30 super household cleaning tips!
/1 Minimise odours in your fridge by placing an open container of bicarbonate of soda or a piece of coal on one of the shelves.
2 Remove rust from chrome by wiping it down with tinfoil that has been dipped in cola. To polish chrome, rub with a crumpled piece of tinfoil.
3 To clean an electric drip coffee maker, fill the reservoir with half water and half vinegar. Place a clean filter paper in the basket and run through the machine’s entire cycle. Repeat twice more using plain water.
4 Add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to your wash cycle to help remove stains and odours from your washing.
5 Polish stainless-steel cutlery by rubbing the pieces with a cloth dipped in vinegar.
6 To help avoid a clogged drain, put a few tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the drain every couple of weeks and flush it down with hot water.
7 Before squeezing a lemon, heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will increase the quantity of juice that you will be able to extract from the lemon.
8 A mixture of dishwashing liquid and sugar is effective for removing oil and grease from dirty hands.
9 Make your candles last longer by placing them in a plastic bag and putting them in the freezer for 24 hours before lighting.
10 Clean the bottom of an iron by sprinkling coarse salt onto a clean cloth placed on top of your ironing board. Set your iron to its highest setting and then iron back and forth over the salt.
11 To descale a washing machine put a cup of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and then run the machine empty through a complete hot wash cycle.
12 Use cornflour to remove oil stains from delicate fabrics. Cover the stain with cornflour. Leave for a few hours. Shake the clothing free of the flour and then hand wash, or wash on a gentle machine cycle, using a detergent that is suitable for delicate fabrics.
13 Stop drawers from sticking on their runners by rubbing a bar of soap across the runners to make them glide smoothly.
14 Clean a microwave by adding four tablespoons of lemon juice to one cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. boil for five minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense on the inside, then wipe with a soft cloth.
15 Clean stainless-steel appliances by wiping with a small amount of baby oil on a napkin.
16 Remove cat and dog hair from clothes and furniture by rubbing the items with damp rubber gloves.
17 Add two teaspoons of vanilla essence to each one-and-a-half litres of paint to reduce overpowering paint smells.
18 Remove mildew by mixing one part bleach with 11 parts water. Wearing rubber gloves, use a sponge or soft-bristled brush to apply the solution. Rinse with a damp sponge and wipe down.
19 Remove rust stains on white clothes by applying a mix of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Leave to dry, rinse thoroughly then wash as usual.
20 Retard grease build-up in your oven by periodically wiping the interior with a vinegar-soaked cloth.
21 Remove rust stains on white clothes with a mixture of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the stain, leave to dry then rinse thoroughly before washing as usual.
22 Remove deodorant stains from a garment by dissolving two aspirins in a little warm water and applying the paste to the stain. Leave the paste to dry, then brush it off and launder the garment as usual. Be sure to test this on a hidden spot first to see whether the fabric dye holds.
23 Erase scuff marks on smooth leather shoes by rubbing the marks with the cut edge of a raw potato and then buffing.
24 Clean a narrow-necked vase by filling it with hot water and a couple of fizzy denture-cleaning tablets. Leave to stand overnight, then rinse and dry.
25 Sanitise a cutting board by using a scrubbing brush and a mixture of one teaspoon of bleach with one litre of water. Do not rinse. Let the board air-dry on its side.
26 Remove old paint stains from wood or plastic by softening with linseed oil. Wipe off. For tougher stains, use a razor blade and carefully scrape off.
27 Clean your coffee grinder by grinding acupofriceinit from time to time. This will sharpen the blades at the same time.
28 Make your home smell fresh by simmering orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves and abayleafinapot of water for half an hour.
29 After you have cleaned your paintbrushes, rinse them in a little fabric softener to make them softer for the next job.
30 To remove stains from a teapot, fill it with cold water. Add a little chlorine bleach or a fizzy denture-cleaning tablet. Leave for an hour then rinse thoroughly.
Blogging Tips {new series on the blog!}
/Kitty Cat...
/Columbo Coffee {Durban}
/"The Colombo story began many years ago when a young James Brown Richardson, who was employed by Thornton Tea and Coffee, was called to service during the First World War. An Australian veteran of the Siege of Ladysmith, he decided to move to South Africa some years before as he had grown fond of this charming land during a visit. After catching Malaria in East Africa during WW1, he was invalided out. When James (fondly known as "Jas B") returned, he found that his employers had gone under and that he would have to carve his own path in order to continue in the industry that he loved. In 1917, Jas B opened his own shop in Johannesburg, South Africa and began to provide Tea and Coffee to the mines in and around the Transvaal (now known as Gauteng). But in 1922, when Jas B could not deliver to strikers during the Rand rebellion, he was forced to pack up his shop and move to Durban due to the threats of the strikers involved.
It was in 1923 that Jas B together with his son, Norman Richardson (who was only 17 at the time) founded The Colombo Tea Agency in a basement of the old Barnes & McFie Arcade in Durban. The Colombo Tea Agency was based on the Richardson family’s knowledge and “nothing but utmost value” approach to Tea and Coffee. The Colombo Tea Agency, specialists in Tea, Coffee and Cocoa, would continue to make their mark on the people of Durban through harsh times and dark realities, to the silver lining and even brighter future.
Fast forward to the early seventies - the Richardson family business was well supported in their decision to turn down offers in buying their West Street property (the original micro-coffee roastery and shop) as a part of a development project in 1972. In refusing to give way to big business, Norman Richardson, then MD of the company, quickly became a people’s hero receiving a flood of appreciative letters from all over the country.
Colombo Tea & Coffee Co. has undergone many changes, but time has taken kindly to the Colombo legacy and the preservation of our ideals. Our Mission since 1917 has been "To never compromise on the value of fine Tea and Coffee and Cocoa, and to spread our love of these fine beverages to all that we come into contact with". We now have the opportunity to communicate this message with the entire International community, showing our knowledge and skills, passed down to us through generations of passionate research and development. Our young team is comprised of passionate roasters, blenders and baristas dedicated to the artisan science of flavour, especially the complex characteristics found in tea and coffee. Lead by Victor Richardson (fourth generation director of Colombo) and Kyle Fraser (the young blood and breath of life into Colombo) commitment to the local audience and web of local ‘business partners’ we are destined to spread our unique message to an eager market!"Who wouldn't want to pop in for a cuppa now?!
Postnet...posting locally around South Africa
/Christmas wrapping idea's...
/*Sewing* Pretty
/Kings of Leon *Joburg* How to Get to the FNB Stadium
/*Spring* Cleaning your MakeUp Brushes
/Get Creative...*Bunting*
/Scavenging...
/To be really successful, make friends with the scrap heap owner...he may even give you junk, *ahem* I mean potential treasures, for free!
There are 2 scrap yards in Grahamstown for you to try your luck at, Roxcell which is located just past the Golf Club on the outskirts of town and there seems to be another one nearby Roxcell (not sure exactly where) but most scrappers seem to recommend Roxcell. Have fun!
Renewing your *Drivers License* in SA
/Even the thought of having to renew my drivers was enough to give me a headache. I mean, you couldn't pay me enough to redo it (what with the hassle of having to make a booking, failing and having to fork out more money for another test date, the stress of having to do an incline start while not putting the car in gear, and of course all the money that went into lessons) let's just say I would rather do without a car than have to do the test again today, I'm sure you feel the same :)
So, when I was pulled over the other day for a routine check (I was not speeding however hard you find that to believe!) I was politely informed that my drivers would expire in the next few months. Ok, so I'll just head to a station and get it renewed, easy peasy right?? Wrong.
30 minutes standing in a queue of 20 people, with one person on duty while everyone is on tea break is not my idea of a nice day out. So, to make things easier for you, I've got all the info on what you need right here:
- green application form (you get this at the driving license centre...fill in parts A & D)
- your current driving license
- your ID book
- photocopy of your current license (Someone at the centre made a copy for me. I'm not sure why you need this but take one just incase)
- two black and white ID photographs (they seem to have a very snazzy new system in place and only require 1 photo, but take 2 as you never know!)
- R220 (you can pay by cash or credit/debit card at most places, but have the cash on hand just in case)
The eye test took me bout 30 seconds, and fingerprints about 1 minute. BUT I did go to a very small centre (I would definitely recommend in Jo'burg is Bedfordview, the service was 100 times better than Edenvale and I was in and out in 15 minutes...truth!)
I was then told it would take about 4 weeks for my new, renewed license to arrive.
Hope you find that helpful, and good luck :)