HINTS FROM HELOISE

[Rhonda]

Coffee filters ..who knew?

And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.



COFFEE FILTERS: Not just for making coffee....

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.



2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.



3. Protect China Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.





4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.



5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.



6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.



7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.



8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.



9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.



10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.



11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.



12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.



13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, french fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.



14. Keep in the bathroom. They are great for "razor -nicks" !

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[Rhonda]

Top Ten Tips for Conserving Water at Home




Toro Irrigation Efficient watering and common sense saves this precious resource.
Experts estimate that Americans use nearly 408 billion gallons of water per day. On average, 50 to 70% of home water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.

That’s why the Irrigation Association has named July Smart Irrigation Month. The organization’s goal is to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation in the lawn and garden. According to IA, most homeowners are sending their watering dollars down the drain.

Technological advances in home watering systems are making it easier than ever to preserve this resource and save money at the same time. “Smart” watering systems, from computer-assisted programmers to inexpensive drip watering kits, are now available to homeowners.

Here are Toro’s top ten things you can do to conserve water right in your own backyard:

1. Put a layer of mulch around your plants. Mulching helps to retain moisture and prevents evaporation. A generous amount of 3- to 5-inches is best.


2 Install a drip irrigation system around your shrubs, hanging baskets, flower and vegetable gardens. Drip irrigation systems use 50% less water than conventional sprinklers. And, they’re more efficient because they deliver the water slowly and directly to the plant’s root system.


3. Install a home irrigation system with a rain sensor. Many states and local water districts now require rain sensors. Homeowners who have irrigation systems use less water on their lawns and gardens than those who don’t. Watering efficiently, and only when your plants and lawn need it can save a great deal of water. Rain sensors interrupt the watering program if it rains, saving even more water.



4 If you already have a home irrigation system, make sure you’re getting the most out of your timer. New technology makes it easier than ever to program and monitor your watering needs. Consider upgrading your timer. Automatic, programmable timers save more water than mechanical models.

5. Don’t fertilize during hot, dry weather. Applying fertilizer can actually enhance drought problems. When you do feed your lawn and garden use a slow release fertilizer.


6. Raise the blade on your lawn mower. Closely cropped grass requires more water.



7. Recycle your grass clippings back into your lawn by using a mulching mower. You’ll not only conserve water, you’ll save time while mowing.



8.Cut back on routine pruning. Pruning stimulates new growth, and new growth requires more water. Only prune your plants when it wilts or leaves die out.


9. .If you use a hose and portable sprinkler, buy a hose end timer to regulate your watering time.



10Sweep your sidewalks and driveway rather than hosing them down.
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[Rhonda]

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No More Sticky Rice

To prevent rice from sticking to the pot when it's cooking, spray the bottom with and sides with nonstick vegetable spray before you add water or rice.

[Rhonda]

Reusing Aluminum Foil and Plastic Bags

After you've used it, clean with a damp sponge and wipe from the center to the edge (this will flatten it). Let dry. Clean zipper bags with lots of soap and hot water, rinse well and dry before reusing.

[Rhonda]

Cheap Way to Make Room Smell Nice

Don't throw out perfume card samples from magazines or samples from stores. Instead put the card samples (or pour a tad of perfume onto a cotton ball, paper towel or tissue) and place into the bottom of a wastebasket.

[Rhonda]

Sugar Shaker

Pour granulated sugar into a salt shaker or recycled Parmesan cheese shaker. It will be so handy when you want to sprinkle sugar on pie crust tops, cereal or homemade donuts. You will have good control of how much you add.