March 25, 2019

Published Monday, March 25, 2019 with 57 comments

Cleaning Hacks That Will Change Your Life


Obsessive cleaner, compulsive cleaner or apathetic cleaner, whatever be your type, these cleaning hacks will change your life forever, well most of them will. Here’s a list of hacks from the obsessive, compulsive passionate cleaners’ cleaning bible.

1.    Clean metallic surfaces with olive oil



Turns out the all-rounder ingredient in our kitchens has another benefit too. For all metal utensils, you can use olive oil to restore the shine. Dip a soft cloth in olive oil, and gently rub in circular motions to get rid of water stains or any other nasty spot. Wipe with a clean cloth. Your metals will shine like new.

2.    Use vodka for upholstery or carpet stains


Spilled wine on the carpet? Don’t stress out. Get a towel or tissue to blot the stain. And then pour vodka on it. The stain will be gone. Carry on with your party.

3.    Clean shower glass and mirrors with shaving cream


Shaving cream miraculously removes water stains from glass surfaces. You’d be surprised at hoe easily the stains would come off.

4.    Baking soda for the toilet and tub


Mix one cup vinegar with half cup baking soda. Scrub the mixture on the ceramic surface, tub, washbasin, pot. Let it sit for 15-20 mins. Scrub with hot water. Another cleaning recipe includes mixing baking soda with a few drops of essential oils like lemon, basil, tea tree or orange, along with dish soap. Apply the mixture on the surface and let it sit for 30 minutes. Scrub it and wash it off.

5.    Stove with baking soda


Sprinkle baking soda on the stove, pour some water and wipe it clean. Quick and easy.

6.    Unpleasant odor with vinegar



To remove unpleasant odor from upholstery, mix water, vinegar and an essential oil of your choice. Pour the mixture in a spray bottle. To test, spray the mixture on a corner of the backside of the sofa. Vinegar being highly acidic in nature, can damage or decolor the fabric. If the test area is fine upon drying, spray on the whole surface. Vacuum upon drying. 

7.    Coffee filters for electronics


If towel or dusting cloth is leaving fiber behind, use coffee filter for wiping screens clean.

8.    Pillow-cover for cleaning fans



When you wipe the fan with a cloth, dirt falls down, often on the bed. Use a pillow cover to wipe fans clean, the dirt will be all collected in the cover.

9.    Dish soap for blender


Cleaning messy blenders is a breeze. Just pour in some warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Blend for a few seconds and it’s done. 

10.  Baking soda for laundry


Just add some baking soda to your laundry. Your clothes will come out cleaner, brighter and odor free.

11.  Toothpaste for sneakers


Rub toothpaste with an old brush on your sneakers. Wipe with a damp cloth. Your sneakers will come out clean like new.

12.  Vinegar and baking soda for burnt pans

Fill the pan with a mixture of water and vinegar. Bring it to boil. Add two heaped tablespoons of baking soda. Let it cool. Then scrub off the dirt, and wash the pan.

13.  Vinegar and baking soda for clogged drains



Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water will clean up a clogged drain almost instantly.

14.  Olive oil for wooden surfaces



Clean wooden surface with dish soap. Rub olive oil to smoothen the surface and bring back a shine.
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March 02, 2019

Published Saturday, March 02, 2019 with 6 comments

Money Savings Tips That Work



If you resolved to save money this year, here are a few tips that will help you change a few things in your routine and habits, and add on to your savings. Some of these tips are very basic and you may wonder how much will this help you save, but remember, the little things are the ones that matter most; less is more.

Tips to help you in your saving spree –

1.    Make an inventory list, and based on this make your shopping list before you go shopping. Refrain from impulse buying, stick to the list.
2.    Prepare a list of items that can be bought on bulk if there’s a deal. For instance, toilet paper.
3.    Use coupons. Always.
4.    Download a coupon app to help you get coupons handy.
5.    Join loyalty programs.
6.    When buying something online, add the item to your cart and wait for a day before you checkout. This way, your compulsive impulse buying can be checked.
7.    Use soft liquid detergent and hand wash or machine wash in ‘gentle’ mode, instead of giving it to dry cleaning. Use dry cleaning for clothes that absolutely require it.
8.    Get fresh produce at the farmers’ market.
9.    Sell old things you do not use anymore.
10.  Set up a garage sale before the start of new season, and dispose off all your clothing you will not wear anymore.
11.  Try DIY gifts.
12.  Pay bills on time to avoid late fee.
13.  Stop drinking soda. Its not only unhealthy but also becomes a habit (money wasting habit).
14.  Recycle and reuse grocery bags.
15.  Watch movies online instead of going to theatres.
16.  Cook at home, or order in if you have to. Avoid going out.
17.  Use leftover food.
18.  Carry lunch to work. A sandwich, some fruits, a simple salad, anything.
19.  Do more indoors like have a candle lit dinner with wine or watching movies together; going out at the bar or restaurant costs a lot more.
20.  Instead of going away for the weekend, try enjoying a day at the beach or have a little picnic at the park for a weekend activity.
21.  Buy used items whenever you can.
22.  Use public transport more than Uber, cabs or driving yourself.
23.  Get a bicycle to go short distances.
24.  Use wifi to make calls whenever you can.
25.  Turn off data romancing when you have access to wifi.
26.  Switch off lights and other buttons when not in use.
27.  Unplug gadgets not in use.
28.  Carry a water bottle with you in your bag, avoid buying bottled water.
29.  Review your cell phone plan to ensure you are on the optimum best.
30.  Make coffee at home. buy a sipper and carry your coffee with you to work.
31.   Always click picture of the receipt in case you have to return anything.


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