Ducks 'n a Row

household hints

Genius Brownie Holders

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Love baking brownies? They are a big favorite with any crowd. I adore classic brownies, frosted brownies and especially cheesecake brownies. But, I never sent them to school with my kids. Why? 

 

baking, tips, momlife, household hacks

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Because brownies are sticky and get little hands really messy. I was trying to be thoughtful. So, this week when one of my preschool moms sent brownies for her daughter’s birthday celebration, I was thrilled to see her genius idea.


You are going to love the simplicity of it.  She made holders by placing each individual brownie in a cupcake liner. They looked even more special and, above all, no mess! Great idea, huh? I will never hesitate to send brownies as a treat anywhere again!

 

mom tips, ideas, household hints, baking
Got any nifty little ideas? We’d love to hear about them … share them with us in the comments!

Enjoy!


The Many Amazing Uses For Dryer Sheets

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When you do the laundry, do you use fabric softener sheets? Don’t they do a great job of freshening and softening your clothes! And they remove the static while they do it. Towels fluff up so nice–what a great invention.
(Who did invent dryer sheets? Conrad Gaiser  When? Late 1960’s First company to introduce it? Proctor and Gamble  Click for more)

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There are a multitude of great other-uses for dryer sheets – new and used. After you read this list, you’ll want to go right out to the store and stock up on a bunch of them.

The Many Amazing Uses For Dryer Sheets

Bee Repellent: bees chasing you? Dryer sheets will chase them away. Either pin one to your clothes or place it nearby. I’ve tried this myself and it works like a charm!
household hints and tips
Candle Wax Remover: Don’t scrape the candle wax off your furniture, wipe it away with a fabric softener sheet.

Computer and TV Screen Cleaner: before throwing them away, take your used dryer sheets for a “once around” the house to clean the screens on your computers and television screens. There will be enough anti-static left to get the dust easily.


Deodorizer:
  • Keep clothes fresh in drawers, luggage, diaper bags.
  • Cigarette smell in your car? Tuck a new dryer sheet away to kill the smell.

Dust furniture with a used dryer sheet. The anti-static properties of the sheet removes dust so much neater and faster.

Fight Mildew: if you have outdoor furniture that has been tainted by mildew from the moisture, don’t throw it away. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the furniture and scrub using a little water and the dryer sheets. Rinse and wipe dry. You’ll find that the smell is gone and replaced with a lovely light aroma.
Ironing: clean your iron by rubbing it with a dryer sheet to remove residue.
Kitchen Miracle: use softener sheet to clean cooked on food from pots and pans. Just put a little hot water in the bottom of the pan and lay a dryer sheet over it. Let it soak for a while. Now, wipe away with a scrubby sponge. Also works on stove tops and in ovens.
Nervous Pets: some dogs get particularly nervous when a storm is coming. They can feel a prickly sensation in their fur. If this is the case with yours, gently rub her fur with a dryer sheet before the storm arrives and see if she makes it through in peace.
household hints, hacks
Painter’s Best Friend: Makes your paintbrushes like new! Soak your used paint brushes in warm water with a dryer sheet soaked in it. Latex paint will slide off in minutes Sewing: use as embroidery backing, store threaded needles to keep them tangle-free.
Pest Repellent: Bugs, bees and rodents all flee when dryer sheets are around! Hide a dryer sheet in your pocket, if you are a person that the bugs just “love” to bite. Landscapers have discovered that if they keep some dryer sheets on them when they work, mosquitoes take a hike—far, far away!
household hints, hacks
Soap Scrum Remover: Scrub your bathtub and shower stall with a new dryer sheet to melt away built up soap scum.
Smelly Gym Bags? Sweeten the smell of gym bags, golf club carriers, sports bags, old luggage, trunks of cars.  Put in a new dryer sheet inside once in a while to keep things smelling fresh.
Static cling? Reduce it fast! Rub a sheet on clothes that cling or even fly away hair!
Tree Sap: Ever get tree sap on your hands? It is miserable to get off. Guess what? Yep, dryer sheets get it off in no time!
Wet dogs smell yucky! After a bath or coming in from the rain, towel dry your canine and then rub the surface of his fur with a dryer sheet. He’ll smell great.

Windshields: Got dead bugs stuck to the windshield or your car or truck? Fabric softener sheets get them off fast!

The many amazing uses for dryer sheets - you won't believe some of them! #tips Share on X

Do you have some more uses for dryer sheets? We’d love to know. Tell us your experiences and ideas in the comments below!

Note: remember that dryer sheets do have chemicals on them. Use them wisely when applying them to human beings and pets. There are green versions on the market. I have no idea if all the listed uses will be as effective when using them. If you try it, let me know!

Enjoy!



Photo Credits: Freedigitalphotos.net
  • Bee by James Barker
  • Paint Brush by Suat Eman
  • Bathtub by sixninepixels

 

Non-Toxic Cleaning: Burnt Pots And Pans

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household hints how to clean burnt pots and pans

Burned cookware can become a real disaster if you don’t know how to handle it. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens when you get distracted, forget that you are cooking and burn the dish you were making. And often the pan or pot can be so burnt, it looks like it can’t possibly be cleaned.

It is a shame to throw away cookware without even trying to remove the burnt food. There are many ways to do it, some of which involve harsh chemical-based products, others are non-toxic and safe. Without question, the second method is preferable.  Here are some tips on how to “green-clean” your burnt cookware and make it look better than ever.
household hints - how to clean burnt pots and pans
Soak And Sit
Sometimes we neglect the power of hot water and proceed with cleaning methods that involve a lot of scrubbing and bad-scented chemical detergents. We forget how powerful hot water actually is. An effective way to clean burnt pans and pots is to soak them in soapy hot water and let them sit for a few hours. The hot water will break through the tough burnt stains and loosen them so that you can scrape them more easily.
Simmer

Simmering and soaking burnt pans is another effective method to remove burnings from your cookware. Pour water in the burnt cookware, add a fair amount of dish liquid and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove the pan or pot from the hot plate and let it cool down while the hot water loosens the burnt stains. Use a wooden spatula to scrub.

You can do the same using salt or baking soda. Pour water, add a couple of tablespoons salt or baking soda, let it simmer and scrub with a wooden spatula.
Baking Soda And Aluminium Foil
Another green and non-toxic way to clean burnt cookware is using baking soda and aluminium foil. What you need is 1 tablespoon baking soda, ½ cup white vinegar and a piece of aluminium foil. Then put the vinegar and the foil in the pot or pan. Add the baking soda and swirl so that the vinegar can cover the whole surface. The solution will start bubbling and while this is happening, run the burnt stains very gently, making sure you don’t scratch the cookware. Rinse with warm water and dry. Now your cookware looks like brand new again.
Lime Juice And Salt
Another non-toxic way to remove burnt stains from cookware is using lime juice and salt. What you have to do is pour lime juice in the pan and let it sit for a few minutes. Then sprinkle with salt and scrub gently with a sponge. Avoid using a metal sponge, unless it’s really necessary. This method will not only clean your burnt cookware in an ecologically-friendly manner, it will also leave a lovely exotic scent in the kitchen.
Vinegar
Most of us are aware of the fact that vinegar is a powerful tool when it comes to cleaning in a green way. To remove burnings from pans and pots, use white vinegar and pour it in the burnt item. Place it on a hot plate and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove from the hot plate and let it cool down. Then scrub using a wooden spatula and rinse with water.

Enjoy!

Guest post by July Minor. July is a cleaning specialist who knows lots of green tips and tricks.
 
Note: Ducks ‘n a Row is an affiliate of Amazon. Anything our readers purchase from Amazon through ads and links on this blog will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you!” for your business. It is appreciated — Sinea




10 Smart Mom Tricks You Will Just Love

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Moms have their ways, don’t they! When something isn’t working just right or needs to be done differently, leave it to a mom to think of something out-of-the-ordinary and brilliant to solve the problem.  Here are 10 really cool life hacks that are “mom tricks” all the way… I just love them and I think you will, too!
life hacks, tricks, tips, mom solutions, momlife
life hacks, tips n tricks
I love this one of 30 cool ideas. This one: use plastic toy rings as a deterrent to little hands and lock those cupboard drawers! 
ideas, hacks
I was shocked when my paperclip trick went viral on Pinterest! I use it all the time.
 
life hacks, key ring
 
Ever ask someone else to put new keys on your keyring for you, lest you break a nail? Just use a staple remover and you can do it yourself!
 
I saw this somewhere on the internet and just had to try it. It works!

household hints, pest control, natural remedies
As with many life hacks, I learned this one out of necessity. I had bought some oranges, apples and bananas and they came with company…fruit flies! So, I did a search, found this hint and it is very effective and kinda fun to watch. (Sorry, to the insect lovers out there 🙂
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mom hacks, great ideas, cleaning tips
This tip not only cleans and shines that faucet, it makes it water-repellant!
 
household hints, organizing tips
~a la Martha Stewart~
Really? Oh my goodness, really! Saw this and LOVED it…why haven’t we all been doing this. 

 
This tip is one of 30 really great ideas to help new college students start out right! Just tape the keys down and paint-away!
household hints, life hacks, wedding invitations, party invitations, baby showers, bridal showers
This is another one of my own tips that has taken off like a shot online. Must be all those people planning weddings, bridal or baby showers or other kind of events… YOU try to lick hundreds of envelopes and you’ll be looking for another way to do it, too. LOL
 
 
 
household hint, life hacks, mom hacks, mom tricks
 
Has bacon changed or is it just me? Until recent years, I do not recall having a problem getting bacon slices separated when unwrapping them- but these days they stick together and shred. This method gets each slice out of the package neatly, in one piece!
 
 
Got any cool tips or tricks you use? We’d love to know about them!
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Enjoy!

 
 
 

How To Clean The Ice and Water Tray On Your Refrigerator Door

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tips, cleaning

Does your refrigerator have a water and ice maker inserted in the door? It’s a fun feature and oh-so convenient but cleaning it? That is not as easy as it seems. Grime and even “slime” can collect. Nasty! Getting it really clean means reaching the “nooks and crannies” of the tray, too.  Here’s how …

Start with a spray bottle of multipurpose cleaner or you can even make your own. If you make your own, it should be primarily water with some ammonia, white vinegar and baking soda. (recipe below)

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Steps:

  1. Place a towel on the floor in front of the refrigerator to catch spills.
  2. Spray the door tray liberally, getting the solution into all the corners.
  3. Wipe with a sponge.
  4. Use Q-tips to clean out the hard to reach corners
  5. Wipe out the tray with a clean cloth or paper toweling.
  6. Now, wipe off the front of the door. Done!

Homemade Cleanser Recipe

1 gallon hot water
1/4 cup baking soda
 

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How To Clean Crayon Off Almost Everything

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Crayon marks can show up in the strangest places. It just takes a crayon, a toddler and turning your back for one moment! 

How to clean crayon off of everything
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Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links.
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Crayola crayon tub of 240 crayons #ad
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It all started with a cute book that my preschoolers were making for our upcoming Open House. We studied “M is for Me” and the book was appropriately named “All About Me.” The students colored self-portraits upon which I would glue their own photo. Adorable!
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Color Your Own Bookmarks!

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My back was turned for just a moment. When I turned around, it was too late. I turned to see an enthusiastic colorer… very enthusiastic…coloring right off her paper and onto the table. A table that we did not own! We rent space in a church for our classrooms. Borrowed tables should not be returned with crayon all over them, that is for sure!

Soon as my little ones were safely on their way home, I returned to the “scene of the crime.” First, I used a scrubby with our own DIY cleanser. Nothing. The artwork remained. Then I tried hand sanitizer–I was desperate. Still, nothing. So I pulled out the Expo white board cleaner, a precious commodity to be used sparingly. I saturated the tabletop with Expo and to my glee, it worked! The fumes were a bit strong but, thankfully, there was plenty of time for that to clear before anyone would be near the table again. I made a mental note: never use that much in a closed room with children.
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how to clean crayon off of everything by Ducks 'n a Row
So what do people do when their children, armed with crayons, go to town on their stuff? I looked into it further.
White foamy shaving cream cleans crayon off desks and tables #tip
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How To Clean Crayon Off of Things

Shaving Cream: remembering what my teacher-friends said years before, classic, white foamy shaving cream is the cleanser of choice. Marked up desktops have been successfully cleaned for years by using shaving cream and a scrubby sponge. It works on all sorts of markings — ink, pencil, crayons. It leaves a nice shine, as well. Had there been some on hand, that is what I would have used.

Interestingly, teachers say that the CHEAPER the brand of shaving cream, the better it seems to work. So, why not include it in your lesson plan! Cover the desk with shaving cream and let your kids have fun. Write in it. Draw in it. Then, when it’s time to move to the next activity, wipe the shaving cream off the desk using a sponge or scrubby. Follow up with Windex and a towel. The desks will be cleaner than clean. Better than new! Even glue and tape comes off.

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Melissa & Doug brand JUMBO coloring book for kids

But what about getting crayon off other surfaces?

Fabric: dip a cloth in white vinegar and rub the crayoned area lightly before washing.

Walls: use baking soda and water made into a paste and lightly scrub.  Other remedies include rubbing mayonnaise on the stained area, spraying on WD40, applying non-gel toothpaste using a toothbrush, and the old “eraser on a pencil trick” (simply erase the marks!)

Glass: if the crayon is on glass there are several well-thought-of methods. You can use dishwashing liquid, stronger cleansers like Greased Lightning , Goo Gone or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

How about you? Do you have any home-remedies for stray crayon that got away from a young artiste?

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Enjoy!

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Shark Navigator vacuum with LED lights

This is the very BEST pet hair vacuum, too!  Takes care of all kinds of pet hair (and people hair, too)   

Photo Credits

Shaving Cream by kathera on Flickr Creative Commons

Child’s Artwork by davef3138 on Flickr Creative Commons

Crayons 1 by ctech on Stock Xchng

Crayons 2 by ithears on Stock Xchng