alt.olive.oil Alternative uses for olive oil, from Curbly.com Shaving Furniture Polish Moisturize Use it as a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. Rub in an extra teaspoon after washing your body or face. Wipe with a teaspoon of olive oil and a soft rag. Add a vinegar or citrus juice for more cleaning power and a fresh scent. Use a bit of olive oil to moisturize cuticles, or apply to damp skin to seal in moisture. Use a light oil for a lighter olive-y smell. Free a Stuck Zipper Lip Balm Stop Frizz Use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the teeth of a zipper, then gently ease the tab down. Mix olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio, with an essential oil for fragrance, and say goodbye to dry and chapped lips. winter. Comb a bit of olive oil through dry hair to tame the frizz and flyaways on humid days or in the Cure an Earache Very carefully, use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax. Sooth Your Throat Take a sip of olive oil to stop the itchy flicker that is making you cough. Stop a Squeak Use a rag or cotton swab to apply olive oil to the top of a problematic hinge in your home or automobile. More alternative uses from our original article at: crb.li/alt-oliveoil Add to bath water for softer skin Relieve diaper rash Take a sip to reduce snoring Remove makeup Remove paint from your skin Shine stainless steel and brass Treat lice Shoe polish Personal lubricant Condition leather Add to cat food to prevent hairballs
alt.dryer.sheets Alternative uses for dryer sheets, from Curbly.com Dusting Use them to knock dust off nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards & molding. Repel Bugs Rub on your skin or place under a picnic basket to keep critters away. Keep Clothes Fresh Put one in your drawers to preserve a just-washed smell. Leave one in the dirty clothes hamper to avoid odors. Stop Static Cling Stinky Shoes In a Book Pat yourself with a sheet to combat static on your clothes, stockings, and even long hair! Place a sheet in the toes of your shoes to minimize odors. bookmark. Avoid that musty paper smell on your bookshelf; use a dryer sheet for a Clean Paint Brushes Soak your used paintbrushes in warm water with a dryer sheet, and that pesky latex paint will come off in under a minute. In Your Pillow Keep a fabric-softener sheet in your pillowcase or under your mattress for sweet-smelling dreams. In a Toilet Paper Roll Instant bathroom freshness every time you spin the roll. Note: Many brands of dryer sheets contain potentially-harmful chemicals. Be mindful of allergies and skin sensitivity. To be safe, check the label for warnings, or consider using an all-natural product. More alternative uses from our original article at: crb.li/alt-dryersheets Store threaded needles to keep them from tangling Place in suitcase for fresh travels Use them to wipe bugs off your windshield Reinforce quilting work Prevent smells in diaper bag/pail Make cookware cleanup easier; soak pots/pans in water with a dyer sheet Make your own! http://crb.li/diy-dryersheets
alt.coffee.grounds Alternative uses for coffee grounds, from Curbly.com Use as Deodorizer Dry coffee grounds on a cookie sheet and place them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer to cut down on odors. Also, rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells. Plant Food Plants that prefer acidic soils (like rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons) will appreciate a weekly dusting of coffee grounds. Insect Repellant Sprinkle used grounds around places you don t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away. Dye By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper, and even Easter eggs. Furniture scratch cover-up Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a cotton swab. Scrubbing As they re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects. Kitty repellent your plants. To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around Flea Dip Follow up Fido s shampoo with a coffee ground rub down, working them down to his skin. Not only are the fleas supposed to vamoose, but puppy s hair will feel soft too. Dust Inhibitor Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control. View the original article at: crb.li/alt-coffee-grounds
alt.baking.soda Alternative uses for baking soda, from Curbly.com Brush Your Teeth When your spouse or roommate takes the toothpaste for their weekend out of town, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a 1/4 teaspoon of water and scrub away. Stain Removal Use to clean stains and spots on china and dishes. Use warm water and stir in a piece of aluminum foil to remove tarnish from silver. Freshen Your Closets Store a box of soda in your linen closet to repel mustiness. Unclog Drains Cleanse your p-trap or garbage disposal with a cup of baking soda, following with a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for five minutes, then chase it down with a whole kettleful of boiling water. Patch Plaster Mix baking soda with white glue to fill cracks or dents in drywall and plaster. Clean Grubby Artwork Dip a damp cloth in baking soda and scrub away crayon and pencil marks that have happened on your walls by developing artists. While You Vacuum Sprinkle your carpet or rugs with baking soda and let rest for fifteen minutes before vacuuming to freshen up your floors. Control Crab Grass Lightly wet crabgrass, then sprinkle lightly with baking soda every day for a week. Fire Extinguisher Sprinkle baking soda over small fires in the kitchen or workspace (then go grab a real fire extinguisher!)
alt.vinegar Alternative uses for vinegar, from Curbly.com Weeds be gone Vinegar s low ph makes it very acidic, and perfect for getting rid of weeds and unwanted plants and grasses. Clean your microwave Nuke a bowl of 50/50 vinegar and water on high and bring to a boil. Allow the steam to penetrate gunk, then wipe clean. Add to laundry Mix 1-2 cups of white vinegar into the rinse cycle for soft, fluffy, and smell-free clothing, sheets, and towels. Mildew & mold Keep car windows clear Clean your coffee maker Spray a mixture of white water and MOLD vinegar in your basement, bathroom, and other wet places to say goodbye to surface mold and mildew. Spray the outside of your windshields with a 3:1 white vinegar to water solution to deter ice from forming on the glass. residues. Run a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water through your drip coffee maker to get rid of buildup and Remove water rings Mix equal parts white vinegar and olive oil and wipe with a soft cloth to remove the white rings left by drinking glasses on wood furniture. In the garbage disposal Freeze a 2:1 white vinegar to water solution in an ice cube tray, then grind a cube in your garbage disposal, and rinse with water. Air freshener Simply leave a dish of vinegar in a room with a recent unpleasant smell (burnt food, pet odors, mildew) and allow it to absorb the odors.