CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Add a Shot of Alcohol

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:00:00 -0700

. . . Rubbing alcohol, that is. If you're mixing your own green cleaning products, you might find yourself slightly dissatisfied with the simple vinegar-and-water mix you're using for cleaning windows. The New York Times recently tested different window cleaning products, including mixing up some simple vinegar-and-water solutions. The tester, Stephen Treffinger, reports, "I tried several variations of a homemade white-vinegar-and-water mix, which did a good job at practically no cost. The one that proved most effective was one part vinegar to two parts of water. It was very runny, though, which meant I had to wipe quickly and vigorously with newspaper. A couple of tablespoons of rubbing alcohol added to the mix boosted its cleaning power and made it evaporate faster."

So, next time you mix up your own window washing solution, add a shot of rubbing alcohol to really add some oomph to your homemade window cleaning product.

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Casa Quickie: Mirror, Mirror

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:30:33 -0700

For the easiest and cheapest way to get your mirror clean, dilute white distilled vinegar with water, and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spritz your mirror and wipe it off with a newspaper. When you're done, the paper can go straight into your compost, so this method's not only cheap, it's eco as well. If you're not big on cleaning with newspaper, you can also try using microfiber cloths.

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How-To: Ten Garden Uses For White Vinegar

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:30:11 -0700

Now that you know the household uses for white vinegar, I thought you might like to know how you can expand its use to your garden. As you may remember, white vinegar is an eco-friendly product, and it's also cheap: You can buy a gallon of white vinegar for less than $3.

The word "vinegar" is from the French term vin aigre, meaning "sour wine." White vinegar is made from allowing a distilled alcohol, like white wine, vodka, or gin, to oxidize. This changes the chemical components of the alcohol, making it more sour, but also more useful.

To find out how you can use white vinegar in your garden, read more.

Pesky raspberry leave stains on your palms? Banish berry stains by rubbing your hands with white distilled vinegar.
Make sure your hummingbirds avoid toxic cleansers in their nectar by cleaning feeders with white distilled vinegar.
Rust on your tools or spigots? Soak them overnight in white vinegar to loosen and get rid of rust.
Dingy plastic patio furniture gets cleaner with a solution of one tablespoon white distilled vinegar to one gallon of water.
Hate slugs as much as I do? Say sayonara by spraying them with one part water and one part white distilled vinegar.
Azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and gardenias are all acid-loving plants. Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water, and water them generously every month or so.
If you have weeds or grass in cracks in your sidewalks and steps, pour white vinegar in the cracks to get rid of the greenery.
If your terracotta pots have white mineral bits on them, soak the pots for an hour or two in a sink filled with half white vinegar and half water.
Make your cut flowers last longer by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar to each vase. Fill with water, and enjoy.
Stop the ants from marching in by pouring white distilled vinegar on their paths, as well as in ant hills.

Do you have other garden uses for white vinegar? Tell me about them by commenting below!
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How-To: Ten Household Uses For White Vinegar

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:00:26 -0700

Not so long ago, I told you about some of the ways you can use baking soda around your house. Now, I've got some great uses for another eco-friendly product: white vinegar. Not only is white vinegar eco, it's also cheap: You can buy a gallon of white vinegar for less than $3.

To find out how you can use white vinegar for your household cleaning, read more.

Need some scouring power? Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with one tablespoon liquid detergent. Add a little white distilled vinegar so your paste has a creamy texture.
Do you have a stinky garbage disposal? Freeze white vinegar in an ice cube tray, then drop several cubes down the disposal while running cold water through it.
Get rid of soap scum in your dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through an entire cycle
Remove tea and coffee stains from mugs by scrubbing them with salt and distilled vinegar.
Polish chrome sink fixtures with a paste made of two tablespoons salt and one teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
Clean tarnished copper and pewter with a paste using equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and table salt.
Oops! Did you leave wet laundry in the washing machine? Banish the musty smell by pouring two cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and washing the clothes in hot water. Run the clothes through again with detergent.
Kill bathroom germs with white vinegar in a spray bottle. Wipe clean.
Get your brights brighter by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to your rinse cycle.
Your steam iron will work best if it doesn't have pesky mineral deposits in the steam vents and spray nozzles. Fill the water chamber with a mix of white vinegar and distilled water. Set it upright and let it steam for a few minutes. After the iron is cool, rinse the chamber with water, refill with water, and shake the water through the vents.

Do you have other household uses for white vinegar? Tell me about them by commenting below!
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Casa Quickie: Mix Up Your Own Shower Spray For Pennies

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:00:36 -0700

Are you trying to save money in your household budget? Then consider skipping the store-bought shower spray and making your own.

One of the simplest recipes for whipping up your own shower spray is this one: simply add one part rubbing alcohol to four parts water in a spray bottle, then spray this mixture onto your shower walls and curtain every day after you shower. No need to rinse, as it'll rinse off next time you take a shower.

Want some other homemade recipes for shower spray? See them when you read more.

I'm a huge fan of tea tree oil, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Add three cups of water, three tablespoons of dishwashing soap, and about 30 drops of tea tree oil to a spray bottle, and shake to mix.
Use one cup of white vinegar and one cup of water, as well as half a lemon's juice and a tablespoon of dishwashing soap for this shower spray. Shake the mixture together in a spray bottle.

How-To: Rid Your Candle Holders of Wax

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0700

I recently hosted a dinner party lit by dozens of candles, from votive holders on the coffee table to candlesticks in the dining room. Part of cleaning up after a candlelit soiree involves getting rid of all that wax. Thankfully I've learned a few tricks and tips over the years to make it easier. Here are a few of my favorite wax-removing solutions.

Before placing a candle in a votive holder, fill it with 1/4 inch of water. This way the wax won't stick to the glass and will be easier to remove.
If you skip the water step, after the party, put your wax-coated candle holders in the freezer for a few hours. This will allow the wax to shrink so you can easily pop it out with a screwdriver or other tool.
If the frozen wax doesn't pop out right away, try placing the candle holder upside down while it returns to room temperature, then try again.

Get three more tips.

Casa Quickie: Salt Stains on Carpet

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:00:20 -0800

If you live in a snowy climate, chances are that family and visitors may be tracking salt into your home on the bottoms of their boots. Of course, the first line of defense is to ask everyone to take their shoes off in your entry. But what if your entry rug, or other carpeted space in your home, gets stained with the salt?

Just use a bit of distilled white vinegar and a scrub brush. Scrub gently, making sure to use a moderate (though not overly generous - you don't want a ton of splashing) amount of vinegar. Rub it in and then blot it with a dish towel. This also works well for carpeting in cars! Source

Ask Casa: Advice For Cleaning Light Bedding

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:00:05 -0800

Hey Casa,
I was wondering if you had any tips on keeping white/cream/light-colored bedding clean. We bought some awesome sheets that were blue and cream striped, but the colors really got dingy-looking. That turned us off from buying any light bedding again, which is a shame, because I almost always love bedding with lighter colors in it!

Thanks in advance!
amloveaffair

To see my advice for amloveaffair, read more.

Hi Amloveaffair,

As someone who has a pretty white coverlet for her bed, and a dog who's jumped on it with muddy paws, I can sympathize with your situation. My first piece of advice, as far as light-colored bedding is concerned, is to buy quality bedding with a high thread count. This will eliminate a lot of pilling that happens with lower-quality linens and will guarantee that they stand the test of time.

In addition, try these tips for keeping lighter-colored bedding bright and beautiful:

Wash your white sheets on a weekly basis. They should be washed separately in warm or hot water. Use regular detergent, but don't overload it.
If you get dirt, blood, or any other stain on your sheets, spot treat the stain immediately so it won't set in. Find out how to get out bloodstains here.
Only bleach your sheets when absolutely necessary, as bleach will damage the fabric. Try my bleach alternative.
If you add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to your sheets, it will brighten the white. So will sunlight, which is a good reason to line dry your clothes.
If you're out of lemon juice, white vinegar can be added to your wash cycle.
Rotate your sheets with other sets. This can help extend your sheets' lifespan for many years.
Store your sheets and other linens in a dry closet. Don't stack them too closely, since linens will store better if they have some circulation.

Hope this helps!

CasaSugar

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How-To: Get Rid of Moths in Your Kitchen

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:30:27 -0700

I just discovered a moth infestation in our kitchen. While I can handle a lot of creepy crawly things, finding moth worms in my nut mix is not okay. It turns out that in warmer climates, infestations like this are very common. In fact, it's unusual that it's taken me this long to get overrun by moths! While researching ways to send them packing, I came across some very handy how-to advice, which I've compiled here.

To find out how to get rid of moths if they've invaded your kitchen, read more.

Here's how to get rid of those pesky winged invaders, courtesy of How To Get Rid of Stuff:

Identify all of the places where the moths are present.
Clean these areas exceptionally well.
Remove all items from the areas.
Vacuum every surface, walls, shelves, cabinets, carpet, etc.
Scrub hard surfaces with a mixture of hot water and detergent. Scrub every inch because moth larva can attach themselves in even the tiniest of spaces.
If the shelving is removable, pull it out and clean the edges and walls around it.
Clean every surface that comes into contact with food, including your spice rack.
Follow up the scrubbing with a vinegar rinse. Either put some white vinegar into a spray bottle, coat, and wipe, or apply it directly to a cloth and wipe everything down.
The moths are likely originating from one or more of the food items previously stored in this area. Throw away every grain-based food item - even if it appears to be sealed well. Also dispose of nuts, raisins, flour, and tea.
Any remaining food containers and items should be thoroughly cleaned with the same detergent/water solution and vinegar rinse before returning to the freshly scrubbed area. A single egg or caterpillar left hanging onto something can start this whole thing all over again, so be thorough.
Kill any moths left flying around in the air. You can do this with a fly swatter, or use moth traps.

I'll be attempting all of these cleaning changes this weekend, and I'll let you know how it goes! Do you have any other ideas for getting rid of kitchen-lingering moths?
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How-To: Keep Your Valentine's Day Bouquet Fresh

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

If you're expecting a bouquet of flowers this Saturday, prepare yourself with a few of my tips on keeping them fresh and oh-so-pretty. If there's no man in your life to shower you with Valentine's Day gifts, treat yourself! You deserve it. If your beau brings you flowers every day of the week, you need not read further, and you really should be giving me lessons. Otherwise, to hear my tips, read more.

Do not put your flowers in warm water; this dehydrates them. So once you've cut them, place them in a clean vase filled with cold water.
Cut flowers can sometimes go into shock when they experience extreme fluctuations in temperature, causing them to die suddenly. So, keep them away from warm or cold air drafts, don't transfer them from a hot room to a cold one, and don't leave them overnight in a place (i.e. work) where the heating or air conditioning may be turned off at night.
The waterline on the stems shouldn't be any higher than about a half of a foot.
Some florists sell packets of "flower food" that kill bacteria growing on your flowers. It may work like a charm, but you don't need them: I have some easy household alternatives for you. One tried-and-true alternative is adding a couple tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar; the acidity will kill off bacteria. I just use whatever is handy. Pouring in a tablespoon of bleach should also kill off mold.
Cut the stems of your flowers every couple of days, and replace the water and flower food whenever you do this as well.
You should also make sure to pick off any foliage below the water line to prevent bacteria growth.
If your flowers have wilted, you can try to restore them by putting them in a vase filled with near boiling water.
Most florists receive their fresh flowers at the beginning of the week, so by Friday, they're already on their last legs. Buying your flowers earlier in the week will give you more time with them. On the other hand, most florists will give you a good discount on stems if you buy them on Friday.

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