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Tips & Tricks

14729 followers, 109 pins

Homemade Swimmers ear drops...From the original pinner: "Recipe provided to me by my childrens' pediatrician. Alcohol dries out the ear and vinegar kills bacteria. It works!"

41 likes 4 comments 251 repins

Profile picture of Kara Hagen

Kara Hagen I use this, too. I promise it works.

Profile picture of Christina Mika {Ruby Red Studio}

Christina Mika {Ruby Red Studio} This was the home remedy my mom used when I was little. Cured it every time!

Profile picture of Christina Mika {Ruby Red Studio}

Christina Mika {Ruby Red Studio} This was the home remedy my mom used when I was little. Cured it every time!

Profile picture of Tsh Oxenreider

Tsh Oxenreider Yep, this is what I had growing up, too!

How to use peppermint oil as an insect repellent.

27 likes 193 repins

A reading lamp that's easy on the eyes: A gallon milk jug filled with water, with a headlamp pointing into the water.

by listorama

19 likes 77 repins

It's Earth Day this weekend! Living green is honestly not that hard—the important thing is passing it on to our kids. Here are 40 easy ways to go greener at home.

23 likes 2 comments 69 repins

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C. E. Having trouble with the link...bummer since it looks like a good article!

Lunchbox Cupboard: the kids pack their lunches—they pick one from each drawer (fruit, granola bars, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc.). The parent chooses what goes in the drawer, but the child learns to make their own choice of what to eat.

30 likes 10 comments 146 repins

Profile picture of Tracey Griffith

Tracey Griffith Also if you read the actual post, she doesn't pick one from each drawer. It is just her easy storage for the extras she frequently grabs for lunch. That said, I'm really glad I don't have to pack lunches... it would be hard to stay completely away from the processed foods.

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Kristy Garceau Phew! One from each drawer would be way excessive sugar for anyone to eat every day for lunch. Happy to hear that's not the arrangement!

Profile picture of Jaimie Franchi

Jaimie Franchi Tracey--I've had to pack lunches this year, and it definitely takes a lot of forethought to be able to have enough portable things to send for lunch every day without buying pre-packaged foods. I will say that there has been more than one occasion that I've been tempted to buy a box of this or that just to make things a little simpler!

Profile picture of Tsh Oxenreider

Tsh Oxenreider You can take any idea, tweak it to fit your family's convictions or needs, and leave the rest. That's what I do.

Profile picture of Sue Jensen

Sue Jensen Maybe the same drawer idea could be implemented in the fridge?

All 10 comments…

Tons of practical information on getting rid of toxins in the home, and solutions for replacing them with natural ingredients.

44 likes 273 repins

Love this idea—toys that are not picked up go in the ransom box, and they have to pick a chore to complete in order to earn it back.

39 likes 1 comment 256 repins

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Jeannie Kanaby I do the same thing with toys that they fight over.

Keep the mess in the towel, then throw the towel in the laundry when you get home from your trip.

29 likes 1 comment 201 repins

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Tracey Padgett This looks sew easy even I could do it!

An excellent e-book from one of the most popular blog carnivals around.

12 likes 13 repins

Wash towels in 1 cup of vinegar on hot, then again with 1/2 cup of baking soda on hot. Pull them out of the washer, and towels already smell 10 times better. Dry as usual.

31 likes 1 comment 223 repins

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Suzanne Martin I live in an area that has high humidity and the towels are the first to tell me about it! Thanks for this tip!

Natural hair detangler ideas. Seriously need to try these with my daughter.

20 likes 86 repins

Keep soil in your flower pots.

19 likes 108 repins

"Boil" your eggs in the oven.

13 likes 97 repins

TIP: When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge. The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria on the surface. Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.

35 likes 320 repins

Light charcoal in terracotta pots lined with foil for tabletop s'mores.

24 likes 227 repins

Use baby wipes containers to keep card games.

34 likes 4 comments 146 repins

Profile picture of Jill Baros

Jill Baros I think these might be containers from Ikea, which are great for storing lots of different things. I like baby wipe containers too though!

Profile picture of Désirée Fawn

Désirée Fawn Ooh I want to do this with our stray puzzles!

Profile picture of Audri Jarvis

Audri Jarvis This is a great idea! I use the empty containers as a snack storage for my diaper bag. No squished snacks anymore!

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Linda Hoberg I learned this 20 years ago from Rita!! She is such an awesome woman!

Store matches in a mason jar; cover the lid with sandpaper. Strike-able match container that looks pretty.

22 likes 178 repins

Make a dose chart on a medicine bottle.

20 likes 3 comments 148 repins

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Erin Wallace Yes! We did this for the current round of ear infections after I saw it on here. Brilliant.

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Nicole Ross I used this idea just this week!!

Use plastic Easter eggs for snack containers.

18 likes 3 comments 76 repins

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Cheryl Carrell Cute idea. I've actually done this, you just have to be sure to either use ones that don't have a small hole at one end, or put a piece of tape over it. The snacks get stale if they're in there long otherwise. ;o)

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Mara Jauntirans Don't they spill all over when the kids open them? I guess older kids could manage it, but definitely not my 3.5 year old.

Make a pocket in the giftwrap - good for holding the card. via @marthastewart

12 likes 125 repins

Fascinating recipe for those not ready to go all the way "no-poo."

36 likes 180 repins

dry erase boards from white corner tiles - great for labeling food at parties.

17 likes 148 repins

Fascinating! (Sounds like rubbing alcohol is the winner here...)

15 likes 85 repins

Tin can hairbrush holders

19 likes 1 comment 107 repins

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Kristyn Robb Love this idea!!

Seal a plastic bag with the top of a water bottle or any plastic bottle and the lid.

39 likes 5 comments 241 repins

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Erin Shaw Brilliant!

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Amanda Love it!

Profile picture of Jeanne Conner

Jeanne Conner Well that's just ridiculous. Who has left over chocolate chips? :)

Profile picture of Krista Goon

Krista Goon Brilliant!

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Jenny I'm with Jeanne. If you eat them fast enough there's no need for this! ;)

3 part series on rebuilding or building a herbal wellness and care cabinet

18 likes 140 repins

Fifty dollars worth of soap for less than 5 dollars.

9 likes 239 repins

Homemade "Shout" Stain Remover . . .

8 likes 1 comment 155 repins

Profile picture of Michelle Tegen Renkas

Michelle Tegen Renkas I love this homemade stain remover I need a new spray bottle though. This always clogs in mine and I have to rinse out the sprayer every time I want to use it.

Colander as an ice bucket — ice doesn't sit in a pool of water.

8 likes 117 repins

Questions to help make 2012 goals. Free PDF download included.

12 likes 3 comments 76 repins

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Michele Desmarais Thank you :)

Profile picture of Katie Crenshaw

Katie Crenshaw Can't wait to dig in!

Profile picture of Rebeca Ewing

Rebeca Ewing THANK YOU!!! it's great

Use holiday cards as contact pics in your phone!

20 likes 95 repins

Dining etiquette 101, for when the queen comes.

8 likes 2 comments 93 repins

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MacLeod House OMG lol, they actually got the butter knife and the fish knife mixed up.

Profile picture of Kim Walden

Kim Walden This looks like a test from my old high school home-ec class!

Place your iPhone in a bowl and crank up the volume. The concave shape of the bowl will amplify the music.

110 likes 4 comments 338 repins

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Sunee Conly Rocky has been doing this for years!

Profile picture of Sheryl Hemrick

Sheryl Hemrick This really works!

Profile picture of Emily Merrin

Emily Merrin Or... Cup your hand behind the speaker just like the bowl is doing. Same thing.

On Jan. 1st, turn all your hangers backwards. As you wear clothes, turn the hanger around. Anything that is still backwards on June 1, donate.

12 likes 1 comment 69 repins

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Rebeca Ewing This is the most amazing idea EVER..Thank you!

Tips on how to make the perfect cookie. Shows you what is going wrong and how to fix it.

11 likes 120 repins

step-by-step model for how to hide your flat screen cords

2 likes 35 repins

How to detangle dolls' hair. We have a Rapunzel doll, too, and her hair is a hot mess. This is great!

3 likes 1 comment 37 repins

Profile picture of Megan Suon

Megan Suon This is great, my daughter has a Rapunzel barbie doll, and it's hair becomes so messy. I can't wait to try this. Thank you.

Removing permanent marker... good to know for future reference.

7 likes 98 repins

Fun idea: If you don't pick something up after one warning, this mom confiscates it and puts it in a "ransom box." The only way you can get it back is to draw a task from the envelope attached to the box lid. Her tasks are hilarious!

12 likes 134 repins

DIY hair mask

11 likes 1 comment 116 repins

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mama housemouse I can personally attest to this one. I use apple cider vinegar in lieu of regular conditioner, and use this once a month... been doing this for a few years now, and my hair has honestly never been nicer!

stick magazines in your boots to keep them from slouching

6 likes 2 comments 54 repins

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Darcy Milder Wine bottles work, too. ;)

Profile picture of Suzanne Johnson

Suzanne Johnson I've been doing this for years. Wonder where I learned it before pinterest?

No need to use a special stain remover; just use white chalk. Rub onto greasy stains and the chalk powder will absorb the grease, making the stain easily removable by the laundry soap in the wash.

8 likes 1 comment 106 repins

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Peggy White Chalk also does a great job of covering pin and nail holes in white walls

How-to hang a wreath with ribbon—use an upside down Command hook.

9 likes 2 comments 89 repins

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Erin Wallace command hooks--the most useful invention EVER!

Profile picture of Sunee Conly

Sunee Conly I did this. My ribbon slipped right off

How to Store Vegetables/Fruit Without Plastic

5 likes 100 repins

Paint Bobby Pins with nail polish!

10 likes 88 repins

Smart Idea...Oh I am so going to check this out. if you put a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water, it won't boil over? Really?

9 likes 5 comments 77 repins

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Dana Fowler get outta town!

Profile picture of Julie Marshall

Julie Marshall yep, this works!

Profile picture of Marti Smith

Marti Smith Tried it tonight with my pumpkin seeds... it worked. Who knew!

Profile picture of Kate Bayless

Kate Bayless Just beware - the spoon will get hot!

Profile picture of Christy Mannering-Stephan

Christy Mannering-Stephan I've tried this and it didn't work, perhaps there are different kinds of wood it works with.

Homemade Mod Podge.....saves so much money!

7 likes 81 repins

Clean your shower and tubs (or tile) Instructions 1. Halve Grapefruit: 1 medium to large grapefruit will clean your entire bath or shower from top to bottom, including all the fixtures. Simply cut it in half with a knife and you'll be all set. 2. Sprinkle With Salt: Using 1 grapefruit half at a time, sprinkle liberally with salt. Wet your bathtub and sprinkle the remaining salt around the bottom. 3. Take That Scrubbing Bubbles!Scrub your grapefruit around your shower or tub, making sure to slightly "juice" the citrus over each fixture and lifting it every few seconds to pick up fresh salt from around the tub instead of just pushing it around. 4. Rinse: When all is said and done, simply rinse away the pulpy bits and the salt and your shower is as good as new. Not only is it clean, it will smell so fantastic you'll want to curl up in it and read a book. Ok, probably not, but you get the idea! Additional Notes: This technique will get thick grime and dirt rings off your shower area and does amazing work on cast iron tubs especially. You can also use this method to clean your sinks, toilets, tile and more — it just depends on how grapefruit crazy you want to get!

6 likes 2 comments 73 repins

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Kristin Amaro This is a great idea and probably works well, but grapefruit are expensive!! I would rather eat them......wonder if it works with lemons ?

Profile picture of Amber Snapp

Amber Snapp I tried this with a lime last weekend and it worked very well! My grout is very stained and I noticed the spots where I was more generous with the salt were cleaner...

The only SPOT REMOVER you may ever need ~ Mix one part Dawn dish washing liquid with two parts hydrogen peroxide; pour or spray it directly on the stain, and watch it disappear like MAGIC.

10 likes 4 comments 81 repins

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Amanda Anderson I'd really worry about getting all the soap up afterward--it's like a magnet for dirt if even a molecule remains in your carpet :/

Profile picture of Amanda Anderson

Amanda Anderson I'd really worry about getting all the soap up afterward--it's like a magnet for dirt if even a molecule remains in your carpet :/

Profile picture of Christy Mannering-Stephan

Christy Mannering-Stephan The peroxide doesn't bleach whatever you are spraying it on?

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CFJ Aziz Will it work for older, set in stains?

Such a smart idea. Pocket sized floor plans to carry with you when buying furniture, accessories ,etc.

1 like

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