Nestlette

The editor of Outblush offered 10 “totally random but utterly useful tricks” to her readers a couple days ago. These are the tips that a Nestlette must know -

If you burn a pan making dinner (after all, with masterpieces come messes), fill the pan with hot water, place a fabric dryer sheet in the water and let sit for an hour or so. Then, use the dryer sheet to wipe out the pan.

If you lose something tiny (like the back of an earring), stick a leg of old nylons over the hose on your vacuum and swoosh it around the floor. The suction will keep the lost item in place on the nylon, without it getting lost forever in the vacuum bag.

bucket by Casabella made from recycled soda bottles

Spring has sprung – now, it’s time to get your hands dirty and home spotless!

Turn spring cleaning into spring greening by using recycled materials (like this bucket) and making your own non-tox cleaning solutions (some recipes below).

Gorgeously Green All-Purpose* Spray
from Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green

• 32-ounce plastic spray bottle
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure castile soap (peppermint is a favorite)
• 3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 20 drops tea tree oil
• 20 drops of lavender or lemongrass essential oil

Simply fill a large 32-ounce plastic spray bottle with the water. Add the vinegar, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and lavender or lemongrass essential oil.

Lavender is lovely for the bathroom spray and lemongrass for the kitchen, so make two separate bottles at the same time. In the hot summer months, add about 10 drops of citronella essential oil to the spray, as it is an excellent insect repellent.

*Safe for acrylic, ceramic, wood, marble and granite. (more…)

Something that has been done for generations and generations but it’s never talked about – How do you iron a shirt?? How do you iron pants?? This is new to me and it should be so easy but I want to do it properly – I want a technique! So I watched a How To by Real Simple. (And it really is quite simple!) (more…)

pix c/o: howtobepretty.wordpress.com

I am always tempted to buy Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products because of the attractive packaging but now I am going to buy it for how well it works and how wonderful it smells.

I ran out of my usual dish soap (a bottle of Joy for less than a dollar) and started using the free samples of Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap that I had been given at a festival. It costs a bit more than the cheap stuff but makes up for it in the dishwashing experience. Cleaning up messy dishes may be the most dreaded part of preparing a fantastic meal but the scents of this dish soap is good motivation that makes washing pots and pans less of a chore. It’s like multitasking – clean dishes and a nice aroma in the air.

Do you know someone who lets out a “the world is going to end” gasp after they spill something on themselves and in a seriously concerned state ask, “Is it going to stain?!” then run around panic-stricken to find water as if a fire has fallen on their trousers or blouse? Well, instead of rolling your eyes at the drama of it all or laughing at the silliness of what they consider a serious situation, offer this: Madame Paulette’s Professional Stain Removal Kit.

Most likely, they will ask you “What is this?” because although they are on a mission to do something, they do not want to make it worse and therefore may have their reservations if they are not familiar with Madame Paulette’s impeccable reputation (now maybe you can roll your eyes). All you can hope is that their stain is a big red wine one so you can show em what this kit is really made of and become a hero of some sort (except if you are at a charity event…or a dedication…then you still might not be the star, star of the show…but you will be a fabulous Nestlette!). (more…)

We have had the Violight Toothbrush Sanitizer for almost a year now and it has turned out to be a great investment. Think about it – you brush your teeth to get rid of the icky stuff but where does that icky stuff go? Your toothbrush. Yet, like that dingy disgusting kitchen sponge that you have not replaced in two months, you let that icky stuff reside in your toothbrush – right next to the toilet – and keep on using it. Gross. So, if you and your family are going to let your germ-infested toothbrushes drip together in the same toothbrush holder, let it be a Violight which kills 99.9% of the bacteria living on your toothbrush (which means that you are putting a much more sanitary instrument in your mouth two, three, four or five times a day). (more…)

Just when you think you got the job done, you proudly glance around the room and then, you spot it – the dust bunny. Sneaky lil fuzzer. So you walk over thinking you can show him who’s boss. You humbly pick him up and then, just when you think you got em, another one appears, lurking and taunting you. Nasty lil creatures. (more…)