Vinegar the Wonder Household Cleaner

On way to be super frugal and save our enviroment is to make some of your own cleaning solutions. One of my all time favorite is White Vinegar.

My dear friend Robin over at Heart of wisdom:Heart at Home posted this a while back...It is a wonder post and she gave me permission to repost it here. I refer back to it again and again. Be sure to bookmark it. She has so many wonderful articles...you can visit her blog here.

16 Uses for Vinegar

Vinegar is incredibly cheap and will kill most bacteria, mold and germs. White vinegar neutralizes alkaline substances such as scale from hard water; it aids in dissolve gummy buildup and will remove dirt from wood surfaces. White distilled vinegar only costs about 69 cent for a large 32 ounce bottle. It works for me.

1. All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 50% water and 50% vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean sinks, counter tops, and other surfaces.
2. Floor Cleaner: Add ½ cup distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water to clean hardwood or laminated floors. No need to rinse.
3. Dish Cleaner: Mix 2 tablespoons white vinegar to liquid dish soap to help cut grease.
4. Glass and Windows: Alcohol and white vinegar together make a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner. Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar in a spray bottle. Or try the 50-50 all-purpose cleaner listed above.
5. Refrigerator Cleaner: Clean the refrigerator by washing with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.
6. Microwave Oven Cleaner: Set a solution of of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Heat for 2 minutes on high. This will loosen splattered-on food so it wipes out easily.
7. Show Curtain Cleaner: Get rid of mold from shower curtains by putting the shower curtain in the washing machine with a couple of towels; add 1 cup white vinegar to the detergent and wash.
8. Faucet Cleaner: Put vinegar on a cloth and let it sit on the back of your kitchen or bathroom faucet to remove hard water stains.
9. Coffee Maker Cleaner: Run a pot full of white vinegar through your drip coffee maker once a month to free it of mineral buildup . Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished.
10. Shower Head Cleaner: Remove hard water deposits from your shower head by putting some white vinegar into a plastic baggy; duct tape it to the shower head and leave overnight. Brush the shower head to remove remaining deposits.
11. Drain Cleaner: Keep drains clean by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar; the mixture will foam as it cleans and deodorizes.
12. Copper Cleaner: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of distilled vinegar to make a paste to clean copper pot and pan bottoms.
13. Garbage Disposal Cleaner: Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal to clean and deodorize the disposal.
14. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down, then pour pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Scrub down the bowl. Never mix vinegar with bleach. If you use bleach tablets do not use vinegar.
15. Eyeglass Cleaner: Clean your glasses by wiping each lens with a drop of white vinegar.
16. Gummed Label Remover: Saturate a cloth with hot vinegar and soak price labels to remove from glass, wood, and china. Give the vinegar time to soak in and after several minutes the label can be rubbed off.

For more great frugal tips visit Life as Mom

All Us Girls Need A Little Help From a Friend

Several years ago, after having two children, I weighed 180 lbs. This was quite an increase for me as I weighed 108 when I got married. I was 28 when I got married so this weight was due to babies for sure.

I joined weight watchers and boy did it work. This program is wonderful because it teaches you how to eat real food from resturants, from the grocery store. You learn how to adapt your recipies to make them healthier for you and your family. When you learn to eat properly, you win! But the best part is that your family wins too.

Well, since then I have kept the weight off for 5 years. I am at 145lbs. I am comfortable here. I know that this is over what the ideal weight is but I am eating healthy and excercising. I am not going to stare...I am not a pleasant person if I don't get my food regularly.

First of all what works for me is weight watchers. You can even do weight watchers online! http://http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspxYou can't beat that. I actually went to meetings.

Some other sites that will help you on your weight watchers journey:

hungrygirl.com

http://http://www.angelfire.com/me/kyoddie/diets2.html

http://http://www.weight-watcher-recipe.com/latest/weight-watchers-point-calculator.html

I hope this is helpful to you in your journey!

Lynne

Works for Me Wednesday:Magic Jack

We are right now trying this new gadget that is out....I am hoping that it will help us cut some costs by eliminating out home phone service. Many folks out there are switching to using only cell phones with no land line service. We saw an advertisement about this product and decided to try it out.

Here is a little more information about Magic Jack:

Magic Jack is a newcomer to the VOIP (voice over internet protocol) family of internet phoning. It's quick to install, easy to use and the price can't be beat for making unlimited local and long distance calls in the United States and Canada. But is Magic Jack too good to be true?

Like most products, Magic Jack has it's good points and it's not-so-good points. It will be up to you to decide what is most important to you in internet phoning and to choose the product that should work best in your situation.

Magic Jack Pros

Low cost to try out. For $39.95 plus shipping and handling, you receive the USB device and the license to use it for unlimited local and long distance calling for one year. Each additional year is $19.95. There are also multi-year packages to purchase at a discount.

International calls can be free if you are calling someone who also has the device. For example, if you have a family member that lives in another country, you can purchase a Magic Jack and mail it to them. Then you can call them for free and they can call anywhere in the US and Canada free.

Includes many features such as voice mail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, 411 and 911.

Save on your cell phone minutes by using it to make calls from home.

Uses any ordinary landline telephone, including cordless phones. Headsets and your computer microphone and speakers can also be used.

Magic Jack Cons

Your computer has to be turned on to use Magic Jack.

Service can be intermittent. New company with growing pains, I don't recommend relying on it for your only phone.

Directory assistance, or 411 is advertising based if you call it from your phone. If clicking on the soft phone screen that lives on your desktop, you are taken to a web site to look up phone numbers.

911 is through a different system than the 911 you call from a regular telephone. When setting up your Magic Jack it will ask you the physical location of your phone in case of calling 911. Until this service is a lot more stable, I would not rely on their 911 in an emergency. Another reason for keeping your landline phone.

If your internet service does not work during a power outage, you will be without this phone service also. Unless you have a cell phone that will work, this is another reason not to cancel your landline phone service. Make sure you keep a phone that doesn't use electricity on hand for emergencies.

As with most or all voip services, you must have a high speed internet connection to use this service. These services include broadband, DSL, WiFi, FIOS, cable internet or WiMax. It is not recommended for use with satellite internet.

If you are interested in having a service that allows you to make free long distance calls, give Magic Jack a try. If dumping your current landline phone service is what you need, investigate the other VOIP services that are available and that have a longer track record of performance.

So far we have had some bad connections...and experienced the computer being turned off and forgot that it has to be on for the phone to work. But we have cell phones too.....4 different ones to be exact so .....no big deal.

The service of $19.99 year as opposed to $360.00 a year...well that's a not brainer for us. And as you might have guessed......right now "It Works For Me!"

Hate Carpet Cleaning ? NO MORE-I Have A Secret Weapon

Dirty Carpets....notice the clean spot in the center of the circle....Oh so sad.....Yuck!

When you walk through your home and your socks are gray on the bottom...It usually means that its that time again.....What time your ask?

There is one chore I hate more than anything else to do....Clean My Carpets! Thats my Tackle!

But let me tell you what "Works for me" on this tackle............

First problem..........

What do you use to clean carpets.
Rent a Carpet Machine....Get the WIDE one for sure.

Okay, now what cleaning solution?

I decided to use a degreaser to spray on the high traffic area. I remembered a degreaser that I had used years earlier on tough cleaning projects, so I thought maybe I'd get some to spray on the high traffic areas. I remembered that I got it at Lowes and so off to Lowes to rent a machine and get the degreaser.
When I got there I read the label on the degreaser and it says.....For use in Carpet Cleaners........That was me!
The Product Krud Kutter.......This stuff is awesome! So I bought a gallon.



Dirty Water after the first shampoo with Krud Kutter. Yuck Again.
This stuff really cut the dirt.....


Next Problem....have you ever noticed that when you clean your carpet......it looks great but in just a few months it is dirty again.....its crazy.

The reason.....Soap residue left on your carpet....Sticky soap residue.....ATTRACTS DIRT!

Solution......Rinse with White Vinegar and Hot Water in the Carpet Cleaning Machine.
Cuts the soapy residue and leaves your carpet squeaky clean!

Leaving your carpet that stays cleaner longer.

The white vinegar also deodorizes you carpet leaving your whole house smelling really great.

So here is what I do....I actually clean the carpet with the krud kutter 2 times.. then I rinse with the vinegar and water the 3rd time i go over each carpet.....Believe me you'll be glad you did.


If you are not a believer......do a test. Clean on carpet the regular method and clean one carpet with my method.

Let me know what you think when 1 month goes by...

Now you have my tackle and what works for me......






Carpet, After it had a cleaning......my method.....Looks great!

To Learn more about Krud Kutter...Visit the Website here.


Blessings

Saving O the Green Sale: $75 Worth of Money Saving E-Books For Only $17.00!!

This Sale is a 5 Day sale and starts Tuesday, March 17! Don't miss out on this awesome offer.

I thought I'd take this moment to let you know about a great offer from our friends at LivingOnADime.com and MoneySavingMom.com. Many of you are familiar with Crystal, Tawra and Jill's money saving, get-out-of-debt, frugal living and homemaking tips.

Well, they have just contacted me to let me know that with the rise in the price of groceries, they have decided to team up to offer you their two grocery savings e-courses along with a huge pile of bonus items.
Even better, they are offering this
Savin' O The Green
17 e-book package to our readers for $17, a substantial discount off of the regular price of $75 for these e-books.

The e-books that are included in this offer are:

Supermarket Savings 101 eCourse with audio downloads

Grocery Shopping On A Budget eCourse

Money Saving Meats e-book

Saving On Cleaning Supplies e-book

Eating Healthy On A Budget e-booklet

Is Eating Out Eating You Up? e-book

224 Meals In A Hurry e-book

Grocery Savings e-book

Menus That Make Cents e-book

Plan Ahead Leftovers e-book

Quick Dinners e-book

Menu Planning Made Easy

Simply Centsible Breakfasts

Simply Centsible Suppers

Kids Recipes

Menus On A Dime

470 Crockpot Recipes

Don't wait, get this....This would make a great gift for someone as well! Wedding gift perhaps!

For more information on this exciting offer, visit
this link

Works for Me Wednesday:Cool Site Alert: How To Clean Stuff

I found the awesome site that I just had to share. How to Clean Stuff.net I can help you safely clean just about anything you can imagine....This is one you will want to bookmark for sure.

Also if you have a cleaning tip to offer...they will donate .25 to the clean water fund! So far they have raised $429.00....very cool

This works for me and will be working for me much in the future....

Happy Cleaning

Works for Me Wednesday:Excercizing is Good!

In thinking of what I could post about that works for me....I can tell you that I used to be close to 40 lbs heavier...I felt not so good all the time...tired and yuck.

The first step the worked for me in a great way and is still working for me is Weight Watchers...This is a wonderful program. I posted previously on works for me Wednesday on Weight watchers...You can see that post plus another one with helpful links here.

I droped 35 lbs and felt so much better. I basically lost the weight by diet...which was good. I did some exercising but not really.

Then several years ago my daughters and I joined Curves. This got us going on a routine to excercising. We liked it and were members for 2 years.

Then we wanted some change and we joined our local YMCA. This has been so awesome. We can excercise in so many ways, change up what we do. I feel better and have so much more energy than I used to . It has been so awesome. The first years I paid with the membership with money I made in a side venture breeding German Shepherd Dogs. After that we realized it need to be part of the budget.

Excercise works for me...You don't need to attend a gym to get excercize but it helps in our case because all three of us can get a workout in at the same time and we love it.

If you don't have an excercize program....start one....do it regular, and find someone you can do it with...maybe not together but report to. Good Luck!

Whats Better Than a Free Movie!

I know this has been mentioned several times by several ladies...but yesterday...it came to me how much this "WORKS FOR ME!!"

Have you see those Red Boxes where you can rent movies. They are located in Walmarts, outside Walgreens and McDonalds in our town.

You can rent DVD movies for $1.00 for one night. THIS IS A GREAT DEAL!

BUT WAIT, IT GETS BETTER!

On Mondays....Red Box gives out a code for a free rental for one night.

Now this is one free rental per ATM card....lol..

We have 5 ATM Cards in our family. I only realized this yesterday......What made me realize this you say?

My husband was sick in bed for the second day. On a Monday.....Well, court TV was not amusing him in the least. So he asked if I could go rent him some movies....We do not have cable TV by the way...only local channels by antenna.

I just went online and searched for Monday Code for Red Box and off we went. We got 5 movies for him and he was happy...He watched all of them...poor baby.

Just don't forget to return them all the next day...lol

Used to when he'd get sick, I 'd go rent several movies from the local rental and it'd cost over $10.00. I hate that.

Even if his sick day was not on a Monday....We would only pay $1.00 per movie...BIG SAVINGS!

Here is a link to get Red Box Codes!

What Mama Need Most: FREE Facial!! :)

Continuing from my last Works for Me Wednesday Post.....I have something else that I ran upon that really WORKED FOR ME! A FREE Facial. I mean a really nice facial....complete with a 10 minute mask...I was in heaven.

I was in Boston in a really nice mall and ran upon a shop called Origins....I went in and asked questions about the products. I have become more and more aware of the chemicals and such used in so many of our products we use on a daily basis and the bad effects they have on our bodies. This line of skin care products are chemical free....They are " Green " too.

This is a blurb for their website:

"Since we launched in 1990, Origins has been about looking at things in different ways. Choices. Alternatives. New experiences. All sorts of exciting new possibilities. And always finding answers in nature. And we offer you three distinct collections of products to choose from.Since 1990, we’ve been creating and innovating healthful choices in Skin Care, Hair Care, Bath and Body, Color and Sensory Therapy® products using the best of nature along with trying to do what’s best for the planet and what’s best for you.Our many unique products go beyond physical appearance to treat, touch, scent and surround every aspect of your being and well-being. We create products for farmhouse and penthouse, for men and women, babies and pets, getting and gifting. Whether you need an aromatic candle to light your way...or a special gift to make someone’s day, you’ll find just what you need to live a more natural lifestyle at Origins.Today you’ll find Origins in more than 450 department and specialty stores and 125 of our own free-standing retail stores in the United States as well as in 26 countries around the world. "

Check out their website here.

Well, I was in heaven. A Free facial and I walked out of there with my face feeling wonderful. I was very impressed with the products. I, of course could not afford to buy but one product...But I really liked the products.

If you have a store in your area...or if the line has a counter in one of your big department stores...you too can go and get a free facial...I am telling you, I Worked for Me!

Best Bargins,

Lynne

Taking Care of My Ever Aging Skin

____________________________________________________________________
My tackle today is taking care of my Skin. After I turned 40,(several years back), I noticed drastic changes in my skin. I have gotten age spots and have been trying everything to lighten them...One thing I have found out for sure..

.If you do nothing they will not go away..

.If you do something, it might help...

This facts are not really comforting...but it does keep me searching for a product that will really help.

You can spend alot of money on skincare! Goodness, sometimes I wonder if there is gold in the bottles..lol

I have been trying several products and found several that seem to work.

First, let me say that if you have hormone problems..this could complicate your skin aging problems.
I recently have started on bioidentical estrogen and a compounded mixture from my pharmicist that really seems to be helping my skin. yeah!

Second I found a good, affordable,skin brightner and moisturizer. I have had dark circles for years and they are much better and my skin looks much better.
It is called Juice Organics.

First I use the Brightening Serum Cost approx $19.00
Then I use the Brightening MoisturizerCost approx $14.00

This really works and I am happy with the price...I actually got mine on clearance for $2.00 a bottle which is awesome...but, this is a product that I will purchase for the prices listed above. It is good stuff and organic too. I Love it and it Works for me.

Tackling Relaxation In New England With Garmin GPS Works For Me

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Leaves in Harvard Yard-Cambridge, MA

It is so hard to get away from daily life and all its obligations....You know what I mean, I know you do!!

Anyway, sometimes you actually have to MAKE it happen. So......since my husband had to attend a school in Boston, MA....I decided to tag along....he he. I just climbed in his suitcase and off we went....not really.


It is fall and the leaves are turning and the company puts him up on a really plush hotel....I sleep with him so thats no xtra cost...lol

We came early and spend a day at Cape Cod and 1/2 day in Boston .....It was so awesome and the weather was so beautiful.

Monday it was off to school for him and I was off on my own....But not to worry....I had my Garmin GPS and off "we" went...

Garmin and I were really getting along well by the end of it all. Garmin "Works For ME" for sure. And, as far as a TOY that is worth buying .....this one fits the bill for me and my husband.

I was able to navigate through the busy streets with no problems. I LOVE this thing. We have used GPS before off our computer and I HATED it. But this Garmin GPS is a wonderful thing.

What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

How it works

GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on the unit's electronic map.

A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more.

How accurate is GPS?

Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin® GPS receivers are accurate to within 15 meters on average.

Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability can improve accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.

I just programed it and drove...It really gives you a heads up on all turns!

Hope you can tackle some R&R soon even if it is forced...lol.

Lynne