Clean and Efficient Kitchens!

Clean and efficient kitchens make things run a lot smoother - well I have some ideas to help!

1. The dishwasher - modern marvel, right. Well, there are some things that help it clean better and save some money! Fill your soap cup halfway with detergent and halfway with baking soda. The baking soda will help the machine clean your dishes better and it will keep your machine cleaned! Plus you'll use less soap, which saves cash!

2. If your dishwasher is looking a little grungy, fill the soap cup with some powdered laundry bleach, and run it through a cycle empty. This will clean and disinfect the racks, jets and interior in one quick step!

3. Speaking of laundry, did you know that a little laundry pre-wash spray cleans scuffs and stains off of porcelain sinks?

4. To prevent sticky messes in your cabinets, store oils, vinegars and honey in old cake pans. This does two things. It keeps the shelf clean and you can take out the whole pan to get what you're looking for rather than rummage through the cabinets!

5. If items tend to freeze to your freezer, line the shelves with wax paper. It'll keep these items from freezing in place.

Clean and Efficient Kitchens!

Christmas Tree Time

Christmas is a great time of year with homes so wonderfully decorated and featuring beautiful Christmas trees. How do you make sure your tree will last through the holidays? When you pick your tree there are some things you should know to make sure it stays fresh for the season.

1. Shake the tree to make sure that the needles don't drop off. You can also run your hand down a branch, or reach into the trunk area and scratch the bark. If you can see green on the back side of the bark, this means it's fresh.

2. Before you put your tree up, cut a good two inches from the end of the trunk. This will ensure that the tree will be able to absorb the water in the stand and not dry out.

3. To preserve your tree, here is a great recipe. Mix together a gallon of warm water with 4 tablespoons of iron powder, (which you can pick up at most garden shops), 4 tablespoons of bleach and 2 cups of corn syrup. Once you have your tree in a stand, water with the mixture and use it until it is gone.

I hope these ideas keep your tree looking great through the holiday!