Helpful Hints.

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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Oh, shucks! You are too sweet ;DD
Have to head off to bed but before I go - nice avatar!

You look lovely - hope you're doing well out there in Rhode Island!

p.s. nice flag (being a Canuck I had to Google) :cool2::biggrin2:

250px-Flag_of_Rhode_Island.svg.png
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
I need some helpful hints for mold removal on books. I hadn't got all the stuff out of my old house yet, and water got in the basement and some of my books got damp and now are moldy. Some are hardback; most are paperback. There are probably about 40 total. I've read about it online, so I know the basics, but if you have some personal experience with it, then I'd be grateful.

Thankfully, most of my books were upstairs and safe, and I had already brought all my SK books to my new house, but there are a couple Robert McCammon books that are suffering.
:apologetic:

I've already got the mask, goggles, and gloves for protection.
Identify, Prevent, and Remove Mold and Mildew from Books
Hope this is helpful, Danie!
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
On the subject of pets...

Our dogs and cats are no longer treated the regular way for fleas (flea powders, collars, flea and tick drops etc.) We had a cat go into a seizure after using a new product (that was later taken off the market) and a few dogs that have had reactions, varying in severity.
-We feed garlic to the dogs (not the cats) in powdered form (springtime inc. brand).
-The dogs wear amber stone collars when outside (they're supposed to help keep pests away, not sure if they help or not but they're really pretty anyhow.
-We use food grade diatomaceous earth (NOT pool grade!!! very important) in our yard to dry any fleas up. You can also feed this to dogs and cats for internal parasites. (I repeat, not pool grade but only food grade!) It's non-harmful to beneficial bugs.
-Cedarcide spray/Wondercide is an excellent flea killer/preventative for yard or home
-We feed a raw diet that seems to help boost immunity

We flea bath if necessary but we haven't had the need to in several years because the above seems to be working. Also, for cats (whom we don't bath because we value our lives) we mix Braggs cider vinegar with water, dampen an old rag, and go over them well until their coats are damp. Comb out, and either pat dry with a towel or let them air dry. The vinegar seems to repel fleas, is safe and beneficial if ingested, and adds tremendous shine to their coats. We do this weekly.
The above works for dogs, too.
Our cats used to hate any kind of grooming done, but since we do this weekly now and it's a warm and fuzzy bonding time they have learned to like it, then love it. When I get the bottle of vinegar, a few towels, and a comb and a flea comb they all come running and jostle over who gets to be in my lap first :p
Finally, if I am taking the dogs or a dog to an outdoor area, I mist with an essential oil flea and tick spray that smells wonderful and is safe and harmless.

Hope the "flea hacks" help someone out there :)
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
I got really sick of flimsy weed mats so we went to a carpet outlet, spoke with the owner, and got large chunks of remnants for free. We cut them to fit and mulched over them....way tougher than weed mats and lasts more years. Also, having carpet in your garden is fancy :)

I run white vinegar through the washing machine with clothes and such, I can't stand the scent of fabric softener and this keeps things smelling fresh and keeps the fabrics soft. So far I haven't found a fabric that this can't be used on.

Speaking of not standing scents, I don't like things like febreeze and air plug in fresheners and stuff like that but I got a diffuser and have been diffusing 2-3 drops of essential oils in it. I add a few drops to a bucket of half vinegar, half water, and clean floors, countertops, cabinet doors, surfaces of most things and the house has a really neutral clean smell. I don't use citrus oils or tea tree oils anywhere the cats will go until it's bone dry, and even then I'm careful.

TMI maybe but if you've got plantar warts on your feet, tape a cotton ball soaked with apple cider vinegar (Braggs brand) and a drop or two of pure clove oil. Change the bandage twice a day and keep the area clean. Keep your shower scrubbed; it might take 2-3 weeks but it's a guarantee that the wart will turn black and fall off without having to lance it, have it surgically removed etc. And it won't come back.

I'm just learning about essential oils, and have ordered a diffuser. I'm really excited. What are some of your favorites to diffuse?
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
:applause: This might be my face in the near future as well.
I've always scoffed at the many wonders of essential oils, but since my co worker cured my ear problem in 2 days with essential oils, and it cost me less than $20, I'm a believer!
I'm especially excited because the diffuser comes with peppermint, and I know spiders and mice hate peppermint.....my house is gonna smell like Christmas year 'round......
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
:applause: This might be my face in the near future as well.
I've always scoffed at the many wonders of essential oils, but since my co worker cured my ear problem in 2 days with essential oils, and it cost me less than $20, I'm a believer!
I'm especially excited because the diffuser comes with peppermint, and I know spiders and mice hate peppermint.....my house is gonna smell like Christmas year 'round......
....and as long as you leave yer durn holiday lights strung up and on-it'll look like it too!....
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I'm just learning about essential oils, and have ordered a diffuser. I'm really excited. What are some of your favorites to diffuse?
I don't use a diffuser, but if you take baths ever (rather than shower) you can put a few drops of peppermint oil or rosemary oil in the water - it's very refreshing :D:frog:
 

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2014
9,724
53,642
Colorado
I'm not very clever. My main thing, I guess, that I do: I only need black socks for dress and white socks for casual. So I buy them in big clumps. 12, 15 pairs identical, and throw them in the sock drawer without bothering to match them, since they're all the same.

Wouldn't work for, say, my daughter. She loves socks. Her sock drawer looks like a drum of Skittles exploded. Although maybe it would, because she doesn't match her socks.
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
:applause: This might be my face in the near future as well.
I've always scoffed at the many wonders of essential oils, but since my co worker cured my ear problem in 2 days with essential oils, and it cost me less than $20, I'm a believer!
I'm especially excited because the diffuser comes with peppermint, and I know spiders and mice hate peppermint.....my house is gonna smell like Christmas year 'round......

I fought those stupid plantar warts for a year. It was painful to walk and going barefoot was a thing of the past (I love going barefoot, so this was a real bummer.) 2 or 3 weeks with that clove oil and bang--they're gone, and gone for good. It's been over a year and they haven't returned!
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
I'm just learning about essential oils, and have ordered a diffuser. I'm really excited. What are some of your favorites to diffuse?
It really depends. For scent purposes, I like lemon and lime (I mix them). I love lavender and geranium oils too, they smell wonderful.
Lots of companies have blends that smell terrific. DoTerra, Melaleuca, and Rocky Mountain Essential Oils are all companies I've been happy with. These blends are formulated for specific purposes so it's fun to look around.
I'm careful since we have cats. Some have said the oils are medicinal and others say they're toxic. I'm on the fence. I've had no issues with toxicity (in cats) from diffusing but I don't apply them topically. And I suspect any cat with liver problems (either diagnosed or underlying) would perhaps be more vulnerable due to the livers inability to detoxify efficiently.
Many times, I've put peppermint or spearmint (or both!) on a tissue diluted with jojoba or coconut oil and dab on my sinuses if they feel stuffy. Lavender on the bottom of my feet lulls me to sleep almost instantaneously. I ordered frankincense and myrrh last year and this place smelled SO festive at Christmas time; I diffused them with a drop of cinnamon bark. AMAZING. Frankincense is a subject of intense interest to me; but I'm sure any oil with strong medicinal purposes is going to cost a lot more than $19.99 a bottle, kwim?
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
I'm not very clever. My main thing, I guess, that I do: I only need black socks for dress and white socks for casual. So I buy them in big clumps. 12, 15 pairs identical, and throw them in the sock drawer without bothering to match them, since they're all the same.

Wouldn't work for, say, my daughter. She loves socks. Her sock drawer looks like a drum of Skittles exploded. Although maybe it would, because she doesn't match her socks.

I have about 2 pairs of cute socks, and the rest are plain white or black. My feet ain't fancy :p And I never fold or match socks; all socks are loose in the drawer and a match is always guaranteed to be within an inches reach. My sock drawer is sloppy but my closet is hyper-organized; clothes are hung by season (fall and winter tops on the right, spring and summer tops on the back wall) and work clothes, jeans, slacks etc. are organized in the vanity on the left wall. Also, the shirts are organized by color. I'm a weird one...