Environmentally sound cleaning remedies.

Environmentally sound cleaning remedies.

Clogged Drain Remedy
1 cup salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Mix, then pour down the drain. Follow with 2 quarts boiling water.

Fabric Softener
2 cups baking soda
2 cups white vinegar
4 cups water

Mix ingredients and store in a plastic or glass container in your laundry area. Label the container and keep it out of the reach of children.

To use: Shake the mixture and add 1/4 cup to the final rinse in the washing machine. If you have hard water, use 1/3 cup.

Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup salt
1/8 cup cream of tartar
1/2 cup baking soda

6 cups boiling water

Mix salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar and pour directly into the drain. Follow with boiling water. Allow to set for several hours - overnight if possible. Flush with cool water.

Plant Food
Use once a month, and your plants will be greener and healthier.

1 envelope unflavored gelatine
3 cups cold water
1 cup hot water

Mix gelatine with hot water until gelatine is dissolved. Add 3 cups cold water.

Room Deodorizer
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice

Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe dish and heat until almost boiling. Set out in the room, and soon the room will be odor-free. This will reduce both food and cigarette smoke odors.

Sick Houseplant Treatment
4 or 5 empty eggshells
4 cups water

Put eggshells in water and let stand for 24 hours. Water the plants
with this mixture

Tough Toilet Stain Cleaner
Pour a box of borax into the toilet bowl; let sit overnight. In the morning the stains will be gone.

Vegetable Cleaner
Just mix a few tablespoons of cider vinegar with the 8 oz water, put in a clean spray bottle and spray your fresh produce from the grocers, it doesn't leave a smell on your produce, and it works great!

Just a footnote...I 'borrowed' this post from my Squidoo Lens..."Grandma Knew Best-100 Home Remedies".

Thanksgiving Turkey Cake

I ran across this informative video on You Tube...how to decorate a Thanksgiving Turkey Cake.

Thinking Christmas -- Toddler Gift Ideas

There are so many cool toys to choose from on Amazon...and these are the popular ideas for this season.

Thinking Christmas -- Baby Gift Ideas

I'm doing a series of 'Thinking Christmas gift ideas' posts...gift ideas for everyone on your gift list.
The first post is...Baby Gift Ideas.

Even if you don't find what you are looking for on the Amazon list...it might be a 'starting point' to get your own imagination working.

Trick or Treat Bags

I've found some of the cutest Trick or Treat Bags
on Zazzle
and just had to share a few of them.

Trick or Treat Bag
by CMZart

Halloween Tote Bag - Pirate
by RusticGoth

Trick Or Treat Pumpkin Halloween Tote Bag
by CowPieCreek

N1ki's Halloween Bat Girl Bag
by n1kishop

Halloween Treats
by candystore

To see all of the Trick or Treat Bags available on Zazzle,
click this link.

Fall Cleaning

Autumn is 'in the air'...evenings have

gotten a bit chillier, Indian Summer hasn't
quite arrived.
Time to think about doing a really good
fall housecleaning.
It's best to do it sometime between Halloween
and Thanksgiving...to get through those close
quarter winter months.

Here's a handy little list that might
make it a bit easier.
(Hint...I break my chores up into days
or week-ends..depending on my own schedule.)

OUTDOORS
-Check the outdoor paint on trim, decks and railings.
Do touch up painting if necessary.

-Check weather stripping around all external doors
and garage doors. Replace anything that is cracked
and weathered. Check the caulking around windows
and replace as needed.

-Check gutters and downspouts and clear out debris
and leaves.

-Drain and put away garden hoses.

-Clean and put away all outdoor furniture and toys.

-Wash exterior windows and storm windows.

INDOORS
-Clean window sills and wells, baseboards and corners.

-Clean all upholstered furniture with vacuum and/or
upholstery cleaner.

-Clean drapes and curtains.

-Turn mattresses and launder mattress pads, dust ruffles,
duvets, pillows and comforters/blankets.

-Clean all carpets before the first snow. The warmer
the outdoor temperature, the faster the carpets will
dry.

-Deep clean the kitchen (to get ready for Holiday cooking
and baking.) Early cleaning and organizing will make the
holiday food preparations so much easier.

-Clean kitchen appliances...be sure to pull refrigerator
out and vacuum the condenser coils.

-Wash all light fixtures.

-Does your furnace need an inspection or cleaning. Better do
that before you have to turn it on.

-Stock up on furnace filters.

Planning Ahead for Fall Decor

If you are like me...after a couple of years of using some of my favorite Autumn wreaths or brightly colored flags...they begin to fade or get so dusty that I can't get them clean.
I've gotten busy enough that it's hard for me to get out --- or remember to get out --- early enough to get some really nice pieces. This year I'm thinking and planning ahead for my Fall Decor...here are my choices available through Amazon.

Thinking Spring in the Fall

We all know, after a long hard winter, how wonderful it is to see those first flowers of spring.
The daffodils, crocus and tulips....how beautiful.

So...it's time to start planning now...for fall planting...those beautiful flowers of spring.

Here's a few of my own favorites...

Refrigerator Pickles

I Love Refrigerator Pickles. They are so fast and easy to make.
I find they are the perfect 'solution'
to an abundant cucumber crop.

I love cucumbers..but when they are as plentiful
as they can be some years...
it's good to have a really easy recipe to
be able to enjoy them
later on.

Here's a quick video I found...with a different take on my own recipe...
but it's the same premise.

Here's my recipe...

7-8 cucumbers (sliced)
1 1/2 tsp tumeric
1 1/2 tsp mustard seed
4 c vinegar
4 small onions (sliced)
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
1/2 c salt
4 c sugar

Mix spices, sugar and vinegar well.
Pour over cucumbers and onions and refrigerate.
Pickles will be ready in 4 or 5 days.

*For a bread and butter variation of this recipe...simply heat the mixture,
just to the boiling point,
and pour over the cucumbers and onions.

Summer Flower Gardens

Summer Garden Flowers - Learn About Which Are Most Suitable

By: Abhishek Agarwal

After a stressful day indoors, spending time in a colorful summer garden is an enjoyable experience. If you plan to include some flowers in your summer garden, then take some time and effort to learn about those flowers or flowering plants that are best suited to the summer season. Therefore, it is a good idea to research the types of flowering plants that are best suited for a summer garden to give it that colorful effect. Each plant will have its very own needs that must be met for optimal growth and yield. If proper care is not provided, the plant will still grow but it will not give the best blossoms or the greenest leaves. All varieties of plants growing in the summer season may not be able to withstand the scorching heat and may thrive in a shady spot. Others may prefer sunlight and will do well in an open patch. Ensure that plants requiring water and shade are planted away from those requiring direct sunlight. Hence, a little planning for the proper placement of the plants will go a long way in creating a beautiful summer garden. Another point to be considered is the effect you would like to create in your summer garden with the use of various types of flowers.



This is a general guide to the varieties of summer flowers that may be included in a summer garden. Geraniums are bright and colorful flowers that are suited for summer gardens. They may be used to create borders or to provide a splash of color in a bed of green. They can be grown along with other varieties of summer flowers, or they can be put in pots to highlight a particular area. The Hibiscus is a pretty flower that can add a tropical touch to the summer garden. Hibiscus is available in a wide variety of colors. These plants grow tall, so are best suited for the edge of the garden. Marigold is another popular summer plant, which grows well in a sunny spot of the garden. With numerous colors to choose from, marigold is an all time favorite.



Gardeners find it a challenge to tackle shady spots in the gardens. This problem can be dealt with by planting flowering plants that do well in the shade. Impatiens is a great choice for shady spaces. The wide variety of vivid colors makes it a perfect choice for creating a bright border in a shady place. The brightly colored Viola is another flower suited for shady spots. It can also be planted in pots and placed strategically for added color effect. The Mimulus is a plant that grows well in shade and needs moist soil. This plant can tolerate partial sunlight and can therefore be used as a border plant. The dramatic color effect can be achieved by planting Lobelia and Ageratum, which give the beautiful blue hues to the garden. Each geographical location will have its own special summer flowers, and their growth will depend on factors like location, soil content, availability of water, sunlight and pH content. It is therefore, a good practice to select colorful summer flowers, which are local to your area.



This is only a small sample of the type of colorful flowering plants that can be planted in a summer garden. It would be advisable to check out the wide range of colors available in each variety and their placement planned accordingly. The plant care instructions should be strictly followed and the landscape of your garden should be kept in mind while selecting the plants. The planning stage is often the most difficult and involves a lot of hard work. Nevertheless, all the planning is worth the effort, because eventually, it is helping to create something beautiful that is a matter of pride to the gardener. Failing to plan can lead to wasted time, money and energy.

About the Author

Abhishek is an avid Gardening enthusiast and he has got some great Gardening Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 57 Pages Ebook, "Your Garden - Neighbor's Envy, Owner's Pride!" from his website http://www.Gardening-Master.com/762/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

(ArticlesBase SC #753753)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Summer Garden Flowers - Learn About Which Are Most Suitable

Balcony Garden

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Homemade Gift Baskets for Fathers Day

By: Janet Vogel

Fathers Day is a wonderful time to make a special gift basket for your father, husband, grandfather, or any other special man in your life. Personalize your gift basket by filling it with small gift items related to his favorite pastime, hobby, or sport. To personalize further, select small packages of his favorite sweets or snacks.





Is your special guy an avid golfer? If he is, then what could be a better gift than a homemade golf gift basket! A wire bogey basket would make a great container. Place straw, green shred, or a golf towel in the container and fill it with small gift items (golf balls, tees, gloves, a notepad, waterproof pen, or a golfer's cap or sun viser). Add an issue of Golf Digest magazine, a book on golf, and small well-wrapped packages of his favorite food treats.





If he loves to fish, create a special gift basket loaded with small fishing gifts. For a rustic look, make the filler for the container by shredding newspapers or brown wrapping paper. In addition to fishing necessities (hooks, floats, lures, etc.), include a dispensable camera, a photo frame with a fishing theme, a can of insect repellent, or a first aid kit. Include small bags of pretzels, chips, nuts, or trail mix; add cans of his favorite beverages.





Perhaps he enjoys a glass of good wine on occasion. Choose a wicker basket with a handle so you can anchor a bottle of wine by tying the bottle to the handle with twine. Place plenty of filler materials in the basket to cushion the bottle of wine; straw, excelsior, or purchased shred are all good choices. After you have centered and anchored the bottle of wine, add small packages of cheeses, gourmet crackers, mixed nuts, and something chocolate. Just before presenting the gift basket, add a few small bunches of fresh grapes for a lovely decorative touch.





Homemade gifts are a way of showing love and appreciation to those special people in our lives. Any man would be delighted to receive a gift you created just for him on Fathers Day or on other holidays or special occasions.

About the Author

For more information about creating homemade gift baskets, to to homemade Fathers Day Gift Baskets or gift basket themes

(ArticlesBase SC #145585)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Homemade Gift Baskets for Fathers Day

Deck Container Garden

Mother's Day ... A Very Special Day

The Perfect Mothers Day Formula

By: Marilyn Franklin

Does your mother deserve a perfect Mothers Day? The answer of course is yes but what does it take to make this special person feel that she couldn't have planned it better herself. Every mother is different and geography may sometimes get in the way but here are main areas to focus on to make her day special.



* Mothers Day Gifts

* Mothers Day Activities

* Mothers Day Cards



I know the above seems obvious but some might be surprised at how often one or more of the above are not even considered.



Before expanding on the 3 areas let's discuss why Mother's Day even exists. The formal recognition of Mothers Day was back on May 9th, 1914 by then president Woodrow Wilson. It was established to honor the mothers whose sons had died in war. The original activists that helped to bring this holiday to pass were Anna and her mother Ann Jarvis. This was in the United States. Mothers Day is celebrated across the world but not necessarily on the same date. Anna Jarvis was especially disturbed by the commercialization of the holiday because the intent of the Mothers Day holiday is not to lavish commercial gifts on your mother but to show her how she is appreciated. That does not necessarily mean buying her things. It all depends on the Mother and the means that one has to buy.



Mothers Day Gifts



The perfect Mothers Day is about making your mother or the mothers in your life feel appreciated and special. In our society that mainly has revolved around getting the Mother the right gift. The traditional Mothers Day gifts have been Flowers, Perfume and Candy. Perfume can be tricky because perfume choices can be very personal so if you go that route make sure you know what she likes. Flowers and Candy rarely disappoint again knowing what she likes is worth big points. Carnations have been traditional Mothers Day Flowers so those would be a good choice. If you know of something specific that she has been wanting that would be a great choice. I don't mention a specific choice here because these ideas usually revolve around hobbies or interests that are specific to the mother involved.



Mothers Day Activities



A perfect Mothers Day for most mothers involves being surrounded by her family. Spending time together nowadays can be pretty hard and may be even more difficult for families that live far away from each other. If you are fortunate enough to be able to be with your mother on Mother's Day you should plan out a day that includes family time. In the past I have been taken to Mother's Day Brunch at a good restaurant. There are even brunches and dinners available on Cruise ships if you have them in your city. These activities should not be confused with pampering and treatment gifts to spas. These are great but are something that they would do on another day.



Mothers Day Cards



Don't forget the card! Though buying a card may seem impersonal it does not have to be if you choose the right one. The perfect Mothers day would include a card that reflects how you feel about the mother involved and would be even better if you add a handwritten portion that shows that you have put some thought into how you feel about her. Don't worry about writing a mother's day poem just write what you feel.



So there you go the formula for the perfect Mother's day isn't that complicated but it does require some thought and planning.

About the Author

Marilyn Franklin writes for TheGiftsBlog where you can find more gift ideas for all occasions including Mother's Day.

(ArticlesBase SC #880275)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - The Perfect Mothers Day Formula

Spring Cleaning

Spring Clean Your House and Sort Out Your Finances

By: Paul McIndoe

There’s no better time than spring to reorganise yourself and your household. And indeed, many people grasp springtime as an opportunity to declutter their homes, reassess what they actually need (versus what’s superfluous), and to generally reorganise their environment and day-to-day doings. In fact, this is true for whether it relates to the workplace or the home.

However, many people don’t know where to begin with a job as big as ‘spring cleaning’, which often leaves them taking on too much at once and getting overwhelmed. When it comes to re-organising and re-assessing, it’s best to focus on one thing at a time; that way, you can give your full attention to one thing rather than your divided attention to a number of different tasks. Spring cleaning is challenging in itself, so there’s no point in making it harder by trying to do too many things at once.

But it’s also worth keeping in mind that spring cleaning and organising should be a group effort if multiple people are associated with a given space. For instance, if you share an office space with others, suggest that everyone clean and de-clutter together. That way, the entire job - which can be big - won’t fall on one person. Similarly, you shouldn’t have to take on the entire task of spring cleaning your home if you share the home with others - whether it’s with family or roommates.

Aside from the fact that spring cleaning a house is a huge task, it can be tricky trying to sort through other people’s belongings. After all, you don’t want to end up throwing out something that someone actually wanted! But remember that if you do live alone, you can still get help clearing your home of clutter. There are companies and individuals out there who specialise in helping people clean, organise and de-clutter their homes.

However, for many, springtime organising extends beyond cleaning. For countless people, this time of year is also an opportunity to get other areas of their lives - such as finances - in order. For instance, spring is a great time to ensure you have all your necessary insurance policies in place and up to date - whether it’s your car insurance, life insurance or home insurance UK policy. It’s also a great time to check in with your bank to ensure your accounts and finances are up to speed, and to check that you’re aware of all your account outgoings, settings, and general status.

So, even if you do your best to keep up with ‘housekeeping’ - whether it’s to do with your actual home, workplace, or your finances and insurance status - it’s always worth checking in at least once a year to tie up loose ends and to ensure you’re up to speed. And there’s no better time to take on the task than spring!

About the Author

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

(ArticlesBase SC #894067)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Spring Clean Your House and Sort Out Your Finances

Urban Garden

I really enjoyed this short video on Urban Gardening.

Small Space Garden Tips

How to Grow Potatoes in a Basket

Here's a helpful video for how to grow potatoes, above ground, in a basket.

Gardening In Small Spaces

By: Whitney Segura

Tips for Growing Plants Indoors

While many people are intrigued with the idea of growing some of their own food, not everyone has the outdoor space to plant an extensive backyard garden. In this situation, are you just stuck with ho-hum grocery store offerings, or shelling out the money to shop the local produce stand? Or, is there a way to make gardening successful with only a small area to work with?

People have been growing plants for ages, even when they had very little to work with. The best news for apartment dwellers and renters alike is that there are many strategies that make it possible to successfully garden in a small space.

Many people use a small greenhouse or growing rack to grow in, and it works incredibly well. Even if you have only a minimal deck area, you can grow a decent amount of produce. Many plants are also able to fruit without ever being placed outside. Plants like tomatoes, peas, and lettuce are ideal for growing in an indoor area, for example.

Most people who grow in a small area use one of two strategies:

Either planting in pots or small garden containers, or utilizing an intensive growing method like square foot gardening. Almost anything can be grown in a pot, as long as you plan for adequate support. Vining plants like melons and cucumbers can be trained to grow upwards, conserving ground space even further.

The size of your container or pot will vary depending on the needs of your plants, but a moderately sized planter should accommodate most garden varieties.

• For a intensive garden, such as a square foot design, the same considerations should be looked at, except that you will be growing more crops in the same area.


• A standard square foot garden is 4 foot by 4 foot and features 16 growing cells. This can be placed on a deck or even on the roof of a building.


• A depth of about 4 inches is ideal, unless you are growing root crops like carrots or potatoes

About the Author

Whitney Segura is an expert gardener and author at the Garden of Articles, high quality Article Directory that covers many topics and subjects of general interest.

(ArticlesBase SC #1903809)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Gardening In Small Spaces

Grow Beautiful Flowers

Simple Tips For Growing Beautiful Flowers In Your Flower Garden

By: taamiv

Flower gardening is one the most attractive aspect of gardening which is followed and admired by a lot of individuals. Having an attractive flower garden outside your house will enhance the overall appearance and beauty of your house and you will have an attractive garden with lots of different colors to enjoy as well. In this piece of writing, you would find some simple tips for growing beautiful flowers in your flower garden. Following these tips will assure you an attractive and blossoming flower garden for a long period of time.

In order to grow beautiful flowers in your flower garden, first of all, you would have to find a most appropriate for your flower garden. The location of your garden will matter the most when it comes to flower gardening. You have your choice though, either you can go with conventional type of flower gardening which is gardening on the piece of land, or you can with more modern type of flower gardening which is known as flower container gardening. If you go with container gardening then you will have some associative advantages of container gardening such as , you can carry container from one place to another with ease as per your needs and requirements and a small container require less maintenance as compared to conventional flower garden.

On the other hand, if you decide to carry out gardening in a conventional way and you want to plant your garden on a piece of land then you must make sure that the condition of your land is appropriate for flower gardening. In order to determine the condition of your land, you need to get a hand on a test soil kit in order to know the current conditions of your land. If you find the results positive, then you can consider you land in order to grow some attractive and beautiful flowers.

Next, you should consider getting some sort of assistance from a gardening journal. Getting assistance from a gardening journal is recommended by many professional gardeners. There are lots of advantages of keeping a gardening journal with yourself such as, you can easily determine the work which needs to be done quickly and the work which you have already completed and etc.

Lastly, make sure you stay all organic; by organic I mean that you must avoid using synthetic chemicals and pesticides within your flower garden. You must consider organic fertilizers and other organic materials in order to make sure that your garden remains healthy for a long period of time.

If you follow the above mentioned simple tips as described then I am sure that you would see some attractive flowers blossoming in your own flower garden within a short period time of time.

About the Author

Learn flowering shrubs for cottage garden and also flower gardening. Flowers are the essence of a garden.

(ArticlesBase SC #1825112)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Simple Tips For Growing Beautiful Flowers In Your Flower Garden