Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Moppy Review From Natural House

I love the idea of a natural cleaner. Especially one that is going to be used around small children, in the case of a floor cleaner where small ones are crawling all around. I'm also not a fan of strong scents when I'm cleaning..and so Moppy was perfect for me! I was super happy when they sent me their product to try..and I was in need of mopping, so it came just in time! I loved how the pouch was easy to use..just plop it in your mop bucket and wait a few minutes. It's safe for different floor surfaces like the vinyl floors in my house or the finished hardwood floors you may have. It's also safe for Terrazzo, slate, marble and tile among others! The Probiotic Cleaner is just one of the products from Natural House, they also make toilet bowl, glass, surface cleaner and more all with cute names like Moppy, Glassy and Flushy!

Now down to the dirt! The cleaner really worked well..and the fact that it's natural and not full of harmful chemicals really sealed the deal! The following is from their website: All of products are phosphate/APE-free, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable. We do not believe in using any genetically modified (GM) bacteria. Natural House products are strong enough for commercial clean-up, yet safe and gentile for all of the members of your Natural House. You can find them on facbook or twitter and YouTube for more information! To purchase Moppy click here!

Find us on Facebook

Using A Mason Jar On Your Blender

Did you know that most blender's can be used with a mason jar! The bottom assembly unscrew's and you can screw it right on the top of a mason jar. This is really handy if you break the original blender jar..or you can use it to mix things right in the container for storage..like salsa or peanut butter! For more information on the article click here!

Find us on Facebook!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Bug Proof Your Drink!

When you're enjoying yourself outdoors you really need a way to keep the bugs out of your drink. All kinds of pesky critters like to crawl into your cup! You can make a cover for them by popping a straw through a cup cake liner! So simple! Having a party? Match the colors to suite your needs..or just use white! You could even do this with your soda can to keep the bee's out! I personally know someone who was stung in the lip by a bee who found it way into her soda can at a party.

Find us on Facebook!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Grilled Cheese In The Toaster?

Did you know that you could make a grilled cheese sandwich in a toaster? I heard this once..and did a little research and you can! I love an alternative so this is great..you don't have to dirty up your pan or stove top. Or turn on the oven if you make them that way. There are some steps you need to take..so if you want more information, check out this link!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Printing On Brown Paper Bags?

Did you know you could put brown paper lunch bags in your printer? I love using them at Christmas time for baked goods, and printing a picture or design on them would make them that much more neat! It's a great cost effective way to gift wrap for any occasion (just print what ever season the gift is for Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Birthdays etc!). Even just dressing up your kids lunch bag! For more information click here.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Natural Mosquito Ideas

Living in Florida and enjoying the outdoors I see my fair share of mosquito's and other biting bugs. Sometimes it seems like everything in Florida wants to eat you! It's a beautiful place though, so I look to find ways to keeps the bugs off while I'm outside enjoying all that Florida has to offer. There are tons of bug repellants on the market and most of them contain some pretty nasty chemicals that you probably wouldn't want to put on you or your developing children. They are making some natural replellants now and that is a great solution.

I love essential oils and have been using them for years. One of my favorite essential oils is Tea Tree Oil. It can be used for all sorts of things and I always have some in the house. I like to use Organic Tea Tree oil but use what you like. You shouldn't apply essential oils directly to the skin, I like to add drops of the tea tree oil to a small spray bottle with bottle for my mosquito repellant. It's safe to spray on your dogs too and can help keep ticks off as well. Bring some along next time you go camping.

Citronella is another great way to get rid of mosquitos. If you have a green thumb you can grow your own but if not you can always get the oil or any of the products they have on the market to keep those bugs at bay.

It's a good idea to check your yard for anything that can breed mosquito's as well. They carry all sorts of nasty things including the most recent Zika virus. It's great to get out and enjoy the outdoors but don't forget to take care to not get bit up by bugs and dont' forget your sunscreen!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Freezing Cup Cake Batter

Tip of the day: Did you know you could freeze cupcake batter? Find out all you need to know by clicking here! I love the idea of this, being able to make up the batter when you have the extra time, then to freeze and pull out when you need it!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

More Uses For WD-40

There are just so many uses for WD-40 that I had to do another post about it! Click here for more tips about WD-40 uses around the home and garden. Which I know you'll find very interesting. All these tips come from WD-40 themselves! I've also heard that it works wonders for catching fish..just spray some on your bait..(Google it for more information!)I hope you find some helpful tips!

Friday, May 11, 2012

WD-40 Has So Many Uses

WD-40 is amazing for spraying a squeaky door hinge but did you know it has lots of other great uses too? Originally invented for the aerospace industry WD-40 is a handy product to have around the house for many different applications.

You can use it to remove crayon from your walls or marker from appliances, pretty handy if you have small children at home. Did your finger swell up and you can't remove your ring? Try WD-40 to get that stuck ring off! Another use for WD-40 is as a wasp killer. If you're out of wasp spray and having a party grab the WD-40, it works fast too. Another great use is to remove stuck on stickers off your windows, simply spray, let sit and then scrape off gently. Bubblegum in your child's hair? Spray a little WD-40 and then comb out.

There are so many uses for WD-40 I've even heard people spray it on their arthritic joints but I have no idea if there is any medical benefit of that! What is your favorite WD-40 use? I'd love to hear your WD-40 life hacks.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Keeping Your Bananas Fresh Longer

When you get your banana's home from the store, separate them at the stem. The won't ripen as fast that way as when they are all connected!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Maintaining Your Vacuum Cleaner

Did you know that it's important to keep your vacuum cleaner in good running condition just like your car? Well maybe not as important and that but it's pretty darn important. Let's face it, if you have carpet in your home you are going to need a vacuum. To keep them running right they need to be maintained. It's not hard and only takes a few minutes and can end up saving you money by keeping it running longer.

The first thing that needs to be maintained that you might not think about is the beater bar. Hair, string, Easter grass..all this stuff can get wound around the bar..keeping the vacuum from doing it's best. You'll be surprised at how much gunk you can pull out of there! I would suggest cleaning the beater bar once per month to keep the vacuum picking up the way it should.

The next thing you want to check regularly is the bag or canister. It's not good to run your vacuum when it's over filled and can cause the vacuum to get a nasty clog or worse! Also keeping the bag or canister emptied often will keep the whole thing from smelling too badly. We all know vacuums can really get a smell to them, especially if you have pets.

If your vacuum didn't come with a extra belt I would order one right away. You can pick them up just about anywhere and they are pretty cheap. It's always better to have an extra one on hand because they do break from time to time.

Vacuum's can range in price anywhere from under a hundred dollars to up over five hundred, so it's important to take care of them. Just like you'd go out and look for sticks before you mowed your yard, you should really look for things that are going to get sucked into the motor and ruin your vacuum. Things like nails, bobby pins, coins anything hard and small can cause some major damage. With a little routine care and careful use you can really get some life out of your vacuum cleaner.

Find us on Facebook!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Coffee Filters For More Than Coffee?

Coffee filters have a ton of uses..and not just for making coffee! Place a filter in between your china dishes to protect them during storage! Use as a cover for your bowl or plate in the microwave. They can also be used to soak up grease from frying, like bacon or fried chicken. Then you can use them as a strainer to re-use your cooking oil..it will catch all the bigger pieces..leaving you the cleaned oil. Poke a hole in the center of the filter and use as drip catcher for the little ones while they eat a popsicle! I also like to use coffee filters to hold cookies for a snack. You can also use them for tons of arts and crafts projects with the kiddos, just browse Pinterest for ideas! If you think outside of the box coffee filters can be used for many different things!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Filippo Berio EVOO Review



I being a member of BzzAgent was able to sample the Filippo Berio EVOO! I was so excited when my box showed up. Not only did I get a full size sample of the olive oil, I received a magnet and jar opener. I also snagged coupons for myself and friends and family! This olive oil came at a perfect time as I was cooking pasta that night. I made garlic bread and the olive oil was a great addition to the flavor..and also for dipping! Olive oil has so many uses and is good for you as well. This is a great affordable brand that is also a quality product!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Save On Water Use In Your Toilet

To save on water use in older model toilets, just fill a water bottle with sand or rocks and put it in your tank! This will conserve water and if you're paying a water bill..this will save you a little money each year too! Especially if you have little ones that constantly flush the toilet! The bottle takes up space that the water would normally fill..requiring less water to re-fill the back of the tank after each flush!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Home Pest Control Tips

One thing I think we can all agree on is we want to enjoy our homes pest free! Nobody wants bug running around and causing health problems. Depending on where you live the types of bugs you might deal with could be different but all these tips should help no matter the location. The first thing is to seal up any entrances that might be the bug superhighway into your house. I've know people with rodent problems that set traps but never sealed holes, you're fighting an endless battle that way! Common entrances for rodents and bugs are around vents like the dryer. Also check window seals, especially if you have window air conditioning units, there can be a lot of gaps with those. After you've got any holes sealed check the perimeter of your house. Knock down any webs you see with a broom or high duster. Rake away leaves and debris from the edge of your house. Bugs like cockroaches love to live in the leaves so keeping them away is a great first line of defense. In addition knocking down webs and raking you can spray home pest control poison around the house including around the doors and any window unit air conditioners. I spray on the inside of my house a few times a year at the baseboards and around the doors as well.

One of the most important things you can do in your house to keep bugs away is to keep it clean. Food laying around will draw bugs in and once you have them you really have a problem. Clutter gives bugs places to hide as well, I usually purge my house of clutter at lease once or twice a year. It feels so good to not have things stacked up and out of place. If you have any other pest control tips feel free to leave them in the comments!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Bring Life Back To Broken Crayons

If you have a box of crayons laying around your house chances are you have a bunch of broken ones. You don't have to throw those away, you can bring them back to life! Simply remove any remaining paper from the crayons. Then pick some colors that compliment each other, I use two different colors. Next add them to any mold you have or even a muffin tin. If you don't want to use your good muffin tins look from some cheap at a thrift store or yard sale. Now that you've got your colors picked and the crayons are in your molds put them in a 200 degree oven to melt. It doesn't take very long, just keep an eye on them. Wait until the crayons are completely cool before trying to remove them. This would be a fun project for the kids to help with. The chunky round crayons from the muffin tin are great for little hands. Print some coloring pages off the internet and you've got a fun filled afternoon!

Monday, April 30, 2012

Dandelions As A Wart Remover?

Dandelions as a wart remover? I happened to see this the other day, and found all the other useful uses of the dandelion as well. Who knew that a pesky weed that grows wild could be so useful. I hate the smell of commercial wart removers, and thought this was a great natural remedy. People are searching for natural and chemical free remedies more and more these day and this is pretty interesting. Click here for the article

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cleaning Your Curling Iron

If you curl your hair often and use hair products you probably have build up on your curling iron. My tip for cleaning that curling iron is to use rubbing alcohol. First unplug the iron for your safety. Next get a cotton ball and wet it with the rubbing alcohol and then clean all sides of the curling iron. Keeping your curling iron clean will keep it working at its best and lasting longer!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Kitchen Must Have

A rubber spatula is a must have in the kitchen! One thing you may not think to use it for, is to scrape the sides of your peanut butter jar when it's almost empty! Especially when times are tough..every little bit counts.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Washing Your Clothes In Cold Water

Washing your clothes in cold water just makes cents! Actually it saves cents but makes sense and I'm here to tell you why. The first and most important reason to wash your clothes in cold water is that it's going to save you money. Your hot water heater doesn't run for free after all. It doesn't matter if yours is running off electricity or gas you'll be saving money by not heating up the water to do laundry. Not only will you save some of your hard earned cash you'll be saving the life of your clothes. Hot water can not only set stains you might have gotten it can also shrink your clothing. Lastly the dye in your clothing will fade faster if you are using a warm water wash. We all pay enough for clothing these days so we want them to last as long as possible, washing in cold water can help with that.

Friday, April 20, 2012

How To Re-Grow Store Bought Celery

Did you know that when you buy celery from the store you can regrow it into a new plant? That's right! All you have to do is put the end in a pot and let it grow. It's such a waste to throw away things that we can use again, like veggies! You can also regrow potatoes and onions among other vegetables. It's really easy to do and if you have kids it would be a fun lesson in gardening and how to not be wasteful!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Great Use For Those Re-Useable Shopping Bags

The thicker, re-usable shopping bags are a great way to haul away weeds from your garden or yard! I hate lugging around a wheel-barrow and I'm just as likely to spill it over. I could use a flower pot but they don't have handles so it's hard to carry. The shopping bag works great! It's light-weight..has handles and holds quite a bit! Then easily carry away your yard waste to your compost or burn pile!

Friday, April 13, 2012

How To Clean Your Lamp Shades

Cleaning your lamp shades can be a real pain if you don't have the right tools. The easiest lamps to clean in my opinion are the ones with glass lamp shades. They are easily wiped down with a window cleaner without spreading the dust all over your house. However some lampshades can be a little more tricky to get dust free. My tip is to use a lint roller to dust your fabric lamp shades, then just toss out the dirty sheet. This keeps the dust from spreading to other surfaces as well, which would create more work for you. Pleated lamp shades can be really difficult but I have an easy solution for that as well. Use a paint brush to clean in between the pleats! You can pick up a cheap paint brush at any dollar store keep it with your dusting supplies. Cleaning can be a chore but with the right tools it really makes the job so much easier!

Find us on Facebook!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Welcome To My Blog!

Things I Never Learned From My Mom is a place to learn and share everyday household tips and tricks. I'll also be sharing crafts, recipes and talking about travel, mostly in my home state of Florida. Things I Never Learned From My Mom is just a fun place to learn new things that you may not have learned from your mom. I'll be sure to share a things I did learn from her as well!

Find us on Facebook!