45 replies to this topic

[Jessi]

brihooter, on 01 February 2012 - 10:23 AM, said:

I wish I had known about that trick a few days ago.  I've never seen someone use ice to take gum out.  How does that even work?

The link gives instructions on how to do it. Basically, though, it causes the gum to get hard and "frozen"-like, instead of being sticky/gummy and stringing out when you try to pull on it. It makes it harder so it can just be peeled off instead. :D

[brihooter]

Sunsational, on 01 February 2012 - 06:15 PM, said:

I found a great green alternative to a clog toilet recently. Try get the water as low as you can in the bowl. Flush it the pull up on the inside the lever so it thinks bowl refilled. If that possible. Some clogs you might not be able to flush. Then take one box of baking soda and dump it in the toilet bowl. Next get a small bottle of vinegar and our it in. The vinegar and baking soda react and will foam. Leave it alone for 15minutes. Then add a bucket of water to the toilet bowl.. Flush the toilet and Viola! Clog is gone. This works soooo much better then drano and much more earth friendly.

I am so trying this the next time our toilet gets clogged.  With 4 kids and 3 of them that use the toilet.  You can imagine how often my toilet gets clogged!

[brihooter]

Jessi, on 03 February 2012 - 03:36 PM, said:

The link gives instructions on how to do it. Basically, though, it causes the gum to get hard and "frozen"-like, instead of being sticky/gummy and stringing out when you try to pull on it. It makes it harder so it can just be peeled off instead. :D

That is awesome.  I'm teaching my kids this trick.  I have had to cut my carpet before to get the gum off.  From now on I'll make them get it off using this little trick. :)

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Sunsational, on 01 February 2012 - 06:15 PM, said:

I found a great green alternative to a clog toilet recently. Try get the water as low as you can in the bowl. Flush it the pull up on the inside the lever so it thinks bowl refilled. If that possible. Some clogs you might not be able to flush. Then take one box of baking soda and dump it in the toilet bowl. Next get a small bottle of vinegar and our it in. The vinegar and baking soda react and will foam. Leave it alone for 15minutes. Then add a bucket of water to the toilet bowl.. Flush the toilet and Viola! Clog is gone. This works soooo much better then drano and much more earth friendly.

If the clog isn't too bad, this will work but if it's really stuck, it won't. I speak from experience.
It is a great "maintenance" procedure though. Once a month or so, 1/2 vinegar-1/4 cup baking soda.
And I agree, never, ever use drain cleaning chemicals.

[Sunsational]

It worked for me on a huge clog. The babysitter flushed a stuffed pepper down our toilet, of course it was a huge one too.  Why she did that not sure. After searching the net for answer, I really didn't want to use chemicals, found two the baking soda vinegar or get something like ridex, an enzyme treatment for septic systems. I had the baking soda and vinegar, you have to use an entire box of baking soda and 1 small bottle of vinegar (believe they are 16oz) it cleared the stuff pepper, plus it cheaper too. Our Walmart baking soda is 50 cents and small white vinegar is 62 cents. Since then I used it on some really bad clogs and always works. I never used the ridex, so can't vouche for that one.

[Sandra Piddock]

Dried orange peel is very useful. I live among the orange groves, and we use a lot of oranges. I dry the peel to use for lighting the log fire in winter - it works just as well as firelighters, and it makes the room smell nice as well. To really freshen the room, boil some water with orange peel in it - lovely. Place dried orange peel in cloth bags in your wardrobe to keep clothes smelling fresh, and it's also good to spread around plants in the garden to keep cats from digging them up. Apparently, cats don't like the smell of oranges.

[MakingCents]

All of these do-it yourself home cleaners are GREAT.  I also purchase some products from melaleuca.  They are organic and 'green' and their prodcuts are great.  I actually think they work BETTER than some of the harsh cleaning products out there.

[mariaandrea]

Sandra Piddock, on 07 February 2012 - 08:51 AM, said:

Dried orange peel is very useful. I live among the orange groves, and we use a lot of oranges. I dry the peel to use for lighting the log fire in winter - it works just as well as firelighters, and it makes the room smell nice as well. To really freshen the room, boil some water with orange peel in it - lovely. Place dried orange peel in cloth bags in your wardrobe to keep clothes smelling fresh, and it's also good to spread around plants in the garden to keep cats from digging them up. Apparently, cats don't like the smell of oranges.

This is very cool. So basically I should just be peeling and drying every orange I get and saving the peels to use for all sorts of things. I've boiled fresh orange peel for aroma before, but I usually forget to do anything with the peels. I love the idea of using them in a sachet in a drawer. And I could take them with me camping for a fire starter! Awesome!

So what's the best way to dry them without a dehydrator? In a low temp oven? Store them in a jar?

[Sandra Piddock]

We just dry them outdoors here - as long as it's not damp, they'll be fine, or you could put them in a low oven when you have something else cooking. Basically, a warm, dry atmosphere indoors or outdoors is sufficient, unless you're in a real hurry to use them. Once they're dried, store them in a jar - they'll keep forever.

[mariaandrea]

Ok, I think it'll have to be an oven. It doesn't really get that warm and dry here in Seattle.
I'm going to do this now with all of our oranges. I've made candied and chocolate dipped orange peels but I want to expand their uses! Thanks!

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Sandra Piddock, on 07 February 2012 - 08:51 AM, said:

Dried orange peel is very useful. I live among the orange groves, and we use a lot of oranges. I dry the peel to use for lighting the log fire in winter - it works just as well as firelighters, and it makes the room smell nice as well. To really freshen the room, boil some water with orange peel in it - lovely. Place dried orange peel in cloth bags in your wardrobe to keep clothes smelling fresh, and it's also good to spread around plants in the garden to keep cats from digging them up. Apparently, cats don't like the smell of oranges.

I put hundreds (several dozen) of cloves in them too-hang them up in a closet. They don't rot, they just dry up eventually but
give off a nice scent as they do.

[MakingCents]

Have you guys ever seen burning an orange as a candle?  I know someone who did this.   Cut an orange in half, scoop out the insides of one half, then light the orange part of the other half on fire (yes it burns)  Cut a hole in the top half, and put it back on the orange.  Place the burning orange on a dish and it makes the whole house smell like oranges.   I've never actually tried this but i've seen it done before.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

MakingCents, on 07 February 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Have you guys ever seen burning an orange as a candle?  I know someone who did this.   Cut an orange in half, scoop out the insides of one half, then light the orange part of the other half on fire (yes it burns)  Cut a hole in the top half, and put it back on the orange.  Place the burning orange on a dish and it makes the whole house smell like oranges.   I've never actually tried this but i've seen it done before.

Hmmm. Might be problematic. For whole house aroma, you can place rose pedals in the oven;
on a cookie sheet.
Set on low for a few minutes, then turn it off. Don't know if burning gas for it is worth it though.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Not all of these tips for using olive oil are about cleaning, but using it instead of chemicals, is a good thing.
http://www.huffingto...e=Paint_cleanup

[brihooter]

MakingCents, on 07 February 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Have you guys ever seen burning an orange as a candle?  I know someone who did this.   Cut an orange in half, scoop out the insides of one half, then light the orange part of the other half on fire (yes it burns)  Cut a hole in the top half, and put it back on the orange.  Place the burning orange on a dish and it makes the whole house smell like oranges.   I've never actually tried this but i've seen it done before.

I have seen this.  I found it on the site Pinterest.  I have seriously found so many neats ways of green cleaning on there!

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Some good idea's here. (Several pages to flip through)
http://earth911.com/...pring-cleaning/

[steph84]

I use a lot of green products in my home. I use Seventh Generation dish soap and laundry soap. Dr. Bronner's soaps for mopping floors (you only need a little to clean a lot!) and even use those soaps on my pets. I even have this veggies soap for my fruits and vegetables. Vinegar and a little lemon juice can clean a bunch of stuff in your home! I used lemon slices to clean some rust in my shower.

[kat74]

I do use vinegar for my drains, but I had not heard about the ice cubes for the gum. That is a nice idea because my family likes chewing gum and I find it every where. Now I have a ready made solution to deal with the stick ups.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

kat74, on 18 April 2012 - 11:56 PM, said:

I do use vinegar for my drains, but I had not heard about the ice cubes for the gum. That is a nice idea because my family likes chewing gum and I find it every where. Now I have a ready made solution to deal with the stick ups.

Ice also works on indented carpet if you move furniture that's been sitting there awhile; it helps brings
the pile back up. Just use a cloth to pick up the extra water after it melts.

[mcomstock]

Lemon, baking soda, and vinegar can put more of a dent in most stains than volatile chemicals. Fortunately, we now have some additional options such as seventh generation, green works and other natural brands.