FReeper Canteen ~ Household Hints ~ 17 May 2007

May 16, 2007 | Entertaining the Troops Committee

[beachn4fun]

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

HINT & TIPS

Welcome to the FReeper Canteen Hints & Tips that can be make your life easier. Or not! Hopefully, you'll find something here that will make your life easier. Or maybe someone you know could use one of these ideas. If you have a hint or tip of your own, be sure to leave it behind before you leave the Canteen.

Ma can always use helpful ideas on how to keep the Canteen clean with all the youngsters running around.

Let's start with some general household hints.

*** Use of soap wrapper: Don't throw away the wrapper after removing a bar of soap. Place it inside your shoe cabinet or shoe box. It's a cheap way of filling the air with a nice smell.

*** If your polished furniture has small scratches: Try rubbing them with a shelled walnut. You'll see the scratches just disappear!

*** If you have problem with slippery shoelaces which refuse to stay tied: Rub them with a candle and make them less slippery so that knots stay put.

*** To keep lint and dust off glass top tables, wash them in a solution of warm water and fabric softener. Add one tablespoon of liquid fabric softener to one quart of warm water. The fabric softener will clean the glass inexpensively and will help keep lint from gathering on the glass. Also great for computer screens and TV's

*** Don't throw away odd socks or socks with holes in them, use them to make a mop. Tie several socks (10-12 works best) to a mop or broom handle and use just like you would a regular mop. White cotton socks work best for this project and by the time the "sock mop" wears out, you'll probably have plenty more socks to make a new one.

***Get rid of pet hair on upholstery effortlessly by wiping the furniture with a slightly dampened sponge.

(All hints found on websites. Management makes no claims to the effectiveness of any hints)

Join us again next week for more hints.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Not yet...she is home, trying to keep busy...cleaning the kitchen.

[SandRat]

To remove skunk odors from the family pet, try one of the following methods:
1. A mixture of one quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda,
and one teaspoon of dishwashing soap (liquid soap). Spray it on the victim.
2. White vinegar and water added to regular pet shampoo. Wash victim well.
3. Tomato Juice Bath

[HiJinx]

“We”?
Can’t wait to see the pictures. Your Piper has the cutest little face - button nose and all!

[StarCMC]

Ok.

[SandRat]

Substitutions & Equivalents In Food Ingredients

3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon
1 whole egg = 2 egg white + 1 tsp. Oil or 1/4 C. egg substitute
1 C. cake flour = 1 C. minus 2 Tbsp. sifted all-purpose flour
1 C. all purpose flour = 1 C. + 2 Tbsp. cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder = 1/4 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon
juice in 1/2 C. sweet milk
1 tsp. baking powder = 1/3 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 C. granulated sugar = 3/4 C. honey (reduce liquid by 1/4 C. for each
3/4 C. honey). If there is no liquid in recipe, add 1/4 C. flour per 3/4 C. honey.
1 C. marshmallow cream = 16 large marshmallows.
1 square (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate = 3 Tbsp. cocoa plus 1 Tbsp. shortening.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hee hee!
Atta boy!
(((((((((Sandy)))))))))))
Ms.B

[SandRat]

?

[SandRat]

?

[SandRat]

?

[SandRat]

?

[SandRat]

?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LUVEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
LOL
*HUG*
Why thank you, it’s good to see you, too!
Sure glad you had a nice day!
Ms.B

[luvie]

Yes, “we”, LOL! I talked hubby into going with me.
I will take MANY pictures, as they’ll have to last
a while, I am sure!

Also he talked to his Mom and I think she helped
convince him. You know...the old “Mom’s guilt trip” routine! I’m glad I won’t have to go by myself.

[luvie]

That’s all very good stuff to know, Sandy.

[HiJinx]

I feel a lot better now, knowing you’re not making that drive by yourself.

You are going to so enjoy yourselves.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Birthday, swmo!!

Click

[SandRat]

TO CLEAN MICROWAVE OVEN AND REMOVE ODORS

Place a bowl of vinegar in the microwave and run on HIGH til it comes to a boil. Wipe the interior clean with a rag dipped in the vinegar.

TO CLEAN COFFEE MAKERS

Drop an EFFER-DENT denture cleaning tablet in a 10 cup coffee maker and add hot water it instead of cold. Brew as usual then rinse.

APPLESAUCE AS SUBSTITUTE FOR OIL

You may substitute up to 50% applesauce or fruit puree in place of oil when you bake to reduce fat content, i.e.: 1 c. oil called for in recipe, use 1/2 c. applesauce.

REMOVING SPAGHETTI SAUCE FROM CLOTHING

Rub regular Dawn Dishwashing Detergent into the spaghetti stain; put some also into lukewarm water and stir. Soak clothing overnight. Repeat if necessary. DO NOT ever put clothing in dryer if it has a stain or you will set the stain. NOTE: You can use Simple Green in the same manner or try adding 1/4 c. Simple Green to your washing machine load and if there are any stains you may have missed, the Simple Green will help remove them.

CONVERTING REGULAR COOKING TO CROCKERY COOKING

Original recipe calls for 15-30 minutes of cooking time: cook on low 4-8 hours or 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours on high. For 30-60 minutes of cooking time; cook on low 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high. For 1-3 hours of cooking time: cook on low 8-16 hours or 4-6 hours on high.

GENERAL SHELF LIVES FOR COMMON ITEMS (From The Food Marketing Institute In Washington DC)

1.) Flour unopened: up to 12 months. Opened: 6-8 months.
2.) Whole Wheat Flour unopened: 1 month. Opened: 6-8 months if refrigerated.
3.) Sugar unopened: 2 years. Sugars do not spoil but eventually may change flavor.
4.) Brown sugar unopened: 4 months.
5.) Confectioners sugar unopened: 18 months.
6.) Solid shortening unopened: 8 months. Opened: 3 months.
7.) Cocoa unopened: indefinitely. opened: 1 year.
8.) Whole spices: 2-4 years. Whether or not opened.
9.) Ground spices: 2-3 years. Whether or not opened.
10.) Paprika, red pepper and chili powder: 2 years when kept in refrigerator.
11.) High acid canned items such as fruit juice, tomato soup and things in vinegar unopened: 12-18 months.
12.) Baking soda unopened: 18 months. Opened: 6 `months.
13.) Baking powder unopened: 6 months. Opened: 3 months.
14.) Cornstarch: 18 months. Whether or not opened.
15.) Dry pasta made without eggs unopened: 2 years. Opened: 1 year.
16.) Dry egg noodles unopened: 2 years. Opened: 1-2 months.
17.) Salad dressing unopened: 10-12 months. Opened: 3 months if refrigerated.
18.) Low acid canned items such as soup, meats, gravy and vegetables unopened: 2-5 years.
19.) Honey: 1 year. Weather or not opened.
20.) Worcestershire sauce: 1 year. Weather or not opened.
21.) Ground, canned coffee unopened: 2 years. Opened: 2 weeks, if refrigerated.
22.) Instant coffee in jars or tins unopened: 12 months. Opened: 3 months.
23.) Bottled water unopened: 1-2 years. Opened: 3 months.
24.) Pudding mixes unopened: 1 year. Opened: 4 months.
25.) Jams, jellies and preserves unopened: 1 year. Opened: 6 months if refrigerated.
26.) Peanut butter unopened: 6-9 months. Opened: 2-3 months.

[HiJinx]

26.) Peanut butter unopened: 6-9 months. Opened: 2-3 months.

An jar of peanut butter doesn't last more than 3 weeks in my pantry...before it's empty!

[luvie]

Thank you, Jinxy. If I had been there more than once to our son’s home, I might have felt more comfortable about it. I was afraid I’d get lost in that huge city...and it’s such a long drive, too.

We plan on having some fun. Now that Piper isn’t “brand new” and it’s not below freezing, we can get out with her. I will probably want to buy some stuff for her. Gotta do a little spoiling, doncha know! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I can only think of one handy hint.....if you wash pants and forget gum in the pocket, you can put the pants in the freezer....when frozen, the gum comes right off. Or put a couple cubes on the gum stuck in the carpet....