Furniture Scratches

Wooden furniture can be tricky; no matter how careful we are there might be some scratches on them. Couple of tips:

We can apply transparent nail polish to cover those scratches (or) use cover it with nail colour close to wood. Contributor: Durga

Some home stores like Home Depot, Ace and Lowe's carry wooden pens. Pick one that is close to wood colour and cover the scratch. It dries fast and really works. Contributor: Rani

Home tip for cockroaches....

Home recipe: Here is an effective one for those who don’t want to go with sprays and stuff.
One unit of boric acid powder
One unit of sugar
Two units of aata (wheat power)
Make it into a dough, then make the dough into balls, dry it in the sun (otherwise they will attract ants).When fully dry, you can leave them all over the place. They attract cockroaches for some reason. When they nibble on it, the acid eats them up and leaves back just brown power and a couple of wings.
Works like magic. Contributor: Uma Duddu

Little Picaso's......

To get rid of the pencil and crayon markers try these........

Try regular white toothpaste..got the tip from HGTV. Contributor:Sriharsha

Mix white Vineger in water and try it, it even removes stains on carpet. Contributor: Keerthi

Tried using white toothpaste use it helps to clear the crayon writing. Contributor: Prasanthi

Try this link. This work for me.Contributor:Pushpa

Shower Curtains, Tiles & Liners

Put shower curtains along with two old towels in the washer, towels help in scrubbing the dirt away. And hang it. Read that we should not put curtain in the dryer.

Try this twice weekly -Spray vinegar lightly at the bottom of the curtain liner and scrub it. This will make curtain very neat.Contributor: Siri


Liners: Spread the liner after you take a shower and will dries out clean. If you see dirt at the bottom wipe it with wet wipes once in a while. If you see mold in between the tiles try to clean it with bleach (make sure to use gloves for the safety of the hands) and for every six months use chaulk(available in walmart or any home stores like homedepot etc). Contributors: Sree and Sriharsha

This and That.......(Part II)

If you are anaemic with low blood values try eating jaggery as big as a lemon along with roasted peanuts. Make sure to remove the husk of the peanuts. You can try eating peanut balls made out of jaggery which is also good for the same purpose.Contributor:Pushkala

Also for ladies try eatting a little piece of jaggery everyday in the morning along with breakfast, it will act like glucose and boosts your energy.Contributor:Pushkala

If you want your pulihora taste better try cooking dals along with rice. That's it.Contributor:PadmaSwetha.

For long life of Cilantro try wrapping it in the aluminium foil and save it in refrigerator. Contributor:PadmaSwetha.

To avoid green chillies from becoming red save them in a container along with some turmerice.Contributor:PadmaSwetha.

Add rangoli(muggu) or chalk powder and to clean the oil spill on the floo. Contributor:Swetha

More Tips.......

Here is a link for good website. Contributor:Radha

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Headache

You don't find any difference in your headache even after drinking tea or applying zandu balm. Here is a tip that works for sure. Make a paste out of water and dry ginger(sonti podi) and apply it on your forehead. Contributor:Nirupama


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Rice Cooker Cleaning

Make a paste with a combination of tamarind paste and lemon and use this to make the bottom of the rice cooker clean. Contributor:Srividya

Fill the cooker with 3/4 volume water and add lemon slices to it. Close the pan with lid and turn it on.Make sure to get one whistle and turn it off. This should clean right away. Contributor:Nirupama, Roopa.

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Digestive Problems

Mix ajwain and salt to control burps. It also helps in controlling indigestion.Contributor:Sushma

We can use pudina hara to control indigestion. It is available in Indian stores.
Milk of Magnesia good for severe constipation. It can also be used by brestfeeding moms but make sure to confirm with you gynecologists.Contributor:Swathi U

Eating or drinking jeera rasam daily jeekalara rasam will also reduce constipation. Contributor:Nirupama

Eat a little of curd with methi seeds and also drinking sabudana porridge(saggubiyyam jawa) with buttermilk will definetely control the symptoms of Desentry.Believe me it really works.Contributor: RamaRamesh.

To control loose motions quickly mix menthi powder with water and drink it.Contributor:RamaRamesh

Let's not forget Kitchen....

We should add a few drops of buttermilk or lemon juice when cookingbhendi to avoid stickiness. We can also add a little tamarind paste or one spoon curd to bhendi. Contributor:Pushkala, Swetha, Kumari

If there is more salt in gravies, just add milk, curd or cream. Also do the same if the gravy becomes too spicy. Contributor:Swetha

If ghee or oil spills, it will be hard to clean up. Just sprinkle some rice flour over it
and clean. Contributor:Pushkala

To avoid stickiness of banana while cooking, add turmeric to the water when cutting or boiling. this make easy to clean hands or the dish we cook.It made a lot of difference to me.Contributor:Pushkala

If you want to retain the green color of spinach avoid putting lid on the pan when
boiling spinach.Contributor:Sandhya

You can peel garlic easily if you keep them in microwave for twenty seconds. Contributor:Shruthi.

Wart Removal

Add water to sunnam(the one we use to make pan) and apply it daily which will help in dropping of the wart.
Try to cut the wart by using a horse hair also helps. It does cause a little pain but definetely wart is gone.
Garlic rasam is also known to remove warts but needs to apply it daily and will eventually falls off. Make sure to apply rasam only on the wart otherwise it can make a mark on the skin.Contributor:Vidya


This link has good information regarding wart removal. Hope this helps. Contributor:Nirupama

Dosa it is.......

If you want a crispy dosa, add a fistful of soaked sabudana(saggubiyyam) and grind it.Contributor:Sriharsha

If you forget to add sabudana while soaking. Add a fistful of poha by running them under water and squeezing water of it and grind along with the batter. Chanadal also can be used for crispier dosas.Contributor:Sravanthi

Grind onion and add this to the batter just before making dosas. This adds so much taste and flavour to dosas. Contributor:Sadhana

Preserving Coconuts

We can store coconut in deep fridge. If we do that we can use them for almost a month. Because of the deep fridge it will also be easy to remove the pulp with a knife just before use. Contributor:Geetu, Harshini.


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Kitchen Cuts and Burns

Apply turmeric or tea powder to control bleeding. Contributor:Manasa

Try applying triple antibiotic cream on the boil. Hold the cut or burn under the running water or apply honey to avoid marks. Contributor: Vidya

Apply Aloe Vera gel available in most of the drug stores. It also cools down the burning sensation. We should apply it everyday to fade the marks of these burns and cuts. It does not need any prescription  and is available for $5.00. Here is the link for it. Contributor:Archana

Stove Top Cleaning and Electric stove

Stains can be removed by spreading baking soda then sprinkling a little water on it. Let it rest for five minutes and then wipe off with paper towel or antibacterial wipes. Without any effort stain goes off like magic. Moreover baking powder is organic and harmless.Contributor:Kalyani

Easy off cleaner works best for any kind of stove cleaning.Contributor:Sriharsha

Electric StoveTop: Use Comet Bleach. Spread it along with little water for five minutes and wipe it off.

 

Indian Non Stick Tavva Cleaning

I use soap pads for everything, we can get them in walmart.It cleans silver, brass, nonstick pans. Contributor:Jyothi.

We can cut raw potato and try to rub it around the pan and clean. Usually I try to avoid easy off cleaning on cooking utensils.Contributor:Ujwala

When using dosa tavva, once finished making dosas try scratching the pan corners with wooden spoon.Contributor:YRK

If we put non-stick pan in dishwasher pan can get scratches so use papernapkin to rub tavva.After that wash it regularly.Contributor:Nirupama

Stains On Sarees-2

Oil Stain: Try rubbing talcum powder on fresh stain. Also you can use atta until the oil is obsorbed.Contributor:Madhuri.

Also try washing with mild shampoo.Contributor:Sriharsha.

Dispose Deep Fried Oil

I usually drain it through the sink and let the hot water run for some time so that it will not clog the drain. Contributor: Shruthi.

I usually save carryout boxes and ocassionally yogurt box, will dispose in it. Contributor: Meera Girija.

Electric Roti Maker Reviews

Most of rotimakers are ok not that great, but the puris come out great. Contributor:Sree Chandana, Hasita.

I was using this roti maker and it was very useful for me. Chapati comes out really good without oil and even used to puff good.and even my mom is using it since one year and is useful verymuch. But dough must be a little loose.I do not know about everybody else but it worked for me very well, chapathis puff like puris. We can try they show the demo and watch it carefully so that you will know the consistency of dough it should be. Contributor:Santhi

I use the rotimaker same as santhi's which is "VIJAY ROTI MAKER". It works best for me. The main thing is the consistency of the dough like Santhi mentioned. She attended the demo so she showed me how to mix that and everything else works great for me. They even puff out like puris. Contributor:Vidya

This and That.......

Lint rollers: To remove any lint from any plush blankets which is very common problem.Contributor:Sriharsha.

Fabric softner: To remove static in the drier cycles.Contributor:Sriharsha

Laundry accidents: When a new color sticks on white clothes. use bleach only if garments are completely white;otherwise it going to ruin the clothes.

Gum on Jacket:Place a paper towel on the gum. Iron on paper towel, gum will stick to paper towel and comes off.Contributor:Roopa

Mouse Traps: Catchmaster Glue Board, Model#72TC Non-Poisonous and useful for Insects also.Contributor:Vidya

Laundry

Indian Clothing:
Partywear: Wash our embroided and partywear in light wash cycle by placing them in pillow covers. This way dreses get clean without loosing any quality or stones. Make sure to leave the dress in the pillow covers in the dryer also.

Discoloration of Clothes: In target you will find color catchers pack. It is similar to dryer sheets that we use for home dry cleaning. Take one sheet out of this pack and wrap it with the garment that you think will discolor and wash it along with all the other clothes. By the end of the wash cycle all the color will stick to the sheet and you do not worry about the other clothes. Contributor: Ujwala.

Collars and Cuffs: Rub thick layer of detergent into the stains of collars and cuffs just before adding into the wash cycle. Outside india, you can buy laundry spray to remove stains. Spray it onto the collars and cuffs, wait for 15 minutes and then run it through the wash cycle.

Ink stains on clothes:
Rub tooth paste on the ink stain, then rub on the same stain with surf.Contributor: Madhuri
Apply hair spray on the ink stains and rinse it, wash it regularly. Contributor: Anitha
To get rid of the ball point pen, rub the stain with cotton wool dipped in spirit. Contributor:Kanthi

Fresh Smell For Laundried Clothes

-Add Downy Fabric Softner along with detergent, add Bounce dryer sheets in drying cycle. Contributor:Keerti,Sindhu,Priya

-In India Comfort works best. Add 1 cup of comfort to one bucket of water, dip washed clothes in the solution and then hang clothes to dry....suvasanale suvasalanalu...... Contributor:Harini

-We can even add this comfort in washer, but be careful to add it when the water for rinsing is filling.If the machine is fully automatic add it to the softner compartment. Contributor:Uma

Carpet Stains

Curry Stains: Mix 2-3 spoons of vinegar, laundry detergent in hot water. Spread it on the stain, and let it dry. Sprinkle some hot water and remove it with tissue paper.

Paint: Use any stain remover from walmart. Contributor:Geeta

Cooldrink Stain: Can use sprite or Foaming Cleanser available at walmart. When using foaming cleanser spray it and let it stand for few minutes and then clean it. It usually cleans with out scrubbing. Contributor: Jyothsna and chaitali

Pickle Stain: Take a small amount of dish detergent(not the one that we use in dishwasher)and rub it into the stain and wipe it with wet cloth. Do not use lot of water which could result in bubbles, repeat it as needed.Contributor:Sriharsha

Turmeric Stain: Usually lysol will remove all the turmeric stains, but for carpet use oxy clean stain remover. And if possible use steam cleaning. Oxy clean is so powerful it removes oil and pickle stains. Contributor:Meera Girija, Sriharsha.

Safety Valves Stuck

Try cleaning with a pin and also wash the pin and change it to a new one. Contributor: Suchitra, Bhargavi.Anita


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Grease on tavva

**Thin Layer Grease: Let tavva get warm or medium high hot and then using a multilayered tissue and rub it. This should clean grease right away. Multilayered tissue is very important otherwise it can burn your fingers.
***Thick Layer Grease: If the tavva is bought in India, this comes along with a green scrubber. Try cleaning with it with little force, this will not disturb any coating on the pan. Contributor:Sravanthi.

Though it is not tried and tested we can try using a grill cleaner but make sure it does not damage the pans. Contributor: Pushpa

Try using vinegar dissolved in water, try pouring it on to the pan as a thin layer.
Bed bath and beyond carries a square silicone tool to clean non stick pans.......this may work. More over non stick pans are not meant to be washed in dish washers. By doing so we are forcing them to leave their coating and making it more vulnerable health wise...as the coating may enter our body through food.Contributor:Meera girija