You know what?

A thread for tips and tricks. Anything you want, from computers to getting that nasty stain out.

/me will start off simple.

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21,389 views 91 replies
Reply #1 Top
adding white vinegar to your cold wash keeps colors from bleeding
Reply #2 Top
Doesn't that help with odors also? Good tip!


/me might as well say it now to save you all the trouble.


Duck tape will fix just about anything.
Reply #3 Top
Typing a word in the IE address bar, then hitting Ctrl+Enter will automatically wrap "www." and ".com" around the word.

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Reply #4 Top
Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and theywill take a quick dive.

Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmm...)

Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

For icy doorsteps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.

Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is)!

Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE)Rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

Whenever I purchase a box of SOS Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. And now a box of SOS pads lasts me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!

Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found a way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar of jam, pickles
etc., with a knife until it loosens up, simply reach into the drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid!

Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little peroxide on cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Work every time!

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.

Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said too never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter,and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.


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Reply #5 Top
Wow, The Rated PG! You've got some great tips there. I'll be trying the crayon one when I get home. The kids don't stand a chance now!

I only have one question, how does one have leftover wine?

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Reply #6 Top
you bought a whole lot to begin with, and passed out with an open bottle?

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Reply #7 Top
I thought you put the lime in the coconut.

Good one The Rated PG.
MikeB314, that one is really going to come in handy.


If you have a wheel mouse, try this: while you're in Internet Explorer, hold down the SHIFT key and move the wheel toward you. Each click on of the wheel should move you back one page. Now hold down the SHIFT key and move the wheel away from you. The pages should move forward.
Reply #8 Top
Not gonna happen, the wine doesn't stand a chance.......

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Reply #9 Top
Another mouse wheel tip.

Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard. Then move the wheel forward and backward. You'll see the fonts grow and shrink!
Reply #10 Top
I -love- that mousewheel tip - for moving backwards and forwards, since I use the US - International keyboard layout and can't use my right Alt key as an Alt key! (Alt-arrow for moving, too.)
Reply #11 Top
use rubbing alcohol on bandaids and tape (like the type that they put on after they draw blood). It will take the stickiness out of the baindaid/tape so that it won't hurt when you pull it off.
Reply #12 Top
TheRatedPG is the Martha Stewart of the Message Boards

Excellent tips. I've printed them all out.

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Reply #13 Top
I really wish I had an edit button I meant Heloise not Martha

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Reply #14 Top
I just found this. Boy it could really help with pop-ups also.

To close multiple windows at the same time, first click on the taskbar icon of the first window you want to close. Now, hold down the CTRL key. With the CTRL key held down, click on the other windows you want to close. Notice how the taskbar buttons appear to be held in the "pushed in" position. After you've selected all the windows you want to close, let go of the CTRL key. Right click on one of the pushed in buttons and click "close group". Bingo! All the windows close at once.
Reply #15 Top
Windows Key + E opens Windows Explorer
Windows Key + F opens the find dialouge
Windows Key + R opens the run dialouge
Windows Key + D cycles through minimizing and maximising windows
Reply #16 Top
Windows + break: Open the System Properties dialog box
Windows + L: Locks the workstation (or switchs to the Logon screen when Fast User Switching is available)

Reply #17 Top
Used a SOS pad and still soapy and ready for another use? Wrap it up in a papertowel and it will not rust away.
Reply #18 Top
Hold down left ctrl and hit refresh on a IE page. This will dump the stored info on that page. At least that's all I know so far, it might do more. You use this if images and info doesn't change no matter how many times you come back to it or refresh it. Need it alot, I can't make up my mind when I edit things on my site or on DA

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Reply #19 Top
caffeine helps pain medication (especially for headaches)
Reply #20 Top
Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.

Forget pain meds.. Woohoo!

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Reply #21 Top
For your headaches

Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.

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Reply #22 Top
(I can tell what Weaksid sits around thinking of all day )
Reply #23 Top
Hold down the Alt button on your keyboard and hit the tab key to cycle through open windows.
Reply #24 Top
, nothing else to do. You should see what my toads do.. http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/1312698

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Reply #25 Top
Hold down window's key and hit M to minimize all windows.

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