Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Momedies

Today I'm serving up some of my tried-and-true tips... Some are home remedies, some are baby/kid remedies, ALL are mom-tested and approved!




LEMONS

 They have so many uses and a bag usually costs $2-$3!

On Sundays, after I separate our bulk chicken packs into meal portions, I use 1/2 of a lemon to clean my garbage disposal. Here's how:

Clean your sink (with dish washing liquid and your disinfecting cleaner of choice).  When all of the cleaning suds have rinsed away, cut 1/2 of a lemon into fourths.  Turn on the hot water and, with a strong flow, let the water run directly into the drain for 30 seconds.  Drop in your lemon pieces.  Move the faucet so it is no longer running into the drain and turn it down to a pencil-sized trickle.  Run the disposal for 15 - 25 seconds or until the lemons are no longer rattling around. VOILA! Bend down and smell the freshness!  I do this every Sunday and whenever a bad smell creeps up!  Set the other lemon half aside for the following week OR use it to repel summer insects!  Wet a rag with warm water and simply wipe down window sills and under doors to keep annoying bugs away; they HATE the scent!

Lemons are also great for cleaning the microwave!  Combine 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and a cup of water in a bowl.  Microwave for 5 minutes. Like a miracle, it softens any dried food stains (from when your husband refuses to use the plate cover) and you (or aforementioned trifling husband) can EASILY wipe them all away!

Lemons cure hiccups!  As a first time mom, I took Zion to one her first check-ups and HAD to report I felt her hiccups were hurting her.  Her doctor advised the sure way to stop hiccups is 2-3 drops of lemon juice! Simply take a spoon, add the drops and give them to baby... You might get some unhappy facials but the hiccups will go away instantly.  To date, when Zion has a bad case of hiccups, I give her a teaspoon of lemon juice and it still works!

I love the scent of lemons and since my friend, Sheena, told me about the NEW Lemon Pine Sol... I have been in smell good heaven.  I follow her recommendation and dab a wet rag with the Pine Sol and wipe EVERYTHING down (after I bleach) for a fresh scent.  It is AWESOME!

Anyhoo, while we're on the subject of fruit, here's what I do with old fruit:

Stove top Air Freshener


Bad oranges and mealy apples *bleh* NOTHING WORSE!!  It's so funny how FRUIT snacks can't last a minute in our house because Hubbs eats them more than Munchface but most FRUIT can't seem to be finished. So, when my fruit starts to go bad, I simmer them in a pot (on low) and add a cinnamon stick (or 2) for a homemade air freshener. The next time your fruit gets too old to eat, cut it up, simmer it with some cinnamon (or vanilla) and enjoy!

Apples + Cinnamon = Apple Pie scent
Apples + Cinnamon + Oranges = Apple Cider scent

Quick and Easy Febreze

I heart Febreze! Have I told you how often my husband goes to the gym? UGH. Let's just say, he has shoes that stay outside because they are just THAT bad.  When I spray the man cave carpets, gym shoes and our closets, I use my homemade Febreze recipe:

Ingredients
Empty Febreze (or any spray) bottle
3 tablespoons of laundry detergent (Shh! I eyeball it)

Pour detergent into spray bottle and fill 3/4 of the way with warm water.  Shake for 30-45 seconds. Ensure the detergent has blended (sometimes it settles at the bottom and requires additional shaking) and spray!

Hair Staple


I have fallen in love with 100% Aloe Vera gel.  It offers amazing frizz control that really lasts and it doesn't flake or leave my hair crunchy and dry. It is sold in the sunscreen/skin care section, costs MUCH less than most natural hair products and have I mentioned I love it?! This site offers some amazing ideas for aloe hair use.




Well, that's all for now... Although, I might have to make this a series because I feel like random momedies might pop in my head.  Give these a try and be sure to let me know how it goes!


What are your Momedies?

Feel free to share, I LOVE COMMENTS :)



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4 comments

  1. Great post. I never knew it cleaned the microwave.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ok so, I think you need to call this "FREMEDIES" because I have STOLEN these and have included them in my cleaning ritual for the past year! YES, you are the one who inspired me to use lemons or anything citrus-y in the garbage disposal and to create a smell-good air freshener using old fruit with cinnamon. THEY ARE TRIED AND TRUE! THEY WORK!!! Thanks for the tips, woo hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been using aloe vera gel on my curls for years and it doesn't make your curls hard. Also Dr Oz says never put your apples with other fruits because they will make the other fruits go bad faster. :-)

    Krystal White

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShoeHOTLINE: YES, works wonders for those TRIFLING hubby stains I get, LOL!

    Danithedreamgirl.com: You're welcome! Thanks for the alcohol on the scalp tip when I don't feel like washing my hair... can't wait to try it out.

    Krystal: I never knew other fruit shortens the "life" of apples... OMG. You mean while I love the LOOK of my oranges and apples in a bowl, their mealy tendencies are MY fault. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete

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