Helpful tips for August 2016

www.sterlingcreations.com. Follow us on Twitter @accessibleworld +++++++++++++++ Helpful tips for August 2016 In this issue: General tips Articles of the day From the pages of Donna’s travel diary _________________________ General tips Courtesy of the research team at www.sterlingcreations.ca About your saliva: During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools. Something interesting about Polar bears: Polar bears can eat as many as 86 penguins in a single sitting. (If they lived in the same place) A tip about recycling: Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours. About sharks: Best to remain very still if encountered in the sea. Sharks react more violently if you make noise and splash around rather than you remaining as still as you can. Looking for ways to curtail your cat’s hunting adventures? Try placing a colar with a bell around their necks. This way, the birds will be able to hear them as they approach and then they will have enough time to escape. Some interesting info on bees: Who are their predators? They are eaten by ants and frogs. About snoring and dreaming: You cannot snore and dream at the same time. About toasters and ovens: A toaster uses almost half as much energy as a full-sized oven. About mangoes: They contain lots of vitamin C. About dogs in the sun: Dogs can get sun burnt on the tips of their noses, ears, and mouth. Also on their feet. _________________________ Articles of the day Chosen by the Business Desk team Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda Personal Care Make Toothpaste A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost. Freshen Your Mouth Put one teaspoon baking soda in half a glass of water, swish, spit and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up. Soak Oral Appliance Soak oral appliances, like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda. Use as a Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use. Skip Harsh Deodorant Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor. Use as an Antacid Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions. Treat Insect Bites & Itchy Skin For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower. Make a Hand Cleanser and Softener Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking soda to gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean. Help Your Hair Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly-baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable. Clean Brushes and Combs For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry. Make a Bath Soak Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration, and make your skin feel very soft. Soothe Your Feet Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub. Cleaning Make a Surface Soft Scrub For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks, even fiberglass and glossy tiles, sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra tough stains, make a paste with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap, let it sit then scour off. Hand-wash Dishes and Pots & Pans Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratchless scouring powder. Freshen Sponges Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). Clean the Microwave Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water. Polish Silver Flatware Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces. Clean Coffee and Tea Pots Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge. Clean the Oven Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with enough water that the baking soda is damp. Let set overnight, making sure the baking soda is damp before you go to bed. In the morning, simply scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum. Rinse. Clean Floors Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water, mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. Clean Furniture You can make a homemade lemon furniture polish, or you can clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. Clean Shower Curtains Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry. Boost Your Liquid Laundry Detergent Give your laundry a boost by adding ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Gently Clean Baby Clothes Baby skin requires the most gentle of cleansers, which are increasingly available, but odor and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle for deodorization. Clean Cloth Diapers Dissolve ½ cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers thoroughly. Clean and Freshen Sports Gear Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons Baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize, clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts Baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly. Remove Oil and Grease Stains Use Baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush. Clean Batteries Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery, they contain a strong acid. Clean Cars Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Deodorizing Deodorize Your Refrigerator Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors. Deodorize the Cutting Board Sprinkle the cutting board with baking soda, scrub, rinse. Deodorize Trashcans Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Deodorize Recyclables Sprinkle baking soda on top as you add to the container. Also, clean your recyclable container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Deodorize Drains To deodorize your sink and tub drains, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water, it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This is a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator. Deodorize and Clean Dishwashers Use Baking soda to deodo rize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle. Deodorize Garbage Disposals To deodorize your disposal, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. Baking Soda will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. Deodorize Lunch Boxes Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors. Remove Odor From Carpets Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight, or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) Remove Odor From Vacuum Cleaners By using the method above for carpets, you will also deodorize your vacuum cleaner. Freshen Closets Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh. Deodorizing Cars Odors settle into car upholstery and carpet, so each time you step in and sit down, they are released into the air all over again. Eliminate these odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda. Deodorize the Cat Box Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. You can also use green tea for this purpose! Deodorize Pet Bedding Eliminate odors from your pets bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up. Deodorize Sneakers Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing. Freshen Linens Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels. Deodorize Your Wash Gym clothes of other odoriferous clothing can be neutralized with a ½ cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle. Freshen Stuffed Animals Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off. Miscellaneous Camping Cure-all Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. Its a dish washer, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, fire extinguisher and many other uses. Extinguish Fires Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire, and call the Fire Department just to be safe. Septic Care Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. 1 cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank. Fruit and Vegetable Scrub Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. +++++++++++++++ How to Fix Every Common Zipper Problem How to Fix Every Common Zipper Problem Life Hacker: lifehacker.com/5975700/how-to-fix-every-common-zipper-problem Zippers haven’t changed much since they were first invented, and neither have the problems we all have with them. From stuck zippers to teeth that just won’t clinch, here’s how to fix all the problems you’ll run into with anything that zips. 1. The Zipper Is Stuck When your zipper is stuck it feels like it’s getting caught on something. The zipper might not come down at all, and until you fix it you’re stuck inside your jacket. The best way to fix this? Grab a graphite pencil and rub the pencil tip on the teeth. Try it again and it should work. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to move on to a lubricant. Windex is good because it’s not oil-based, but you can also use bar soap, or lip balm. Start with the zipper all the way up, and slowly apply the the lubricant to the teeth. Then inch the zipper down some more, reapply, and continue doing that until the zipper comes all the way down. This is especially handy to fix a zipper stuck in the fabric itself . 2. The Teeth Don’t Close (or They Keep Popping Open) One of the most annoying problems with a zipper is when the teeth won’t close. The problem comes from a few different reasons. Sometimes the above trick of using a pencil (or a bar of soap) will smooth out the teeth enough so they’ll work again. If that doesn’t work, the slider might not be working properly. First, double-check to make sure a piece of cloth or thread isn’t stuck in the zipper. Next, look at the individual teeth. If any of them are sticking out, grab a pair of pliers and move them back into place so they’re all straight. If the teeth are straight, and clean, take a look at the slider itself. Over time, the slider starts to come apart, and when that happens it stops clinching the zipper teeth together. Grab some pliers and try closing the slider together until it catches the teeth again. As for jeans, the solution is a little more complicated. If you can, you need to remove the metal bumper at the bottom and replace it with a stitches , or just tie it off in the middle if teeth are missing at the bottom. Unfortunately, this only really works with pants where you can actually get to the bottom bumper. If that fails, or you’re working with pants where you can’t get to the entire zipper run, you might need to replace the zipper completely . While you can do it yourself with some pliers, scissors, and thread, replacing the zipper on a pair of pants is only around $5-$10 at most tailors. 3. The Zipper Won’t Stay Up A common problem with pants zippers is a zipper that won’t stay up. This can lead to all types of embarrassing situations. Unfortunately, you can’t really fix this problem permanently unless you completely replace the zipper. That said, you have two simple temporary fixes. The easiest is to slide a key ring through the zipper pull and over your pants button . This keeps the zipper up in a simple way. If you’d prefer a little more flexibility, you can also try a rubber band. The Slider Broke Off If the slider comes off completely, or if you need to replace the slider because it’s not closing the teeth right, then you need to replace the slider. To get the slider off, use some pliers to cut it off. Once that’s done, reattach the new zipper slider by sliding it back onto the teeth. That’s it, you’re done. Replacing the slider is usually pretty simple, and should take only a couple minutes of time. 4. The Zipper Pull Broke Off When the pull breaks off a zipper it makes it incredibly hard to zip the zipper up. The good news is that this is pretty much the easiest fix out there. You can turn a paperclip, a keyring, or even a telephone wire connector into a zipper pull. Just slide it through the tab on the slider and you have a new zipper pull. Sure, it’s not exactly the most stylish solution, but at least you’ll be able to get in and out of your clothes. 12/18/13 +++++++++++++++ Did you know; 50 Uses For Vinegar 1. Kill grass on walks and driveways. 2. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved 3. Increase soil acidity. In hard water: one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrons, gardenias, or azaleas. 4. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other places where ants are known. 5. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength. 6. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on. 8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears. Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar. 9. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Put a little in their drinking water. 10. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar over night. 11. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar. 12. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to water before boiling eggs. Keeps them from cracking. 13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching. 14. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply. 15. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo. 16. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water. 17. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. 18. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow. 19. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer. 20. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling. 21. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water. 22. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing. 23. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar. 24. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar. 25. Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water. 26. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime. 27. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night. 28. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. 29. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water. 30. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through. 31. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty. 32. Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware. 33. Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth. 34. Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry. 35. Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away. 36. Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize. 37. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar. 38. Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution. 39. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron’s water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water. 40. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains. 41. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. 42. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing. 43. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue. 44. Brighten fabric colors. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. 45. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot. 46. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual. 47. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam. 48. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off. 49. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar. 50. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to flower water. _________________________ From the pages of Donna’s travel diary All about Grenada Ah yes! Grenada! Often referred to as the Isle of Spice! A tiny island in the Caribbean that is part of the Windward Islands group. Grenada is tiny but its friendly folks are always willing and ready to welcome you! In 1983 Grenada found itself the center of attention on the world’s stage as it was invaded by the United States in an attempt to save it from the clutches of Cuba and since then its people have worked hard to rebuild and move forward. Grenada enjoys all year round sunny weather. Its beaches are covered in clean light colored sand and its sea is almost of a jade green color. Grenada is rather hilly in terrain but there is easy access to transportation. Access for blind and partially sighted visitors is steadily improving and people are always willing to help in any way that they could. The island accepts Eastern Caribbean currency but you can also pay with U.S dollars. Grenada is the typical Caribbean getaway. With great beaches for relaxing, terrific sea bathing, hotels that offer you delicious Caribbean cuisine, and shopping that continues to be enriched with lots of familiar fashions and styles. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to visit then why not Grenada? I’m Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels. To learn more about me, visit jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author/ On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go! In the car, on the plane, on the bus or train, at the beach, anywhere! Affordable, portable, (computer or i device) and you could either purchase or Subscribe for unlimited access to my library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html and you can now take advantage of our free downloads here. Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan And like me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan ]]>