Today's Secret's - 18-03-14 - DIY save and no waste - tips and hints

If you make a hole too big for a wall plug don't panic or go out and buy bigger ones just fill the hole with matchsticks until the plug fits.

If a round headed screw head is damaged use a metal file to make a new slot for your screwdriver.

Saw not gliding smoothly? Use candle wax to get it running well again, if a screw or nail needs lubrication run it through your hair.

Make your own sanding blocks with glue sand paper and any thing square and hard that you might want to chuck away.

Tongue and groove is expensive, cut some grooves into hard board and paint it. No one will know the difference.

No dustpan or don't want to use it to clean up a DIY project? Use some newspaper and wet the edge, brush the dust into it and then just roll it up and throw away.

Always measure twice and cut once, you will waste less.

Try to have the right tools, borrow them, try boot fairs or look on second hand sites to get a bargain.

Want a lovely colour of paint but it costs a fortune? Buy a small pot of the paint and then mix it well into a large pot of white paint. The colour you will get will be slightly lighter but will be close to the colour you wanted.

Have a small area left but you have run out of wallpaper? Go back to the store and ask for a sample of the wall paper you are using, most stores will let you take quite a large piece. Take enough to finish the area.

Keep old paint and paint over any stubborn dirt marks.

Stir vanilla essence into paint to help with the smell.

Paint brushes hard? Boil some vinegar and dip them into it for a few minutes.

Wall paper edge coming away? Use some egg white, paint it on the wallpaper then let it go sticky, now re-stick without paying out for paste.

Salt water will clean a paste brush and stop it going hard.

Bicarbonate of soda in warm water will strip the wall paper quicker.

Lastly, try to have fun when decorating, put on music, order a pizza and laugh at any problems. It will all be much less stressful.

Today's Secret's - Buying second hand or antiques repair and tips to save you money

An obvious one first - If a piece of furniture has little holes in it, it could mean woodworm. If you buy it anyway you may need to get it treated (May is best for this to get the larvae) and quickly as woodworm can spread. It may also reduce the value of the item.

If you want to get an antique look to a piece of furniture mix furniture varnish with soot and rub it in.

Scratches and rings in tables can be removed by using half a walnut rubbed over the scratch or use petroleum jelly on it and leave for 24 hours before buffing in.

To remove ink stains by soaking a piece of cotton in water and placing it on the stain, leave overnight and it will draw it out.

Use crayons of the same colour to fill in scratches or cracks in wood.


Check if handles are original by looking inside the draws to see if there is any extra holes or how new the screws look. Clean Brass handles with lemon juice.

Fabric cleaner with water will clean a gilded plate if left to soak.

Pottery cracks can be filled by heating it slowly to 110 c this opens the crack so you can put in some glue and then let it dry and the crack will seal up.
For hairline cracks boil it in a pan of milk for half an hour and the crack should disappear.

Sniff silver as it has a stronger smell than plate. Learn the difference and you can never be fooled.
To read a hall mark better, breath on it as it will make it stand out or burn a bit of paper and let the soot settle on the hall mark, use tape over it to remove the soot and then place the tape on white paper to see the mark.
To polish silver use your fingers.

Brown sauce can clean brass if you leave it over night.

Brown marks on books can be removed with breadcrumbs.

Almond oil can work a treat on tortoise shell and Ivory.

Remove scratches from your watch face with metal polish.

Denture cleaning tablets popped into a long necked vase will clean it up.

To clean an oil painting just spit on cotton and rub gently, surface dirt can be removed with a piece of bread. Check a small area first as with all these tips.

Real silk will stick to a brick wall. Try it.
Think a designer label may be fake? Check the stitching is even and the lining is of good quality as both will be perfect in an original.

If you attend a car boot sale then get there early as bargains go first.
Never pass up a charity shop some can surprise you.
Try places/sales in early spring as that's when people have a good clear out.
Haggle - it is part of the fun and the only way to get a bargain, if you don't ask you won't get.

Have fun and good luck.

Today's Secret's - 12/03/14 - Gardening tips to save you time and money.

First tip - if you are growing carrots or leeks etc, use old toilet roll tubes to sew your seeds into. Then thin them out. Plant the seedlings you are keeping into the ground inside the tubes. This makes them grow stronger, bigger and straighter. It also keeps them protected from frost and some underground critters.

Plant seeds in a bit of old guttering they are easy to slide off the end for replanting.
Teabags make great seed starters.

The best place to store seeds is in the fridge.

Reflect light with tin foil if your plants don't get much.

Collect seeds from flowers then dry them out and store them, cheaper than buying them.

Swap cuttings and seeds with other gardeners. If you must buy plants do so in the spring as you can get a good idea of the health of the plant. Try not to buy a plant that has moss or weeds in the pot, this could mean it has been in the pot too long.

Save water by putting potted plants under hanging baskets to catch any overspill.

Brush water off your hedge before cutting as a wet hedge is harder to cut.

a potato peeler is great for digging up weeds from the lawn. Blast weeds with Gin and detergent to kill them off.

Use a cut up plastic drink bottle as a mini greenhouse over your pots.

Keep cats and birds away from new seeds with a snake! Use a length of hose pipe that looks snake like and wind it between your seeds.

Pepper and citrus also works well at keeping cats away.

Half a grapefruit left upside (skin side up) down makes a great slug trap. Deter them with crushed egg shells scattered around your plants.

Ok I think this is another one that will need a part two. lol. So many tips but so little time. Keep coming back to read more another day. :)

Today's Secret's - Baking a cake - yum - tips to save you time and money

For a crunchy topping to fruit pies and crumbles, save all the left over bits from cereal and sprinkle on top before baking.

Apple in brown sugar will stop it clumping or going hard.

Add one tablespoon per egg to make meringue stretch further.

Make your own piping bag out of foil.

To bring out the taste of chocolate in a cake add a few granules of coffee.

Save time and dough when baking biscuits. Roll them into a long sausage shape and then cut into disc's. To bake cookies for free, put them on a baking tray in your car on the dashboard. If the day is very hot (Over 25 degrees) the cookies will bake in about an hour.

Make sure cutters are totally dry after use or else they can go rusty. Put them in the oven as it is cooling to dry them out after washing.

Reuse a cake board, turn it over or cover it in foil.

Spread a little butter on the underside of your cake pieces before you sandwich them together, you can then add less jam as the cake will not absorb it.

Butter cream will keep for two or three weeks in a covered container in the fridge.

To make cakes extra light and fluffy whisk the egg whites before adding and add a spoon of warm water to the mixture just before baking.

There are so many tips that I might have to do a part two of this. Lastly if you use olive oil rubbed around your cake tin instead of butter your cake will be less likely to stick.

To stop cake mixture from sticking to the spoon and wasting it, coat the spoon in milk before use.

Today's Secret's - Bread - the daily staple - Tips on how to save

Bread. We all use it and even those with allergies demand a version of it they can eat. Where would we be without bread?

I think bread costs a ridiculous amount these days. I usually buy the shops own brand BUT I buy the thick sliced. It seems the thin sliced is just too thin and the thick sliced is not cut as thickly as branded bread. No idea why but examine a loaf next time you are shopping and see what you think.

Fussy kids? Use a round pizza cutting wheel to cut the crusts off bread. Less mess and you waste less of the bread. Don't waste those crusts save them in a bag in the freezer and once you have quite a few blend them into breadcrumbs and put onto a pie or over fish/chicken.

Making bulk sandwiches for a picnic or party? Use a stick of cheap butter in a bowl with some milk and then melt together in the microwave for a few seconds the mixture will spread well and last for ages.

If there is a deal on at the supermarket then freeze any extra loafs they actually defrost well and seem to last for a quite a few days. This is also a good idea if you buy a cheap loaf that it about to go out of date. Freeze it with a bit of waxed paper between slices and then just remove what you need and defrost it or toast it, frozen bread toasts up lovely.

You can bake your own bread. It is not complicated and you do not need a fancy bread maker. This is one of many sites with easy bread making recipes -
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10121/bread-in-four-easy-steps
Copy and paste it into your browser. Yummy bread. Remember to add honey as it keeps the bread moist. Oil added to the bread when baking will make it stay fresh longer.

Flour compacts when settled so fluff it out before measuring to make sure you get the correct amount and that you don't waste any. Flour kept in the freezer will last longer.

To prevent bread from drying out when baking put a cake tin over the top.

Old stale bread? Brush olive oil over the top wrap it in tin foil and bake for a few minutes on a low heat to refresh it. Or plunge it in cold water before baking for about 10 minutes in a warm oven.

If you have a really old bit of bread still don't throw it out. Use as breadcrumbs (see above) or if you are making a stew/soup run the bread over the top before serving to remove extra fat/grease and salt from the dish.

Today's Secret's. 09/03/04 - Camera tips and tricks to save you time and money.

Can I firstly say that unless you are a professional or photography is a keen hobby for you then it is probably not worth spending out lots of money on a fancy camera when so many mobile phones have excellent camera's on them.
If you really want a camera then look for used or refurbished stuff.
Buy the same make as a friend then you can swap lenses and kit as you need it.

Renting can be good if you only need it for a short time and you can not find someone to lend you one.

If you do buy a camera or get given one here are a few tips.

Warm batteries in your hand or armpit before use as this will extend their life.

Always let rechargeable batteries discharge fully this will make them charge up better.

To save your batteries life don't keep zooming in and out, go closer to the object if you need a closer view, it will be steadier shot anyway.

A ski pole/stick upside down can make a great monopod if you don't have a tripod. You can always lean on a wall or fence to get a more stable shot. Think about sound if you are using a camcorder if you are 20 feet away from your subject so is your microphone.

Use cling film to protect your camera from moisture or sand.

Dropped the camera in water? Stop screaming and try an old trick, buy a bag of rice and put the camera deep inside leave it for a few days so the rice can absorb the water. Then try it, this can also work for a mobile or anything electrical.

Use old style film? keep an eye on freecycle and in charity shops as they will sell off old film cheaply.

Use black tape instead of a lens hood as this will stop extra light just as well.

Create a soft edge with see through tape placed around the edge of your lens or put cling film over it.

If you don't have enough light then use someone with a white shirt to bounce the light off them.

Getting your pictures developed? Look around for a good deal, you may find a photobook is a good idea, you can get quite a few pictures on a page if you customise it carefully and it saves on the cost of albums it also saves you time trying to put them all in a book and jotting down where each one was taken as you can type in comments as you make the book.

Try to do more pictures in one go as they are usually a better deal.

For a lovely gift make a collage of pictures from someone's life and glue them around a shoe box and cover it's lid as well. Varnish the outside of the box and line with some material. It makes a lovely keepsake.

Lastly, have fun and to make people smile when taking their picture don't say cheese say "Blow a raspberry!" or "Touch your nose with your tongue" They will try and then laugh at themselves which will make a lovely natural picture.

Today's Secret's - 08/03/14 - Nails - Save money and make varnish last longer.

Important thing first - practise using your none dominant hand as you will need it to be able to paint both of your hands, alternatively make a pact with a good friend you can trust. They paint yours and you paint theirs.

Buy stencils and other aids or make them using masking tape. This is especially good for white tips.

Strengthen nails by rubbing a little oil into your cuticles every day, paint them with clear varnish to stop them splitting as they grow this also helps when filing. (always file in the same direction, don't saw at your nail)

Use felt pens for designs on top of a thick base coat, they are easier to use than paints and you can seal them if you are careful with clear nail varnish. Only paint the top coat on in one direction to stop the pattern being ruined.

To remove yellow tinges from your nails dip them in lemon juice. If you smoke try a little toothpaste scrubbed in. Remove ink with vinegar and salt or use nail varnish remover with acetone to get off tip-ex and glue.

A tip to save money, save the lint from your dryer and use it as cotton wool for removing varnish.

Avoid bubbles in varnish by never shaking it, roll it upside down between your palms.

Stop the top from sticking on the bottle by rubbing petroleum jelly around the tops before putting the lid on. If one is stuck try tapping it gently to loosen it or run it under hot water. If it is really stuck a little nail varnish remover dripped into the grove between bottle and lid can often help.

If nail varnish gets thick and clumpy drop a tiny bit of nail varnish remover into it and stir well. Try it and repeat if it not smooth enough yet.

Make short nails look longer by not painting to the edges and use a metallic varnish to help create the illusion of length.

Colour tips first, then apply as usual and varnish will last longer on the nail.

Keep varnish in the fridge and it will stay runny and fresh longer.

Use lollipop sticks to push back cuticles and scrape nails clean.

Save money and make a great hand cream with a mix of olive oil, Vaseline and a little lavender (or a smell you like) oil. Use sparingly.

Nail fungus can be treated with tea tree oil, avoid it by using antibacterial spray on your files and never sharing with a friend.

Olive oil and salt make a great exfoliator, massage in well and then rinse with warm water.

Metal nail files last a very long time and can be refreshed with a little rub with sand paper. It may be illegal to carry a metal nail file (check the length etc with your local police website) but I can say that one of my friends will not leave home without hers as it makes her feel a little safer walking home in the dark. Those suckers can be sharp and if you ever were attacked (I hope you never are) and happened to have one that you just happened to be holding then go for the eyes! lol.

Today's Secret's - 7/03/14 - Make-up make it last longer and get better effects

I have mostly focused on ladies make-up but I know some guys like a little bit of extra glow so feel free to read on, some tips can be used both sides of the fence!

Press some translucent powder over foundation or fake tan to keep it in place and stop it looking so artificial.

Mix face cream with your foundation to stop it looking too dark and to get a two in one effect that you can apply quickly. (it also makes both last longer)
You can also do this with sun tan lotion.

Mix and match to find your own style and colour.

Your compact powder will last longer if you store your sponge or powder puff upside down as the oil from your skin can make the powder break up and dissolve.

Use a lip pencil in a natural shade to outline lips and fill them in, this gives a great base before putting on lippy. Try a little powder before applying to really keep it in place.

I am not sure if I would recommend it but my friend once used non toxic felt tips as make up. She applied black to her eyes (carefully) and used a dark pink as a lip liner and filler with a little gloss over the top. It did look ok and it was an emergency at a hotel where she had forgotten her make-up bag but be careful if you have sensitive eyes or skin.

To mend a broken lipstick, melt the edges with a match and press them together then smooth gently with your finger then put it in the fridge for a few hours.

You can chill eye and lip pencils in the fridge to really make them precise.
No eye liner? Dip a brush in water and rub it on a dark eye shadow then apply under your eyes.
Mascara too runny? Leave the lid off over night to dry it out a little.

Vaseline, baby oil or cold milk works as a make up remover.

To give your face a boost add some honey to some oats or some cucumber mashed up with yoghurt and smear on then leave for half an hour and remove.

Put on toner using wet cotton wool as the dry stuff will soak up all the toner and waste it. Put on cleaner with clean fingers and then rinse off.

Open your pores with a five minute steam session over a bowl of hot water and then wash your face well.

Get rid of blackheads with lemon juice dabbed on and left over night, wash off in the morning and repeat the next night.

Add sugar to your soap/face wash to get a good scrub and remove dead skin and blackheads.

Go for a free consultation at a make up counter (you do not have to buy any products at the end) Just go for the advice and a bit of pampering. I suggest going to a few different places and see what advice matches so that you can get an idea of what actually suits you and what the assistant is just trying to sell you. Be strong and thank the assistant but be firm that you will not be buying anything today you can say you want to come back with a friend/mum/husband for a second opinion.

Today's secret's - 06/03/14 - Speaking well saves you money - tips and hints.

It is no secret that people are judgemental.

Sad but true.

If you speak correctly it opens more doors and people will listen.
Rightly or wrongly if you are confident and conversational in the way you speak you will find it easier to haggle for a bargain and to get people to agree with you.
If people can't understand you or don't take you seriously you will not get their cooperation.

Learn the correct words for things and the correct way to say words or else you may come across as unintelligent and lose the respect of the person you are trying to get to listen to you.

Make eye contact and be friendly, know your facts. Why should you get a discount? is the item cheaper elsewhere? does the item have a mark or smudge?

Don't be afraid to ask for a deal if you are buying a lot of something. Ask about store discounts or loyalty schemes.

Don't be rude always be polite and nice to the person. Be ready to walk away if you can not get a discount try this with mobile phone contracts and holidays.

Most services can offer something to keep you but be ready to have your bluff called if you are saying give me a discount or I am going to your competitor they may say bye then!!
Be a great customer so that they do not want to lose you. Pay your bills on time and don't be a problem customer or they may just be glad for you to go elsewhere.

To help you annunciate your words try a few tongue twisters (She sells sea shells on the sea shore) practise them and work on your pronunciation.
Record yourself and listen hard to your voice, practise breathing before you speak and then breathing between sentences. Keep your pace steady and your voice at an appropriate level.
Practise moving your lips and mouth, exaggerate the natural movements and see how that effects your speech.

The sounds m,v and f get lost in speech so try to make them active sounds. Stretch your mouth and practise the vowel sounds.

If you have difficulty with certain words whisper them to yourself a few times and then try again. It can often help.

Don't waste money on voice coaches or public speaking teachers just have confidence in your ability.

If you are required to speak in public for any event remember to speak clearly and not to rush. Try to have a guide line of what you want to say written down but don't read it out word for word or it sounds mechanical. Use your natural flare, be animated, enjoy what you are saying and use the tone and pitch of your voice to emphasise the important points.
Use your arms and hands more, be a bit of a caricature of yourself and move around a little if you can.
If you make a mistake just laugh it off and move on, don't dwell on it or you will begin to stumble over other words.
Breath and relax, if you have the time before a hard conversation, meeting or speech do a few stretches, your neck, back and shoulders need a good stretch and you need to stand up straight to keep your lung capacity at it's best.

Today's Secret's - 05/03/14 - Hair - Save money and how to get the best out of your style.

Shop around for a cheap place to get your hair cut or find a home hairdresser as they are often cheaper. Be careful of places that offer one price for everything as you can often find they have hidden add ons.
Dress how you usually dress when going to the hairdressers and be honest about how long you normally take to style it as this will help the hairdresser to assess you and make the style really fit you and your life. If you don't usually blow dry your hair then ask the hairdresser not to blow dry it either as then you will see how it really looks straight away and can call the hairdresser if once it is dry you hate it. A good hairdresser will have you back for free to sort out any mistakes they have made and to keep you happy.

Pick a style you like and that will suit you, ask your hairdresser and listen to their advice. If your hair is thinning have a short layered style to give it body. Thicker hair can be thinned out for the summer so you won't get so hot.

Always think of maintenance when choosing a style or colour. Blonde needs lots of care and watch out for green tinges when you go swimming (tomato ketchup will remove this), any colour will need retouches and the roots doing regularly.  

Practise dyeing your own hair but never do it just before going out or just before a big event like a holiday. Give it a week to settle or a bit of time to actually re-dye it if it needs it. Get dye stains off your skin with a little milk.
If you use a henna dye then enhance it with coffee, red wine or tea depending on the colour intensity you want.
If you home dye then don't fall into some of the home dye traps. Going Blonde? use a good quality bleach and don't panic when you see the many colours your hair will go on the way to white. If you want it really white with no yellow then wait a while and redo the bleach. Make sure you condition well afterwards. Brown? to stop the green tinge add some red to your hair first with some wash out colour or mousse.

Buy a cheap two in one shampoo and a small bottle of branded shampoo. Then when washing your hair in the shower use a good amount of the two in one with a tiny dollop of the expensive stuff. Rub it in well and use any suds to clean the rest of you. Wash out and you will have lovely clean conditioned hair and a clean body without the need to buy conditioner or body wash.
Don't buy expensive dandruff shampoo just add some olive oil to your conditioner. If you need a more intensive dandruff solution then dry thyme and sage in warm water as a final rinse or nettle heads soaked in boiling water (sieve both solutions before use) then use as a above.

When washing your hair don't pile it up on your head as it will tangle, wash it loose and leave it to dry long.

Hair is more fragile when wet so use a wide tooth comb to brush it.

A good repair for your hair and to stop it being brittle use two eggs mixed with an egg cup full of olive oil. Rub it into dry hair and then wash off thoroughly or try the same with a large amount of mayonnaise.
Use corn oil rubbed into the end of your hair to help with split ends. Rub it in gently, leave for a few minutes and then wash out. Pure bristle brushes can reduce split ends.

Add vinegar to your conditioner (only a teaspoon) to make your hair shine.

If you run out of hair conditioner you can use fabric conditioner instead but only use a little bit.

Petroleum jelly makes a good styling product. Pale ale makes a great setting lotion. Use egg white or sugar water to get a really firm hold but watch out for bees. lol

When cutting children's hair at home give them a blank drawing of a face and let them put the cutting around the face as you cut so they are distracted. You could always try cutting the stray bits while they sleep or are watching TV, a fish tank, etc to keep them from getting upset.

Today's secret's - 04/03/14 - Fish for eating - save money and get the best.

Fish. Maybe an odd choice but there can be some real bargains to be had.

Did you know you can buy a salmon carcass from a fishmonger for a very cheap price? The meat on it is still salmon and can be used for fish pies, salads, soups and lots of other dishes.
Ask your fishmonger if there are any other bargains he has, he may have some fish he couldn't sell or some other bits you could use in a pie.

Buy cheap fresh fish at the end of the supermarket day (when it get's reduced to pennies) and then freeze it, you can wet it first to make a protective coat of water on the fish. It will keep for ages and can be used once defrosted like it is fresh, just don't freeze it again.

Make a tin of tuna go further. Add lots of sweetcorn and a little crumble of cheese and then mix with lots of mayonnaise or salad cream. It can now be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days and used on sandwiches, salads or in toasties. If you separate it before adding the condiment you can use half for a tuna bake and the rest can be kept as above.

If you want to buy a fish and need to check the freshness check the scales are bright, the gills are pink, the tail should be stiff and the eyes should be clear and not sunken.

Don't buy plaice that has roe in it as it will be tasteless.

Ray, skate and shark should be soaked in water for 20 min before cooking or they will taste of ammonia.

Don't always discard a mussel that doesn't open check there is enough room in the pan for them to open and stir regularly. Try to cook them in smaller batches as this lets them open freely.

Before you skin or gut a fish rub your fingers in salt to get a better grip. You can flash grill a fish first in a very hot grill as then the scorched skin is easier to remove. Clean the fish on newspaper or kitchen roll as this means no mess at the end, you can just throw out the paper.
Mustard will remove a fishy smell from a chopping board. For wooden/plastic chopping boards use a piece of lemon dipped in salt to remove stains and help with smells.
You can also use lemon on your hands to get rid of fishy smells.

Cover a fish with batter or breadcrumbs by putting them in a bag and then put in the fish and shake gently.
Half a teaspoon of sugar in a batter mix will make it stick better.
You can used crushed up crisps as a coating for fish. Yummy!

You don't need an expensive steamer for fish just place a colander over a pan of boiling water put the fish in and cover with a lid. If you are shallow frying the fish dip it in boiling water first so it won't fall apart once cooked.

To get a few drops of lemon juice for a dish by piercing a lemon with a cocktail stick and then squeezing. Then leave the cocktail stick in the hole and store the lemon for use another day.

Haddock is very salty so poach it in milk, trout goes well with balsamic vinegar and bacon laid over white fillets helps them to stay moist.

Add celery to the pot when cooking fish to help reduce the odour. Use vinegar in the wash or soak them in a little tea when cleaning the pots and pans it will stop them coming out as smelly as they went in.

 

Today's Secret's - 3/03/14 - House buying and selling - hints and tips to get the best bargain possible

Firstly Selling - Clean, clean, clean. Repaint areas that are very grubby, tidy away everything non essential and wash down anything like sofa's etc. They may not be buying those things but you need to show your house at it's best. NO clutter!

Ask a friend round to have a look and give you a brutally honest review. Take on board what they say and try to change the things they didn't like. It is all about pleasing the public not yourself. Fix any little annoying jobs like a dripping tap or a squeaky door.
Clean your windows and remove nets to let in light.
Don't use strong air fresheners or brew coffee as it makes buyers suspicious.
Keep pets out of the way and do not have too many people in the house as it can be intimidating.

Research estate agents - register as a buyer and see what sort of service you get. If you go with an estate agent get a friend to register as a buyer and see if they get told about your property. Make sure any pictures taken are in colour.
Never say you want a quick sale.

To see what sort of price you will get look at four properties near by for sale and work out their average price, remove 5% to get a realistic selling price. (Aim to put yours on the market for about 10% more than you actually want at least)

If the house you are selling is empty get the mail cleared regularly and air the property.

When a potential buyer turns up make them welcome and offer a drink, turn off the telly and be nice.
Give them an information pack about building plans, utility costs, local transport and a map showing the area.

Solicitors? Don't go with the agents recommendation look for yourself and ask friends. Get a solicitor in place as soon as you put your house up for sale to save time. Keep a record of everything your solicitor does and all contact just to cover yourself.

Buying - If you find an area you like check local papers for any information like flooding, crime or plans for new runways!
Go to the area as much as you can to look around and get to know the streets and people also look for new for sale signs then get in first for a viewing.

Look at the rooms and not the furniture. Would your large sofa fit? Would there be room for your huge TV or would the room be dwarfed?

Check cupboards and under stairs for signs of damp and be suspicious of strong fragrances as these could be being used to cover a damp smell.

Look for a new home over C
hristmas or the holidays as this is a quiet time and you can get a good deal.

View the house at different times and different days and if you don't feel too silly doing it go at night and sit nearby in your car. You can see if the neighbours party all weekend or have a large dog that barks into the night.

Willow trees near by could mean an underground water supply but this could mean damp. Check the property well before making a decision. Bulging walls can mean the roots of the tree's are interfering with the property structure so get this checked out. Think about the leaves you will have to tidy up and how the house will look at different times of year. With no leaves on the trees will the house be overlooked?

Try out a tap upstairs to make sure the water pressure is good.

Always change the locks in a house when you move in to be sure no one else has access.

Today's Secret's - 2/03/14 - Clothes cleaning and hints to make them last longer

Ok by special request - Clothing. Washing and mending, hints and tips on making clothes last longer.

If you go out to buy trousers but have no time to try them on then wrap the waist of the trousers (still done up) around your neck, if the ends touch then they will fit your waist. To check socks wrap them around your clenched fist, if the heel meets the toe then they will fit.

I hate static on my clothes and have always used hairspray to stop skirts sticking to my legs or tops to my tummy but you can also use metal, a safety pin put inside a top or skirt that you know gets static filled will eliminate it. Other metal works too.

Put woolies in a pillow case when washing to protect them and keep them in shape, using glycerine in the wash can stop them being itchy and spray them lightly with hairspray to stop them shedding.

Bicarbonate of soda can boost your washing detergent liquid, soften your water and save you using fabric conditioner.
Use slightly less detergent than recommended to stop clothes retaining detergent after a wash and keep them looking newer longer.

Get out blood stains by getting the person who's blood it is to suck on the stain (Yuck!). Their saliva will help remove it.
Use methylated spirits to remove grass stains, for coffee use egg yolk and glycerine and sweat stains can be removed with a soak of vinegar before washing.

Dirty collar's on white shirt's? Oily hair shampoo can help remove the dirt ring. A couple of crushed aspirin in the wash can also help.
For really grubby work clothes (Not white ones) pour a can of coke over them, soak and then wash them.
White socks gone grey? use lemon juice on them, soak them for five minute and then boil them to make them white again.

Turn white t-shirts inside out when washing and dry in the shade to stop them yellowing.

If you use a line to dry your clothes then remember to wash your pegs now and then as they can leave dirty marks on your clothes.

If you iron a piece of clothing and it looks shiny. Dampen a cloth and place it over the shine them steam iron for a short while. Remove the cloth and check the item if it still looks shiny then repeat until it looks better. Still shiny? Dry a little black coffee brushed over them and repeat the above.
To put in a good lasting crease for work trousers put a tiny bit of paper glue on the inside of the trouser leg along the crease and then iron.

If clothes keep falling off their hangers use a rubber band on each end of the hanger to keep them in place.

Worried about damp in your cupboards? Add a few sticks of chalk to soak it up. Moths don't like bay leaves or cedar chips so put a few of those in as well.

Buttons keep falling off? Use a little nail varnish on the thread to strengthen it.
Mend a hem in an emergency with a stapler.
Sometimes jeans get a white line down them, if your in a hurry use a blue felt pen to fill it in. If you have a little longer then use some blue dye mixed with water and brush it on to the white areas carefully.

Treat wigs with fabric conditioner to keep them looking great.

Trying to save money? Don't be afraid to look in charity shops and boot sale's for clothes. Sometimes you can get a real bargain. I hate to buy children's clothes and shoes brand new as they grow so quickly, nearly new sales and other places sell off items that are still in great condition and at a fraction of the cost. Wash all items thoroughly when you get home as although they may be clean you may find you or your children's skin won't get on with what ever washing powder the previous owner used.

Today's secret's -01-03-14 Pest control - deter and remove beasties from your home

Ok today is about pest's. The small invaders in your home and I don't include children in this! lol

The best weapon you have against bugs is to vacuum your house even under the sofa and behind furniture. Make sure they have no safe haven to hide.

Woodlice like it damp so use talc to dry out area's and don't over water house plants.

Book lice can be killed by using a hair-dryer on it's highest heat to blast them away. Use a tumble dryer to kill bed bugs in pillows or moth eggs in clothes.
Beg bugs love a warm bed so keep bed clothes folded down in the day time to air the bed and to deter the bugs.

Spiders like it warm and the like to climb up drainpipes. When you let out the warm bath water or washing up water send an icy blast down to make the pipes cold. This will stop them from climbing up in search of a cosy spot.

Beetles and small flies will lay their eggs in flour and sugar so put it in an air tight container to stop them getting in. This is a good idea for most food as it will only encourage bugs if left open or exposed.

Ants hate salt, pepper, chalk and curry powder. Use any to deter them.

Keep flies away with bunches of elderflowers and deter them and other bugs from bothering you on a warm afternoon by drinking some tonic and lemon/lime it puts pests off. For keeping away mosquitoes eat Marmite or anything high in vitamin B.

Might have mice? put down some talc and see if foot prints appear. Found a mouse hole? Put toothpaste around it. They hate the minty smell as do rats but you need a very strong peppermint oil to deter them.

Put screwed up chicken wire into gaps or spaces in the roof to stop squirrels and birds coming in. The same in sheds but to deter rabbits use human hair or see if your neighbours have a cat and will give you some cat hair as this can be placed in the loft/shed and when fresh it can scare away most small animals.

Water and a little washing up liquid mixed with some citrus oil makes a good insect spray.

Found a wasp nest? Put a garlic clove that is bruised and battered by the entrance, they will soon leave.

If you can handle it and want one, buy a cat. They will keep your house free of many bugs and will scare off most rodents.