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Pots and Pans with Problems

If you have ever left something on the stove a bit too long and burned what it was you were cooking, then you know the frustration of getting it cleaned.  There’s always that black, thick, crusted “stuff” at the bottom of the pan.  You can try soaking it or cooking it off, but sometimes that just leads to more work and scrubbing than you want to do on a Sunday afternoon.  We are not professional chefs, and we do make mistakes, and that is why there is Sokoff.  It is specially designed to get that black burnt mess off of your pots and pans.  It also cleans them, and shines them better than any other product on the market.  Just brush on, let it soak, and rinse the burnt on grease right off. Trust me, you will truly be amazed by Sokoff!

As always, Art.

Garbage Disposal Clean-up

First of all its really dangerous to try to clean a garbage disposal without the proper tools.  The last thing you need to do is put your hand into your drain where that disposal unit is lurking.  Granted, no damage can be done without the switch being flipped, but I’m not willing to take any chances.  Hospital trips are just no fun at all.

Here are some proper tools.  On the left you have tablets that dissolve grime and buildup with a scientifically designed set of ingredients that kill bacteria and odor with a lemon scent.  On the right you have a specially made brush just for garbage disposals.  When used in conjunction you’re drain will be just like new in no time.

As always, Art.

How To Expand Storage Space Easily

If you have limited space already, or just need some more, there are more ways to gain extra space without building an addition to your home.  You can easily go out and purchase an extra stand alone cupboard or a shelving unit, but that just adds to the sometimes already cluttered areas that you are trying to clean up in the first place.  Need a good solution?
Try the Under Shelf Storage Basket

It adds enough space in your pantry if you need, and still looks nice enough to put out in the open. These attach very easily and work great.

As always, Art.

T Shirt Troubles

Well, I ruined my iron. I was trying to iron on a transfer. I did not realize that you are not supposed to use the steam option. And, as I have mentioned before, ironing is not my thing. I did not know until I went to make another t shirt that my iron had all this dry gunk on it (from the transfer). So, in my quest to actually make a shirt correctly this time, I used the Electric Dry Iron. No water needed! So there you have it – another use for a great product. Making t shirts is now easy and fun. It’s affordable too – you can buy tshirts at craft shops and then just make a transfer and copy it on special transfer paper (for a one-of-a-kind t shirt) or buy transfers and iron them on.

Until next time.. Ann

P.S. Here are two sites – one with free transfers and another one with advice on how to make transfers.

Freezer Follies

I have a really old fridge, but I don’t want to replace it because I have custom made chalkboard panels on it. Unfortunately, the fridge is not very efficient, the lights inside don’t work and the freezer is filling with ice. Granted, the ice buildup is my fault for being sloppy when I put my ice cube tray inside. And, it does not have an ice cube dispenser on the outside. Nevertheless, I am trying to hold onto it as long as I can because the chalkboard panels cost almost as much as a new fridge would. So, this weekend I plan to try Frost Free defroster spray. It seems simple enough – just spray and the ice turns to liquid. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Until next time… Ann

(This isn’t my fridge, but this is what it looks like)

Stains, Laundry, and the Great Outdoors

If you have children then this blog post is most definitely for you.  Even if you don’t, you may want to listen up.  This is not groundbreaking news by any means, its just one of those truths that come up year after year, Spring after Spring.

Spring means wet grounds, fresh grass, and plenty of mud.  Your kids are somehow incredible magnets towards this and end up with the most heinous stains on their clothes that you have ever seen.  The Spring and Summer gear you took out for them gets inevitably ruined before the season really starts.  This also goes for your typical gardener (professional or amateur) and your general lawn tinkerer.  

For stains you may want to try:

  And after the laundry, if you would like to save on electric costs and get that fresh out door scent, you may want to check out:

There is something to be said of having that scent of fresh air to your clothes. If you live in the northern half of the U.S. then this is a very big treat.  It’s just another reason for looking forward to better weather, and a safe and happy summer.

As always, Art.

P.S.  I found this article written by Jenna Russel of the Boston Globe. In short, it’s about communities that do not allow you to hang your clothes outside to dry and legislation that may take place.  Click here if you would like to read it! 

Colorful Clips Organize Everything

So, have you done your taxes yet? I found the perfect way to organize all my receipts, etc. I use Everything Clips. They hold more than paper clips and their bright colors make it easy to separate paperwork by category (donations, interest income, etc.). These clips are also great for use in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, that is their primary use, but I like to think outside the box.

Tax time is less than a month away so don’t delay.

Until next time… Ann

“I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is—I could be just as proud for half the money.” – Arthur Godfrey

Pantry Pests Could Be A Problem

For the most part, we usually check the fridge first to see what has spoiled.  We look into the crisper drawer and find that half bag of mixed greens that was pushed to the back and has remained hidden since New Years Day.  That goes for old leftovers, fruits, vegetables, and other long forgotten items that you need a treasure map to find.

We often times forget to look into the pantry for spoiled food.  Flour actually has an expiration date, and cereal, if not stored in proper containers, tends to go bad after just a few weeks.  This blog is not just about expiration dates.  We can sometimes find pests in our pantry.  They find their way into old food, or can ruin packages that have not been sealed properly.
According to the National Pest Management Association the most common type of pantry pests are Indian Meal Moths.  These insects do not carry diseases and are not particularly harmful to your home.  They are, however, a gigantic nuisance.  They spend their time in your pantry laying up to 200 eggs per week.  If they can go undisturbed for another week, you may have a few hundred meal moths flying around your house.

If this has already happened to you, or you would like to prevent it, you may want to try a environmentally safe pest trap.  They are safe to use around food, pets, and children.  Click here to learn more. 

As always, Art.

Amazing Savings Going Fast

There are so many different products available and so many different websites offering them, that it seems impossible to find out where the best deals are.  Its also hard to find sites that updates them as frequently as the company itself finds them.  Savings on needed items is a benefit that we rarely think of.  If every time we found a good deal on things we need and we took the money we saved and put it into a college fund for our kids, a retirement fund for ourselves, or a general savings, I think we would be shocked to find how much we’ve saved over the years, and how much return we could yield in a short time.

Start saving now! 

Click here to see the entire clearance section at always-free-shipping.com.

As always, Art.

Ever-Fresh Fruit & Vegtable Green Bags

 Years ago, before leaving for a long weekend to Niagara Falls,, I forgot to store our fruit bowl in the fridge; Granny Smith Apples, Chiquita Bananas, and fresh Florida Oranges.  Guess what we came home to??? Rotten, mushy fruit! The apples were too far gone to make my classic apple pie recipe and the bananas for too ripe for banana bread.

My kids found it first, and made a sign for the bowl, saying “Janet’s Fruit

Stand”. Well, as you can imagine, I’ve been mindful ever since. Thanks to the
recent As Seen on TV commercials, I discovered hard-to-find Green Bags, and
they have been a life saver! No joke, these reusable eco-fresh bags have
solved my problem of having fruit, lettuce and other veggies ripen long
before I can eat them up! When I come home from the regional farmer’s market, most of
the fruit and veggies go right into Green Bags. Believe it or not, they last
2-4 weeks longer than they used to.

Now that my kids are grown and on their own, I bought some for them as
well…. It’s pay-back time!