Unknown Uses For Common House Hold Ingredients.

Baking Soda

Clean a microwave oven.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge,scrub, and rinse.

Remove tarnish from silver.
Mix a thick paste of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda withwater, apply the silver with a damp sponge, rub, rinse, and buff dry.

Clean a stainless steel sink.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a dampsponge, scrub the sink, and rinse clean.

Boost the strength of liquid laundry detergent.
Add one-half cup Arm & HammerBaking Soda with the usual amount of detergent in your regular wash cycle.

Clean a fiberglass bathtub or shower.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on adamp sponge, scrub, and rinse clean.

Clean bathroom tile.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge, scrub,and rinse clean.

Maintain your septic tank.
Flush one cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda down thetoilet once a week. Baking soda helps maintain proper pH and alkalinity,controlling sulfide odors.

Deodorize cloth diapers.
Mix one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in twoquarts of water, and soak diapers in the solution.

Deodorize a disposable diaper pail.
Sprinkle liberally with Arm & Hammer BakingSoda.

Deodorize garbage disposals and sink drains.
Instead of throwing out that oldbox of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda that's been sitting in the refrigerator orfreezer, gradually pour it down the drain and flush with water. Or better yet,pour two tablespoons Arm & Hammer Baking Soda down the garbage disposal everyweek.

Clean a refrigerator.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge,scrub, and rinse clean.

Deodorize a dishwasher.
Sprinkle one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on thebottom of the dishwasher between loads.

Boost the strength of dishwashing liquid.
Add two full tablespoons Arm & HammerBaking Soda to the usual amount of detergent you use.

Remove burnt-on food from cookware.
Dampen area, sprinkle with Arm & HammerBaking Soda, let soak overnight, then scrub with a sponge, rinse, and dry.

Clean and deodorize a cutting board.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on adamp sponge, rub the cutting board, and rinse clean.

Deodorize food containers.
Mix one-quarter cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda withone quart water, swish food containers in solution, soak overnight, then rinseclean.

Clean coffee and teapots.
Wash in a solution of one-quarter cup Arm & HammerBaking Soda and one quart warm water, then rinse clean.

Deodorize kitchen garbage.
Sprinkle a handful of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda inthe garbage pail each time you add garbage.

Deodorize carpet.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda lightly over the drycarpet, let sit for fifteen minutes, then vacuum up.

Deodorize a cat litter box.
Cover the bottom of the litter box with one-quarterinch Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, then add the litter.

Maintain the proper alkalinity in a swimming pool.
Add 1.5 pounds of bakingsoda for every 10,000 gallons of water in the pool to raise total alkalinity by10 ppm (parts per million parts of pool water), keeping the total alkalinity ofthe pool within the range of 80 to 150 ppm of alkalinity. Maintaining a properlevel of total alkalinity minimizes changes in pH when acidic or basic poolchemicals or contaminants enter the water, reducing chloramine formation and thecorrosivity of water, consequently reducing eye irritation and unpleasant odorswhile improving bactericidal effectiveness.

Soothe poison ivy rash or insect bites.
Make a paste of Arm & Hammer BakingSoda and water, and apply to the affected area.

Soothe sunburn, windburn, and prickly heat.
Dissolve one-half cup baking sodain a tepid bath. Soak in the bath for fifteen minutes.

Take a refreshing bath.
Dissolve one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in a tubof warm water for soft, smooth-feeling skin and a relaxing bath.

Brush your teeth.
Plain baking soda is a gentle abrasive that cleans like thestrongest toothpaste. Apply Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to a damp toothbrush, brushas usual, and rinse. Note: Arm & Hammer Baking Soda does not contain fluoride.

Wash your mouth.
Add one teaspoon Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to one-half glasswarm water, and swish through teeth for a refreshing mouthwash.

Neutralize vomit odor.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda generously to coverthe stained area, let sit for an hour, then vacuum up.

Soothe tired feet.
Add three tablespoons to a basin of warm water and soak feetin the solution.

Use as a deodorant.
Dust baking soda under arms.

Clean dirt, grime, and scuff marks from doors, stoves, laminated tabletops,linoleum floors, and tile.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge,wipe clean, and dry.

Remove coffee or tea stains from china.
Dip a damp cloth in baking soda, gentlyrub the china, and rinse clean.

Minimize the smell of dirty laundry.
Sprinkle some baking soda into your hamperor laundry bag.

Deodorize a closet.
Place an open box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a shelf.

Deodorize garment storage bags.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda into thebottom of the bag.

Deodorize shoes or sneakers.
In the evening, sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Sodainside shoes to eliminate odors. Shake out in the morning.

Remove crayon marks from walls or wallpaper.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Sodaon a damp sponge, scrub gently to avoid mussing the paint or wallpaper, then wipeclean.

Clean dirt and grime from hands.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda onto wethands with liquid soap, rub vigorously, rinse, and dry.

Remove conditioner and styling gel build-up from hair.
Wash hair once a weekwith a tablespoon of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda mixed with your regular shampoo;rinse thoroughly, then condition and style as usual.

Refresh stuffed animals.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on the stuffedanimal, let sit for fifteen minutes, then brush off.

Clean high chairs, car seats, strollers, and plastic mattress protectors.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean, and dry.

Clean baby bottles, nipples, and bottle brushes.
Soak in a solution of warmwater and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, then sterilize before use.

Make baby clothes smell even fresher.
Add one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Sodato baby's laundry.

Boost bleach.
Use one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda with your normal liquidbleach to boost the bleaching action and freshen the wash.

Whiten socks and dirty clothes.
Add one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda toregular liquid laundry detergent.

Clean up pet accidents.
Clean with club soda, let dry thoroughly, then sprinkleon Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, allow to sit for fifteen minutes, then vacuum up.

Clean chrome bumpers and hubcaps.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a dampsponge, rub surface, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Remove dead insects from a car or truck windshield.
Sprinkle Arm & HammerBaking Soda on a damp sponge, clean glass, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Deodorize carpeting in a car.
Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on the carpet,let sit for fifteen minutes, then vacuum up.

De-grease and clean barbecue grills.
Make a paste by mixing equal parts Arm &Hammer Baking Soda and water, apply with a wire brush, wipe clean, and dry with acloth.

ChapStick® Lip Balm

Stop bleeding while shaving.
Dab on some ChapStick if you nick yourself.

Prevent car battery corrosion.
Smear ChapStick on clean car battery terminals.

Lubricate a zipper.
Rub ChapStick along the teeth of the zipper to make it zip smoothly.

Moisturize skin.
Rubbing ChapStick on your face protects the skin from windburn while snow skiing.

Remove a ring stuck on a finger.
Coat finger with ChapStick and slide the ring off.

Lubricate nails and screws.
Nails and screws rubbed with ChapStick will go into wood more easily.

Groom a mustache or eyebrows.
A little ChapStick will keep the ends of a mustache waxed together and keep bushy eyebrow hairs in place.

Shine leather shoes.
In a pinch, rub ChapStick over the leather and buff with a dry, clean cloth.

Lubricate furniture drawers and windows.
Rub ChapStick on the casters of drawers and windows so they slide open and shut easily.

Prevent hair coloring from dying your skin.
Rub ChapStick along your hairline before coloring your hair.

Coca-Cola®

Clean a toilet bowl.
Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl. Let the real thing sit for one hour, then brush and flush clean. Thecitric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china, according tohousehold-hints columnist Heloise.

Remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers.
Rubbing the bumper with acrumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Colawill help remove rust spots, according to household-hints columnist MaryEllen.

Clean corrosion from car battery terminals.
Pour a can of carbonatedCoca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion, according to Heloise.

Cook with Coca-Cola.
The Coca-Cola Consumer Information Center offersa free packet of recipes including a Mustard Herb Dressing (an Italianstyle salad dressing made with one-half cup of Coca-Cola), a Twin CheeseDip (requiring three-quarter cup of Coca-Cola and doubling as a sandwichfilling), and Sweet-Sour Cabbage (using one-half cup of Coca-Cola andtwo tablespoons of bacon drippings).

Loosen a rusted bolt.
Mary Ellen suggests applying a cloth soaked ina carbonated soda to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

Bake a moist ham.
Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrapthe ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham isfinished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Cokefor a sumptuous brown gravy.

Remove grease from clothes.
Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasywork clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular wash cycle. TheCoca-Cola will help loosen grease stains, according to Mary Ellen.

"Coca-Cola" and "Coke" are registered trademarks of the Coca-Cola Company.

Crayola® Chalk

Prevent an ant invasion.
Draw a line of Crayola Chalk around windows and doors outside your home, and around water pipes inside your home. Ants will not cross a chalk line.

Clean ring-around-the-collar.
Mark the stain heavily with white Crayola Chalk. The chalk will absorb the sebum oil that holds in the dirt.

Prevent silverware from tarnishing.
Place a piece of Crayola Chalk in your silver chest to absorb moisture.

Cover spots on white suede.
Rub with Crayola chalk.

Prevent tools from rusting.
Place a few pieces of Crayola Chalk in your toolbox to absorb moisture.

Prevent dampness in a closet.
Tie together a handful of Crayola Chalk and hang the bundle from the clothes rod to absorb moisture.

Prevent a screwdriver from slipping.
Rub Crayola Chalk on the tip.

Polish marble and metal.
Pulverize a few sticks of Crayola Chalk with a mortar and pestle until it is a fine powder. Dip a soft cloth in the powder, wipe the marble or metal, then rinse with clear water, and dry thoroughly.

Fill a hole in a plaster wall.
Insert a piece of Crayola Chalk into the hole, cut it off even with the wall, then plaster.

Repel slugs.
Slugs will not cross a chalk line.

Remove grease.
Rub Crayola Chalk on a grease spot on clothing or table linens, let it absorb the oil, then brush off. Launder as usual.

Draw on sidewalks.
Create games, maps, and adventures.

Prevent costume jewelry from tarnishing.
Place a piece of Crayola Chalk in your jewelry box.

Huggies® Baby Wipes

Blot up spilled coffee from a rug or carpet.
Huggies baby wipes absorb coffee without leaving a stain.

Use as toilet paper after an episiotomy.
Huggies baby wipes are gentle enough for a baby and perfect after an operation on the more sensitive areas of your body.

Soothe hemorrhoids.
Use Huggies baby wipes as toilet paper to avoid aggravating sensitive hemorrhoids.

Clean hands after pumping gas or changing the oil.
Keep a box of Huggies baby wipes in the trunk of the car.

Store game pieces.
Store loose dice, cards, playing pieces, and small toys in an empty Huggies baby wipes box.

Store crayons.
Keep crayons in an empty Huggies baby wipes box.

Store screws, nuts, and bolts.
Use empty Huggies baby wipes boxes in the workshop to hold loose screws, bolts, nuts, nails, drill bits, and spare parts.

Store crafts.
Organize ribbons, beads, glues, strings in empty Huggies baby wipes boxes.

Clean scrapes and bruises.
Huggies baby wipes are great for cleaning a minor abrasion.

Clean shoes.
Simply wipe the shoes with a Huggies Baby Wipe.

"Huggies" is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Peanut Butter

Shave.
Former senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona once shaved withpeanut butter while on a camping trip. (For best results, avoid shaving with Extra Crunchy.)

Remove bubblegum from hair.
Rub a dollop of peanut butter intothe bubblegum.

Remove airplane glue or cement glue from furniture.
Simply rub thedried glue with peanut butter.

Grease a car or truck axle.
George Washington Carver developed axlegrease from peanuts.

Make peanut soup.
Peanut butter is the main ingredient in any recipefor peanut soup.

Trap mice or rats.
Bait a mouse or rat trap with peanut butter. Mice actually prefer peanut butter over cheese.

Lipton® Tea Bags

Deodorize your feet.
Boil three or four Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags in one quart of water for ten minutes. Add enough cold water to make a comfortable soak. Soak your feet for twenty to thirty minutes, then dry and apply food powder. Do this twice a day until odor is under control. Then continue twice a week to keep odor under control. Tannin, which can be found in tea, is a drying agent.

Dye graying white fabrics.
If Clorox bleach won't whiten a graying white garment, soak the item in hot, strong brewed Lipton tea until it is a shade darker than you desire. Then rinse in cold water and let dry.

Highlight brown hair.
Rinse red or brown hair with brewed Lipton tea for golden highlights.

Relieve sunburn pain.
Pat your sunburn with wet Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags.

Accelerate the germination of grass seeds.
Mix two tablespoons of cold, strong brewed Lipton tea into each pound of seed, cover, and set in the refrigerator for five days. Before sowing, spread the seed to dry for a day or two on newspapers on the garage or basement floor.

Deodorize stuffy rooms.
Mix one quart brewed Lipton tea and four tablespoons ReaLemon, strain through a Mr. Coffee filter, and store in empty spray bottles.

Soothe a sore throat or laryngitis.
Drink brewed Lipton tea with ReaLemon or SueBee honey.

Invigorate house plants.
Water ferns and other houseplants once a week with a weak, tepid brewed Lipton tea.

Polish black lacquer.
Wash black lacquer pieces with strong brewed Lipton tea, then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Help relieve diarrhea.
Drink plenty of Lipton tea and eat toast. The tannin in tea is reported to be helpful in cases of diarrhea, while its liquid replaces fluids lost by the body.

Soothe tired eyes.
Place Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags soaked in cool water or lukewarm water over your eyes for at least fifteen minutes.

Soothe a burn.
Apply wet Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags directly to the burn, or secure in place with gauze.

Stop gums from bleeding after having a tooth pulled.
Press a cool, moist Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bag against the cavity with your finger.

Fix a broken fingernail.
Cut a piece of gauze paper from a Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bag to fit the nail, coat with Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish, and press gently against the break. Then cover with colored nail polish.

Clean varnished woodwork.
Cold Lipton tea is a good cleaning agent for any kind of woodwork.

Tenderize meat.
Add equal parts strong brewed Lipton tea and double strength beef stock to a tough pot roast or stew. The tannin in tea is a natural meat tenderizer.

"Lipton" is a registered trademark of Lipton.

Listerine®

Cure Acne.
Use a cotton ball to dab Listerine on blemishes.

Fertilize a lawn.
Jerry Baker, author of The Impatient Gardener, suggests mixing one cup Listerine, one cup Epsom salts, one cup liquid soap, and one cup ammonia in a one-quart jar, filling the rest of the jar with beer. Spray this on up to 2,500 square feet of lawn with a hose-attached sprayer in May and again in late June.

Use as a deodorant.
Listerine helps kill the bacteria that cause perspiration odor. Dab it under your arms.

Eliminate mildew odors.
Wipe with full-strength Listerine.

Disinfect wounds.
Listerine works as an astringent when poured on a laceration or abrasion.

Disinfect a washing machine at a laundromat.
To avoid getting germs from another family, wipe off the surface of the machine with Listerine and add one-half cup Listerine to the wash cycle to disinfect the machine.

Prevent dandruff.
Wash your hair with Listerine.

"Listerine" is a registered trademark of Warner-Lambert Co.

Maxwell House® Coffee

Dye fabric brown inexpensively.
Soak the fabric in a bucket of strongblack Maxwell House coffee. This technique is also a good way to coverup an unremovable coffee stain on a white table cloth.

Fertilize a garden or houseplants.
Work Maxwell House coffee groundsinto the topsoil.

Repair scratched woodwork.
Mix a teaspoon instant Maxwell House coffeewith two teaspoons water. Apply to the scratch with a cotton ball.

Start a charcoal fire.
Remove the top and bottom of an empty MaxwellHouse coffee can and punch a few holes in the sides of the can. Standthe can in your barbecue grill, fill it with charcoal briquets, addlighter fluid, and light. When the coals glow, remove the hot can withtongs and set in a safe place.

Prevent dampness in closets.
Fill an empty Maxwell House coffee canwith Kingsford charcoal briquets, punch holes in the plastic cover, andset on the floor in the back of the closet.

Repel ants.
Sprinkle dried Maxwell House coffee grounds outside doorsand cracks. Coffee deters ants.

Relieve a hangover.
Drink a couple of cups of Maxwell House coffee.Coffee acts as a vasoconstrictor, reducing the swelling of blood vesselsthat causes headache.

Spread grass seed or fertilizer.
Punch holes in the bottom of an emptycan of Maxwell House Coffee, fill with grass seed or fertilizer, coverwith the plastic lid, and shake the can as you walk through your garden.

Transport live fishing bait.
Keep worms in a Maxwell House coffee canfilled with moist coffee grounds.

Keep toilet paper waterproof while camping.
Carry a roll of toiletpaper inside an empty Maxwell House Coffee can.

Protect baby tomato plants.
Remove the top and bottom from MaxwellHouse coffee cans, place a can over each plant, and step on the can toset firmly in the soil. Remove cans when plants are a few weeks old.

Grow better melons.
Raise melons off the ground by resting them on topof upside-down empty Maxwell House Coffee cans pushed into the soil. Themetal cans accumulate heat, making the fruit ripen earlier and repellinginsects.

Keep paintbrush bristles from bending while soaking in solvent.
Putsolvent in an empty Maxwell House coffee can, cut an X in the plasticlid, and push the brush handle up through the slit so the brush hangs inthe can rather than resting on its bristles.

Highlight brown or red hair.
Rinse your hair with Maxwell House coffeefor a rich and shiny color.

Deodorize the refrigerator and freezer.
Place a bowl filled withMaxwell House coffee grounds on the back shelf.

Patch woodwork.
Mix dry instant Maxwell House coffee with spacklingpaste until you achieve the desired brown tone, fill the crack or hole,and smooth with a damp cloth.

Clean a restaurant grill.
Pour left-over brewed Maxwell House coffeeover a hot or cold grill and wipe clean.

Wrap cookies and candies.
Cover an empty Maxwell House coffee can withwrapping paper, fill with cookies or candy, cover with the plastic lid,then wrap.

Cover spots on black suede.
Sponge on a little black Maxwell Housecoffee.

Make emergency lights.
Wrap reflector tape around a couple of emptyMaxwell House coffee cans and store in the trunk of your car foremergencies.

Make stilts.
String rope through holes punched in the closed ends oftwo empty Maxwell House coffee cans.

Store nails, screws, bolts, and washers.
Maxwell House coffee cansmake perfect storage containers.

Improvise a Jell-O mold.
Use an empty Maxwell House coffee can.

Store cat box filler in the trunk of your car for emergencies.
Cat boxfiller, stored in empty Maxwell House coffee cans, can be used fortraction under the wheels of a car stuck in snow or ice.

Flavor spaghetti.
Add one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of instantMaxwell House coffee to spaghetti sauce. Coffee gives store-boughtspaghetti sauce brown coloring and a less acidic flavor.

"Maxwell House" and "Good to the Last Drop" are registered trademarks ofKraft Foods, Inc.

Vinegar

Milk cows organically.
Clean milking equipment with unperfumed dish detergent followed with a Vinegar rinse. Pipes, hoses, and bulk tank will come out squeaky clean without any odor, lowering the bacteria count.

Kill bacteria in meats.
Marinating meat in Vinegar kills bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Use one-quarter cup vinegar for a two to three pound roast, marinate overnight, then cook without draining or rinsing the meat. Add herbs to the vinegar when marinating as desired.

Dissolve warts.
Mix one part Apple Cider Vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.

Remove stubborn stains from furniture upholstery and clothes.
Apply White Vinegar directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.

Grow beautiful azaleas.
Occasionally water plants with a mixture of two tablespoons White Vinegar to one quart water. Azaleas love acidic soil.

Relieve arthritis.
Before each meal, drink a glass of water containing two teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar. Give this folk remedy at least three weeks to start working.

Kill unwanted grass.
Pour White Vinegar in crevices and between bricks.

Remove corns.
Make a poultice of one crumbled piece of bread soaked in one-quarter cup Vinegar. Let poultice sit for one-half hour, then apply to the corn and tape in place overnight. If corn does not peel off by morning, reapply the poultice for several consecutive nights.

Clean the hoses and unclog soap scum from a washing machine.
Once a month pour one cup of White Vinegar into the washing machine and run the machine through a normal cycle, without clothes.

Cure an upset stomach.
Drink two teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.

Kill germs on bathroom fixtures.
Use one part Vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the bathroom fixtures and floor, then wipe clean.

Clean soap scum, mildew, and grime from bathtub, tile, and shower curtains.
Simply wipe the surface with Vinegar and rinse with water.

Deodorize the air.
Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.

Relieve itching.
Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Vinegar straight from the bottle.

Clean lime deposits and calcium sludge from an automatic drip coffee maker.
Once a month fill the reservoir with White Vinegar and run through the brew cycle. Rinse thoroughly with two cycles of cold water.

Relieve a sore throat.
Put two teaspoons of Vinegar in your humidifier.

Soothe sunburn pain.
Apply undiluted Vinegar to the burn.

Clean food-stained pots and pans.
Fill the pots and pans with White Vinegar and let stand for thirty minutes. Then rinse in hot, soapy water.

Clean rust from tools, bolts, and spigots.
Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted White Vinegar overnight.

Turn a chicken bone into rubber.
Soak a chicken bone in a glass of Vinegar for three days. It will bend like rubber.

Prevent bright colored clothes from fading.
Before putting the article in the washing machine, soak it in White Vinegar for ten minutes.

Keep a garbage disposal clean and smelling fresh.
Mix one cup of Vinegar in enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze the mixture, grind the cubes through the disposal, and flush with cold water.

Clean a toilet bowl.
Pour in one cup of White Vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.

Prevent yeast infections.
Douche with one tablespoon White Vinegar to one quart warm water to adjust the pH balance in the vagina.

Clean dentures.
Soak dentures overnight in White Vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.

Remove perspiration stains from clothes.
Apply one part White Vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.

Deodorize a room filled with cigarette smoke or paint fumes.
Place a small bowl of White Vinegar in the room.

Cure the hiccups.
Mix one teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup of warm water, and drink.

Eliminate odors from used jars.
Rinse peanut butter and mayonnaise jars with White Vinegar.

Condition dry hair.
Shampoo, then rinse hair with a mixture of one cup Apple Cider Vinegar and two cups water. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.

Clean mineral deposits from a steam iron.
Fill the water tank with White Vinegar. Turn the iron to the steam setting and steam-iron a soft utility rag to clean the steam ports. Repeat the process with water, then thoroughly rinse out the inside of your iron.

Remove light scorch marks from fabrics.
Rub lightly with White Vinegar, then wipe with a clean cloth.

Repel ants.
Use a spray bottle or mister filled with a solution of equal parts Vinegar and water around door jambs, window sills, water pipes, and foundation cracks.

Keep drains open.
Pour one-half box of old baking soda down the drain followed by one cup White Vinegar. When the bubbling stops, run the hot water.

Prolong and brighten propane lanterns.
Soak new wicks for several hours in White Vinegar and let them dry before inserting. Propane lanterns will burn longer and brighter on the same amount of fuel.

Remove decals or bumper stickers.
Soak a cloth in Vinegar and cover the decal or bumper sticker for several minutes until the vinegar soaks in. The decals and bumper stickers should peel off easily.

Deodorize a wool sweater.
Wash sweater, then rinse in equal parts Vinegar and water to remove odor.

Prevent lint from clinging to clothes.
Add one cup Vinegar to each wash load.

Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight.
Coat the window with a solution of three parts White or Apple Cider Vinegar to one part water.

Prolong the life of flowers in a vase.
Add two tablespoons of White Vinegar plus three tablespoons of sugar per quart of warm water. Stems should be in three to four inches of water.

Prevent cracked hard-boiled eggs.
Add two tablespoons of White Vinegar per quart of water before boiling to prevent the eggs from cracking. The egg shells will also peel off faster and easier.

Clean windows.
Use undiluted Vinegar in a spray bottle. Dry with a soft cloth.

Eliminate unpleasant cooking odors in the kitchen.
Boil one tablespoon of White Vinegar with one cup of water.

Remove wallpaper.
Mix equal parts Vinegar and hot water. Use a paint roller to wet the paper thoroughly with the mixture. Repeat. Paper should peal off in sheets.

Eliminate animal urine stains from carpet.
Blot up urine, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts White Vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.

Relieve a cold.
Mix one-quarter cup Apple Cider Vinegar with one-quarter cup honey. Take one tablespoon six to eight times daily.

Deodorize a stale lunch box.
Soak a paper napkin in Vinegar and leave it inside the closed lunch box overnight.

Prevent soapy film on glassware.
Place a cup of White Vinegar on the bottom rack of your dishwasher, run for five minutes, then run though the full cycle. A cup of white vinegar run through the entire cycle once a month will also reduce soap scum on the inner workings.

Unclog a shower head.
Unscrew the shower head, remove the rubber washer, place the head in a pot filled with equal parts Vinegar and water, bring to a boil, then simmer for five minutes.

Relieve a cough.
Mix one-half cup Apple Cider Vinegar, one-half cup water, one teaspoon cayenne pepper, and four teaspoons honey. Take one tablespoon when cough acts up. Take another tablespoon at bedtime.

Retard patching plaster from drying.
Add one tablespoon white vinegar to the water when mixing plaster to slow the drying time.

Wilson® Tennis Balls

Store valuables.
Make a two-inch slit along one seam of a Wilson Tennis Ball, then place valuables inside. If you hide the doctored tennis ball among your other sports equipment, remember not to use it.

Fluff your down jacket in the dryer and reduce static cling.
Throw in a handful of Wilson Tennis Balls to fluff the down while the jacket is tumbling in the dryer.

Childproof the sharp corners of furniture.
Cut old Wilson Tennis Balls in half or quarters and use Scotch Packaging Tape to tape the sections over sharp corners of coffee tables, end tables, cabinets, dining room tables, and other pieces of furniture that might be dangerous to a small child.

Make parking cars in your garage easier.
Hang a Wilson 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 Wilson Tennis Ball and put it over the trailer hitch as a protective cover.

Make a walker glide more easily.
Cut a hole in two Wilson Tennis Balls and fit them on the back feet of the walker.

Give yourself a foot massage.
Roll your foot over a Wilson Tennis Ball.

Make a back massager.
Put several Wilson Tennis Balls inside a sock and tie at the end. This is frequently used by the labor coach to massage the back of a woman in labor.

Remove cobwebs from unreachable places.
Wrap a Wilson Tennis Ball inside a dust cloth secured with a few rubber bands, then toss at the distant cobweb.

Play "basket tennis."
Remove the bottom from an empty coffee can, and nail the can above the garage door. Use a Wilson Tennis Ball to play basketball.

Strengthen your grip.
Squeeze a Wilson Tennis Ball in each hand.

Prevent snoring.
Sew a Wilson Tennis 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 dock.
Slit four Wilson Tennis Balls and fit them on the feet of the deck chair.

Make a back massager.
Put several Wilson Tennis Balls inside a sock and tie the sock at the end. This type of massager is frequently used by a labor coach to massage the back of a woman in labor.

Keep your car door open without wasting the battery.
Wedge a Wilson Tennis Ball into the door jamb to depress the interior light switch.

"Wilson" is a registered trademark of Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Ziploc® Storage Bags

Keep passports waterproof.
Store your passport in a Ziploc Storage Bag.

Protect important papers.
Store tax forms, important records, canceled checks, receipts, warranties, and instructions in a Ziploc Storage Bag.

Store camping items.
Carry utensils, food, clothes, maps, medications, and first aid supplies in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Carry a wet sponge or cloth for sticky fingers.
Travel with your own dampened wipe in a Ziploc Storage Bag.

Separate lingerie, scarves, gloves, hosiery, and handkerchiefs.
Organize your smaller garments in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Keep jewelry together.
Organize rings, earrings, necklaces, and brooches in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Improvise a diaper changing mat.
In an emergency, a jumbo Ziploc Storage Bag can be a used as an easy-to-tote changing mat.

Carry dirty diapers in a baby bag without any offending odors.
Keep extra Ziploc Storage Bags in your baby bag so you can seal dirty diapers inside a plastic bag until you can dispose of them properly. This is especially considerate when visiting friends¹ homes.

Carry snacks.
When traveling, pack snacks in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Carry a change of baby clothes.
Pack a change of clothes for a baby in a Ziploc Storage Bag. In separate bags, store a pacifier, cotton balls, and medication. Place all the items in a jumbo zippered Storage Bag and keep it in the baby bag.

Pack toiletries when you travel.
Keep all your toiletry items together in a Ziploc Storage Bag and prevent any unexpected leaks or spills.

Store game pieces.
Never lose dice, cards, playing pieces, or small toys again.

Pack seasonal items away.
Store leftover holiday greeting cards, valentines, and halloween decorations in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Pack a child¹s suitcase with ease.
Organize your children¹s outfits in jumbo Ziploc Storage Bags. Put a matching top, bottom, a pair of underwear and socks in each bag, so kids know exactly what they¹re going to wear each day of a vacation.

Marinate meats.
Combine your food and marinade ingredients in a Ziploc Storage Bag and refrigerate.

Store crayons.
Keep a few crayons in a Ziploc Storage Bag for trips so kids always have something to do in restaurants.

Store leftovers.
Keep leftovers for single servings in Ziploc Storage Bags for quick meals.

Organize store coupons.
Keep coupons in Ziploc Storage Bags for easy reference.

Make potpourri.
Collect dried roses, juniper sprigs, tiny pine cones, strips of orange rind, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice berries. Mix a few drops of rose, cinnamon, and balsam oils with orrisroot (available at your local crafts store). Add all ingredients and seal in a Ziploc Storage Bag for a few weeks to mellow, turning the bag occasionally.

Store jigsaw puzzles.
Keep all the pieces in a Ziploc Storage Bag so you never lose that one pivotal piece of the puzzle again.

Store screws, nuts, and bolts.
Organize nuts, bolts, drill bits, nails, washers, and screws in the workshop.

Store crafts.
Organize paintbrushes, ribbons, beads, glues, and strings in Ziploc Storage Bags.

Store leftover garden seeds.
Seal seeds and put them in a cool, dry place until ready for planting.

Pipe icing on a cake.
Fill a pint-size Ziploc Storage Bag with icing, twist the bag to force icing to one corner, seal, and use scissors to snip a small bit off the corner. Squeeze out icing to make polka dots, squiggles, or write names. Use a separate bag for each color.

Clean a shower head.
If a shower head can not be removed for cleaning, fill a Ziploc Storage Bag with vinegar, wrap it around the shower head, and secure in place overnight with a rubber band.

"Ziploc" is a registered trademark of DowBrands.