Are you Bananas?!

Today's topic is bananas...there are so many things you can do with them! (not to mention that they are healthy for you and very yummy too!) So, what else you may ask can you do with bananas besides eat them? You can...

• Restore Shine to a Plant's Leaves
   Easily dust your houseplant by rubbing the inside of a banana peel on each leaf. Not only will it 
   remove dust, it will also leave the leaves even shiner than before.

• Great for Compost
   Mix dried banana peels in with the soil next time you plant something new; you'll give it the
   potassium and phosphorous it needs to grow beautifully.

• Help Dry Hair
  Mash a banana and mix with a teaspoon of almond or olive oil. Rub the mixture into your hair and
  scalp, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off and shampoo and condition as usual. You'll be surprised
  at the results!

• Great for Smoothies
  Use bananas instead of ice the next time you make a smoothie. Just freeze them overnight and your
  good to go!

Heres a banana peeling secret...when peeling bananas, peel from the bottom up. This will eliminate the banana "strings" you get when peeling from the top down.

Happy reusing and repurposing! If you have any great tips, I would love to hear them...just comment below! These tips came from my Who Knew? book

Cleaning Wonders...

 
We all want a cleaner home...but why buy expensive cleaning products when you probably have a lot of them right in your home!

Ready...Set...Clean!

• Keep your windows clean my washing them with newspaper instead of paper towels! It will leave you with a streak-free shine!

• Make your own home all-purpose cleaner: 1/4 gallon water, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, a squirt of dish washing liquid, and 1/4 tablespoon ammonia (non-sudsy). Mix ingredients and fill a spray bottle and you are ready to go!

• If you have rings around your wood table, use a little petroleum jelly to remove the white stains. Just rub the area with jelly and let sit for several hours (or even overnight). Then rub again with a soft cloth and the stain should disappear.

• To remove charred food from your cast iron cookware, boil a mixture of salt and vinegar in it an let simmer for 10-20 minutes. Rinse your pan thoroughly and then re-season it with vegetable oil before storing it.

• If you have coffee or tea stains on your carpet, pour beer on them to get them out! Just pour couple of sips on the stain and it should vanish. Dab up the extra beer with a paper towel, and if the stain doesn't go away completely, repeat the task a couple more times.

Theres a lot more where that came from...this is just a teaser but if you would like to see more, please email me or comment below! I want to thank the Who Knew? book for these great tips!

Pinterest Addict!

I am addicted to pinterest and I have a lot of ideas from there for reusing and re-purposing products and I would like to share them with you! How cute is this idea....

Use an old VHS cover as a picture frame with hidden storage! Take a VHS cover, take the label out (or you can put a photo over it), put a photo inside the from sleeve. Screw it to the wall and you are done! Talk about re-purposing! I smell a pinterest board coming on...stay tuned!

Here is the website (http://pinterest.com/pin/197736239859717218/) Happy pinning!

Make your own dryer sheets!

I found this great DIY blog post and had to share! It is from Discount Queens. (http://www.discountqueens.com/diy-dryer-sheets/) She shows you step by step how to make  your own dryer sheets using an old towel or rag. Talk about re-purposing and reusing to save money! Check it out and have fun! I am definitely going to try it!

Whites, darks, and everything in between...

The next 2 posts are about a chore we all have a love/hate relationship with...laundry! Hopefully I can "lighten the load" and make doing laundry more enjoyable and you can save money too. Here are some tips on how to re-purpose your used dryer sheets. I got these tips from Recyclebank (https://www.recyclebank.com/live-green/20-ways-to-re-purpose-a-used-dryer-sheet)

- Use one to smooth your hair and prevent winter fly-aways.

- Use them for cleaning bug splats from your windshield. Just wet one or more softener sheets and wipe over splats. Wait a couple minutes, wipe again and then flush with water.

- Use on grill, headlights, side mirrors and any other surfaces.

- Place used dryer sheets in the bottom of your trash can before you add the new bag, It will absorb any drips or leaks and leave the can smelling fresh. This works especially well if you use paper grocery bags in your can, which tend to leak easily.

- Place a used dryer sheet near the trashcan at your next barbecue or picnic; it will repel bees and flies. Also, wipe one over your arms and legs to repel mosquitoes.

- Soften the soles of your feet by soaking your feet in some warm water and rubbing them with a used fabric softener sheet.

- Place a used fabric softener sheet inside your vacuum bag next time you change it to freshen as you clean.

- Place them in the rafters of your home to keep spiders and other bugs from nesting.

- They're great for removing stuck on foods from your pots and pans. Fill the grimy pan with water and drop the sheet inside. - - Let soak for about an hour and wash as usual.

- Use old dryer sheets to easily wipe up messes like talcum powder and flour.

- Use old dryer sheets in the bottom of flowerpots to cover the drainage holes.

- Stuff them in and around any place that needs freshening like tennis shoes, closets, laundry hampers, luggage and dresser drawers. Tuck one in your pillow and sleep on a fresh scent every night.

- Use them instead of paper when doing 'paper piecing' for quilts. First ironed them smooth, then trace your pattern onto the dryer sheets. They’re lightweight, don't add bulk to your quilt & they smell great.

- Use them to remove pet hair from your clothes and furniture.

- Run a sheet over a piece of thread before you thread the needle when sewing. The thread will glide through the eye and won’t tangle when sewing.

- Rid your house of unwanted pests. Find any place where pests like mice are entering your house and stuff the hole shut with used sheets.

- Use them to remove soap scum on your glass shower door, or use to wipe windows when cleaning.

- Used dryer sheets make great dusting cloths for your wooden furniture.

- Use just like you would a Swiffer sheet on your floors to pick up dust and pet hair.

- If your scissors are dull and not cutting as smoothly as they should, wiping them with a used dryer sheet will remedy the problem.

Milk...it does a body good!

This is a request from one of my Facebook fans asking "What are plastic milk gallon containers good for reusing?" Here you go Casandra....

• Yarn Dispenser: Cut the top of the milk container off just enough so a ball of yarn and your hand can fit into the hole. Once the ball of yarn is in take the end of the yarn and bring it through the handle of the milk jug. This is a great way to keep the yarn from getting tangled together! 

• Funnel:
  This is one of the easiest homemade funnels to make. All that you need to do is to cut off the bottom of the milk jug right below the handle, turn it upside down and pour.  

• Piggy Bank:
  With the lid on the top of the milk jug, cut a small slit opposite of the handle and drop in your change. You can even use markers, paint or stickers to decorate your piggy bank. 

• Plant Base:
  Instead of buying a potted plant base or saucer you can just off the bottom of the milk jug and place the pot inside. 

• Meat Separator:
  It’s never good to see your hamburger patties sticking together once they’ve been in the freezer. To prevent this from happening you can cut the milk container into small circles or squares and place them between the patties.

• Plastic Bag Dispenser:
  Cut a small hole across from the handle and then put in your plastic bags. You can take the bags out one by one from the hole whenever you need one.

• Toilet Bowl Brush/Plunger Holder:
  Cut a hole across from the handle that’s big enough for the toilet bowl cleaner or plunger to fit through.

• Dustpan:
  With the lid still on, turn the milk jug container upside down and cut the top off at an angle. This is a great alternative to traditional dustpans.
  
• Bird Feeder:
  Instead of buying an expensive bird feeder try making your own! Check out these Milk Jug Bird Feeder Instructions for an easy way to feed the birds. 
  
• Scooper: For an easy way to scoop up kitty litter, dirt or anything else, cut off the top of milk jug right above the handle. You can then hold onto the handle and scoop up whatever you need to.
  
  These tips are from http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifestyle/10_tips_for_reusing_plastic_milk_jugs.aspx I hope you enjoyed these tips and if anyone would like to request anything else, just let me know!

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil...can't live with it, can't live without it (just kidding, of course you can live with it...especially with all its different uses like....

• Before you begin a painting project, cover doorknobs, drawer pulls, etc. with aluminum foil. The foil easily molds to any shape and comes off when your done so you won't get any spills.

• To keep your silver from becoming tarnished, store it on top of a piece of aluminum foil. You can also wrap clean silverware in plastic wrap, then in foil, for tarnish-free long-term storage.

• You can also polish silver with aluminum foil, Line a pan with aluminum foil, add a tablespoon of salt, and fill with cold water. Add your silverware to the mix and let it sit for a few minutes before removing and rinsing. The aluminum acts as a catalyst for ion exchange, a process that will make the tarnish transfer from your silver to the salt bath.

• Covering your ironing board with foil before you iron your clothes will get them wrinkle-free twice as fast, saving you time and energy!

• If your houseplants aren't getting enough sun, maximize the amount of light they are getting by placing them on top of a table covered in foil (shiny side up). The foil will reflect the light, and your plants will thank you.

• If your household scissors are getting dull, sharpen them back up by cutting through several layers of aluminum foil at one time. It's that easy!

• When you're done grilling, place a large piece of aluminum foil over the entire top of your grill, then put the top back on and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. The caked-on mess from the burgers and hot dogs will turn to ash.

• If your camping outside, place a long sheet of aluminum foil underneath sleeping bags to keep moisture from sinking into the fabric.

So much aluminum foil, so little time! These tips are great and theres a lot more thanks to my Who Knew? book. If you would like to see more tips, let me know by contacting me.

Ways to Reuse Vegetable and Olive Oil Part 2

I had to make a part 2...there are just so many things you can do with oil! Here we go...

• Using a Q-tip, dab a bit of oil on your cuticles to keep your nail bed moisturized. You'll be less likely to get hangnails!

• For the softest feet you've ever experienced, try this before-bed routine: Rub down your feet with vegetable oil, then put on some old socks. When you wake up, the oil will be gone and your feet will be supersoft.

• Shaving cream feels great, no doubt, but did you know it's actually not the most efficint way to get a good shave? Next time, try shaving with oilive oil instead—you'll get a closer, smoother shave.

• Add up to 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil to your cat's moist food to starve off hairballs and make his or her coat extra shiny.

• Got a splinter you can't get out? Try soaking the area in vegetable oil for several minutes. It should soften your skin enough to allow you to ease the splinter out. 

Believe it or not, cooking oil is great for shining up leather shoes. First clean off the shoes with a damp cloth, then wipe with a soft, dry cloth and a drop of vegetable oil. Your shoes will drink in the moisture and look good as new.

Did you know that in ancient Greece, women used olive oil to make eye shadow by mixing it with charcoal. Who Knew!

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any comments, I would love to hear from you!

Ways to Reuse Vegetable and Olive Oil

There are many more ways to use vegetable and olive oil besides for dressings and to cook with. These tips are from my trusty Who Knew? book. Pay attention kids...you might learn something...

• Silence squeaky hinges. Who needs WD-40 when you have vegetable oil? Simply rub oil on squeaky hinges with a cloth, letting the oil run down the sides of each hinge.

• Zipper won't budge? Try adding a tiny bit of vegetable oil or olive oil to the stuck teeth with a Q-tip, being careful not to get any on the fabric. This will lubricate your zipper and allow it to move more easily.

• Out of Pine Sol? Use vegetable or olive oil to dust your wooden furniture.

• Keep bugs away from a bird's bath by adding just a few drops of canola oil or vegetable oil and it will keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water in  your birdbath and won't hurt the intended residents.

• For tiny scratches in  your wooden table or floor, rub vegetable or canola oil into the surface. The oil will darken the area and help it blend in. (love this one!)

• A wonderful, inexpensive way to remove eye makeup is to dab a little olive oil under your eyes and rinse it off with a washcloth. You can also use hair conditioner!

There are plenty more where that came from...stay tuned and I might do another post on vegetable and olive oil!

Salty and sweet tips!

 
We all know that salt on food tastes good but it can be used for so many other things (besides putting salt on a slug to kill it) Make sure to always keep the salt handy when you are done learning out these great tips...

• Clean vegetables more easily. If you're having a hard time trying to get the last pieces of grit off of a vegetable or herb, give it a bath in salt water.

• Chill drinks faster. Because salt lowers the freezing point of water, your beverages will cool more quickly if you use salt in your cooler. 

• Keep your milk fresh by adding a pinch of salt to it after you open it.

• If you are cooking beets and you have beet-stained hands, sprinkle the affected area with salt and a drop of dish washing liquid and rub.

• Freshen shoes odors by sprinkling salt in them and leaving them overnight. The salt will absorb moisture and odors.

• Got dandruff? No worries, rub 2 tablespoons of salt into your scalp before shampooing and your flakes will be gone.

• What to do when you have poison ivy? To help relive the itching of a rash, soak the affected area in a strong salt bath. Make sure the water is warm to fully get the itch out.

• If you are having trouble sleeping, try this salty tip: At bedtime, drink a glass of water, then let a pinch of salt dissolve on your tongue, making sure it doesn't touch the roof of your mouth. Studies have shown that the combination  of salt and water can induce a deep sleep.

Talk about some sweet tips! Did you know the United States produces about 48 million tons of salt per year, making it the saltiest country in the world! What is your favorite salty food?

Are you a tech geek?

Well this next post is for you. I came across this gem website called Brit & Co. The title of this post is How to Repurpose Remote Controls into Tech-cessories.

 Remote Control Bangles

Remote Control Jewelry

Click here to go to her site to look at the tutorials on how to create it! What kind of technology will you repurpose?

Don't be framed...DIY!

I love to craft and do DIY projects..especially if it means re-purposing something. So when I came across this DIY project, I fell in love and had to share it. The post is called 18 Ways to Re-Purpose a Picture Frame.

Need to know what else to do with our picture frames? Instead of throwing them out, try some of these ideas...

 Pin Cushion

 Counter Top Organizer

Gift wrapping station

I love all these ideas and there are a lot more! Click here to go to the website. You can also click each one and go to the tutorial to learn how to do it! Happy DIY-ing!

When life gives you lemons...

(photo source)

...make a margarita! mmmm :) Todays post is about lemons and all the wonderful things you can do with them. Such as...

• Rub salt into a cutting board with a wedge of lemon to sanitize it
• Save your shower curtain (first wash in hot soapy water, then rub a wedge of lemon on to the stains and leave it in the sun to dry and the stains will disappear!)
• Refresh your lettuce! If you have wilted lettuce, submerge it in a bowl of cold water and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and it will be as good as fresh
• Clean graters by rubbing the pulpy side of a lemon against the grater. For an extra abrasion, add a little salt.
• Lemon peels make an excellent glass cleaner , and will even give it an extra shine!
• Use lemon peels for kindling the next time you are making a fire. Your fire will burn longer too
• Stung by a bee or wasp? Rub the area with lemon juice to neutralize the venom.
• The next time you get a sore throat, gargle with one part lemon juice and one part warm water. Lemon helps fight bacteria and soothes your throat.
• Repel dandruff by using a little bit of lemon juice. Mix 2 tablespoons lemon juice with 2 cups warm water and pour over your head after you rinse with conditioner.
• Go blonde! If you have brown or dark blonde hair, you can add highlights with a lemons! Cut a slit into the middle of a quarter piece of lemon and while your hair is still wet, place a strand of  your hair in the slit, beginning at your scalp and running the wedge down to the tips of your hair. Sit outside in direct sunlight until your hair dries, and you'll have lovely blonde streaks. Repeat in one week to make the streaks even brighter.

My favorite idea is still the margarita! What will you do with a lemon?

All these facts are from of my trusty Who Knew? book.

Socialize and Furniture

Just made a Facebook and Twitter account! Click on the links on the right to 'like' and follow me. Don't forget to follow the blog too!


I found this website and I just had to share! The title is: 8 Inventive Ways to Repurpose Old Furniture. The title is pretty explains itself and I just love some of these projects! Take a look for yourself at http://blog.homegain.com/home-improvement/8-inventive-ways-to-repurpose-old-furniture/

 Source of photos

Belly button lint vs Dryer lint

Whats the difference with belly button lint and dryer lint? You can re-purpose one of them! (can you guess which one?)

They always say to clean out your dryer so that the lint won't start a fire, so why not put it to good use and actually start a fire!

• Take some dryer lint (as much as you want).

• Get an empty toilet paper roll or an empty paper towel roll.

• Put the lint inside the roll

• Put in the fireplace, firepit or use it to start a bon fire.

The lint and card board are really flammable. You still need logs of course, this idea is just a fire-starter. Bonus tip: did you know that duct tape can also be used as a fire starter? Now you know!

PS. Belly button lint can't be re-purposed....please don't try to do so

Reuse...

You should never let things go to waste (or try not to). I have discoved some things to reuse (some on my own and some with help).

Women, we all know that organizing is key in the house so what to do you do with all those plastic grocery bags when you are done shopping? Throw them out? By a bag holder to store them in? No! You re-purpose something you already have like....an empty tissue box! I use this in my house and I got the idea from my husband. Put the grocery bags into the empty tissue box and keep them in places where you have a garbage can or where you know you are going to use the bag again. I keep one under the sink in the kitchen for when we need them, one in each bathroom under the sink or in the linen closet so when we take the garbage out, we replace it with another bag.

I've got more useful tips where that came from, but you will have to wait for the next post! Do you have any tips you would like to share? Email me or comment! Don't be shy!

Who Knew?

I get a lot of my tips from this great book that I have called Who Knew? It has 10,001 easy solutions to everyday problems. It is a great book and please e-mail me if you would like information about purchasing the book. Although, why would you want to buy it when you can get the info for free! I will be referencing this book a lot for my tips and tricks to reusing and re-purposing products.

Did you know vinegar can be used for a lot of other things besides putting on your salad? It can also be used for.....

• Removing labels (white vinegar works best)
• Burnt dinner? boil a cup of vinegar in 2 cups of water. The smell should be gone in 15 minutes!
• Rub vinegar on a sunburn to help your skin feel cooler
• Greasy hair? shampoo your hair as usual, rinse, then pour 1/4 cup vinegar over it and rinse again to get rid of greasy hair
• To get rid of corns, soak a band-aid in apple cider vinegar, and apply it to the corn for a day or two. Then finish by rubbing the corn with a clean pumice stone
• Use vinegar instead of fabric softener!

Did you know that in the Middle Ages, vinegar was thought to cure fever, snake bites, leprosy, and the plague. Who knew!

I have only given you 6 tips of how to use vinegar and believe me, there are A LOT more in this book! It has become my go-to book if I want to look something up that I know can be useful and if it will save me a trip to the store then it is worth it!

If you would like more tips on what else vinegar can be used for, please follow my blog (to stay up-to-date on all the reusing and re-purposing tips) and e-mail me and I shall give you more tips!

Remember to reuse and re-purpose whenever you can and if you have any more tips, please comment or email me and I would love to share them!

To Shampoo or Not To Shampoo?

This happens a lot...you go to the store to pick up some shampoo and when you use it, its not as great on your hair as you thought (sometimes the packaging is deceiving). So now you are stuck with this shampoo that you only used a few times, realizing it does nothing for your hair. You can either throw it out (if you want to waste the money) or you can re-purpose it! These are some beauty tips I found while cruising the internet.

Uses for your shampoo...

• Hand washing your delicates, such as pantyhose and underwear
• Hand soap
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Wash your make-up brushes or combs
• Wash dishes
• Clean mop heads and sponges
• Body wash
• Wash the car
• Cleaning the bathtub and sink  
  

As you can see, there are many ways to re-purpose the shampoo. And, if all else fails, you can always try to donate it. The site I stumbled upon was http://community.qvc.com/forums/Beauty-Banter/topic/319663/need-ideas-to-re-purpose-shampoo-that-i-hate.aspx

Remember to reuse and repurpose! If you have any other tips to share on this topic, please feel free to comment or e-mail me.