeds cure many forms of cancer, as well as eating a veggetarian diet. Dandruff can often be controlled. Shampoo in cool water. Hot water strips the skin of natural oils that help control flaking, and so do alcohol-based styling products like mousse or gel. Chapped lips. Use a tea bag. The tannic acid in tea helps retain moisture and tighten the skin on your lips. Just remove any lipstick or lip balm, then take a tea bag, put it under warm water, and press it lightly over your lips. Heartburn. The best remedy is your own water supply. Saliva is rich in natural chemicals that coat and protect. Get those juices flowing with some sugarless gum! Stay away from gum with sugar, it can actually increase acid output. Disinfect wounds. Listerine works as an astringent when poured on a laceration or abrasion. You can also use honey. Honey kills bacteria and putting it on a cut or scrape can help prevent infection and speed healing. First wash the area, then smooth on some honey and cover with a bandage. Dress wounds with honey. Honey is hyreoscopic and absorbs water, creating an environment in which disease producing microorganisms, deprived of their moisture, cannot live. Get rid of warts. White iodine will make them disappear in a few days. You may also try vitamin A and E. Inside of banana skins. Milk from cut end of dandelion two or three times a day. Warm castor oil on gauze three times a day for half an hour. Cod liver oil. Relieve a mild sore throat. Gargle several times daily with warm salt water. Cure for headaches. Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. Stuffed up nose. Both red and black pepper dilate blood vessels in the nose and they stimulate secretions which help drain sinuses. Remove dark circles from under your eyes. Try raw potato slices; they contain potassium that apparently will remove dark circles. Another one you might try is warm tea bags; the tannic acid is supposed to do the same thing. Relieve muscle pain from working out. Try eating bananas! They're rich in potassium, a mineral that has long been prescribed to treat leg cramps! Get rid of itch from mosquito bite. Apply soap on the area for instant relief. Treat bee stings. Cut an onion in half and press the cut side to the sting, holding it there for at least ten minutes. Onions contain an enzyme that break down proteins and stops pain if applied soon enough after a sting. Prevent minor bruises from getting bigger and darker. Put ice on the bruise immediately after you get bumped. Nighttime cramps. If running gives you nighttime cramps in your calves drink tonic water before you go to bed. It contains quinine, a plant extract that acts as a muscle relaxant. Add lemon to the tonic water or mix it with orange juice to reduce its bitterness. Cold sores. They heal faster and cause less pain when treated topically with Pepto Bismol or another bismuth-containing antacid. Use a cotton ball to dab the liquid onto the sore every four hours. "Brain freeze" when you're eating ice cream. Cold on the roof of your mouth causes pain in the temples and eye sockets. The cure? Drink a glass of warm water. You may not want to keep your medicine in your medicine cabinet. Steam from the shower can break down the pills' chemical makeup! And don't put your pills in a pale pillbox. The original packaging is brown for a reason: some pills lose their power when exposed to sunlight. Is your little one scared of the doctor? Blow soap bubbles to sooth and distract the child while the doctor goes to work. Giving cats medicine. If your cat refuses to cooperate when you're trying to give him liquid medicine, put the medicine on the top side of one of his paws. He'll instinctly lick it right off! Paint Prevent white paint from turning yellow. Stir a drop of black paint in it. Stop smell of paint. One tablespoon of vanilla essence to two pints of paint, or add a couple of tablespoons of ammonia to one or two containers of water placed in room. Remove dirt or lumps from paint. Cut a round piece of window screen to fit just inside the paint can. The screen will sink down into the paint and carry the lumps to the bottom of the can. Remove latex paint from hands. The moisturizers ease paint from skin. Cleaning paintbrushes. When you clean paintbrushes you generally soak them in water or turpentine, but then the bristles get all bent. Here's what to do. Take a piece of wood and rubber band it to the brush. The stick will touch the bottom instead of the brush and the bristles will stay straight. Restore dried out paintbrushes. Immerse in hot vinegar. Bristles - hairspray, smooth, leave to dry. Don't have a paintbrush? Take a plastic bag, put it over your hand and then put an old sock over the bag. Now dip your covered hand into the paint and apply it. It can really be a pain getting the paint out of paint trays! Put the tray inside a plastic bag and then pour in the paint. When the job is finished simply remove the plastic bag and throw it away! The tray is clean and ready for the next paint job! Keeping track of unused paint. After you finished painting and before you've resealed the can, paint a line on the outside of the can at the paint level. Later this will let you know at a glance both how much paint is left inside and exactly what color it is. Keep paint fresh between projects. Seal the lid tightly by using a mallet all the way around the lid. Then, with one hand on the lid, turn the can of paint upside down for just a second or two and then turn it right side up again. This will coat the entire inside top surface of the can with a thin film that will help seal the lid. Spray painting something that's small. Put the item in a big paper bag. You can paint and it won't make a mess! Redecorating? Record paint or wallpaper identification numbers on masking tape and then stick the tape on the back of a switch plate cover in each room. That way you'll know right where to find those ID numbers. Make your ceiling seem higher. Paint it a lighter tone than the walls. Use a primer coat. Your paint will go on easier and will be less likely to fade and chip. Another tip: ask the paint store to tint your primer the same shade you intend to use for the paint. That way you can see how a certain shade really looks on your walls without committing to that color. Clothes Zipper stuck? Rub the lead tip of a pencil or a bar of soap along the zipper's teeth. The lubrication will get it moving. Remove gum from clothes. Put some ice cubes in a plastic zipper-type bag and put the bag on the gum. After a few minutes, you should be able to scrape off the gum with the edge of a knife. Get rid of perspiration stains on clothing. Soak in salt water and wash, or apply baking soda paste and let sit. Or, put white vinegar on the stain. Wait 30 minutes and then wash the shirt in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Repair skirt or pants. If you need a small bit of cloth to repair a skirt or some pants use material from inside the pocket or hem. It's an exact match and you can replace the hidden fabric with almost anything and it won't show. Make socks white again. Boil in water with lemon slice. When tips come off shoe laces. Harden ends with nail polish. Tired of retying your kids shoelaces? Spritz the tied laces with water and they'll stay tied longer. Drying shoes. Stuff with newspaper to keep their shape. Lift a fresh grease spot from a non-washable fabric shoe. Sprinkle spot with cornstarch. Let set, then brush Food An apple in the morning is more efficient than caffeine in coffee. Are you trying to slice something small like an olive? Hold the olive firmly with a fork and then slice between the tines. Can't get your kids to eat fruit? Cut up fruits for younger children, and they'll be more likely to eat them! Treat the edges of apples, bananas and pears with orange or lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Get the most juice from lemons and limes. Roll them firmly on a countertop with the palm of your hand before squeezing them. Easily remove egg shells from hard-boiled eggs. Boil eggs in salt water and quickly rinsed in cold water. Keep celery fresh for weeks. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator. Don't slice your cantaloupe until you've washed the outside. Cutting through a melon can draw in bacteria from the surface, contaminating the inside. Wash the rinds with hot soapy water and then rinse well. The same goes for other melons, like winter squash and pumpkins! Keep potatoes from budding. Place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. Prevent egg shells from cracking. Add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling. If an egg cracks when you boil it, add a little vinegar to the water to prevent white from streaming out of shell. Take away salt. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato. It absorbs the excess salt. Take away sugar. If you're cooking and you've over-sweetened a dish, add a little salt. Grating onions. Put your onion holding hand in a plastic bag. Then when you are finished grating put the bag around the onion without touching it. The leftover onion is ready to refrigerate and your hands don't smell! Cutting onions. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying! Unclog salt shaker. Put a few grains of rice in with the salt, which will absorb any moisture. Eliminate the fat from soup and stew. Drop a few ice cubes into the pot and stir. The fat will cling to the cubes. Just throw away the ice cubes before they melt! Prevent muffin tops from burning. When filling the muffin pan with batter, leave one cup empty. Put cold water in that cup right before you put the pan in the oven. Keep the grease from splattering. Sprinkle a little salt in your frying pan before cooking. Prevent foods like oatmeal, potatoes or pasta from boiling over. Take a stick of margarine and grease the inside of the pot about one inch down from the top. The boiling food will contain itself. Soften brown sugar. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up. Sweeten corn. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. Sucanet. Is a natural sugar which is good for your body. Determine whether an egg is fresh. Immerse it in a pan of cool salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If one end tips up, it is less fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away. Prevent mold from forming on cheese. Store with a few sugar cubes in a tightly covered container. Stop ice-cream leaks. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice drips. Avoid freezer burn on your ice cream. Take a piece of plastic wrap and place it between the ice cream and the lid. Make sure to press the wrap close to ice cream. Ice crystals will form on the wrap instead of your dessert! Take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water. Avoid stains on Tupperware. Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces. Keep your punch cold. Use frozen seedless grapes! Not only will they add festive color but, unlike ice cubes, they won't melt and dilute your punch. Remove gum stuck in hair. Just massage some peanut butter into the gum until it comes free. Of course you'll need to shampoo afterwards. Remove burnt on food from your skillet. Add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop. Skillet will be much easier to clean now. Eat a hot pepper? Drinking water will do nothing, because the hotness of the pepper is caused by the oil in the pepper. Water and oil do not mix. The best thing to do is to eat a cracker or a piece of bread to absorb the oil. Odors Nature's odor eliminator. To knock out smells in your home set down apple halves. Unlike artificial sprays that make unpleasant odors, apples actually absorb odors. Just don't leave them out too long. Remove smells from microwave. Teacup three parts water to one part lemon juice or vinegar, cook eight to ten minutes, wipe oven dry. Absorb smells in refrigerator. Place charcoal inside. Baking soda also helps. Remove odor of spilled milk on carpets. Cover the stain with baking soda, dampen it slightly and vacuum up a few hours later when it's dry. Remove fish or pickle smells in glass. Leave drops of bleach in it. Remove odor from shoes. Tablespoon bicarbonate of soda inside each shoe, overnight. Or, put some unscented clay cat litter in a sock and put the sock in your shoe. Let it sit overnight and it should absorb the smell. Remove skunk odor from pets. Bathe them in mixture of one quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, one tablespoon liquid dish soap. Follow with a thorough rinsing. Scent room. Rub a few drops of perfume on light bulb Prevent room from becoming smoky from cigarettes. Light candles, or fill containers with vinegar. Save wax from scented candles. You can put the wax in a jar in a warm place and it will continue to scent the air. Pet odors can linger in carpeting and fabric forever unless you get to the source! You can find invisible stains with a black light. Urine in carpets glows in black light. Insects and Animals Stop ants. Draw a chalk line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. They never cross a chalk line. You can also spray vinegar around doors, appliances and along other areas. Discourage ants in house. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda or powdered borax of cloves on shelves and drawers. Bay leaves also helps. Sprinkle black pepper in cracks and crevices. Deter flies. Place cotton wool balls sprinkled with drops of lavender oil on saucers. Basil or mint grown in pots on windowsill. Prevent flying insects. Hang fresh bunch of stinging nettles to front of door. Bugs at night. Replace your white light bulbs with yellow ones. Insects don't see these colors as well as others so they're not as attracted to the light as they are when white lights are used. If earwigs are a problem in damp areas of your home. Trap the earwigs with rolled up newspapers moistened with water. The insects will be attracted to the moist area and will hide in the papers by day. Gather up the traps and dispose of them frequently. Are snails getting to your garden? Sprinkle some white flour around the plants you think are being eaten by the snails and it will get rid of them! Keep dogs and cats away. Sprinkle pure ammonia. Keep Bambi off yard. Try planting some deer repelling fragrant herbs. catmint, chives, garlic, onions, lavender sage, spearmint, thyme, and yarrow. Keep squirrels away from garden. Put dog hair in nylon stockings and hang around garden. Sprinkle lose dog hair around plants. If you don't have a dog, go to an animal grooming place and ask to take their hair. Trash cans. To keep critters away from garbage, mix up two tablespoons liquid dish soap, two tablespoons cayenne pepper, and one quart warm water. Spray liberally over trash to keep varmints at bay. Dog attack. If vicous dogs are running towards you, stay where you are until they leave, but do not stare them in the eye. They will see that as a challenge to their territory and attack. Do not run away from the dogs, because they will attack. If they are actually attacking you, the best thing to do is to curl into a ball and cover your neck with your hands. They will lose interest if you don't fight back and leave. Outrun Crocodile/Alligator. Run in a zig-zag pattern, and not just in one straight direction. When making left or right turns, the crocodile/alligator has to come to a crawl to move in that direction because of its short legs. Outrun Bear. Run downhill. Because of its 2 short front legs, a bear has to crawl down a hill. It can run up a hill, or up a tree, but when going down, its center of gravity forces it to go slower. Elephant Attack. Elephant's are very protective of their young. If one runs after you, and tries to stomp you, get out of their line of site. For example, if you are around some trees, hide behind a tree. If it comes after you, zig zag to another tree. If it doesn't see you, it will not perceive a threat. Gorilla Attack. If a Gorilla runs after you, do not run! Simply do not stare at his eyes, and look at the ground, and humble yourself towards it. He will walk away. Shark Attack. If a shark is approaching, simply stare it down. Do not swim away, because sharks are attracted to erratic movements. When a man swims away from a shark, it looks to the shark like he is struggling, squirming, and panicking, and the shark will attack! Also, do not play dead. A shark has all the senses we have, plus more, and a shark will know that you are not dead, but will be confused why you are not acting like you should be. So, it will get curious and may start to knaw at you. If a shark is actually attacking you, gouge it in the eyes with your thumb (not with your fingers, because fingers have much less force than your thumb). Snake Attack. If you are bitten by a poisonous snake, the best thing to do is to let it bleed and make your way back to help. Do not take a knife and make the hole bigger and suck the venom out, like you see in movies. You may push the venom in an artery with the end of the knife, and sucking the poison will cause your heart to beat rapidly, and will spread the venom very quickly throughout your body. Do not tie any material around the area you are bitten (to stop the venom from spreading) because it will cut off the oxygen to the wound. One other thing you can do if you are bitten by a poisonous snake is to take a stun gun and zap the area where you were bit. The electricity will turn the poison into a harmless protein. Bee Attack. If you are being stung by a swarm of bees, don't breathe. Bees are attracted to carbon dioxide. Household Cleanings and Repair Gravity. When cleaning your house, always clean from top to bottom. Gravity carries dust down onto lower surfaces. Prevents brooms from slipping when you prop them against a wall. Cut off the finger of an old rubber glove and slide over the handle. Streak-free, lint-free windows. Just use crumpled up pages of the newspaper to wipe off your window cleaner. If you see streaks when finished, know which side they are on! When washing windows, use horizontal strokes on one side and vertical strokes on the other. Unclog your iron. Pour straight white vinegar through the iron. Make sure to rinse it out when the vinegar has done its magic. Remove a burned out light bulb from a recessed fixture. Since there isn't enough room for your fingers, you can make a little handle using duct tape. Avoid breaking light bulbs in your hand. Light bulbs can be hard to remove. Put a light coat of petroleum jelly on the threads of the new bulb. Remove furniture glue. After taking apart any piece of furniture for re- gluing, here's how to get rid of the old glue stuck in the joints: spray or brush vinegar into the joint. It usually works in minutes. It won't harm a finish and it leaves a white film that simply wipes off after it dries. Dissolve soap residue in your washing machine. Periodically pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let it run through a regular cycle without clothes in the machine. Is your bathroom sink clogged? Cover the overflow hole with a rag when plunging a bathroom sink so the plunger has maximum effect. Clean burnt food from pots and pans. Add baking soda and water to the pan, heat it to boiling and then let it sit about 15 minutes. Clean non-washable wallpaper. Make a fist size wad of rye bread and rub across discoloration's and dirt. Clean washable wallpaper. Lift grease stains with a paste of cornstarch and water or rub dry borax over stains. Remove stubborn wallpaper. Mix some hot water with a bit of fabric softener in a paint tray and apply several coats to the wallpaper. Let it soak in then scrape off the paper with a putty knife. Clean lint out of the back of hair dryer. Take a cotton swab and dip it in rubbing alcohol. When you use the swab on the lint it will come right off. Make a liquid to clean glass. Mix two cups water, two tablespoons liquid dishwashing detergent, and two cups isopropyl rubbing alcohol (70 percent). Stir thoroughly then pour into clean pump spray bottle. Repair carpet dents. Fill a spray bottle with water and spritz it over the dents (or put an ice cube in each indentation and let the cubes slowly melt ). Then use a blow dryer and blow hot air over the moistened areas. The heat helps wool and nylon carpet rebound. Fluff up the fibers with your fingers and the dents will be gone. Remove gum from carpets. Use an ice cube to freeze the gooey glob then remove as much as possible with a dull knife moving from the outside in. If there's still gum residue, use some dry-cleaning fluid available at drug and hardware stores. Remove candle wax from carpets. Place a brown paper bag over the wax and gently run a warm iron over the bag. Shine linoleum floors. Drops of paraffin in water. "Wax" a floor. Add two tablespoons furniture polish and ½ cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water. Ceramic tile cleaner. ¼ cup baking soda, ½ cup white vinegar, and one cup household ammonia in bucket. Add one gallon warm water. Stir until baking soda dissolves. Wear rubber gloves and apply with scrub brush or sponge. Rinse. Wall cleaner. Mix ¼ cup washing soda, ¼ cup white vinegar, and ½ cup ammonia in a gallon of warm water Remove crayon from painted walls or painted wood. Spray the surface with WD-40 and wipe with a soft cloth. If residue remains, wipe the area with a little soapy water. Remove crayon from leather sofa. Put baking soda on a damp cloth and rub lightly. Get rid of water rings on wood. Spread baking soda on the stain and buff it with a damp cloth going with the grain of the wood. Then wipe up the baking soda residue with a fresh cloth and apply a lemon oil furniture treatment. Get rid of makeup marks. They disappear from dark clothing if rubbed with bread. Remove stubborn sticky labels. Nail varnish remover, cooking oil, turpentine, or white spirits. Dripping sink. Attach a long piece of string to the tap. The drip will slowly and silently follow the sting down to the drain. You can also place a sponge underneath the dripping water. Remove hard water deposits. Fill with malt vinegar, let sit for a few hours, rub off with fine wire scouring pad, rinse. Remove water stains and soap scum on your glass shower door. Try some white vinegar. Mix the vinegar with some water. Spray the solution on the door and then rinse it off. Erase stains on bath or by dripping tap. Rub lemon juice and salt, rinse. Or soak with three cups of vinegar for a few hours. Protect the finish of a surface from the pliers' teeth. Save an old leather or rubber glove for lining the jaws of pliers. Remove rust from garden tools. Use wire wool dipped in turpentine. Remove rust on utensils. Rub with cork dipped in olive oil. Rusty metal - rub with raw onion. Prevent cracking in a glass or jar when pouring boiling water in it. Stand a silver spoon in it. Shine jewelry. Rub gold jewelry with ball of soft bread, silver jewelry with lemon and rinse. Unscrew stuck lid. Use latex dishwashing gloves; they give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. Or place jar in boiling water for a few minutes. Keep your bathroom mirror from fogging up. Spread shaving cream on and wipe off; effective for two to three weeks. Or rub mirror with drop of shampoo. Eliminate tiny scratches on glass. Polish with toothpaste. Sharpen scissors. Slice several pieces of sandpaper, or emery paper. Stop the noise of a squeaky wood floor. Sprinkle the noisy area with talcum powder. Then walk over the spot to distribute the powder. The powder will lubricate the boards to quiet them. Lubricate squeaky hinges. Spray the joint with shaving cream. Or rub soap along hinges. Or lubricate the hinges with furniture polish. Tight fitting drawers. Rub soap or candle wax along upper edges of tight fitting drawers. Doors that won't stay open. Use self-adhering pieces of Velcro! Put one piece on the tip of the doorstop and the other piece on the back of the door! The Velcro will hold the door securely but it's easy to release. Free up a door that sticks along one edge or the bottom. Temporarily tape a piece of coarse sandpaper in the tight spot then force the door back and forth across it. The sandpaper will remove enough wood or built-up paint to allow the door to swing freely. Prevent nuts, bolts, and screws from getting lost while you're working. Keep them on a piece of masking tape. Prevent drill from slipping. Cover mark with adhesive tape and drill through it. Catch dust when you drill overhead or into walls. Poke the drill bit through the bottom of a small paper cup, or clear plastic container, and hold the cup rim against the wall or overhead surface while drilling. Do you have water leaking through the ceiling? Immediately drill a small hole to allow the water to drain before it damages the plaster or drywall. Once the leak is repaired spackle the hole and repaint. Roof shingles. Do roof repairs on a warm day when shingles are soft and pliable. You'll be less likely to crack the shingles as you walk on them or fold them back and the roofing cement will stick better. Remove ground-in dirt and stains from concrete walks and driveways. Pour household bleach over the stain and let it sit for ten minutes then rinse. Cut electrical wire without cutting copper thread. Warm rubber with match, then pull off with pliers. Prevent tight screws. If you rub soap on the thread of a screw before using it, it will be easy to remove at a later stage. Loosen tight screws. Soak with a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide or ammonia until screws turn back and forth easy. Stop leaves from blocking gutter. Place chicken wire over top of gutter. Kill weeds and grass on walks and driveways. Spray vinegar. Secret Agent Man Invisible ink. Dip a swab in a lemon, write on paper. Let dry. Run an iron over paper to make message appear. Age documents. Let sit in direct sunlight for one day. Dip document in water. Return to previous position. Wait seven-ten days. Make weal tea solution. Soak until desired color is reached. Fold several times. Put in toaster oven. Miscellaneous Quicksand. By raising your legs slowly and laying on your back, you can't sink in quicksand. Static electricity. To discharge static electricity from your body, touch something grounded, such as a water faucet. Prevent containers of water from building bacteria. Throw a silver coin in it. Even a tub of water for horses will not have bacteria in it if a half- dollar silver coin is in it also. Saves a lot of cleaning! Prevent candles from dripping. Soak them in salted water for a half hour. Use about two tablespoons of salt per candle and add just enough water to cover. Increase lifespan of candles. Freeze them a few hours before use. Remove stuck wax from candleholders. If they're metal or glass put them in the freezer and the wax will pop out. Or you can place them in a sink with hot tap water and the wax will soften and you can wipe it out. Plastic wrap. Storing plastic wrap in the refrigerator makes it easier to use and handle. It especially helps in finding the end. Prevent nail polish from thickening. Keep in refrigerator. Keep batteries fresh. Refrigerate them in a sealed plastic bag. Remove unused stamps from envelope. Submerge corner of envelope in boiling water. Remove wrinkles in pants. Here's a quick fix. Toss your wrinkled pants into the dryer along with a clean, wet sock and a sheet of fabric softener. About five minutes on low heat ought to get the kinks out. Protect your ears. When you don't have earplugs, roll up toilet paper, dampen it slightly, then stick it into your ears. Unmist glass of watch. Turn it over and wear glass next to skin. Stop glue from drying up. Partially used tubes of glue won't dry up if stored in tightly closed jars. Books. Do not place them tight against wall; leave small gap for air to circulate. If pages are torn, smear lightly with white of an egg, leave book open to dry. China plates. When storing your fine china, put a cheap paper plate between each china plate. This will eliminate the scratches that might occur when china plates are stacked one upon the other. Organize all those wires behind your entertainment center. Use a coiled telephone cord! The cords are inexpensive and come in various lengths and colors. Just cut off the ends and wrap the coils around the wires. Hanging pictures. Heat the nail with a flame before driving it into the wall. You won't crack or chip the plaster. Tablecloths. No matter how much time you spend ironing a tablecloth some wrinkles are always left behind! Just lay the cloth out on the table the night before you need it with a pad or towel underneath and lightly spray it with water. While you sleep, the tablecloth will become smooth! Plug for sink. Next time you take a trip, bring along a racquetball. If your sink doesn't have a stopper, the ball makes a great sink plug so you can soak or wash things. Baggage. When traveling, put your name and phone number inside each checked suitcase in addition to the outside tags. That way if the outside tags fall off the bag can still be identified! Remove a stubborn sticker. Just put the baby oil on the sticker and let it sit for a while. You'll be able to scrape the sticker right off! Too much soap in your washing machine and it's overflowing? Pour in a capful of fabric softener to eliminate the suds. Cutting firewood. Wait a few weeks after you cut the tree down to start cutting it up. The leaves will draw water out of the wood, giving you a head start on drying it and making it lighter to transport. Does your landlord frown on using nails to hang pictures? If it's a small picture, try Velcro strips with adhesive backs! Put the Velcro on each corner of the picture for the best hold. When it's time to move, take the picture down, wet the adhesive on the wall and peel the strips off. Hammering. If you're hammering into soft wood and you don't want to leave marks, push the nail through a piece of cardboard and then hit it. It's also a good way to avoid hitting your fingers. Avoid hitting your fingers with your hammer. Use a fork to hold the nail in position. Just place the nail between the tines and then hit it. Ladder. If you're using a ladder against the side of your house and you don't want to scratch the paint or damage the stonework put socks over the end of the ladder. Plastic bread wrapper melted onto the toaster of the coffeepot? Rub some petroleum jelly on the spot, reheat the appliance and use a paper towel to rub off the plastic and the printing. Can't find an earring or other small object? Put a nylon stocking over the tube of a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the spot where you think the object will be. The vacuum will suck the object up but it will be caught in the stocking. Washing your car? Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to the bucket before you add water and soap. This will help the soap carry away the dirt from your car's paint during the washing process. Are your windshield wipers a little smeary? You can get a little more life out of your wipers by using some fine sandpaper to rough up the wiper blade. Keep your grilling surface in good shape. Scrape it with a stiff bristle brush while it's still warm after every use. No brush? Crumpled aluminum foil will work just as well. Deodorize your dog without a bath. Just rub baking soda into the fur and then brush it out! Heat a tub of water. Take old steel tube, about 3 ½" in diameter. Cap one end, drop into water tub, attach to side, drop a few lit charcoal briquettes in. Use plumbers strap to hold it loosely (that way you can slide it out to dump the ashes). Put a baffle down the center of the tube and angle the tube for better drafting of the rising hot air. Another option is to use an RV water heater burner tube. Use a piece of tin or aluminum siding to extend the inner baffle. Be sure to empty the ashes before the water re-freezes, so your heater will be ready for the next refill when you are. Eggs How to tell if they are fresh 1. Fill a deep bowl or pan with enough cold tap water to cover an egg. 2. Place the egg in the water. 3. If the egg lies on its side on the bottom, the air cell within is small and it's very fresh. 4. If the egg stands up and bobs on the bottom, the air cell is larger and it isn't quite as fresh. 5. If the egg floats on the surface, it it should be discarded. 6. A very fresh egg out of the shell will have an overall thick white which doesn't spread much and the yolk will stand up. 7. Grade AA eggs are the highest grade available. They cost more than other grades, but may be a good choice because of their high quality and longer shelf life. Trivia How long does it take for a hen to produce an egg? A hen requires 24 to 26 hours to produce an egg. Thirty minutes later, she starts all over again. How can you tell if an egg is raw or cooked? To tell if an egg is raw or hard-cooked, spin it! If the egg spins easily, it is hard-cooked but if it wobbles, it is raw. How long will eggs keep? Fresh shell eggs can be kept refrigerated in their carton for at least 4 - 5 weeks beyond the pack date.Hard cooked eggs should be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week. What are bloodspots? Also called meat spots, these tiny spots do not indicate a fertilized egg. Rather, they are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during formation of the egg or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct. What is the air cell? The air cell is the empty space between the white and shell at the large end of the egg. When an egg is first laid, it is warm. As it cools, the contents contract and the inner shell membrane separates from the outer shell membrane to form the air cell. What determines shell color? The breed of hen determines the color of the shell. Breeds with white feathers and ear lobes lay white eggs; breeds with red feathers and ear lobes lay brown eggs. Stains ------ There are eight basic techniques for stain removal: Brushing, Flushing, Freezing, Presoaking, Pretreating, Scraping, Sponging, and Tamping. Don't Rub It In! That will only make the stain bigger. Try to work from the outside of the stain in towards the center. Using the right technique along with the proper solutions will help ease the removal of the stain. Some Cleaning solutions include: A. Detergent solution - one teaspoon of a neutral detergent ( a brand used for washing lingerie such as Lux, Dreft, or Vel) and one teaspoon of white vinegar in a quart of warm water. B. Paint Remover - should not contain any oil. Lacquer thinner may also be used. C. Dry Cleaning Fluid (Meths)- any common brand used according to manufacturer's instructions. D. Rust Remover - (brands such as Erusticator or Rust Go are recommended. E. Acetone - common drugstore brand or nail polish remover WITHOUT LANOLIN or lacquer thinner. F. Alcohol - rubbing, denatured, or isopropyhl. G. Water NOTE: If there is no recommended procedure for removing a stain on a specific pile fiber, call a Professional Cleaner and give him the information pertaining to the staining problem BALLPOINT PEN - If the fabric is washable, soak first in meths then wash as usual. If it's not washable, sponge with meths and allow to dry. BEER - Sponge the stain with 2 tablespoons of borax mixed in 4 cups of warm water. Rinse clean then dry. If the fabric is washable, wash in warm water with a dash of ammonia. If it's not washable, sponge with meths and rub in a little bit of hard soap; allow to dry and then brush out the soap. BEETROOT - Mop up as much of the juice as possible with kitchen paper or a cloth. If the stain is on carpet, smother it with powdered borax to absorb the stain. Leave for a few hours then vacuum. If the stain is on clothes or table linen, soak in milk for several hours, or put the stained section into a flat dish filled with cold water and sit a piece of bread on the stain. Follow treatment with a proper wash. BERRIES Blot the stain and dip it in cold water. Rub the spot with a cut lemon, rinse, and air dry. Use prewash stain remover and then launder with warm water. BIRD DROPPINGS - Allow to dry before scraping off excess. Sponge with a weak vinegar and water solution. BLOOD saliva will break down fresh blood stains. So... when you get a fresh blood stain, spit on it! Wait a few minutes then rinse, pretreat, and launder. - Remove fresh blood stains by sponging quickly with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of salt in 2 cups of cold water If it's dry, cover with a paste of powdered borax mixed with a little water. Allow drying, then brush off. Soak the fabric in cold water until the stain is almost gone. Then apply a drop or two of ammonia to the stain, and wash in warm water with detergent. On a mattress or carpet, make a thick paste of raw starch and water Allow to dry, then brush off. On underwear, soak overnight in plenty of cold water with a handful of salt, or a little cloudy ammonia. Follow with a proper wash in hot water and pure soap flakes. Put meat tenderizer on stain and add cool water. After 15-30 minutes, sponge off with cool water. Put a paste of water and cornstarch, cornmeal or talcum powder on the spot. Let it dry and then brush it off. CARBON - Dab clothing stained with pencil carbon paper gently with a soft cloth dipped in meths - do not saturate, as it will spread. For typing carbon, follow the same procedure but use Dettol instead of meths. Lightly sponge off and wash as usual. CHOCOLATE - On carpet, scrape up excess then sponge with a mixture of 1-tablespoon borax in 1 cup of warm water. On clothes, use drycleaning fluid or, if it's washable, soak in a solution of 30 g borax and I L of warm water, then wash as usual. If it's not washable, sponge repeatedly with a cloth wrung out in the borax solution. COCOA - If it's washable, sponge with the borax solution as for chocolate; if it's not washable, sponge first with grease solvent, then the borax solution. COLA ON CARPET - Mop up excess immediately from outside to centre of spill. Lightly sponge remaining stain with eucalyptus wool wash in lukewarm water. CONDY'S CRYSTALS ON FABRIC - Cover stain with calamine lotion; allow to dry and brush off. The above treatment also works on the handbasin, or use baby oil on an enamel bath, or rub a slice of lemon over the stains. CORDIAL - Mop up excess then sponge with 1 tablespoon of dishwasher powder dissolved in 4 cups of warm water. CORRECTIONAL FLUID - Turps works, but test on an inconspicuous area, whether furniture or clothing, to check that colour doesn't run. Use a soft cloth, dampen with turps and dab on stain. Sponge with warm water and detergent to remove the stain remover. CREAM - If it's washable, soak in lukewarm water then wash as usual; if it's not washable, sponge with grease solvent and allow to dry, then sponge with lukewarm water. CURRY - If it's washable, soak stained area in 1-tablespoon borax and 2 cups of cold water. If the stain is stubborn, sprinkle borax on fabric and run cold water through it. If it still refuses to budge, try dampening the area and then smothering in denture powder. Allow to dry, then brush off. If it's not washable, try spotting with drycleaning fluid, or take it to a professional drycleaner - make sure you specify what the stain is. DEODORANT - Soak stain with vinegar then rinse and wash as usual. DRIED STAINS ON CARPET - Rub in some glycerine and leave overnight, then sponge lightly the next day with a mix of 1 tablespoon of borax in 1-½ cups of warm water. Keep mopping so you don't saturate the carpet. DYE - If something pale and precious has picked up colour from another garment in the wash, try spraying the stained area with Nifti, leave for several hours and then wash as usual. Bleach white cotton garments; on other colours and fabrics, try smothering the mark with bicarb soda and leaving the garment to soak, dye mark on the surface. Repeat if necessary. On Laminex, try a mixture of toothpaste and meths. On baths and basins, mix a paste of peroxide and cream of tartan Cover stain and allow to dry before washing off. EGG YOLK - If it's washable, wash as usual and use a grease solvent to remove any remaining stain. If it's not washable, sponge with warm soapy water, allow to dry and then sponge with grease solvent. FELT PEN - On cotton or wool, try meths first. If the pens are waterproof you may need another type of solvent. Try turps nail polish remover or even hairspray, or try a commercial stain removal preparation. On synthetic fabrics, mix a paste of equal parts talc and borax with a little meths. Cover the stain and allow to dry, then brush off and wash as usual. Repeat it if necessary. On vinyl, use the same treatment as for synthetic fabrics but test for colour fastness on a hidden part of the vinyl. FRUIT STAINS - Dampen camphor block and rub on stains, then wash as usual. On carpet, wring out a cloth in a mixture of 1-tablespoon borax and 114 cups of water. Do not saturate. Or, Stretch the stained area sightly over a pot in the sink. Then pour boiling water through the stain from a height of two feet. GLUE - On washable clothing, soak stains in vinegar for several hours then wash in hot suds and rinse well. Many new types of plastic glue can't be removed without ruining fabric, so attack them immediately before they set by dabbing with eucalyptus or tea-tree oil. If your fingers are stuck together, pour on eucalyptus oil and rub firmly. GRASS Pre-treat grass stains on washable fabrics by sponging them first with warm water then dabbing the soiled area with un-diluted rubbing alcohol. (use a clean cloth!) Then launder item as usual. Or, combine a few drops of household ammonia with 1 tsp. of peroxide. Rub on the stain and rinse with water as soon as stain disappears. Or, Grass stains are removed easily with white vinegar. Or, Felsnaptha Soap is great for grass stain removal, especially on baseball and football pants. Just wet the bar of soap, rub on the stain and wash as usual. Works great! Or, Take molasses and rub it into the stained area. then launder as usual. It has worked on all washables that I have used it on. GREASE - If work overalls are badly stained with fat or grease, dab spots with kerosene then peg out with spots facing the sun. Leave all day then wash in warm, soapy water. On carpet, sprinkle stain with talcum powder, then cover with a paper towel and hold a hot iron over the paper. Press only lightly - grease should be drawn up into paper. Repeat if necessary. On clothing, smother spot with talcum powder; leave for an hour then brush off. Add another layer of talc and place several leaves of paper towel both under and on top of the garment. Hold a hot iron over the top to draw out grease; brush off remaining talc and sponge any leftover mark with eucalyptus oil. On a washable garment sponge with grease solvent then wash as usual; if it's not washable, cover with French chalk or talc and leave for several hours. (For French chalk, try a hardware or chemist shop, or possibly a good upholstery supplier;) Brush off chalk and sponge any remaining stain with grease solvent. On a velour car seat, smother with talc then cover the seat with a sheet folded in half, then halved again, and ask your passenger to sit on it. The sheet protects them; the heat of their body draws out the grease. Sponge away residue with warm soapy water. On suede, sponge with fizzy soda water or vinegar, or smother with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of borax, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of drycleaning fluid (from the hardware store). Leave overnight and brush off. GUM (BUBBLE) Place the garment in a plastic bag and put in the freezer. Gently scrape off the frozen gum with a butter knife and blot with dry-cleaning solvent. Or try loosening the gum by soaking in white vinegar or rubbing with egg white before washing. HAIRSPRAY - On mirrors, rub with a soft cloth and meths or acetone ( as in nail polish remover ). ICE CREAM - If it's washable, wash as usual then remove any remaining stain with grease solvent. If it's not washable, sponge with a warm borax solution (as with chocolate), then wipe over with a damp cloth and rub dry with another cloth. Remove any remaining stain with grease solvent. INK - If it's washable, sprinkle white fabric with salt and rub with a slice of lemon. Leave for an hour then rinse and wash as usual. Soak coloured fabrics in tepid milk then wash as usual. If it's not washable, treat as for washable but dryclean instead of washing. To remove ink stains from carpet, wash with hot water to which you've added a dash of borax and white vinegar. OR, First, put a paper towel or a rag under the stained area to absorb the excess ink. Spray on a non-oily, alcohol based hair spray. Saturate the ink stain with the hairspray. Blot with a rag and repeat until the stain is gone. IODINE - Apply damp mustard to the area and leave for 24 hours before washing as usual. JAM - Soak or sponge washable garments in a solution of 30 g borax to 2 cups of warm water, then wash as usual. If it's not washable, sponge with warm water containing either borax or ammonia. LIPSTICK - On carpet, sponge with cold water or dab with a cotton bud soaked in eucalyptus oil. Carpet shampoo or detergent will remove any leftovers. If it's washable fabric, dab with eucalyptus oil, then wash in hot sudsy water If it's not washable, rub in glycerine or eucalyptus oil then dab with ammonia and sponge with grease solvent. Soak white handkerchiefs in strong white vinegar; soak coloureds in equal quantities of vinegar and water. LIQUID - For any form of liquid on carpet, mop up the excess before tackling the stain, and always mop from the outside to the centre. Try not to let the carpet become saturated because colour from the backing may bleed. Use a thick towel to mop up and use a hair dryer to hasten drying. Remove old stains with 1 tablespoon of borax dissolved in 1 cup of warm water. MAKE-UP - If the garment is washable, soak in a mixture of 1 teaspoon of ammonia in 1 L of warm water, then wash as usual. If it's not washable, sponge with a grease solvent. MILDEW - Rub stain on (delicate fabrics with a mild soap after the usual washing treatment, and allow to dry spread out in the sun. Or soak overnight in lemon juice or salty water, followed by a wash in warm soapy water, a good rinse and dry outside. For unwashable fabrics, sponge repeatedly with a cloth wrung out in warm soapy water and wipe over with a clean damp cloth. For stubborn stains, smother with a paste of powdered starch and water. Allow to dry then dampen again, and dry again - best done in the open air. Repeat until marks have disappeared. For white natural fibres, sponge with 1 part bleach in 4 parts water Salt and lemon juice also works, and Dettol is perfect for dark fabrics, as are salt and lemon juice or cream of tartar and lemon juice. All treatments may need to be repeated for perfect results. For fabrics labelled 'do not bleach', soak in water and a nappy treatment product. On suits that have been hanging in a cupboard, sponge with hot water and a dash of Dettol. Iron garments to kill mould spores and dry thoroughly before re-hanging. On wallpaper hold a folded towel against the spot and put a heated iron over the area. The towel will absorb the moisture and kill the spores. Remove remaining marks with a brush or rub over with stale bread. MILK - If it's on washable fabric, rinse first in warm water then wash as usual. If it's a stubborn stain, sprinkle with borax and soap flakes, add hot water and rub gently. Leave for a few minutes then rinse. If it's not a washable fabric, sponge with a grease solvent and allow to dry, then sponge over with lukewarm water. MUD - Soak in hot water with plenty of good detergent, then rub by hand before washing in the machine. Rub under water so mud is released in the soaking bucket. Don't overload machine because you need a free flow of water to float away sand and mud. MULBERRIES - Rub a mulberry stain with a green mulberry then sponge or wash as usual. NAIL POLISH - On carpet, dab with a clean cloth and a good nail enamel solvent. Do not use nail polish remover as it may damage the colour of the carpet. OIL & OIL SMELLS - Add 1 dessertspoon of eucalyptus oil to washing powder during the wash cycle. Repeat if necessary. PAINT - Soak stained area in white spirit (available from a hardware shop) and scrub gently with an old nailbrush or toothbrush. This is a long procedure; allow about 2 hours for the process, but the paint will come out without damaging the fabric. Alternatively, saturate the spot several times with equal parts turps and ammonia. Even hard, dry paint will soak out. For paint on garments, soak the garment overnight in warm water with 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 tablespoon of vinegar, along with 1 teaspoon of salt. Rinse in cold water and allow to dry. PERFUME - Act quickly if you've spilt perfume on clothing. Rub in a little glycerine and leave for several hours then wash in warm soapy water and rinse carefully. If it's not a washable garment, sponge with warm water and borax. Don't spray perfume near timber surfaces as it can damage the surface. PERSPIRATION STAINS & ODOR - Mix 2 heaped tablespoons of bicarb soda in 34 bucket of cold water Soak for an hour then wash as usual. Effective on all synthetic fabrics. Soak for 30 minutes in warm vinegar, then rinse well and wash as usual. Sponge the stains with white vinegar. then mix a paste from three crushed Aspros, the same amount of cream of tartar and water. Cover the stain with this and leave for 20 minutes; rinse off and repeat if necessary. Steam over a basin of hot water with 2 tablespoons of cloudy ammonia. On a silk dress or shirt, mix a paste of fuller's earth and water and spread on stain. Allow to dry then brush off. On a woollen garment. sponge with a weak mix of bicarb soda and water If the underarms of a shirt are yellow and hard, cover the area with a paste of glycerine and cream of tartan Wave for 24 hours then handwash in warm water and pure soap. Repeat if necessary. PETROLEUM JELLY - Sponge with a cloth dipped in kerosene - just dab, don't rub. Follow by sponging with warm water and a dash of detergent. RAIN MARKS - On a timber floor; mix equal quantities of olive oil and vinegar. Wipe over floor and allow to dry before polishing with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary (it may take two or three applications). RASPBERRIES - A difficult stain to remove because the colour is so deep. If the fabric is washable, wash with soapy water then rub lemon juice into the stain. Leave for an hour then wash. It' it's not washable - check with your local drycleaner. RED WINE - On carpet, cover liberally with soda water immediately after the spill then mop up. If left too long, remove excess with paper or cloth - dab, don't wipe. Smother stain in powdered borax and leave overnight. Vacuum up borax. Soda water is the trick for red wine on clothing - and always sponge from the outside in. RING AROUND THE COLLAR! To remove ring around the collar, try this simple trick: Wet the collar with warm water, sprinkle liberally with cream of tartar and rub in well. Launder as usual. RUBBER - Remove rubber stopper marks from kitchen floors by rubbing with kerosene, tea-tree oil or nail polish remover. Rub marks left on timber with meths or kerosene, but test on a hidden area because of the danger of damaging the finish. Try toothpaste first, squeezing a little onto a cloth and rubbing with the grain. Replace colour with shoe polish. RUST (FROM LONG STORAGE OF GARMENTS) - Soak the garment in warm vinegar then rinse and wash as usual. Mix a paste of salt and lemon juice and cover over patch; leave it for an hour or more, then brush off. Repeat if necessary. Bleach pure white linen or cotton in a mild solution. SAP ( Tree Goo Stains ) Sponge stain with alcohol, turpentine, or other solvent. Then sponge with water and wash in warm water with detergent. SCORCH MARKS (SUCH AS CIGARETTE BURNS) - On carpet, rub in a circular motion with a piece of dry steel wool. A little dab of peroxide on the steel wool may help fade the mark. For deeper marks you may have to patch with threads from a spare piece (after trimming the burned edges) or even replace the entire section. On a coffee table, if the burn is not too deep, rub toothpaste in, rubbing with the grain. For fabrics, finely chop an onion and put it in a saucepan with 60 g of fuller's earth and 300 mL white vinegar. Boil until it's thick and pasty. Stir well and allow to cool, then cover stain liberally with the mixture and allow to dry. Brush off the paste and wash the garment in cold water. On silk or wool, cover with a mixture of equal quantities of borax and glycerine. Leave for an hour or so then wash carefully as usual. SEA WATER - Sponge with warm water to dissolve the salt. Spot with meths if persistent, then wash or dryclean as usual. On shoes, rub on a mix of 2 teaspoons each of meths and milk. Leave to dry and re-polish. SHOE POLISH - Dab gently with meths on a piece of cotton wool. Hold another piece of cotton wool underneath to absorb moisture and prevent stain from spreading. On chair covers or carpet, sponge with a rough towel and a mix of 3 parts wool wash and 4 parts warm water Black polish may need to be sponged first with turps while coloured polishes may need to be sponged with drycleaning fluid. SOOT - Cover liberally in salt and leave for an hour before vacuuming. Repeat if necessary. STAINLESS STEEL It Will sparkle if wiped over with a vinegar-dampened cloth. Polish dry. Stops the white spots that appear on stainless steel after normal cleaning. TAR - Remove tar residue on feet, paws or carpets by sponging with eucalyptus oil on a cloth, then following with warm soapy water. Repeat every 30 minutes until the stain has gone. TEA OR COFFEE - On carpet or blankets, blot up excess liquid; don't rub. Cover liberally with borax -salt will only set the stain. Vacuum when borax dries. Sponge away remaining stains with a little borax in warm water, working from the outside of the spill to the centre. On clothes, sponge with warm water and borax. If the stain is old but the fabric is washable, dampen the stain then cover with borax and run hot water through it. If the fabric is not washable, sponge with borax solution as for chocolate, then grease solvent. On cups or mugs. Rub the inside firmly with plain salt or a mixture of salt and lemon juice or salt and vinegar. Denture powder also is very good. TIMBER - Sponge stains on clothing with meths; if it's timber sap, try sponging with eucalyptus or tea-tree oil. URINE - Rinse urine-soaked nappies then wash in very hot soapy water. Rinse well and dry in the sun. VOMIT - Remove excess with a cloth and cold water, then sponge with a mixture of 1 tablespoon borax to 2% cups of warm water Don't saturate the carpet. Sponge over with eucalyptus oil to remove odor. WATER - See also Shoes and Leather. For water marks on cement, mix a paste of water and fuller's earth and spread on marks. Leave for 24 hours then wash off. On fabric. sponge with a weak solution of vinegar and water or a cloth wrung out in cloudy ammonia and hot water On leather, wipe with a little brown vinegar on a soft cloth, or a mixture of equal quantities of cloudy ammonia and milk. WAX - Chill and scrape away excess. Put a piece of blotting paper on top of and under the stain. Iron with a warm iron and repeat until the stain disappears. WHITE WINE - Soak for half an hour in a mix of 1 tablespoon of borax in 1 cup of hot water. Wash as usual. YELLOWED CLOTHING - Add 1 teaspoon of turps to the washing water, or soak overnight and wash normally. If it's a garment which can't be bleached, soak overnight in a mixture of 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar to 414 L of hot water Or soak for an hour in a solution of 1 tablespoon of borax in 500 mL of water, then wash as usual, but add 1 tablespoon of meths to the water. ZINC CREAM - Remove from washable surfaces by dabbing with a clean cloth wrung out in hot water and dipped in neat wool wash. Change the cloth regularly to avoid spreading the stain. Travellers Tips for Stain removal "I travel a lot and don't often have handy tools with me to remove stains. I have, however, discovered that white Colgate toothpaste, when rubbed on blood, as well as other stains like red wine, will remove them. Don't use Crest if it is tinged with blue." "You can spit on fresh stains like blood, some greases, food, spiced apple dye, etc. Really get it moist with the spit, then rub a bit and dab with a keenex and the spot will vanish before your eyes. It may take a few times, but it works." "I carry the little bottles of shampoo that you get at the hotel, the cheaper the better. If you rub some into a stain soon after it happens, it will usually come out in the wash. I rub it into set stains and throw them in the wash and they usually come clean." Calculating how tall someone will grow A Mans height should be = (1.37 x (Height at 2Yrs old (in inches)) + 22.7 inches A womans height should be = (1.17 x (Height at 2Yrs old (in inches)) + 25 inches 20 household repairs hints. =========================================================== Doors ----- An Easy Way to Sand If a door is dragging on the floor or threshold--making scraping sounds-place sandpaper on top of a stack of magazines and position the pile under the door. (Use enough magazines so that the door hits the sandpaper.) Then work the door back and forth over the abrasive Dripless Lube Job Use petroleum jelly instead of oil on door hinges. That way you don't have to worry about oil dripping on the carpet. Lube Locks the "Write" Way First, transfer graphite from a soft lead pencil to a key by rubbing the pencil over the key as if you were coloring it. Then put the key in the lock and move it in and out several times. Also turn the key back and forth. Your lock will love it. Stubborn Hinge Pin To remove a hinge pin from a door, insert a nail into the hole at the bottom of the barrel and then drive the pin upward. No More Slam To cut down on slamming noise, put tabs of leftover peel-and-stick foam weather stripping at several spots all around the doorstop. You can also place a wide rubber band around the doorknobs on both sides of the door. The part that stretches around the edge will cushion the slamming noise. (Be sure the rubber band doesn't touch the striker.) Here's a tip for fresh-air fiends who enjoy leaving their door open in all seasons: Stop the wind from blowing your door open and shut by installing a screen door hook-and-eye to hold it open. To cut down on noise in general, think weather stripping. Noise can't travel from one room to another if you weather-strip the door just as you would do for an exterior door. Reduce Swelling You don't need a plane to fix a door that won't open or close due to swelling. Instead, blow hot air from a hand-held hair dryer directly on the places that are causing the doors to stick. Once you have removed the moisture from those spots, the swelling will go down. When you're done, place a wood sealer on the area to prevent any future humidity from getting into the wood. This Is a Hole Up Repair a hole or gouge in a slab door with auto-body filler. After it sets, hide the repair by sanding it smooth and then painting over it. If you are filling a hole in an interior door, substitute water putty for the auto-body filler. Windows ------- Make Your Own Cleaner 1) Here's a homemade formula for window cleaner that cleans away stubborn spots. Mix two cups of kerosene into a gallon of warm water. When you wipe the glass, the kerosene leaves an invisible film that Or 2) Add 1/2 cup of ammonia, one cup of white vinegar, and two tablespoons of cornstarch to one gallon of warm water. Or 3) Add three tablespoons of denatured alcohol for every one quart of warm water. A Tea Party for Windows Leftover tea makes a super window and mirror cleaner--the stronger the tea the better. Be Shady Don't clean windows in full sunshine; the sun will dry the cleaner before you have a chance to shine the glass. Tension Headache Window shades that act up can be fixed by adjusting the tension in the roll. A shade that has problems snapping back up needs more tension. Pull the shade down, take it out of the brackets, and hand roll it back up two or three revolutions. If it still hasn't got what it takes, roll it a few more times. Cleaning With Art To remove spots and stains from a shade, rub an art gum eraser over them. Floors ------ Silence! A squeaky floor is usually caused by two or more boards rubbing against each other. Silence the noise by sprinkling talcum powder over the boards and sweeping it into the cracks. Another option is to pour liquid wax (which acts as a lubricant) between the cracks. Or rub a bar of soap back and forth over the cracks. If you can get under the floor (in a basement or crawl space), place wedges between the subfloor and the joists. Tame a Floor To tame a large piece of new flooring that refuses to uncurl, lay an electric blanket over the flooring and turn the blanket on to a low heat. Hiding the Damage For a gouge in vinyl flooring, you can make a matching patching compound. Shred a scrap of the vinyl with a food grater. Then mix the resulting chips with clear adhesive or shellac to form a paste, and work the mixture into the crack. Another option is to find a crayon that matches the color of the flooring and melt it over the hole. Straighten Up For a warped floorboard, strip the finish and place a damp cloth over it for 48 hours. Then screw in countersunk wood screws to secure the unwarped board. In the Buff If you hang your floor buffer, the brushes won't flatten out. (It may sound obvious, but few people do it.) Ceilings -------- A Mini-scaffold For ceiling work, most of us need a little extra height. Make a dandy scaffold from a pair of inverted plastic milk cases with a 2 x 12 laying across them to form a walkway. Here's Dust in Your Eye When drilling into the ceiling, poke a hole through the center of a throwaway aluminum pie pan. Hold the pan over the area to be drilled, and poke the bit through. This way the pan will catch most of the dust. If you don't have a pie pan, use a plastic butter tub. Cutting Into the Ceiling If you have to cut into your ceiling, your best bet is obviously to do so from the attic, so that you're working with the ceiling below you. You won't catch dust in your face or accidentally cut hidden wires. If you must make the cut from below, insert a corkscrew into the center of the part you plan to remove. The corkscrew makes the perfect handle for the cutout. Tricks of the body ================== 1. If your throat tickles, scratch your ear. When you were 9, playing your armpit was a cool trick. Now, as an adult, you can still appreciate a good body-based feat, but you’re more discriminating. Take that tickle in your throat; it’s not worth gagging over. Here’s a better way to scratch your itch: “When the nerves in the ear are stimulated, it creates a reflex in the throat that can cause a muscle spasm,” says Scott Schaffer, M.D., president of an ear, nose and throat specialty center in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. “This spasm relieves the tickle.” 2. Experience supersonic hearing! If you’re stuck chatting up a mumbler at a cocktail party, lean in with your right ear. It’s better than your left at following the rapid rhythms of speech, according to researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. If, on the other hand, you’re trying to identify that song playing softly in the elevator, turn your left ear toward the sound. The left ear is better at picking up music tones. 3. Overcome your most primal urge! Need to pee? No bathroom nearby? Fantasize about Jessica Simpson. Thinking about sex preoccupies your brain, so you won’t feel as much discomfort, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., chief of male reproductive medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. For best results, try Simpson’s “These Boots Are Made for Walking” video. 4. Feel no pain! German researchers have discovered that coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle stick. According to Taras Usichenko, author of a study on the phenomenon, the trick causes a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain-conducting structures of the spinal cord. 5. Clear your stuffed nose! Forget Sudafed. An easier, quicker, and cheaper way to relieve sinus pressure is by alternately thrusting your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then pressing between your eyebrows with one finger. This causes the vomer bone, which runs through the nasal passages to the mouth, to rock back and forth, says Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine. The motion loosens congestion; after 20 seconds, you’ll feel your sinuses start to drain. 6. Fight fire without water! Worried those wings will repeat on you tonight? “Sleep on your left side,” says Anthony A. Star-poli, M.D., a New York City gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College. Studies have shown that patients who sleep on their left sides are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. The esophagus and stomach connect at an angle. When you sleep on your right, the stomach is higher than the esophagus, allowing food and stomach acid to slide up your throat. When you’re on your left, the stomach is lower than the esophagus, so gravity’s in your favor. 7. Cure your toothache without opening your mouth! Just rub ice on the back of your hand, on the V-shaped webbed area between your thumb and index finger. A Canadian study found that this technique reduces toothache pain by as much as 50 percent compared with using no ice. The nerve pathways at the base of that V stimulate an area of the brain that blocks pain signals from the face and hands. 8. Make burns disappear! When you accidentally singe your finger on the stove, clean the skin and apply light pressure with the finger pads of your unmarred hand. Ice will relieve your pain more quickly, Dr. DeStefano says, but since the natural method brings the burned skin back to a normal temperature, the skin is less likely to blister. 9. Stop the world from spinning! One too many drinks left you dizzy? Put your hand on something stable. The part of your ear responsible for balance—the cupula—floats in a fluid of the same density as blood. “As alcohol dilutes blood in the cupula, the cupula becomes less dense and rises,” says Dr. Schaffer. This confuses your brain. The tactile input from a stable object gives the brain a second opinion, and you feel more in balance. Because the nerves in the hand are so sensitive, this works better than the conventional foot-on-the-floor wisdom. 10. Unstitch your side! If you’re like most people, when you run, you exhale as your right foot hits the ground. This puts downward pressure on your liver (which lives on your right side), which then tugs at the diaphragm and creates a side stitch, according to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Men. The fix: Exhale as your left foot strikes the ground. 11. Stanch blood with a single finger! Pinching your nose and leaning back is a great way to stop a nosebleed—if you don’t mind choking on your own O positive. A more civil approach: Put some cotton on your upper gums—just behind that small dent below your nose—and press against it, hard. “Most bleeds come from the front of the septum, the cartilage wall that divides the nose,” says Peter Desmarais, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Entabeni Hospital, in Durban, South Africa. “Pressing here helps stop them.” 12. Make your heart stand still! Trying to quell first-date jitters? Blow on your thumb. The vagus nerve, which governs heart rate, can be controlled through breathing, says Ben Abo, an emergency medical-services specialist at the University of Pittsburgh. It’ll get your heart rate back to normal. 13. Thaw your brain! Too much Chipwich too fast will freeze the brains of lesser men. As for you, press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, covering as much as you can. “Since the nerves in the roof of your mouth get extremely cold, your body thinks your brain is freezing, too,” says Abo. “In compensating, it overheats, causing an ice-cream headache.” The more pressure you apply to the roof of your mouth, the faster your headache will subside. 14. Prevent near-sightedness! Poor distance vision is rarely caused by genetics, says Anne Barber, O.D., an optometrist in Tacoma, Washington. “It’s usually caused by near-point stress.” In other words, staring at your computer screen for too long. So flex your way to 20/20 vision. Every few hours during the day, close your eyes, tense your body, take a deep breath, and, after a few seconds, release your breath and muscles at the same time. Tightening and releasing muscles such as the biceps and glutes can trick involuntary muscles—like the eyes—into relaxing as well. 15. Wake the dead! If your hand falls asleep while you’re driving or sitting in an odd position, rock your head from side to side. It’ll painlessly banish your pins and needles in less than a minute, says Dr. DeStefano. A tingly hand or arm is often the result of compression in the bundle of nerves in your neck; loosening your neck muscles releases the pressure. Compressed nerves lower in the body govern the feet, so don’t let your sleeping dogs lie. Stand up and walk around. 16. Impress your friends! Next time you’re at a party, try this trick: Have a person hold one arm straight out to the side, palm down, and instruct him to maintain this position. Then place two fingers on his wrist and push down. He’ll resist. Now have him put one foot on a surface that’s a half inch higher (a few magazines) and repeat. This time his arm will fold like a house of cards. By misaligning his hips, you’ve offset his spine, says Rachel Cosgrove, C.S.C.S., co-owner of Results Fitness, in Santa Clarita, California. Your brain senses that the spine is vulnerable, so it shuts down the body’s ability to resist. 17. Breathe underwater! If you’re dying to retrieve that quarter from the bottom of the pool, take several short breaths first—essentially, hyperventilate. When you’re underwater, it’s not a lack of oxygen that makes you desperate for a breath; it’s the buildup of carbon dioxide, which makes your blood acidic, which signals your brain that somethin’ ain’t right. “When you hyperventilate, the influx of oxygen lowers blood acidity,” says Jonathan Armbruster, Ph.D., an associate professor of biology at Auburn University. “This tricks your brain into thinking it has more oxygen.” It’ll buy you up to 10 seconds. 18. Read minds! Your own! “If you’re giving a speech the next day, review it before falling asleep,” says Candi Heimgartner, an instructor of biological sciences at the University of Idaho. Since most memory consolidation happens during sleep, anything you read right before bed is more likely to be encoded as long-term memory. Elevator Hack ------------- The designers of some elevators include a hidden feature that is very handy if you're in a hurry or it's a busy time in the building (like check-out time in a hotel). While some elevators require a key, others can be put into "Express" mode by pressing the "Door Close" and "Floor" buttons at the same time. This sweeps the car to the floor of your choice and avoids stops at any other floor. This seems to work on Most elevators that I have tried! Most elevators have the option for this to work, but on some of them the option is turned off by whoever runs them. This is a rather fun hack, so the next time you are on an elevator, give it a try, you have nothing to lose, And this concludes Hacking Elevators 101! Elevators that have been tested and worked on: Otis Elevators (All But The Ones Made In 1992), Dover (Model Numbers: EL546 And ELOD862), And Most Desert Elevators (All, But Model Numbers ELD5433 And ELF3655)