If I'd Only Listened to Mom: Hundreds of Household Remedies

by Jean B. MacLeod

Overview

A collector of practical information, Jean MacLeod had useful tips scattered around her home: in the back of recipe files, in her personal notes, in the front of books. Finally she decided she had to find a better system to organize this goldmine of information, so she arranged the tips into book form: If I'd Only Listened to Mom. This encyclopedic yet accessible volume is the result. Arranged alphabetically by topic in an easy-to-find, easy-to-read format, it offers a potpourri of options--countless simple yet effective solutions to everyday household problems that can save you time as well as money. Hints such as:

To clean car windows rub them with cola which removes grease and film
To silence a dripping faucet, tie a piece of string to the faucet until you can fix it. The water will roll down the string, eliminating the dripping noise.
To prolong the life of batteries, scrape both ends with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board
To remove stains from carpet, spray foamy shaving cream on the stain, allow to sit for a few seconds, then rinse with a damp sponge.

And many, many more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466878297
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/19/2014
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	730 KB

About the Author

Jean B. MacLeod, author of If I'd Only Listened to Mom: Hundreds of Household Remedies, grew up in England and has lived in Canada and the United States. She received her B.A. from California State University and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Jean B. MacLeod, author of If I'd Only Listened to Mom: Hundreds of Household Remedies, grew up in England and has lived in Canada and the United States. She received her B.A. from California State University and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Read an Excerpt

If I'd Only Listened to My Mom, I'd Know How to Do This

Hundreds of Household Remedies

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By Jean B. MacLeod

St. Martin's Press

Copyright © 1997 Jean B. MacLeod
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4668-7829-7

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CHAPTER 1

Helpful Hints, A to Z

ADDRESS, To give in a hurry:

• Tear off the address portion of your deposit slip.

ADDRESS BOOK, Hint on:

• Identify it with your name and address in case of loss; also keep a photocopy of the book.

ADDRESS LABELS, RETURN, Uses for:

• Stick on redemption coupons that require a name and address.

• Label items that you've lent out, such as books, tools, etc.

• Tape on the bottom of a serving dish or utensil taken to a potluck or food sale.

• Identify an item for repair.

• Put one on the tongue of your running shoe as identification.

• Put one on your gas cap.

• Put one inside your eyeglass case.

• Put one on the metal shaft of your umbrella next to the handle. Cover it with cellophane tape.

• Keep one in each piece of luggage and in your gym bag.

ADHESIVE RESIDUE FROM LABELS AND DECALS, To remove:

• Saturate the area with prewash spray, WD-40, or cooking or baby oil and leave for a couple of hours, then scrub away the adhesive with a cloth or nylon scrubber.

• Rub with a cotton ball saturated with rubbing alcohol.

• Apply mineral spirits with a piece of terry cloth.

• Use nail polish remover on a cotton ball.

AIR PURIFIERS, Natural sources to use:

• Use plants. According to research by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), a spider plant removed 96 percent of the carbon monoxide and 86 percent of the formaldehyde from a sealed test chamber in 24 hours. English ivy removed 90 percent of the benzene. Other plants that removed pollutants were golden pothos, peace lily, and several species of Dracaena.

• Keep some charcoal briquettes in a basket in the room that needs the benefit of its air purifying properties. Later they can be used for the barbecue.

• Put out zeolite (see USEFUL ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS, "Toxin-Free/Low Toxin Products").

• Boil 1 or 2 cut-up lemons in 2 or 3 cups of water and pour the liquid into bowls, then place the bowls throughout the house.

• Cut up leftover orange and lemon peels and place them strategically about the room.

• Put some baking soda into jar lids and place out of sight.

• Place a saucer or small bowl of white vinegar in the room.

• Put 1 teaspoon vanilla in an uncovered container and place it where needed.

ALARM CLOCK, To make ring louder:

• Set on a tin plate, metal baking dish, or ceramic tile.

• Use a clock radio alarm with the volume turned up if you have a hard time being awakened by an alarm clock.

ALARM CLOCK, To muffle:

• Wrap in a face cloth or towel or turn it upside down.

ANIMAL HAIRS ON FABRIC, To remove:

• Rub a rubber glove over the upholstery.

• Scrape off with a dampened squeegee or lightly dampened sponge or chamois.

• Wrap a length of duct tape, adhesive tape, or masking tape around your hand, sticky side out, and brush over the area. The animal hairs will stick to the tape.

• Place the dry garment in the clothes dryer with a damp towel and tumble dry for about 15 minutes.

ANTS, To get rid of:

• Place whole cloves, sage, or tansy around windows or wherever they are entering the house. Or keep tansy growing in the kitchen.

• Plant mint, pennyroyal, southernwood, and tansy by doorways to drive ants away. Crush some leaves periodically to release the oils.

• Put out mint leaves or sticks of mint chewing gum. There is no need to unwrap the gum.

• Disrupt their invasion paths by drawing a chalk mark where they are appearing; or sprinkle baking soda, talcum powder, borax, dried mint, chili powder, cayenne pepper, kitchen scouring powder, or lemon juice in the area. The ants will not cross the barrier.

• Kill the ants by spraying them with 1 tablespoon liquid dishwashing detergent mixed with water in a sixteen-ounce spray bottle.

• Track them down where they are entering the house. Wash all areas where they appear with full-strength white vinegar. Let the area air-dry.

• Find the nest and stir several tablespoons of Epsom salts into the top inch of soil within a 6-inch circumference of the nest entrance.

ASHTRAY, OUTDOOR, SUBSTITUTE:

• Invert a small clay flowerpot over a saucer. Cigarettes can be put into the small hole, and the lack of oxygen will put them out. Or fill a small container with sand or gravel.

ASHTRAYS, To clean:

• Apply a thin layer of floor wax to brass or copper ashtrays after washing. Allow to dry, then polish well. When wiped clean, no ashes or moisture will cling. Or wipe the clean ashtrays with your furniture waxing cloth, then polish well.

BALLPOINT INK ON PLASTIC, WOOD, CLOTH, To remove:

• Coat with mineral oil or petroleum jelly. Allow to set, then use cleaning fluid to remove the lubricant and the mark. See also STAINS chapter, "Ballpoint Pen Ink."

BALLPOINT INK ON WALLS, To remove:

• Dab white vinegar on painted walls and keep dabbing until the ink is removed. Or rub gently with silver-polishing cream, then rinse.

• Spray hair spray on wallpaper, allow it to dry, then brush it off.

BALLPOINT PEN DRIED UP, To rejuvenate:

• If the point is plastic, boil a small amount of water and place the filler in the water. Turn the heat off. When the water is cool, remove the filler, wipe dry, and replace in the penholder.

• If the point is metal, hold a lighted match or cigarette lighter to the tip of the pen until the metal is heated slightly.

BARBECUE, Hints on:

• Trim excess fat from meat to avoid excessive smoke and flare-ups.

• Handle meat with tongs, not forks, to avoid losing natural juices.

• Get maximum heat from the coals by knocking the white ashes off with tongs. Doing so will nearly double their heat for the next 5 minutes.

• Get low heat by spacing out the coals after they have a white coating. Use tongs to position them so they don't touch.

• Add more coals by placing them at the edge of the fire. Don't put fresh coals on top of those already burning.

• Revive coals by sprinkling a few teaspoons of cooking oil on top.

• Extinguish coals when finished by closing all the barbecue vents.

BARBECUE COALS, To check the temperature of:

• Hold the palm of your hand at cooking level (about 4 inches above the coals), and count the number of seconds you can hold it there: 3 seconds for hot coals; 4 seconds for medium coals; 4 to 5 seconds for medium-low coals.

BARBECUE COALS, To extinguish flare-ups:

• Sprinkle on baking soda or salt.

• Throw a lettuce leaf on the flame.

BARBECUE COALS, To save after use:

• Use tongs to put the coals in a bucket filled with water. Or put the coals in a large can with holes and run water through them. Let the coals dry out thoroughly before using again. Or spray the coals with water and leave them in the grill to dry out.

BARBECUE COALS, To start:

• Make sure your charcoal is dry. Charcoal absorbs moisture and will not burn well if damp. Store in a dry place. If stored outdoors, keep it in a weatherproof container with a tight lid.

• Fill an empty waxed cardboard milk carton with crumpled newspaper. Put the coals on top and light the carton. The carton should burn long enough to ignite the coals.

• Use a cardboard egg carton. Put one briquette in each section, then light the carton.

• Twist sheets of folded newspaper or paper towels into cylinders. Dip one end of each in cooking oil or cooking grease. Place the oil end under the coals and ignite the dry end.

• Presoak briquettes ahead of time. Put the briquettes in a coffee can and add enough charcoal starter to cover them. Keep the sealed can in a cool spot. When you start the barbecue, put in 4 or 5 presoaked briquettes, then cover with dry ones from the bag.

• Buy a tin chimney made for the barbecue. Set it on the firebed, put in 4 or 5 presoaked briquettes (see above) or a crushed milk carton and fill the chimney with briquettes. Light the carton or presoaked briquettes and wait about 15 minutes or until the coals are glowing, then remove the chimney with tongs.

• Soak a brick ahead of time with starter fluid. Put the brick in the firebed, stack briquettes around it, and light it. Remove the brick after the fire is established.

BARBECUE DRIP PANS, To make:

• Fashion drip pans from two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Or mold the double layers of foil over an inverted baking pan. Pinch the corners together and remove from the pan. A drip pan should be larger than the meat so that all the drippings go into the pan, not on the coals.

BARBECUE, GAS, BRIQUETTES, To clean:

• Turn the briquettes upside down, light the grill, and set to high. Close the cover and let the fire burn for 15 to 20 minutes.

BARBECUE GRILL, To clean:

• Clean the grill after using and while it's still hot with a long-handled wire brush dipped in water, a brass grill brush, or crumpled aluminum foil, then wipe with paper towels. Wear oven mitts to protect your hands. Or try any of the following.

• Spray the grill with window cleaner while it's still warm, then scrub or wipe clean.

• Cover the grill with heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side in, after you have finished cooking. Close all the vents and the cover and let it sit until the grill is cool enough to handle. (Leave a gas grill on for 20 minutes.) Then scrub with a wire brush or crumpled foil and wipe with damp paper towels.

• Steam clean by wrapping the grill in wet newspaper while it is still hot, then wipe clean when it's cool.

• Soak the grill overnight in a strong solution of dishwasher detergent.

• Allow the grill to cool down, then put it between layers of paper towels or newspaper and place it inside a large plastic garbage bag. Pour 1 to 2 cups ammonia into the bag to saturate the paper towels or newspaper. Tie the bag shut and let the grill soak outdoors overnight. The next day, wash in hot, soapy water. Use a plastic scrubber or steel wool pad to remove any stubborn deposits. Rinse with clear water.

• Wait for a sunny, hot day, then put the grill in a black plastic trash bag. Pour 1 cup ammonia into the bag, seal with a twist tie, and leave out in the sun. Remove the grill at the end of the day and rinse it off with the hose.

BARBECUE GRILL, To prevent food from sticking:

• Oil the grill before using with a paper towel moistened with vegetable oil, or spray it with a nonstick cooking oil spray.

BASEMENT, DAMP, To dry and remove odor:

• Mix together 1 10-pound bag cat litter and 5 pounds baking soda. Place an inch or two of the mixture in shallow pans and set out around the room. Replace the mixture once a week. Or sprinkle the mixture liberally over the floor. Let it sit for a week, then sweep or vacuum up.

• Place coffee cans filled with salt in the basement. The salt will absorb the moisture from the air. When the salt becomes damp, stand the cans on a warm stove or put the salt in the sun. The heat will cause the moisture to evaporate so you can reuse the salt again in the basement.

• Fill sturdy cloth bags with calcium chloride, and hang them from the ceiling. Calcium chloride will absorb moisture, the cause of mildew and mustiness. (Obtain calcium chloride from a builder's supply warehouse.)

• Put bags of zeolite in the damp basement to absorb the odors. Cleanse the zeolite by putting the bags in the sun, then put them back in the basement. (See USEFUL ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS, "Toxin-Free/Low Toxin Products.")

BASKETS, To clean:

• Brush out dust and grime with a stiff brush or clean paintbrush.

• Clean with warm soapy water and rinse in clear water.

• Wet periodically to prevent basketware from becoming brittle.

BASKETS, VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES, Uses for:

• Making a bed for a small pet.

• Holding potted plants from the nursery.

• Filling with food for an attractive and welcome gift food basket.

• Lining with plastic and filling with potpourri.

• Serving as a plant pot, if plastic-lined.

• Filling with charcoal briquettes and using as a room deodorizer.

• Storing newspapers or magazines.

• Serving as a cutlery and napkin holder at buffets and picnics. (Wrap each cutlery serving in a napkin.)

• Holding bathroom accessories such as guest soaps, rolled-up guest towels, or face cloths.

• Keeping pens and pads together by the phone.

• Holding edibles: fruit basket, bread basket, chip and cracker basket, and lined with greens for a fresh veggie basket.

• Serving as an incoming or outgoing mail receptacle.

• Holding pet's or children's toys.

• Holding gadgets and items in kitchen drawers and cabinets.

BATTERIES, To prolong the life of:

• Scrape both ends with sandpaper, a nail file, or an emery board to give them more mileage.

BEADS OR PEARLS, To thread:

• Let the melted wax from a burning candle drop on the end of the thread, or dip the end in the wax. Twist between the fingers, then let it harden.

• Use waxed dental floss.

BED SLATS SLIDING OUT OF PLACE, To prevent:

• Slip wide rubber bands over the ends to keep them from moving.

BELT, To make extra notches: See "Leather Belt, To make extra notches."

BERRY BASKETS, Uses for:

• Hold condiments in the kitchen cupboard, such as sauce packages, soup mixes, etc.

• Put them in the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and in the vegetable crisper for small items such as garlic, ginger root, lemons, etc.

• Nestle two together for support and keep frequently used spices in the cupboard or refrigerator.

• String together with twist ties and use to separate different cleaning rags.

• Separate various items in drawers.

• Store your vitamin bottles in them.

• Utilize as mini colanders.

• Keep one on the kitchen counter to hold paper towels you've dried your hands on. You can reuse the towels to mop up spills or wipe up stains on the kitchen floor.

• Line with plastic, fill with potting soil, and use as planters inside ceramic containers.

• Turn upside down in a large vase and use as a frog for flowers.

BICARBONATE OF SODA (BAKING SODA) FOR CLEANING, To save money on:

• Buy large bags in a Chinese supermarket, or buy a box from the drugstore instead of the small ones you buy for baking.

BLIND CORDS, VENETIAN, To clean:

• Soak them in a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup chlorine bleach in a jar or bowl for about 1 minute. Check after a minute to see if they are white; if not, keep in a little longer. Rinse in a clean container of water, then dry with a towel.

BLIND CORDS, VENETIAN, To replace:

• Tape or sew the end of the new one to the old one. Slowly pull out the cord and you'll pull the new one into place.

BLINDS, FABRIC, To clean:

• Cover the blind with a paste made of fuller's earth, a little detergent and water. Leave on for 2 hours, then wash off. (Obtain fuller's earth from drugstores.)

• Rub with a rough flannel cloth dipped in cornmeal or flour.

• Water and mildew stains: Dampen the blind and rub salt well into the fabric. Leave the blind in the sun and keep it damp until the stains disappear.

BLINDS, FABRIC, To repair:

• Use clear nail polish to repair small tears.

BLINDS, MINI/VENETIAN, Care of:

• Dust with a feather duster, lamb's wool duster, clean 2-inch paintbrush, or the dusting attachment of the vacuum. Close the slats flat, dust the front, then close them in the opposite direction and dust the other side. Follow with a soft cloth.

• Put an old sock on your hand and spray it with window cleaner. Close the blinds and, starting at the top, go over them side to side, then do the reverse side.

• Take them down and wash them outside. First hose them off, then lay them on an old blanket and scrub the slats with an all-purpose cleaner or a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia to 1 quart warm water. Scrub the slats using a soft-bristle brush or terry-cloth rag. Turn the blind over and do the other side. Hang the blind on a ladder or clothesline and rinse with a hose. Shake, then dry with a towel or let air-dry.

• Put an old blanket or quilt on the verandah or porch, then lay the blinds on top and wash them with a solution of 1/2 cup nonsudsy ammonia to 1 gallon warm water. No rinsing is necessary.

• Use a commercial product made for chandeliers.

BOOK LICE, To get rid of:

• Put books in plastic freezer bags or wrap them in newspaper and store them in the freezer for 3 to 4 days.

BOOK PRICE STICKERS, To remove:

• Put a cloth over the book and press the sticker for a couple of seconds with a medium-hot iron, then gently pull the sticker off.

BOOKENDS SUBSTITUTE:

• Fill hollow decorative pieces or fancy tin cans with sand.

BOOKS, To clean:

• Use a wide paintbrush or a feather duster to make the job go faster.

• Clean the book covers by rubbing them briskly with a clean cloth wrung out in a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water.

• Rub book covers with waxed paper and they will stay cleaner.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from If I'd Only Listened to My Mom, I'd Know How to Do This by Jean B. MacLeod. Copyright © 1997 Jean B. MacLeod. Excerpted by permission of St. Martin's Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Title Page,
Copyright Notice,
Dedication,
Acknowledgments,
Introduction,
Helpful Hints, A to Z,
Automobiles,
Bathrooms,
Carpets,
Food and Cooking,
Furniture,
Gardens,
Kitchens,
Laundry,
Organization,
Painting,
Pets,
Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting,
Stains,
Travel Tips,
Cleaning Products and Their Uses,
Useful Addresses and Phone Numbers,
Weights and Measures,
Copyright,