Surviving Black Friday

Black Friday has got to be the only day of the year I actually love to shop. I get a thrill from getting great deals and getting done with all my Christmas shopping in one day. What adds to my excitement is seeing how fast I can get in and out of a store. I typically try to go to just 3 stores, Lowes, Michaels, and Walmart. Lowes has the best deals for gifts for The Doctor. Michaels is of course for me. Then walmart I price match all the deals at the other stores plus take advantage of their deals. Here is how I survive Black Friday.

Thanksgiving day I lay out all the ads. I place the ones advertising items on my list in one pile and toss the others. Then I go through and see which store has the best prices on items. I will make a master list of the things I want, how much they are and at what store. When I go to Walmart I have all the ads with me and know which ad to price match for which item.

Once I know what I want I will coordinate with a buddy. Last year it was The Doctor and we had a blast. This year we will be with  more family so there will be more of us which should make things easier. We divide up who is responsible for getting which items and then we meet back at the front to check out.

I usually arrive to Walmart an hour before their sales begin. I grab a cart and place all the items I am price matching in the cart and then I stash the cart down some aisle, usually cosmetics or even bedding. I carry with me a big bag that I can carry on my shoulder. Trying to push a cart through the crowds on black Friday is insane so I just put my items in the bag. I can weave in and out of people much faster. As I am making my way through the store I seek out the "hot ticket" items on my list that are sure to go fast. I then station myself by the most wanted item but in a way I can grab and go to the next place as fast as possible. Meanwhile my partner is at the other side of the store doing the same thing.

While we usually have the cheap movies on our list we don't stress if we don't get them because they can be a time warp if we try and maneuver around the hoards of people digging through them. Typically we have everything we want with in 15 minutes and are checked out in another 15 minutes giving us plenty of time to get to the next stores before they open. The last 2 years I have been in and out of all my stores and home in 2 hours. This gives me plenty of time to stash the goods before the kids wake up.

Black Friday holds the excitement for me that Christmas morning did for me as a child. I get such a rush and I enjoy picking out all the gifts at most excellent prices. This year I may even get in on the cyber Monday action.

When Silence equals Trouble

This adorable girl you see below is my #4. She celebrated her 2nd birthday this week. I bought the outfit she is wearing the day before. She looked so cute in it and it was perfect for the beautiful sunny day we had.

I was working on a blog post which I still haven't finished and noticed it was awfully quiet. You know when the kids are quiet there is trouble. I went to find her and this is what I found.

(the snot just adds to the yumminess of the picture right?)

She discovered someone had left Magic Shell on the table and she needed to have some. Yes, that is an entire bottle of it poured out onto her plate and all over her new outfit. I immediately placed it in cold water to try and rinse it out. Then I added liquid dish soap to try and remove the stain. I read somewhere that it would work. Well, the Kirkland brand got most of it out but not all of it. I haven't washed it in anything but cold water yet. Do any of you have any suggestions on removing chocolate stains from clothing?

Slow Surfing

I have been having so much fun on my magic carpet ride around the world as part of the One World One Heart phenomenon. I have seen so many amazing artists and seen art pieces I had no idea people were creating. The stuff that can be done with gourds is amazing. There is beautiful talent around this great big world we live in and I'm glad we all get to share it.
I don't know about you but I noticed my Internet is not moving as fast as it used to. It takes a while for my pages to load up. It dawned on me the reason is I have been visiting so many websites lately and leaving so many comments that my Internet history is overloaded. I deleted my history and now things are moving along at a greater pace. So, if you find you are having slow surfing, delete your browsing history and see if that helps.

If you haven't had a chance to enter my drawing for the OWOH giveaway click here

My Favorite Grill Seasoning

I did it. Last night my husband was working late and I wanted a steak. I have only cooked on the grill once before and that was hamburgers several months ago. I have always been afraid of turning on the grill. I guess I have this idea that when I turn the knob and there is a spark a big flame is going to jump out of the grill right at me. Well, I'm happy to report that didn't happen the first time and it didn't happen last night either.

My husband likes his steak still mooing. I on the other hand prefer mine well done. However, not as well as I got it done last night. I don't know what I'm doing but I really cooked them too long. They were on the verge of being burnt but they were not. They were dry and tough to chew. I still ate it and my kids ate it. The flavour was still there. Perhaps not as much as what would have been if there was a bit of juice left in them. I firmly believe the reason for such good flavor was the seasoning I put on the steaks. It is the same seasoning I use for everything that goes on the grill. So what is this seasoning extraordinaire you ask? It's Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic rub put out by the Pampered Chef. It does cost a bit more than what I like spending on seasoning but, I love it so I stocked up and got 4 bottles the last time I had the opportunity to.

I am open to change so I want to know, what is your favorite grill seasoning?

Grocery Shop Efficiently

Try and shop at the same store each time you go shopping. By doing this you will become very familiar with the store and where the items you buy most are located. This saves time while shopping. The other way to save time is by creating a grocery shopping list that is in the order of the store layout. We all have patterns when we go shopping so make our lists in order of your pattern. If you usually get produce first then have the produced grouped together at the top. Group the items together that are in the same aisle and location of the store. This will help you shop more efficiently.

What are some other ways you shop more efficiently?

Removing Laundry Stains

I don't know anyone who hasn't experienced a stain on their clothing or had to deal with laundry stains, especially if you have a child. Here are a few tips for removing stains from laundry.

• Always treat the stain as soon as possible. Dab or rinse with cold water if you cannot pre-treat it right away.
  
• Know the type of fabric you are working with. If it is dry clean only then that is what you should do.
  
• Know the type of stain. Water temperature can make a big difference in stain removal. Some stains come out with hot water while others are made permanent with hot water.


• Work from behind the stain. Turn fabric inside out and place on a clean cloth or paper towel to prevent further spreading.


• Allow chemicals time to work. Some take time and rushing the process could lead to inadequate stain removal.


• Do not rub excessively; this will lead to the fabric wearing down.


• Test whatever chemicals you use on an inconspicuous place for color fastness. Don't use chemicals that will harm your clothing.
  

Here are some common stains that you will encounter and tips to remove them.

• Grass stains- Blot with cold water as soon as possible. Use a pre-treating agent (Spray and Wash, Shout, Oxi-clean), rubbing alcohol, or vinegar. Let it soak overnight. Rinse with water. Rub normal laundry detergent on the spot and then wash as normal. My favorite pre-treater is Oxi-Clean.


• Spaghetti Sauce Stains- Wet fabric and sprinkle with powdered dish detergent. Scrub gently with toothbrush. Rinse and launder as usual.


• Blood Stains- Pour hydrogen peroxide on and rinse with cold water.
  Ink Stains- Before washing blot with rubbing alcohol. I have heard that hair spray will work too.


• Berry Stains- Dab with lemon juice and flush with water.


• Deodorant Stains- Oxiclean is my favorite but you can also soak the garment in equal parts ammonia and water. Add a few Tablespoons of liquid dish soap and soak overnight.


• Soiled Collars- Take a small paint brush and brush on some shampoo to the soiled area. Shampoo was created to dissolve body oils.
  

These are just a few. I want to know, what are your favorite stain removers?

Ways to Save Money by Saving Energy

• The U.S. Department of Energy says consumers spend 6-12% of their income on utilities. For many, winter means higher energy bills. If you find yourself dreading the upcoming cold season and the increased cost of energy try some of these tips and start saving money on your energy bill.
• Light bulbs- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's). CFL's last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and can save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime.
  
• Unplug- Appliances and electronics that have a clock, operate by remote controls, and chargers are vampires sucking energy even when they are turned off. 40% of energy is consumed from these items when they are turned off. Unplug them when they are not in use, like when you are sleeping, or get a Smart Power Strip.
  
• Water Heater- Insulate your water heater if it was built before 2004. Wrap it in a Thermwell blanket and you'll save 10% annually on your water heating bill.
  
• Furnace- Service the furnace every 2 years and you'll save 10% on heating bills.
  
• Turn Down the Heat- According to the Alliance to Save Energy, every degree you turn down the heat in the winter you take 5% off of your bill. Get an Energy Star programmable thermostat (~$70) and it will save more than twice its price in a year by adjusting the temperature automatically for when you are gone or in bed.
  
• Washer/Dryer- Save 50% of the energy you use on heating water by setting your washing machine to cold. Set your dryer to moisture sensor and cut energy use by 15%.
  
• Stop Drafts- Don't heat the outside world. Block drafts with weather stripping and save $30 per year.
  
• Lower water Temperature- Set water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you do this though make sure your dishwasher has a heat boost because the water needs to be 140 degrees to clean properly.
  
• Timer Lights- Install timer lights or motion lights for exterior lighting and in rooms you use occasionally.
  
• Full Loads- Make sure to fill your washing machine and dishwasher up before you run them. It takes the same amount of energy to run the wash whether it is full or not. Air dry your dishes and clothes too.
  

Individually these things might not be a lot of savings but if you do them all the savings really can add up. What are some of the ways your family tries to save on energy?

Tips for Tackling Laundry

Laundry is one of those things that never goes away. I know that if I get behind it is almost impossible to catch up. The hardest thing for me is finishing the job. By finishing I mean all of the clean clothes are folded and put away. I can get the clothes clean and folded it is the last step of putting away that gets me almost every time. There are 2 ways of doing laundry, you can have a marathon day where all you do is load after load or assign different days for different loads. I personally have a hard time finishing with the marathon day but my sister prefers this way. I prefer to split up laundry throughout the week. Typically, if I'm on top of things, my laundry days look like this:

Mondays- wash the kitchen rags and towels
Tuesdays- wash the kids colors
Wednesdays- wash the adult colors
Thursdays- no laundry because this is my errand day.
Fridays- wash the whites
Saturday- wash the bath towels and rugs.
Sunday- day off.

It doesn't matter how you choose to do your laundry but here are some tips everyone could use.
Laundry baskets- make sure everyone has their own basket for putting dirty clothes in. They also help for putting folded laundry in to carry to the rooms. My kids all share one that is in a central location of the bathroom since that is where most of the clothes end up. My husband and I have 2 baskets in our bathroom, one for colors and one for whites.

Have a basket or bucket in the laundry room for wet items or items to be washed soon. I have a bucket for the rags and a mesh basket for the clothes that inevitably end up downstairs.

Have shelves above the washer and dryer to hold laundry items like soap, fabric softener, and stain remover.

Have a place to hang up clothes that go on hangers immediately after they get out of the dryer. I have an over the door clothes hook.

Create a space to fold laundry and fold it as soon as it comes out of the dryer, this prevents too many wrinkles from forming.

Most importantly, FINISH the laundry by putting it away immediately.
I will have a post next week about stain removers that work. If you have any great ones please let me know.

Baking Soda: Not just for Baking

Your house is full of everyday household heroes, products that have a beneficial secondary use. I have written previously about Vinegar. Baking Soda is also a very handy item to have on hand. The best part is it is inexpensive to purchase. You are probably familiar with baking soda when it comes to baking but here are some other ways you can put your baking soda to use.

• Unclog drains by pouring 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup hot vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes and then run water.
  
• Use it as a mouthwash,sorry, no minty fresh breath but you will have less bacteria.
  
• Clean your toothbrushes, especially after being sick, by soaking them overnight in 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup water solution.
  
• If you have a grease fire don't dump water on it. Dump baking soda on it to extinguish it.
  
• Great deodorizer for your freezer or fridge. Open the box and put it in. It will last up to 30 days. You can even purchase specially made boxes for the fridge or freezer.
  
• Run an empty dishwasher with baking soda to clean up hard water and other buildup.
  
• Don't want to spend lots of money for expensive jewelry cleaner? Just make a paste out of baking soda and water. It is perfectly safe on gold and silver.
  
• Help reduce kitty litter odor by putting a layer of baking soda in the bottom of the pan and then pouring the litter on top.
  Or, make your own litter by mixing baking soda with 3 inches of sandy clay.
  
• Relieve bug bites, sunburn, and poison ivy by making a paste and applying it directly to the sore.
  
• Scrub out your bathtub and sink by sprinkling it on the grime and then wiping with a sponge.
  
• add 1/4 cup baking soda to the toilet bowl, swirl, and scrub.
  
• If you don't have any antacids to fight heartburn? Make your own by combining 1/2 tsp. baking soda with 1/2 cup of water.
  
• If you have cracks in your side walk or drive way sprinkle baking soda to keep weeds at bay.
  
• baking soda is less corrosive then salt so sprinkle it on your icy side walk.
  
• Keep ants out of the dog/cat bowl by sprinkling a layer of soda around the bowl.

How to Avoid Junk -Email

I received an email with the following and thought it was excellent advice and rather than forward it on to people I'm sharing it here.

A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send emails. Please read the letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures. Do you really know how to forward emails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT. (I think more like 20%--80%). Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it? Every time you forward an email, there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their email addresses and names.. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every email address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel. How do you stop it? Well, there are several easy steps. Try the following if you haven't done it before:

(1) When you forward an email, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the 'Forward' button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on 'Forward' first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.

(2) Whenever you send an email to more than one person, DO NOT use the To: or Cc:fields for adding email addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the email addresses. This way the people you send to will only see their own email address. If you don't see your BCC option, click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say 'Undisclosed Recipients' or the principal addressee in the 'TO:' field of the people who receive it.

(3) Remove any 'FW:' in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling.

(4) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual email you are reading. Ever get those emails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.

(5) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses.

A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. DO NOT put your email address on any petition. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position will carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition. (And don't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just isn't so!) Some of the other emails to DELETE and NOT forward are:

1. The one that says something like, 'Send this email to 10 people and you will see something great run across your screen.' Or sometimes they'll just tease you by saying 'something really cute will happen. 'IT ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! (We are still seeing some of the same emails that we waited on 10 years ago!)

2 Don't let the bad luck ones scare you either; delete them, they are trash.

3. Before you forward an 'Amber Alert', or a 'Virus Alert', or some of the other emails floating around nowadays, check them out. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for YEARS! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Just go to www.truthorfiction.com . It's really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on..

4. Before sending the email scroll down to the bottom and remove ALL the build up of 'Virus Protection Messages' and other advertising that get tacked on each time an email gets forwarded. So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.

No Peeler Required Potato Peeling

I got this video in an email. Love the idea. Haven't tried it yet but the next time I need to peel a lot of potatoes this is the method I'm going to try. I think I'll pass this little tip onto my sister who has volunteered to make mashed potatoes for 100 this Thanksgiving.

33 Minutes to a Cleaner House

A friend of mine sent the following in an email to me. Who ever thought it up was brilliant. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

33 Minutes to a Cleaner House…

You're getting company in 30 minutes. Your house is a mess. WHAT WILL YOU DO?Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first session of Housekeeping Tips for Regular People. If you're a Martha Stewart type of housekeeper, this column is NOT for you. However, for the rest of you, this is your chance to learn 15 Secret Shortcuts to Good Housekeeping that your mother never told you.

SECRET TIPS

1: DOOR LOCKS If a room clearly can't be whipped into shape in 30 days--much less 30 minutes--employ the Locked Door Method of cleaning. Tell anyone who tries to go in the room that the door is intentionally locked.CAUTION: It is not advisable to use this tip for the bathroom. Time: 2 seconds

2: DUCT TAPE No home should be without an ample supply. Not only is it handy for plumbing repairs, but it's a great way to hem drapes, tablecloths, clothes, just about anything. No muss, no fuss.Time: 2-3 minutes

3: OVENS If you think ovens are just for baking, think again. Ovens represent at least 9 cubic feet of hidden storage space, which means they're a great place to shove dirty dishes, dirty clothes, or just about anything you want to get out of sight when company's coming. Time: 2 minutes

4: CLOTHES DRYERS Like Secret Tip 3, except bigger. CAUTION: Avoid hiding flammable objects here.Time: 2.5 minutes

5: WASHING MACHINES & FREEZERS Like Secret Tip 4, except even bigger.Time: 3 minutes

6: DUST RUFFLES No bed should be without one. Devotees of Martha Stewart believe dust ruffles exist to keep dust out from under a bed or to help coordinate the colorful look of a bedroom. The rest of us know a dust ruffle's highest and best use is to hide whatever you've managed to shove under the bed. (Refer to Secret Tips 3, 4, 5.) Time: 4 minutes

7: DUSTING The 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House method says: Never dust under what you can dust around.Time: 3 minutes

8: DISHES Don't use them. Use plastic or paper and you won't have to.Time: 1 minute

9: CLOTHES WASHING (EEWWW) This secret tip is brought to you by an inventive teenager. When this teen's mother went on a housekeeping strike for a month, the teen discovered you can extend the life of your underwear by two ...if you turn it wrong side out and, yes, rerun it.CAUTION: This tip is recommended only for teens and those who don't care if they get in a car wreck.Time: 3 seconds

10: IRONING If an article of clothing doesn't require a full press and your hair does, a curling iron is the answer. In between curling your hair, use the hot wand to iron minor wrinkles out of your clothes. Yes, it really does work, or so I'm told, by other disciples of the 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House philosophy.Time: 5 minutes (including curling your hair)

11: VACUUMING Stick to the middle of the room, which is the only place people look. Don't bother vacuuming under furniture. It takes way too long and no one looks there anyway.Time: 5 minutes, entire house; 2 minutes, living room only

12: LIGHTING The key here is low, low, and lower. It's not only romantic, but bad lighting can hide a multitude of dirt.Time: 10 seconds

13: BED MAKING Get an old-fashioned waterbed. No one can tell if those things are made up or not, saving you, oh, hundreds of seconds over the course of a lifetime.Time: 0

14: SHOWERS, TOILETS, AND SINKS Forget one and two. Concentrate on three.Time: 1 minute

15: If you already knew at least 10 of these tips, don't even think about inviting a Martha Stewart type to your home.

Tips for Selecting Vegetables at the Supermarket

It’s frustrating to bring home fresh vegetables from the supermarket only to have them be less then ripe or overly ripe. To help you avoid this problem here are some tips for selecting the most common vegetables.

Onions- You want an onion to feel firm. The papery skins should be dry. Avoid onions that have soft spots or discoloration.

Peppers- Make sure the stem on peppers is bright green. You want firm bell peppers with tight skin.

Potatoes- Avoid potatoes that are soft or have wrinkled skin. Firm potatoes are best. You definitely don’t want to buy potatoes with sprouts, or a green tinge. The green is an indicator that it isn’t ripe yet. If possible, buy them individually because when buying in the bag you can get bad potatoes.

Corn- Looking at the outside of the corn cob you want tight, bright-green husks. The silk should be moist and a golden brown color. Avoid the dark brown silk. When you pull back the husk, you should see tightly packed, juicy kernels.

Cucumbers- If possible, don’t buy the waxed cucumbers. You will know it is waxed because it will have a shiny sheen and you can feel the wax. Cucumbers should be firm without wrinkles and soft spots. They can have variable color from light to dark green. The best ones are around 6 inches long.

Summer Squash- Whether you are selecting the yellow or green variety, choose squash that is about 5-6 inches in length. The bigger it is the more watery and fibrous it becomes. You want firm, smooth, and shiny squash.

Lettuces- Most people do quite well selecting lettuce. Avoid the brown, wilted lettuce.
Beans- You want firm, spot free, wrinkle free, bright pole beans. When you bend them they should snap.

What other tips do you have for vegetables that I have not included?

The Power of Vinegar

Oh, the power of distilled white vinegar. If you have white vinegar on hand there really is no other cleaning product you need. It is so acidic that it takes care of most bacteria and mold. Using vinegar eliminates all of the harsh chemicals other cleaners have making it green and safe to use in homes with children. There are so many uses but here are a few of my favorite.

• Remove hard water deposits in your dishwasher and washing machine by running them every once in a while with a cup of distilled vinegar.
  


• If you get lime build up around chrome sink fixtures you can remove it with a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
  


• To rid your microwave of hard baked on food, place 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl inside your microwave and bring it to a rolling boil. You can now wipe it clean and odors will be gone.
  


• Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
  


• Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
  


• Rid a faucet of lime and Calcium deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.
  


• To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.
  


• Get cleaner laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalis in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.
  

You can find these tips and a thousand more thanks to the folks at Vinegar Tips
Please leave a comment with your favorite vinegar tip. When you use one of these tips please be sure to let us know how it turned out.

Stinky Rags

There are few things I hate but I can honestly say that I hate grabbing a dishrag to wipe down a table or counter and having it have that horrible, awful smell. You know what I'm talking about. I thought everyone knew how to get rid of the smell but I was mistaken. I was at a family member’s house and went to help out with the dishes. I grabbed the dishrag that was already out and instantly my nose hairs curled. I got a clean one out of the drawer and got it wet and the stink was there as well. That smell my dear friends, is the smell of bacteria. If you wipe things with rags/sponges that smell you are only spreading the bacteria around. So, how do you get that smell out? Good old fashioned Bleach.

The first thing you want to do when you are finished using a rag is rinse it out good and if possible lay it out to dry completely. Have a designated place for dirty rags to go until you are ready to wash them so the germs/smell doesn’t get transferred to other items. I use the bucket you see above. It just sits in my laundry room and I throw all of my dirty rags and dish towels in it. You can get rid of the stink by using one of three ways.

1. Fill up your sink with warm water, add some bleach (For the amount, follow instructions on the side of the bottle), then toss in your rags. This is one of my favorite methods because you also disinfect your sink at the same time.
   
2. Fill up the bucket with warm water, add some bleach, and add the rags.
   
3. Fill up your washing machine with the right amount of water, add the bleach and your regular detergent, and then add your rags.
   If you suffer from stinky rags, please, please, please, get rid of the smell, if not for you, for the people who can't stand the reek.
   
   

There may be other ways out there to make it so your rags don't stink. Please share your ideas with us.

Read the Fine Print

You may have noticed that the packaging on some of your everyday items seems to be a little smaller but you are still paying the same price. Well, that is because it probably is smaller. Companies are changing their packaging sizes thus lessening the product amount yet the prices are remaining the same. They determined that they will lose more money by increasing the price on the item then they would by dropping the size slightly. A while back on the Today Show they talked about this and had a gentleman on who runs a website called MousePrint. At this site he exposes the fine print on everything from product packaging, ads, and coupons. I felt it was worth sharing so that you can see the "tricks of the trade" companies employ. I found this site very interesting and I'm sure you will too. The next time you go shopping check the fine print to make sure you are really getting a good deal.

Remove Blood Stains

I came across a useful tip to remove blood from laundry. Put some hydrogen peroxide on it. And, now that you can buy hydrogen peroxide with a spray nozzle it makes it even easier. Just keep a bottle of it in your laundry room and when you come across some blood, spray, scrub, rinse, and wash.