Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Okay... we done found some more... helpful tips for around the home! Woo Hoo




The only thing worse than a mice infestation? The process of getting rid of a mice infestation. There are only so many methods available for getting rid of our uninvited friends and, let’s be honest, they’re not all very pleasant. If snap traps make you sad and sticky traps make you squirm, it can feel like your options are limited to hiring an expensive exterminator or simply living with some new scurrying friends, but there’s another, better method! You can actually get rid of mice the all-natural, no-kill way— with peppermint!
OKAY CATS RUN WHEN THEY SEE MIGHTY MOUSE.... But check this out...
It turns out, mice hate the smell of peppermint. Everything we humans like about it – the sharpness, the coolness, the sweetness, the menthol – makes them want to turn tail and run the other direction, making it an ideal natural repellant. Bulk Herb Stores’s Shoshanna’s Kitchen first turned us on to the idea, and she recommends harnessing peppermint’s power in three ways:

  1. Peppermint Plants
  2. The easiest way to prevent a mouse invastion in the first place is to post peppermint plant sentries around your home. Plant as many as you want outside your home for protection andand for nice, fresh peppermint leaves to use in your cooking.

  3. Peppermint Sock
  4. This method is easy for when you want a quick solution. Drop some dried peppermint in a sock and tie it off, then place the socks around your home near holes, gaps, or any other places you think pests might be gathering.

  5. DIY Spray
  6. Shoshanna’s favorite method is an easy-to-make spray. Boil some water, then steep some dried peppermint the same way you would if you were making tea or coffee. When you get a nice, rich concentration, strain out the grounds and allow the mixture to cool. Then, simply transfer it to a plastic spray bottle and spray away! Use it as an additional cleaning spray in cabinets where you’ve found evidence of rodent activity, saturate your closets, and generally spray wherever you think you need a little repelling peppermint power.
Of course, sometimes you need a little extra power, and for that, you can turn to extra concentrated versions of peppermint via peppermint oil. The Kitchn recommends using peppermint oil as you spray, similarly to Shoshanna’s Kitchen. Other people, like How To Get Rid Of Mice.com, recommend saturating cotton balls in peppermint oil and leaving them around your home wherever you want the mice to leave.
Even better? It’s not just mice that will run away from peppermint. It repels aphids, cabbage looper, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, ants, mosquitoes, and bees! And, best of all, it’s a simple, cheap, humane, and all-natural method for ridding your home of pests.
It’s so good to know that we have all-natural options for dealing with mice and other pests! Have you ever tried using peppermint this way? Do you know of any other no-kill or gentle methods for dealing with an infestation, or do you prefer old-fashioned traps?  Do you have any tips?  Leave it in a comment below and thanks for dropping by!!!


Saturday, September 17, 2016

LOOK WHAT I FOUND! 10 Clever Cleaning Tricks

I am so excited!  I found these on Facebook, and I haven't tried them yet, but I wanted to share with you really quick.  Today I'm going to the Last Hurrah Picnic of the Heathen Barbarians which is a motorcycle group my husband's band is affiliated with!  It's going to be so much fun.  More later on that, but here's what I was telling you about that I wanted to share with you!  ENJOY!

1) Clean your blender by blending soap and water.

Sometimes, simply scrubbing the blender with a sponge and running water can’t remove food particles or smells that get left behind. Try filling the blender and adding some dishwashing liquid. Turn it on and blend for a minute. You have yourself a super clean blender in just seconds!

2) Sanitize your sponges.

Even the sponge that you clean your pots, plates, and pans with need to be cleaned as well. Just place your sponge inside the microwave. Microwave it for about 2 minutes and that will kill 99% of bacteria.


3) Use the iron and damp washcloth combo.

If you have stubborn ugly stains on your carpet and no cleaning solution seems to work, try this simple trick. Mix vinegar and water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray some on the stained carpet and cover it with a damp washcloth. Put the iron on steam setting and iron the stained spot for about 30 seconds. If it’s a tough stain, repeat the procedure as necessary.

4) Line the litter box with a garbage bag.

If cleaning the litter box is your least favorite chore, clean-up is about to get easier when you line the litter box with a garbage bag. No more messy business of scooping everything up. Simply remove the bag from the box, seal shut, and throw into the trash.

5) Wash small toys in a mesh laundry bag.



Children play with their toys all the time, and you have no idea the places and surfaces these toys come in contact with. Cleaning them one by one is just time-consuming, so just throw everything inside a laundry mesh bag and wash it in the washing machine or the dishwasher.

6)  Use a squeegee to remove pet hair on carpets.


Squeegees are not just limited to cleaning windows. They can be very effective cleaning tools to remove pet hair from your carpet, furniture, and car seats. Just trying running it through your carpet and you will see all the animal hair being removed. They work even better than vacuums!

7) Use vinegar to clean shower heads.


Fill a small plastic bag with white vinegar. Tie it around the showerhead and let it soak in vinegar for about 2 hours. After that, just wash it off with water. You will see that your showerhead will be gleaming like brand new again.

8) Clean window blinds with socks.


You don’t need to buy those fancy dusters or vacuums just for the purpose of cleaning your window blinds. All you need is an old pair of socks (make sure they’re clean, though), and some water with vinegar. Wear one sock like a glove on one hand, dip it in the water and vinegar mixture, and wipe off the dirt on the blinds. Use the other sock to dry it.

9) Wear a carry-all apron.

Wearing this carry-all apron will save you lots of time going back and forth just to get a specific cleaning item that you need. Simply put everything inside the pockets and you can go about cleaning the house, room by room, top to bottom. It also does a great job of protecting your clothes.

And last, but not least...

10) Place linen dust shades to protect your books.

If you’re a book collector, you know how annoying it gets when books get dusty no matter how often you clean your bookshelves and your entire house. Doing this simple trick on your bookshelves will not only make them look pretty, but it will also protect your books from gathering dust. You can go for basic, or even loud and bold colors. Whichever strikes your fancy.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to stop at my other blog http://www.xmasdolly.com  and say hello!  hugs





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