I absolutely love spam mail. This gem came from one of my five sisters. (Yes, I have many siblings.) Now, I hope you get a chuckle (or six). And my sincere suggestion is you copy this and spam all the people you know would answer with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
What’s in it for you?
Custom SearchPatriots & Ex-Pats
In the Interest of Full Disclosure
Posted by Red on December 4, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/get-to-know-friends/
Pass the Baking Soda
Baking is not my gig. I do, but only under protest. Baking soda disappears in my house at an astonishing rate.
Why? Let me give you a couple of (Is that really a post?) a few (Seriously? How about…) our top 20 uses for baking soda and how to save money over other products.
Top 20 Uses for Baking Soda (Which Do Not Involve Baking)
1. Got cats? Dust the bottom of the litter box with it. It absorbs more odor than the litter alone and makes cleaning easier. (Saves money on litter.)
2. Slow drains? Mix a cup of baking soda and a cup salt in the sink drain. Slowly pour in a cup of white vinegar. The foam will cleanse the grease from the drain and contain any odor. (Cheaper than foaming drain cleaners.)
3. Take off those shoes! Baking soda and water in a paste will take scuff marks off of linoleum floors without scratching. (Cheaper than chemicals which can damage your floor. Whispers “replacement costs”.)
4. Smelly laundry? An half cup of baking soda in after-game clothes wash will kill all the left-over sport. (Less expensive than laundry booster.)
5. Stung? Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to put on mosquito or ant bites and stings from caterpillars, wasps or bees to soothe away the sting. (Natural solution to expensive topical medicines)
6. Who cooks here? Baking soda absorbs grease. Sprinkle it on the greasy stove for the most effective cleaner. Use it to clean the grill! (Extends life of stove and grill. Whispers “replacement costs”…again.)
7. Pyromaniac in your family? Baking soda will smother a grease fire. (SCREAMS “Replacement Costs!”)
8. Hate that hard water stains? Baking soda will take care of the stains around the sink drain with very little scrubbing. Works in the toilet bowl and shower as well. (Far cheaper than chemical alternatives.)
9. Why is the carpet red? Mixing an half cup of baking soda into an half gallon of water makes the perfect solution for Kool-Aid or wine stains on your carpet. (Have you priced carpet shampoo?)
10. Packing away the sweaters? Fill a zipper bag with a cup of baking soda and zip it almost closed. Place it in your box of winter clothes to combat the musty smell when you take them out again. (Less expensive than dryer sheets or cedar balls.)
11. Need to tame the frizz? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in your (homemade) shampoo once per week to soften hair, making it more manageable. (How much are you washing down the drain?)
12. Thespian make up? Three tablespoons of baking soda mixed into one tablespoon of water makes the perfect facial exfoliating scrub. Works well on adult cystic acne as well. (Facial cleansers are expensive. Almost as expensive as acne cleansers.)
13. Stressing the big meeting or regretting Uncle Bob’s Five Alarm Chili? Half a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in four ounces of water will soothe heartburn and acid indigestion. (Less than 1/20 the price of a tablet.)
14. Did you clean the hairbrush? Soak combs and brushes in a teaspoon of baking soda and very warm water to kill odors and remove oils. Let them air dry afterward. (Cheaper than cleaning solution.)
15. Where’s Picasso? Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge to remove crayon and scuff marks from furniture and painted walls. Just rub gently! (Chemicals are as much as 400 times more expensive.)
16. Smell like a bear? Kill odors on stuffed animals with a baking soda shower. Sprinkle all over and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Shake off the powder or pop into an air cycle in the dryer (no heat).
17. Car won’t start? Clean battery posts and cables with three tablespoons baking soda and one tablespoon water. Scrub the corrosion off with a damp cloth and the paste. When clean, coat in petroleum jelly (prevent more corrosion) and reattach cables. (More effective and cheaper than pouring carbonated soda.)
18. Dirty duffer? Use baking soda paste to clean irons and shoes without scratching. (Have you priced club cleaner?!)
19. Coffee or tea? Clean unsightly stains from coffee urns, mugs, cups and tea pitchers with a tablespoon of baking soda, tablespoon of salt, a wedge of lemon and three ice cubes. Put ingredients inside and swirl the stains away.
Not sour? This works with just soda and ice. (Urn cleaners cost more than 700 times the price and are not always as effective.)
20. After dinner cigar? Give your ashtrays a mint. Fill the tray with two tablespoons baking soda and hot water. After soaking off the nicotine, drain off water and gently scrub the soda and ashes with paper towels. (Glass cleaners do not take away smell and are more expensive.)
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What do you use baking soda for and how much cheaper is it?
~~~~~~~~~~
(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on Momma’s Money Matters is expressly forbidden.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red on December 4, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/baking-soda-cheap-uses/
Saturday Evening Post
You’re mean!”
And you are ugly.
Damn, Skippy! (Crap. Backspacing.)
Whatever makes you say that, my dear?
Posted by Red of M3 on December 3, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/tell-the-truth/
Saving Money With Your Stove Top
The average electric stove will last 17 years, and a gas one, 19. If you are only cleaning every week, that is around 1,000 cleanings. Help your stove live a long, clean life with the following tips for how to clean a stove.
Stop before it starts.
Minimum spilling means minimum cleaning. In the end, this will prolong the life of your stove.
- Prevent as many boil-overs as possible.
- Use pots and pans which are deep enough to contain boiling.
- Reduce spattering by using appropriate lids.
Pick up the habit.
By wiping down the stove each time you use it, you will keep the stove top shining like new for decades. You will also avoid the need for heavy duty scrubbing, which eventually damages the stove top.
Burn it off.
Heating elements and wet anything do not mix. If you spill something on the burner, simply turn it to the highest setting and burn it off. If any ash remains, scrape it off (outlined below).
If the spill is big, when the burner cools, blot as much of the spill off the burner as possible. Then, burn off the remainder.
Elbow Grease
While trying to get dried-on spills off the stove with an abrasive cleanser may seem like a no-brainer…do not.
Abrasives, like Comet® and Ajax® powders, will scratch the enamel on the stove top. Instead, use either dishwashing liquid in warm water or a 50/50 mix of vinegar and warm water. Both will cut grease and not scratch the enamel.
All purpose cleaners, like Formula 409® and Fantastik® will lend some extra muscle to your cleaning without scratching.
Lift the cooktop.
Most stoves have a pop-top cooktop. Read your owners manual on how to lift your cooktop. Use a sponge to clean the interior beneath the cooktop of all spills with warm, soapy water or a 50/50 mix of vinegar and warm water. Dry and replace the cooktop.
Scrape gently with the right tool.
If you spill something which cooks or dries on the stove top or the burners, scrape it off with a plastic or nylon scraper. Use a pot or ice scraper. If you use something metal, you will scratch the surface or damage the burner.
Chips, anyone?
Is the enamel on your stove top chipped? Touch it up with a porcelain enamel patch/repair kit. Kits are available at most hardware stores. It is best to fix chips immediately, before the stove top has a chance to rust. Rust will shorten the life of your stove measurably.
The Pieces Parts
Every other month, clean the stove parts:
- Remove the burner pans. Wash them by hand or in the dishwasher (if they are dishwasher safe).
- Remove knobs (they usually pull straight off). Clean where the knob covered.
- Soak the knobs in hot, soapy water.
- Rinse and dry them before replacing.
- Do not run these through the dishwasher.
Many have either markings or padding which will not fare well in the dishwasher.
Beyond All Hope
Burner pans are designed to reflect heat upward to increase the efficiency of the stove. If yours are stained and grimy, you are costing yourself money (extra electricity or gas) and shortening your stove’s life.
Shine burner pans with a paste of cream of tartar and vinegar. If they will not shine, replace them with new pans from an appliance store who sells parts for your brand. A perfect fit, accomplished best when using the manufacturer’s replacement parts, will save you money on power and a new stove.
See, cleaning the stove is worth something!
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How old is your stove? Have you had to repair chips? What product did you use? Have you ever cleaned under the cooktop?
~~~~~~~~~~
(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2008-2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on Momma’s Money Matters is expressly forbidden.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red on December 3, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/clean-stove-save-money/
If I was on Death Row…
What would you order as a last meal?”
I really had to think about this one. Since I was not sure what I would answer (or if someone thought I should be on death row), rather than the tired I don’t know, I asked a few other people.
Disgusting, but True
The more novel answers I got were of combinations of favorite foods and well-thought-out meals:
- Tacos and Mac & Cheese
- Philly steak and Mac & Cheese
- Three Reubens, Crowder peas and strawberry short cake
- Baby back ribs, cole slaw and fries (Can you tell I was asking Americans?)
- Pastas, bread sticks, soup and pie
- Chocolate with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream covered in strawberries
- Pot roast, pan-seared veggies, NY style cheesecake
- Chinese buffet
Why In the World?
Being of curious nature, I simply could not leave this question to stand alone once I got the answers. You guessed it! Like a four-year-old, I asked, “Why?”
Because I like it.
The mixed-up, indigestion-causing Americans all told me the same thing: Favorite foods. The comfort of having something we really enjoy makes stomaching the tough times (understatement, another talent) easier.
Fill me up.
This answer struck me as odd. So, I asked a second time, “Why?” The second answer was no less strange, but explained much.
If my belly is full, I will want to take a nap. If I sleep, I do not have to face dying awake.”
Sweet Tooth
The reason behind this one was very simple: You end a meal with dessert. Why not end your life on a sweet note?
I have all day.
For the roast and veggies inmate, the reason was logical and shifty: I want something that’ll take a long time to cook. Maybe, I can squeeze out a few more hours with my kin folk before I die.
You know what they say?
You are going to be hungry again in an hour. Irony was not lost on this one. “I am going to be dead. How will I know I am hungry?”
Your Turn
If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal? Just as important…Why?
© Red Dwyer 2011
Reblogging of this or any other post on The M3 Blog is expressly forbidden.
Copyright, Cookies and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
Posted by Red of M3 on December 3, 2011
https://mommasmoneymatters.com/last-meal/
Compliments of The M3 Readers