Welcome to RCF - WHF

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

10 Uses for Coffee Grounds. Once you've brewed your morning cup of joe, perk up around-the-house tasks with this surprisingly versatile leftover

1. Deodorize Your Fridge

Place a bowl of dry grounds in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize odors left by stale or spoiled food.

2. Clean Tools and Dishware

Place a few teaspoons of grounds on a thin cleaning rag and use to scour away grease and grime. Finish with a thorough rinsing.

3. Hide Furniture Scratches

Dip a cotton swab into steeped grounds and dab on scratches in dark wood furniture to minimize them. Just test in an inconspicuous area first.

4. Give Paper an Antique Look

Dip paper or sheets of stationery in a soupy mix of grounds and water; allow them to sit a minute or two, then let dry and brush off the grounds.

5. Repel Insects

Mound grounds into a ring to create a protective border around plants that will ward off ants and slugs.

6. Grow Blue Hydrangeas

Work grounds into the soil at the base of mophead hydrangeas to increase the acidity level. This helps the shrubs absorb aluminum, which you can add to the soil to keep the flowers a vibrant blue.

7. Contain Ashes

Sprinkle damp grounds on fireplace ashes to cut down on airborne dust as you sweep them up.

8. Scrub Hands

Rub a scoop of grounds between palms as an exfoliant to remove dead skin and help eliminate smells from foods like fish and garlic.

9. Make a Cockroach Trap

Fill a can or jar with an inch or two of moistened coffee grounds, then line the container's neck with extra-sticky double-sided tape. The scent will draw the roaches into the trap.

10. Fortify Plants

Give seedlings a nitrogen boost by stirring grounds into soil or a watering can.

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rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

10 Uses for Mayonnaise. Who knew that our favored BLT condiment was so versatile around the house? In a pinch, use it to help you tackle these everyday tasks

1. Remove Tree Sap

Coat still-tacky tree sap with mayo and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe away the softened sap with a clean rag.

2. Slide a Ring off a Swollen Finger

Rub a generous amount of mayo around the ring. After a few minutes, you should be able to slip it off easily.

3. Erase Crayon from Walls

Coat doodles on surfaces covered with scrubbable paint. After a few minutes, wipe off the mayo and crayon marks with a damp cloth.

4. Make Plant Leaves Shine

Bring luster to dusty houseplants by adding a dab of mayo to each leaf. Buff with a paper towel or a soft rag.

5. Banish Fingerprints from Stainless Steel

Cover messy prints with a thin coat of mayo, and use a clean, dry cloth to wipe them away.

6. Silence a Squeaky Hinge

Place a dab of mayo on a clean rag and rub it onto a noisy hinge. Open and close the door a few times to work it in, and wipe away any excess.

7. Kill Head Lice

Before bedtime, comb mayo through hair and cover with a shower cap overnight. In the morning, comb out hair, then shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Repeat as necessary.

8. Get Rid of Tar

Use mayo to coat tar that’s stuck to your shoes or car. Let sit for several minutes, then wipe off.

9. Rub out Water Rings

Cover water rings on wood furniture with mayo. Let sit for a minute or two. Wipe off and buff with a soft, clean cloth.

10. Remove Sticker Residue

Dab mayo on stubborn price tags and the like, let sit for a few minutes, then rub off. The oil dissolves adhesives.

And you can use it for making a sandwich too!!!

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rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

10 Uses for Vinegar. Forget about salad dressing. This inexpensive kitchen staple—the distilled white kind, that is—can multitask in any room of the house. Here are 10 smart ways to use it

1. Peel off Wallpaper

Using a sponge or spray bottle, saturate wallpaper with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Let stand for several minutes, then start scraping. The paper should come off easily.

2. Revive Old Paintbrushes

Soak gunked-up nylon brushes in hot vinegar for up to 30 minutes to remove paint and soften the bristles. Afterward, wash them in hot, soapy water, brushing off paint as needed, then rinse and let dry—good as new.

3. Test Your Soil's pH

Place a handful of dirt into a small container and sprinkle vinegar on it. If it fizzes, the soil is alkaline; adjust the pH with an acid amendment.

4. Remove Mineral Deposits from Showerheads

Pour ½ cup of warm vinegar into a resealable plastic bag. Drop in the showerhead, making sure the holes are submerged, and seal the bag. Let sit for 1 hour. Rinse and wipe clean, then reattach.

5. Keep Paint from Peeling

Before painting galvanized metal or concrete, wipe down the object or surface with vinegar, using a sponge or lint-free cloth. This little trick will help your paint job last longer.

6. Banish Decals and Stickers

Dab vinegar onto stubborn price tags and stickers affixed to glass, plastic, or wood. Scrape the surface clean, then rub the area with more vinegar to remove any sticky residue.

7. Wipe off Wax or Polish Buildup

On wood surfaces or furniture, use a mix of equal parts vinegar and water to remove buildup, wiping with the grain of the wood. For leather furniture, make a weaker solution—2 parts water to 1 part vinegar—and rub the material using a circular motion.

8. Whiten Grout

For stubborn stains on ceramic-tile surfaces, scrub grout with a stiff-bristled toothbrush dipped in vinegar and watch it whiten before your eyes. CAUTION: Vinegar can harm marble and other natural stone surfaces, so avoid using on these materials. Test a small, unobtrusive area first if you want to be extra careful.

9. Dissolve Rust

Soak old tools and corroded nuts and bolts in vinegar for a few days. Rinse them with water and watch rust and scale disappear.

10. Protect your Hands

Caustic ingredients in concrete, drywall, and other building materials can cause painful skin irritation. If you handle them often, rinse your hands with a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water before washing up—the acid neutralizes their alkaline content.

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