Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal makes kitchen clean up a whole lot easier, so take care of yours. Well, here are some easy maintenance tips to do just that!

1. To keep the disposal running well don't overfill it, run plenty of cold water while it is on and never put large bones, fruit pits, chicken skins, grease or any stringy items like celery down the drain.

2. If your disposal starts humming or buzzing or shuts off suddenly, turn the switch off, and look down the drain. If you can see what caused the jam use a pair of kitchen tongs to remove it.

3. If the problem was caused by an overload, wait five minutes and then push the reset button that is on the bottom of the machine. If you don't want to crawl around under the sink trying to find the button, place a mirror on the bottom of the cabinet so you can see the button easily. If your disposal doesn't have an automatic reset button, it likely has an internal mechanism that will automatically reset the unit in about five minutes.

Beautiful Stains

Beauty products are a part of life, but they can also cause spills and stains, I have some tips to get rid of these "beautiful" stains. If you think hair dye stains are permanent, think again. If you act quickly you can get rid of them. Spritz liberally with hairspray and allow it to dry for a couple of minutes. Then rub the area with some shampoo and wash it in cold water. For make-up stains from foundation to mascara grab a bar of soap. Put the stain face down on an absorbent white cloth, an old diaper works great for this. Dampen the soap and rub it into the back side of the stain. This will push the make-up out of the fabric rather than sending deeper into the fibers. Move the stain to different parts of the diaper so it doesn't re-absorb them. Wash it in cool water. For greasy stains like lotions and baby oil, blot as much as you can with a cloth and sprinkle with some cornstarch. Let it sit for ten minutes, shake it out and dab with white vinegar to break up the grease. Then launder. For hairspray build-up on walls, floors and mirrors dip an old washcloth into some rubbing alcohol and wipe it away. Remember the two primary rules of stain removal: Always test for colorfastness in a hidden area first, and never put your item in the dryer until you're sure the stain is gone.