Alternative Uses for School Supplies

Wondering how school supplies can help you around the house?

1. A chalkboard eraser is a great tool for a quick clean up; it will gently buff away smudges and fingerprints from windows, French doors, mirrors, and wood furniture! No smudges and no lint left behind!

2. Chalk is also good to have on hand, rub it into greasy stains on linens. The chalk dust will get into the fabric and absorb the grease so it will easily wash away in the laundry. Those same absorbent qualities will also help prevent jewelry from tarnishing. Stick a piece of chalk in your jewelry box and you won't have to worry about that tarnish.

3. A pencil is a great tool for lubricating sticky locks. Rub the tip over the keys and work it back and forth in the lock. You can also use a pencil to fill a hole in wood if you don't have a dowel handy. Cut it down to the size plug you need. Spread a little wood filler over the end and you'll have an invisible repair!

4. Crayons are great for touching up scratches in wood. Pick a crayon that matches the wood tone, heat it slightly over a candle and rub the wax into the scratch. Then buff it with a soft cloth to blend the repair with the surrounding wood!

Making the grade with your school supplies!

Toddler Tips

If you have a curious lil' toddler at home you know they can be a handful, well I have some ideas to help make life a little easier.

1. Toddlers love to color but crayons, even the thick ones can be difficult and if they miss the paper crayons can be a lot of work to get off of surfaces. Instead, grab some sidewalk chalk. Its easy to grasp, it's easy to draw with and it is easy to clean off of clothes, furniture and fingers!

2. Kids at this age are starting to recognize people and things. To help them, put pictures of their favorite people and things into a small sturdy photo album and then ask them to "find" their favorite.

3. Teach your little one to clean up! Have them fill a laundry basket with their toys, or laundry or books. You do it first and they'll mimic your lead.

4. Meal time is messy; if your toddler gets a lot of spills on their highchair but you hate pulling it apart to clean, secure an adult sized apron over the seat and back. The apron will protect the surfaces, but it'll easily remove and throw in the wash!

5. If your little one hates bibs, keep a couple of heavy t-shirts in a size bigger than they wear on hand. While a toddler can pull off a bib, they can't generally get a t-shirt off. Their clothes are protected and the t shirt can be tossed in the laundry when they're done!

Alternative Uses for Chalk

Chalk has so many great alternative uses and its as easy as 1-2-3.

1. The next time you have a grease stain or a little ring around the collar, grab some chalk. Rub it into the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, dust it off and launder as usual. The chalk dust will get into the fibers and absorb the oils that are causing the stain.

2. Wrap a small bundle of chalk in cheesecloth, tie it off and store it with your silver to keep the pieces from tarnishing. The chalk will absorb excess moisture, which can speed up the tarnishing process.

3. This same method will work in your toolbox to keep your tools from rusting.

4. Put a bundle in your closets and cabinets to keep them from getting damp and musty.

5. The next time you need to trace a pattern on something, use chalk. It will be clear and easy to see and you can simply dust away the lines when you're finished with your project.

6. To keep ants out of your house draw chalk lines around your doorways and windowsills, ants won't cross over the line.