Grandma’s tips on the $$$ cheap! Feel free and add your own tips in comments.
Medicine Cabinet
*Deodorant-
Round up an over-sized salt shaker, mix 1/2 portion of generic baking soda,
and 1/2 portion of 100% generic corn starch. Fill shaker and apply underarm after
shower or bath to dry skin. No odor, perfumes or stains.
(I discovered this after a health issue, as commercial deodorants were
irritating and made body odor worse. Commercial products are often
sticky, stain clothing, and are irritating.)
*
Tooth brushing-
To cut down on gum irritation, follow a final brushing and flossing with
a mixture of 1/2 baking soda and 1/2 table salt. Use that over-sized Pepper shaker.
(This was learned during WW2 when many commercial products were not
available to rural households) You will notice an improvement in no time!
*
Mosquito bites-
Make a paste of plain baking soda and apply liberally.
Reduces itching and swelling.
*
Household tips:
*Squeaky window sash, door jams, bureau draws.
Take a bar of soap or candle wax and liberally apply
to all friction points. Works wonders.
*
Squeaky Door hinges-
Apply a few drops of cooking oil, olive oil ,or mineral oil to top of hinges,
and with an oil soaked tissue or rag to the sides. About any liquid containing
soap or oil, even shampoo! Bar soap will work as well, but takes longer.
(This is a favorite remedy when you are stuck in Hotel on a trip or vacation
and can’t stand the noise. Came in handy on a trip to Nova Scotia without
a supply of Wd40 with our baggage.)
Grandma’s Garden tips
ECO Friendly Weed killer
To kill unwanted grass on walkways or where weeds and grass are invading you special
flower bed. Spray full strength vinegar from a mist bottle , with care not to hit plants.
You may want to use a piece of cardboard to shield your other plants from the spray.
You also can put on cotton gloves, saturate with vinegar and moisten the blades
of grass or weeds.
The sunshine does all the work (cooks) Goodbye toxic and expensive Burnout.Works wonders on unruly crabgrass. It takes 3-4 days to show wilt and work down to the roots, and may need a second application.
I removed an unwanted century plant that had invaded a cemetery headstone. The plant had been dug up several times, only to reappear time after time. With several applications of vinegar over a period of 3 months, the roots finally met their demise. Cost less than $1.00.
Free Fertilizer
For those fortunate to live on the coast, gather sea weed, cut into small portions and dress the garden. You can turn it under or till. The sea salt or sand does not harm the soil.Also thatch is an excellent winter ground cover and insulator for perennial gardens and discourages weeds. To Make a super liquid spring fertilizer, fill a black plastic bag with seaweed, add water, tie securely,and let sit for days or weeks in the sunshine. Open, drain liquid into a container, or rehydrate, and feed your favorite flower bed. The remaining sea weed can be tilled under or put in your compost pile. Cost, $ one plastic bag and manpower.
