[SIZE="5"]HOME & DECOR[/SIZE]
[SIZE="1"]Reprinted as authorized by Family Reader, March 2002
[/SIZE]

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Too many chores, so little time! Here, our cheat sheet to make housework move like clockwork!

Out, out damn spot! (But we don't think Shakespeare meant that stain on your carpet. Still...)
. To remove mildew on your furniture, scrub with vinegar, water and baking soda.
. To make your vases spotless, soak overnight in white vinegar.
. To keep kitchen appliances like your fridge and the stove clean and shiny, use car polish.
. Should you run out of glass cleaner, substitute toothpaste and polish with a wet cloth.
. To clean tops of cabinets and other hard-to-reach places, use a long stick with an old sock tied at the end and start wiping.
. To remove stubborn dirt on ceramic tiles, scrub with bleach.
. To prevent mildew on shower curtains, wash with detergent and a cup of vinegar.
. To remove dog and cat fur on carpets, rub with a wet cloth soaked vinegar.
. To clean miniscule hard-to-reach places like the sides of telephone buttons or the computer keyboard, use an old mascara brush.
. To remove stains on vinyl- or leather-upholstered furniture, rub with alcohol.
. To keep the shine on silver jewelry, buff with toothpaste and cloth.

Keep the creepy crawlies at bay
. To prevent dengue, use extracts of custard apples (atis) and black pepper (paminta) as mosquito repellants.
. To prevent pets and insects from munching on your houseplants, sprinkle chili powder on the greens.
. To wipe out all ants in the house, sprinkle boric acid on a little sweet jelly.

Make like a chef
. To prevent food spoilage. Know the freezer life of pork (two to five months), chicken (five to eight months), and seafood (three to five months).
. To keep potatoes from getting dark, peel in a bowl of water.
. To keep lettuce crisp and tasty, store in the fridge immediately after buying. Store for a few days to sweeten if bitter.

Old clothes, new uses
. To repair a hem without needle and thread, staple a dress for instant repairs.
. To maintain the shape of your shoes, stuff with rolled-up old socks when not in use. Newspapers also work.
. To remove tea or coffee stains on clothes, soak in cold water for 30 minutes.
. Use old babies' bibs as face towels. Just cut off the strings.

When a kiss isn't quite enough...
. Use colorful frozen fruit juices in tetra-packs to soothe your child's bumps.
. Use cold milk compresses on shaving burns (skin that has been irritated after shaving).