IT'S CLEANING TIME!!: Oh, it's time to go through all those closets, garages, etc. One thing we always seem to find that we KNOW we don't want --- (if you're like me, you can't ever bear to part with things, so you just keep it all!) --- is that musty, moldy smell in suitcases, closets, boxes, etc. Here are a few tips to remove those unpleasant odors from your things:

1. Try putting a pan of kitty litter in drawers or cupboards - it will absorb odors.

2. Put (unused) charcoal briquettes in an old pr. of hose and hang in closets, put in boxes, etc. - They absorb odors and moisture really well and keep things from getting mildew. My friend, whose husband is in the Air Force, says that this is a common known fact in the military, where people are often packing up and on the move, or putting things in storage all the time.

3. Want to freshen up a suitcase or drawer? Just put in a bar of your favorite scented soap --- I love the sweet almond smell of Jergen's!! It works great!

4. Cedar sachets have a fresh scent, and they repel moths, too! To make cedar sachets, just take 5-7" squares or circles of netting, cheesecloth, or other very porous fabric, and pour in cedar shavings. (If you want to repel moths, use many, like one every foot, hanging in your closet, or about 2 for each drawer). Best place to get cedar shavings? Go to the pet section of your local discount store and buy the shavings used for hampsters - they're pure cedar, and clean! Tie the sachet bags with ribbon and hang in the closet! If you are crafty, you can add decorative roses, ribbons, lace, etc., and they make a nice little gift!

5. Have an old book or suitcase that smells moldy or musty? Take baby powder and sprinkle all over, and in between the pages, if a book. Let sit a few days, shake off excess powder, and repeat, if necessary. It really works! - take it from a VERY person very allergic to mold!!

6. Don't forget about Baking Soda - it's an old remedy, but it works! I put them in the frig and freezer, and be sure to change the boxes at least 2, (preferably 3 or 4 - it's very cheap, about 50¢/box!), times a yr. I put one under the sink in my bathrooms, too, to absorb excess moisture.

7. Speaking of dampness and moisture, there is a great product called 'Damp Rid' which really absorbs moisture and excess dampness well. It's great for basements, bathrooms, and storage units. Just open the box or tub container and let it sit. When the granules look all solidified together, or there's excess water on the top, you will know it's time to replace. One note of caution, though - the stuff is VERY slippery if you spill it, and I don't recommend pouring the excess liquid down the drain. I don't know how or why it works, but once it absorbs moisture, it gets very slimy! Find it at home improvement and hardware stores.

8. Did you know oil is very good at removing sticky adhesive and residue? Try any inexpensive oil (such as generic vegetable oil) to get the adhesive residue off glasses that have a price sticker on them that doesn't want to come off.

CRAFT TIP OF THE DAY: Trying to rubberstamp or stencil on a dark fabric or page? Try sponging the background area of where you want your image to be with white paint first. Paint/sponge a slightly larger area than the actual image you are putting on the material/paper - it will offset the dark background and make your image pop!! And no, it won't stick out or look strange - practice a spot first and you'll see how great it looks!!

OK, I'm feeling generous --- I'll give you 2 tips today! :o) Here's something fun and very cool to do with stencils: It's called Reverse Stenciling. What you do is paint a background first with acrylic paint; (sponge-painted backgrounds in 2 colors look great with this). Then, after letting your paint set-up a few minutes, lay on your stencil, (don't tape it on, or you'll mess up your background paint; just hold it there with your hand) You want the paint still moist, but not totally wet. Take a brush that you've dipped in regular 'ole rubbing alcohol, and wipe it off lightly, then wipe it all over the stencil part of your project, sort of stippling the brush, as you would if you were using paint on the stencil.... Then remove the stencil, and --- Voila! The paint will disappear from the area where you stencilled with alcohol, and leave that impression! This looks especially great with leaves and ferns and flower stencils, but keep the stencils simple, with not too much detail. It's fun to experiment and see what all you can design! This works on paper and on walls.... For fabric, bleach works in the same manner, but can bleed out on fabric, so experiment first!!

MAKE LIFE EASIER TIPS: Have this problem? You want your kids' clothes to look clean and stain-free when they go to school, etc. THEY want to wear their favorite t-shirts and sweatshirts all the time, including around the house, and at meals. Thus, stained clothes, and a new shirt looks aged and awful.
SOLUTION: Have them turn their shirts (and even jackets) inside-out when they are at home, or out playing. Most kids will love to wear their clothes wrong-side out, and when it comes time for them to wear the clothes in public, the stains are on the inside, and they have clean, new-looking shirts!!! (Oh, and ladies, this works for hubby's clothes, too!) Now, if we could just do this for shoes.....

MORE MAKE LIFE EASIER TIPS: Try using an old dryer sheet for dusting. It really will pick up the dust, and will repel future dust on things like TVs and computer screens. Rub well on a bathroom mirror, and it will help repel fogging. By the way, shaving cream repels fogging, too, but be sure to wipe off well, as it really smears the mirror.
And speaking of mirrors, check in your hardware stores for a product called 'Dirtex'....(I haven't been able to find it at discount stores like Wal-Mart, but it's worth the trip - and the price of about $3 to $4 - to the hardware store.) It cleans mirrors and windows the first time --- with NO streaks!! It will really get rid of those old smear marks, with lots less elbow grease. It has ammonia in it, too, which is my favorite germ-killer, next to bleach. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT ever mix bleach and ammonia together, though - it gives off a poisonous gas!!!

However, if you want to go the inexpensive route, I've found that the Wal-Mart brand of window cleaner works really well, too - Better than Windex, in my opinion. It's store brand name is "Great Value" and it's simply called 'Glass Cleaner'.

And while we're on the subject of Wal-Mart, I was surprised to find that Sam's Choice - the Wal-Mart brand - of plastic wrap, works better and clings tighter than either Glad Wrap or Saran Wrap, and it's much, much cheaper! Go figure! (By the way, I do not work for Wal-Mart - I just think some of their name-brand products work pretty well, and can't beat the price!)

Here's another one for the 'Let's Use Less Elbow Grease Than Our Mothers Did' category: Want clean pots and pans, but hate to scrub? When you frying pan gets really awful, spray it with oven cleaner and let sit --- then just wipe all that 'gunk' off! Works on the outside of the pan, too! :o)