WMYB - Ton O Tips

Stain masters part 1

Coming clean is easy when what you need is already on your shelves…

Grass (clothing & linens): Flush the area with rubbing alcohol, then rinse with water. Apply liquid dish soap and rinse. (upholstery & carpet): Dab liquid laundry detergent directly on spot and let it sit for 2 hours. Remove detergent with a damp towel.

Pet Pee (clothing & linens): Soak in a solution of distilled white vinegar & hot water for 30 minutes. (cold water for delicate fabric) Rinse garment, then launder.

(upholstery & carpet): Use paper towels to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. With a sponge, apply a solution of a quarter cup of vinegar, several drops of eucalyptus iol and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Let stand for 30 minutes, then blot using a damp towel.

Chocolate (clothing & linens): Soak fabric in cold water. If stain remains, dab with detergent. (upholstery & carpet): Let chocolate harden, then scrape off excess with a dull knife. Blot with one part liquid laundry detergent and 2 parts tepid water.

Remember to read the care label of your garment before attempting to treat a stain – treat as soon as possible – test stain remover on an inconspicuous area of the fabric first to make sure the color won’t be affected. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing. Seek help from your dry-cleaner for stains on silk, suede and leather.
(aired 7/1/08) part 2 July 8*

Teeth Whitening Tips:

Before you spend money on over-the-counter or professional treatments, try these at-home tricks. You could see results within a few weeks…

When eating, choose crunchy foods like raw veggies. The help clean your teeth by removing debris and increasing the amount of saliva in your mouth. Instead of blueberries, which stain teeth, snack on strawberries, which have ntural bleaching properties.

When drinking – if a beverage would stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth. The top culprits are coffee, tea and red wine, so drink a glass of water after any dark beverage. Use a straw when sipping cold drinks like cola or grape juice so the liquid bypasses your teeth.

When brushing – Twice a month add a sprinkle of baking soda to your toothbrush before brushing. The fine, slightly abrasive particles will loosen stain-causing plaque that may be sticking to your teeth. Floss at least once a day to get rid of any discolorations between your teeth.

Teeth Whitening Tips
Before you spend money on over-the-counter or professional treatments, try these at-home tricks. You could see results within a few weeks…

When eating, choose crunchy foods like raw veggies. The help clean your teeth by removing debris and increasing the amount of saliva in your mouth. Instead of blueberries, which stain teeth, snack on strawberries, which have ntural bleaching properties.

When drinking – if a beverage would stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth. The top culprits are coffee, tea and red wine, so drink a glass of water after any dark beverage. Use a straw when sipping cold drinks like cola or grape juice so the liquid bypasses your teeth.

When brushing – Twice a month add a sprinkle of baking soda to your toothbrush before brushing. The fine, slightly abrasive particles will loosen stain-causing plaque that may be sticking to your teeth. Floss at least once a day to get rid of any discolorations between your teeth.

Hidden Powers of Superfoods

Superfoods go beyond the call of duty. In addition to being packed with nutrients that help your body function, they can also reduce your risk of developing serious health problems.

Fish (especially salmon & trout): The omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Milk (any kind): It’s vitamin D wards off diabetes.

Cranberries (dried, sauce or juice): Rich in pro-antho-cyanidins , which can reduce your risk of infections.

Kiwis: A great source of antioxidants, vitamin E, and lutein, which prevents vision problems.

Barley: The beta-glucan soluble fiber lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Aired 06-10-08

News from the garden – It can be a pain trying to tame the wild weeds in your garden. Try placing several damp strips of newspaper on top of the soil. The weeds are less likely to grow and the paper makes for a great mulch.

Flossing makes a difference – Yes it’s good for your gums and it may also save you cash in the long run. People with periodontitis, or sever gum disease, pay 21% more in overall health care costs. Gum infections can hurt your cardiovascular system and have been linked to health problems elsewhere in the body. It even makes certain diseases, like diabetes, harder to control.

Gift of gab – Chatting with relatives or friends (either in person or over the phone) can boost your brainpower. A new study has also found that discussing a social issue for only 10 minutes improves your memory just as much as more traditional intellectual activities, like doing crossword puzzles.

Aired 06-03-08

Relax – The next time someone angers you, forgive and try to forget. People who hold grudges have higher blood pressure and increased muscle tension, a new study has found. But when study participants imagined forgiving the person, their symptoms disappeared. So ditch the ill will and hug it out.

Fast fix – Don’t get bent out of shape over a carpet dent. Try this cool solution – place an ice cube in the depression and let it melt; the fibers will absorb the water and expand. Blot excess moisture with a towel and vacuum to even out the fibers.

Green & Clean – Are you tired of leftover food odors and stains in your microwave? Get rid of the smells and splatters by mixing a quarter cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water in a glass bowl and microwave for 5 minutes.

Aired 05-27-08

On the rocks - If you like having extra ice on hand for parties, try storing it in a paper bag. This allows the ice to “breathe”, whereas keeping it in a plastic bag causes the cubes to clump together.

Marvelous muffins -Tired of baking muffins only to have the chocolate chips sink to the bottom of the tin? Before adding the morsels to the batter, roll them in a tablespoon of flour. This keeps them from dropping to the bottom as they bake.

4 Secrets to living longer – these lifestyle choices can add a whopping 14 years to your life. Eat plenty of fruit & veggies (5 servings a day), exercise regularly (30 minutes of brisk movement a day), drink alcohol moderately (1-2 glasses a day), and don’t smoke. Each of these practices increases longevity, but all together help you live the longest.

Aired 05-20-08

Cooking Spray for Candles – Great way to keep candle holders clean. Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating of cooking spray before dropping in a tea-light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip right out.

Shoe Box – Keep your holiday lights tidy by trimming the edges of the shoe-box lid. Wrap the lights around the cardboard and place the whole package back in the box.

New use for Salt – Dust your pinecone or a faux-evergreen wreath. Place the wreath in a paper bag and pour in a quarter cup of table or kosher salt. Fold the top of the bag and gently shake. The salt knocks dirt off the cones or needles without damaging them.

Aired 05-13-08

Hair Dryer & Cake – Try this for the glossing effect on your next freshly baked cake. Lightly blow warm air over the op and the sides of the cake until the frosting melts a little. When it cools, the surface will stay shiny for a professional finish.

Stop Rust in the Bathroom – Try using clear nail polish to rust proof a shaving cream can to prevent nasty stains on porcelain. Paint a thin layer of nail polish around the metal base. The lacquer helps keep out water that can corrode the metal.

Wax paper for floors – Great for picking up dirt & dust. Rip off a piece roughly the size of your sweeper and attach it just as you would a cleaning cloth. As you sweep highly trafficked or dirty areas, the gunk sticks. Wax on, dirt off.

Aired 05-06-08

Musty Clothes – Try spritzing garments with a small amount of vodka (spot test first); hang them to dry in a well-ventilated area. Straight vodka kills bacteria, but it doesn’t leave a scent.

Deodorize Food Storage Containers – Soak plastic containers in warm water and baking soda overnight. Bathe glass jars in a mixture of 1 teaspoon powdered mustard and one quart warm water.

Eggshells to Clean Bottles & Vases – Clean those hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases by dropping some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water, a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can’t get to.

Aired 04-29-08

Getting rid of mosquitoes- One of the best way of getting rid of mosquitoes is Listerine, the original medicinal type. The Dollar Store-type works, too. Fill a 4-ounce spray bottle and use it around your seating area. Voila! It kills them instantly. It really doesn't take much and will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house if you have one.

Use Vanilla to freshen freezer – Wipe the freezer with a cotton pad dampened with pure vanilla extract. Refrigerator shelves will benefit from a wipe-down with a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water.

Deodorize Your Kitchen Sink – The garbage disposal is great, but it can get smelly. Run hot water, drop orange peels down the hatch, and turn on the switch. Lemon, lime, and grapefruit rinds also do the trick.

Aired 04-22-08

Remove Adhesive with Oil - Apply cooking oil to the sticker using a paper towel or a soft cloth, rub firmly, then rinse with warm, soapy water. (If the adhesive is stubborn, use a dab of toothpaste along with the oil.) Goo Gone be gone — one less cleaning product to buy.

Car Wax as Fixture Polish - Polish faucets, sinks, tile, even shower doors. Turtle Wax leaves behind a protective barrier against water and soap buildup, so your hard-earned sparkle will last past the next tooth-brushing.

Deodorize Food Containers with Newspaper - Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a plastic container, seal it, and let sit overnight. By morning the paper will have absorbed lingering food smells.

Aired 04-15-08

Remove Food Stains with Lemon - Remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. The house will also smell like a lemon grove. Another tip, wash up after eating or cooking fish. Rub lemon on your hands and rinse.

Sop Up Spilled Egg with Salt - Heap a handful of salt on the mess, leave for two minutes or so, then wipe up.

Use Coasters to Catch Drips in Pantry - Shelves won’t require a full wipe-down after every spoonful of honey, slather of jam, or glug of olive oil.

Deodorize Shoes with Dryer Sheets - Refresh smelly shoes and sneakers. Put half a scented Bounce sheet in each shoe.

Aired 04/08/08

Clean Your Dishwasher with Lemonade Kool-Aid -

Cleans lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher. Pour a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid (the only flavor that works) into the detergent cup and run the dishwasher while empty. The citric acid in the mix wipes out stains, so you don't have to.

Mesh Veggie Bag as Pot Scrubber -Try using it to scrub up after dinner. Cut ends open, scrunch, add soap and water. After a gooey cleanup, you can throw this freebie sponge away guilt-free.

Dust Lamp with Lint Roller – Use toDust a lamp shade. Run the roller up and down the outside to get rid of what shouldn’t be there.

Aired 04/01/08

Dialing for dollars: To shave roughly 10% off your monthly heating bill, try lowering the thermostat from 72 degrees to 68 degrees during the day – and down to 55 when no one’s home. It’s a small thing, but with rising energy costs, every penny counts.

In a glimmer: Revive the luster on chrome bath or kitchen fixtures by polishing them with a crumpled piece of aluminum foil (shiny side out). Don’t worry, it won’t scratch the surface and you’ve saved money on expensive polishes that can harm the environment.

Out with the “ouch”. When hanging a picture you can protect you fingers from the hammer. Clip a clothespin behind the nail head, hold it against the wall and tap. Remove the pin and hit nail until it’s almost flush.

It’s easy being green. Harvesting wood illegally endangers habitats and causes mud slides. When buying new furnishings and accessories, look for the Forest Stewardship Council logo, which guarantees the wood came from a certified, well-managed forest. For more info go to fscus.org.

Aired 03-25-08