http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ en-us k2zen@crewtags.com 2009-11-11T20:37:22-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.crewtags.com/http://www.crewtags.com/create/images/logo.jpgThis is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/YRbh4AoGA1c/graduation_gifts.shtml Graduations gifts are amongst the hardest gifts to buy for in my book. Not always do you know if they will be continuing on to college. Order a custom pen and pencil set. It is a nice personal touch and can be used for most anything that they decide to do. See if you can find old report cards for the graduate and wrap them with a satin ribbon. The grad can then spend quiet time enjoying memories of past school years and can see just how far they have come. If the grad will be going off to college,... 1897@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Gifts 2009-11-11T20:37:22-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/graduation_gifts.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/lvHCG54ByWI/long_light_storage.shtml When you are getting ready to take down your outdoor christmas lights this year, stop by the lawn and garden department first. Pick up a manual hose reel. Now when you take your lights off the house, start reeling the lights on. Now next year when you begin to put your lights on the house they will pull right off with out being a knotted mess.... 1894@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Christmas 2009-11-10T19:26:50-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/long_light_storage.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/7PKCTMt-dSs/easy_donations.shtml I keep an extra basket, box or bag in the garage next to my car. Whenever I am cleaning the house and I find something that we don't use anymore I drop it in. Once the basket or bag gets full I place it in the back of my car and drop it off at the local charity office. It is a great way to clean clutter immediately and help out others while you are doing it.... 1906@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Cleaning 2009-11-09T23:28:16-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/easy_donations.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/SmwORpzMdlo/washing_delicates.shtml We all have some clothes that really should be hand washed. Seriously, most of the time, who has the time? Most washing machines now are gentle enough that with the proper preparation, you should be able to wash in the machine with out damage. First treat any stains that you might see. Next, make sure that all snaps and/or hooks are fastened. Place extra gentle items into a mesh bag or old pillowcase to protect them. Place in the washing machine and set the temperature for the items. Add about 1/4 of the regular amount of detergent. Turn on the... 1911@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Cleaning 2009-11-08T20:54:58-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/washing_delicates.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/fp0ZPG7HTo0/baby_gifts.shtml Baby gifts are always hard. Not always do the couple know what sex of child they are having so here are some quick and easy ideas. At the shower place out a journal and have everyone write in a few snippets of advice for the new parents to be. Gather newspapers and periodicals for the date of the babies birth and place them in a decorative archival box. These will be great reminders as they grow older about events that occured on the date that they were born. Create a coupon book for the new mom to be. Include coupons... 1896@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Gifts 2009-11-08T20:32:35-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/baby_gifts.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/Vo1Kt_Qcick/jiggler_shots.shtml For a more jiggly form of alcohol fun, make some jiggler shots. Prepare a 4oz box of any flavor gelatin with 1 cup boiling water. Once all of the gelatin has dissolved, stir in 3/4 cup champagne, gin, rum, or vodka. Pour into ice cube trays and refrigerate until set. (if you share the house with small children make sure that you place them out of reach, or make some for them using water instead of alcohol) Remove from the trays to serve.... 1892@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Entertaining 2009-11-07T08:12:27-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/jiggler_shots.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/Zf89nhj-4xM/mail_mess.shtml Ok, we have all done this and I do at at least once a week. You run out and grab the mail, you bring it into the house or the car, and it sits there........ One day you look and you have a stack the size of Mount Fuji to sort through. Make a habit to always pick up the mail on your way into the house. Your first stop should be by the recycling bin where you drop any advertisements or catalogues that you are not interested in. Next stop is your desk or area where you pay bills... 1910@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Organization 2009-11-07T00:11:52-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/mail_mess.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/u2VSWfOQpvc/winterizing_garden_beds.shtml Winter is knocking on the door and your garden needs just a little bit of tending to before it will be ready. Now is the time to make sure that you have pulled out all of the annuals that have died off. Trim back any perennials and bushes. Take one more look around at your beds and pull any weeds that you see. Grab some compost from your local garden center and spread over the beds to give them some protection from the harsh weather. Last but by no means least do not forget to disconnect your garden hose from... 1908@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Garden 2009-11-06T23:50:53-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/winterizing_garden_beds.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/sBfPRrBFak4/cleaning_coffee_cup_stains.shtml You are drinking your coffee and you notice that the cup is ringed with stains. When you are done drinking it grab an orange/lemon rind and some salt. Drop a pinch of salt into the mug and using the rind like a rag, wipe out the inside of the mug gently scrubbing away the stain. Now toss the rind in your garbage disposer and grind for a minute without running water. Wash your mug as normal. Now you have a sparkling clean mug and a fresh smelling kitchen!... 1907@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Cleaning 2009-11-06T23:39:30-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/cleaning_coffee_cup_stains.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/statzZxRlXY/tokens_of_understanding.shtml Not every occasion is a happy one and sometimes you know someone who is having a rough time. Small tokens can go a long way. If you know someone who is having some health issues, pick up a set of comfortable pajama's instead of flowers. It will make them feel better inside and out. You can also pick up a soft blanket to give them. They can use it in the hospital or at home. Pick up some gift certificates for a local ice cream shop. Sometimes ice cream is just what the doctor ordered.... 1898@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Gifts 2009-11-06T20:44:11-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/tokens_of_understanding.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/7UFO2U78nS0/pairing_placements.shtml When you have your next sit down dinner, have a little fun with the seating chart. Collect items from around that house that are in pairs. A pair of dice, cards, candy, keys, coins. Place one of each item on the table in the center of each plate. Place the mates into a bowl. Now when your guests arrive, have them select an item out of the bowl and match it up to the item on the plate for their seating assignment.... 1893@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Entertaining 2009-11-06T19:13:04-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/pairing_placements.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/fTsLQiGweM8/party_planning.shtml Christmas is upon us once again. You want to have a party with some friends over but you have no idea where to begin. First things first, figure out your theme. Maybe wander around a few stores to see what is new and remind you what you have and what you need. Once you have a theme in mind, the rest should fall into place. There are lots of different themes you can pick from: Snowmen, Silver and Blue, Gold, Reindeer, Santa, Poinsettia, the list goes on! Decide how many people you want to invite. Do you have enough room?... 1881@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Christmas 2009-11-05T10:47:39-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/party_planning.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/G7dd2aW0HXs/safer_luminares.shtml You want to make some luminaries, but you are scared that the bags are going to catch on fire from the candles. An easy remedy to this is to place your candles inside some canning jars before placing them in the bags. Make sure that the jar is at least 2 inches taller than the candle that you are burning. Now the glass from the jar will protect the bag from being burned by the candle and you should not need to place any other weights into the bag. If you feel comfortable with a bit more weight, add some... 1150@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Decorating 2009-11-04T10:31:44-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/safer_luminares.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/BaqTZKmNhjk/fall_cleaning_windows.shtml You have heard of spring cleaning, how about fall cleaning! Grab a bucket with a gallon of hot water and add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing powder or 1/2 cup ammonia. Using a rag and an old mop start cleaning you windows and screens. When you are done grab the hose and rinse everything off for sparkling clean windows.... 1869@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Cleaning 2009-11-03T12:29:46-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/fall_cleaning_windows.shtml http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeHintsTips/~3/QPjBYFJ5OFo/fall_cleaning_bathroom.shtml Now that the weather is starting to change, take a few minutes to clean out the bathrooms, linen closets and the medicine cabinets. If you get it done now, when the holidays hit full force you will be ready! Check expiration dates for all beauty products and medication. If you have items that are close to expiring, place them at the front. If you bought it and you don't use it, and it is still unopened, bag it up for donation to a shelter. Clean well around the tub and sink. Wash the shower curtains and restock any first aid... 1871@http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/ Cleaning 2009-11-02T12:42:08-07:00 http://www.householdhintsandtips.com/fall_cleaning_bathroom.shtml