Over the Door Hooks

Don’t limit those over the door hooks to just clothes and towels; I have so many more cool ideas for their uses.

IDEA 1:      If you don’t want your necklaces getting knotted up in a jewelry box, use an over the door hook to keep them all in line on the inside of the closet door. They’ll stay knot free and you’ll be able to find the one you want at a glance.

IDEA 2:      On the back of the bathroom door a hook can keep your hairdryers and curling irons in arms reach.

IDEA  3:     Two hooks side by side will hold the ironing board neatly against the door so it doesn’t fall out every time you open the closet.

This would also work to keep your step stool right where you need it!

IDEA  4:     No bedside table to keep your glasses on? Use an over the door hook over the side of your bed frame to hang your glasses, they’ll always be right there by your side!

IDEA  5:     No closets for brooms or mops? Use an over the door hanger and some “s” hooks to store all those tools, they’ll swing open and out of the way with the door when you need to head downstairs.

Over the door hooks helping out around the house! 

Whether your dryer hose is old, worn or you simply want to replace it for a newer, safer metal version, I can show you how to do it, it's easy.
1. Pick up a replacement hose. It should be at least four inches wide and then should be the right length for the space. Ducts that are too long or too narrow can be a fire hazard. 2. Unplug the dryer. Then remove the old duct. Some are held in place by large hose clamps, others by clamps at the machine and the vent. 3. Clean both the dryer outlet and exhaust pipe. These two areas can become clogged with dust and lint. A vacuum or a bottle brush with a length of nylon stocking over it should do the trick. 4. When everything is completely clean it's time to install the new duct. Simply extend it to it's full length and then place it on the opening on the back of the dryer and then to the vent that leads to the outside. NOTE: The ductwork should have no more than two ninety-degree angles to provide maximum airflow and to prevent lint build-up. 5. Move the dryer back into position and plug it in.

Don't forget to visit Mrs. FIXIT on Facebook for cool projects like turning a trellis into a picture display!

Clogged Shower Head

Do you barely have a trickle left in your shower because of mineral deposits and soap scum? Well, I can show you how to get rid of that build-up with products you probably already have in your home.
1. Remove the showerhead and put it in a bowl of undiluted vinegar. Let the fixture soak for a couple of hours. When you take it out of the vinegar, if there are some stubborn spots, just brush them with an old toothbrush until all of the scaling is gone. 2. If you cant get your shower head apart - don't worry, just fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it to the shower head with some heavy duty tape or string. Then let the bag soak overnight. In the morning the showerhead will be clean and deposit free. Just remember never to use vinegar on brass or brass plate. 3. For a faster clean up, in a small bowl mix together 1 teaspoon of alum and a quarter of a cup of lemon juice. Saturate a rag with the mixture and scrub the fixture the deposits will literally disappear.

Laundry Baskets

If you relegate the laundry baskets to the laundry room, you’re missing out, I’ll tell you why!

I’m sure you’ve all seen REUSABLE grocery bags and a lot of you PROBABLY use them, but how about a laundry basket for the ultimate in “green grocery bags.” 

It’s designed to hold stuff and IS easily portable so keep one in the back of your car, and load it up with groceries directly from your cart.  You can carry the whole basket into the house and stash it back in there when you’re done.

Use a laundry basket to collect weeds and clippings as you work outside and then you can dump it when you’re finished.  In the off season, use the basket to corral your HOSE AND sprayer in the garage or shed.

Speaking of corralling, I collect little gifts and trinkets throughout the year so I always have a gift on hand when I need one.  I keep them all in a laundry basket on a shelf so I know right where they are, plus I keep a few gift bags in there so I can grab, stash and go in a hurry!

Heading out on a car trip to a sunny destination?  Fill a laundry basket with towels and swim gear.  You won’t need to dig through suitcases when you arrive.

Plus, you’ll have a spot to store dirty laundry during your trip. I’m Mrs. FIXIT and it’s just that simple!

Muffin Tin

If you only pull your muffin tins out of the cabinet when you’re getting ready to bake, you’re not using them nearly enough.

In the kitchen, you can use an inverted muffin tin as a cooling rack; the spaces between the cups allow air to circulate.

If you’re getting ready to decorate cookies with the kids, put your sprinkles and candies in a muffin tin to help make them easily accessible and not so easy to spill!

If you’re trying to carry drinks to the table, slip the cups into a muffin tin, you’ll be able to carry more and you’re not as likely to spill! 

If you enjoy crafts a muffin tin is just what you

need.  Store different types of beads in each compartment for making jewelry.

Or if you enjoy painting, a muffin tin is a great paint pallette.  Squeeze your paints into the compartments, and then when you need to mix colors use one of the empty spots for swirling together that perfect shade. 

When you’re finished painting, the tin will wash up in a snap and be ready for your next project.

Faux Leather Lampshade

I’m sure you’ve seen them in high-end catalogs, leather lampshades or mica shades, they’re beautiful, but the price tag can leave your wallet a little bare.  well, i can show you how to get that look for a lot less. 

Cut some brown paper bags so that they can lay flat and cut out any parts that have printing on them so that when you’re project is done there isn’t any ink bleeding through. 

first, spritz the bags with a little water so they’re damp.  Crumple the paper tightly into a ball and then open it back up, repeat until you’ve got some nice wrinkles and then smooth it out flat. 

Tear pieces of the paper into smaller pieces that will fit onto your lampshade. 

Spread decoupage glue over the paper with a foam brush and smooth the piece onto the shade. Decoupage glue is simply equal parts of white glue and water mixed together.

brush glue on the top of the paper once it’s in place.  and Repeat the process with the rest of the paper overlapping the pieces as you work. 

Once you’ve covered the whole shade, use a utility knife to gently trim any raw edges.  Then coat the whole piece one more time with decoupage glue and let it dry completely. 

A high-end look at a low end cost, I’m Mrs. FIXIT and it’s just that simple!