Kitchen Crafts 'n' More

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Cleaning out the Washing Machine - More Help from Readers

Last week we talked about cleaning out the washing machine, and KCnM Readers had more helpful ideas on keeping that essential appliance clean from the inside out. Here's what they had to say...

Our Aussie friend, Rose, wrote: "I had trouble with the gunk in the washing machine till I changed to using vinegar instead of Staysoft in the dispenser now I have no problems it helps the clothes and it helps the washing machine to keep clean."
Patricia says: "What I do every month is to wash a load of whites or towels. Instead of putting in fabric softener, I fill the faric softener area with white vinegar as far up as it will go. When it hits the spin cycle, it distributes it through the machine. It cuts the gunk from everywhere in the machine. I also block the little hole at the bottom of the soap dispenser and let vinegar sit for @ 1 hour to clean that out also."
Finally, BJ added: "I SOAK MINE ONCE A MONTH IN CLOROX AND CLEAN WITH A BRUSH.ALSO RINSE IT WITH WHITE VINEGAR AFTERWARDS."

Thanks to all of you for your ideas!

Labels: cleaning tips, cleaning washing machines, how to, laundry, readers help, readers tips, washing machines

Posted by HappySlob :: 7:57 AM :: 0 comments

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Monday, April 23, 2007 How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs - Readers Questions

After a recent question about bed bugs from a reader, Toni sent in this fabulous email to me...hope anyone with a problem with bed bugs will find it helpful. :) Big thanks to you Toni!

For the reader that inquired on how to get rid of bed bugs...

When my son and I moved to the apartment complex this past June, a couple of months later in the units down the end from us, was a bed bug epidemic. Talking with professionals, along with the bitten hosts, we learned this:

Bedbugs are very hardy and live a long time. Mattresses ALONG with furniture must be discarded. Bedbugs can even live hidden well in your dressers. They will go to great lengths for food so whereever you are sleeping they will find you which means including your couch.
Sadly this is a very expensive pest to have. The residents not only threw away mostly all of their furniture (inspite of spraying as the bedbugs can hide) but it cost them a fortune to wash EVERY single article of clothing and bedding in the household. Bedbugs will also feed on your furry friends and can be deadly if you have small enough creatures not able to stand their terrible bites. The residents (4 units were infested) were so badly bitten including one of the families 14 month old daughter (that in itself would have had me gone).

As a precaution, I bought clear caulk and closed up as many gaps as I could in the apt. I also put protective foam covers under all the light switches as supposingly these pests live well in and around electrical areas ( which includes your telephone,tv and etc)

A reputable airtight mattress cover was put on the mattress along with a similiar cover for the pillow.

This truly stressed me out but fortunately none of our units on this end ever had a problem. I also went to Home Depot and bought a gallon of no scent bugspray that stated it was for use against bedbugs as well (inspite of being against this stuff but was against having BB's even more)I am being honest and truthful with my information here as it came first hand. I did tons of research and lost lots of sleep.

People generally think that bedbugs come from filth. Even your most posh hotels can have them and you can also get them from something that someone else has that have them.

I wish you all the best

Hugs,
Toni~

Labels: bed bugs, bugs, helpful hints, how to, infestations, insects, mattresses, readers help, readers tips, vermin

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:12 AM :: 1 comments

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Sugar Free Chocolate for Candymaking

Something else that you can do is buy the unsweetened baking squares (a box of eight 1 oz. squares is $2-3), melt it down, sweeten with splenda or stevia, and then add little bits of milk or cream until it reaches the consistency you want. (You'd use more milk for a sauce - like for ice cream topping - and less milk if you want to use it as a chocolate coating.)

Submitted by Shylah from Kansas; answering a reader's question about sugar free chocolate for candy making. For more candy recipes, visit: http://candy-recipes.blogspot.com

Labels: candy recipes, candymaking, diabetic, how to, sugar-free, sugarless

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:10 AM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, March 11, 2007 Cleaning and Repairing Eyeglasses - Easy Household Tips and Hints

I wear glasses, and like so many of us - I find that my glasses are always dirty! Here are a few tips that will help all of us to keep our glasses clean and scratch-free:

Here's my favorite homemade eyeglass cleaning formula, sent in to my KCnM Newsletter years ago.
Apparently, cigarette ashes helps to remove scratches from eyeglass lenses! just make a paste of old cigarette ashes (I know, sort of icky...but if it works, it works!) and apply to the scratches on the lens. Repeat a few times, and then wash away with water and buff gently with a lint-free cleaning cloth.
Since smooth peanut butter helps to remove scratches from CD's, it might also work on eyeglasses. Gently apply a bit to the scratched surface of the glasses, and then buff clean. Please let me know how this tip works for you!
Baby oil might also work when used to buff out scratches in eye glasses.
Another great way to clean glasses is VERY simple - just use a drop of regular dishwashing liquid (the smallest drop possible) and use cool water to wash with a lint free cloth. Use another lint free cloth - or my favorite microfiber cloths - to wipe the glasses clean, without streaks or any bits of lint left behind.

Labels: ashes, buffing, cleaning, eyeglasses, formulas, glasses, household hints, how to, peanut butter

Posted by HappySlob :: 11:34 AM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, February 11, 2007 Pie Recipes - Two Delicious New Pie Recipes to Try

I've just posted Two Delicious NEW Pie Recipes for you guys. :) One for a Vanilla Pumpkin Pie,and the other a Crazy Crust Apple Pie. If you hate making pie crust, this is the recipe for you!

Labels: apple pie, desserts, easy desserts, easy pastry, how to, pie recipes, pumpkin pie

Posted by HappySlob :: 12:57 PM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, February 04, 2007 Seasoning Cast Iron Pans with Bacon Fat

I love to find old skillets anywhere no matter what kind of shape they are in. Trust me, some have seen better days! No matter what, I have been able to salvage each one of them. I know that one day my kids will move out and take every thing that isn't nailed down, including my skillets. So I have them stockpiled.
All I do to season them is.....clean them really well with an SOS pad, dry them on a low stove burner and when I want to season them, I just make some bacon! That's it, the mystery is solved. Bacon. My dad has a fit everytime Mom washes his "seasoned" skillet. A pound of bacon later, it's as good as used! (Who would want it new?) It's not necessary to use soap to wash them after that, all you need to do is wipe it out with a paper towel and it's good for next time. It's just like using Pampered Chef stonewear. Don't wash it when a wipe will do, right?

Hint Submitted by Becky - thanks for all the readers' tips on how to season cast iron skillets!

Labels: bacon, cast iron, cooking with cast iron, how to, readers tips, season

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:59 AM :: 0 comments

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How to Season a Cast Iron pan - More Readers Tips

Submitted by Ruth W.

The first time you season the pan, you should coat it lightly with cooking oil inside and out and bake in a 250 degree oven for 1/2 hour.

To maintain the cast iron cookware, never, never, never soak it in water. What I do is dip a bit of dishwater into the pan and scrub out the inside, then rinse well. Then I put it on the stove on medium heat for 5 minutes. This is enough to dry the pan and open its pores. Then put about a tablespoon of oil into the pan and with a double paper towel spread it around the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Let it cool on the stovetop, then put it away. As long as you haven't soaked the pan in water, I never bother with the outside unless something has spilled over. I have used my cast iron for years, and it is better than teflon if you keep it seasoned.

Happy cooking!

Labels: cast iron, cooking with cast iron, how to, oil, season, skillets

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:57 AM :: 0 comments

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