338_4-2016.pdf

Elizabeth Spear's

compliments of

Elizabeth Spear 513-265-3004 路 513-520-5305 LizTour.com liz@lizspear.com 5720 Gateway Blvd #203 Mason , OH 45040

Dust and dirt, grime and grunge, clutter and chaos: They seem to reign after the beginning of the year and invade every corner of our lives. Well, no more! Spring has officially sprung and it's time to clean up Winter's dreary act and start anew. Spring cleaning is here to save the day!

This month in Welcome Home magazine discover the fascinating history of soap; It's been around longer than you might think. Take a deep dive with us into the often frightening realm of your refrigerator and figure out how to get it sparkling clean in no time. Uh oh! Your clean freak friend called and she's coming by NOW. Don't sweat it, we have the 411 on how to clean up your house in a hurry. Last but not least, learn how to banish your clutter and enjoy the simple pleasures of a clean space.

Please enjoy this issue of the magazine!

Have an advantageous April, and as always, Welcome Home!

compliments of

Elizabeth Spear 513-265-3004 路 513-520-5305

Visit My Site Email Me 5720 Gateway Blvd #203 Mason , OH 45040

Welcome Home!

Table of Contents 4

Recipe And Design

A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.

5

A Brief History of Soap

You mean we were not always this clean?!?

6

How To Spring Clean Your Fridge

It’s not just your house that needs freshening!

8

In The Kitchen.

Luscious Lemon: Catherine’s Lemon Squares

9

Health and Wellness.

Citrus: fresh, clean, and good for you too.

10

Getting Your Closets All Buttoned Up

12

How To Clean Your House In A Hurry!

Take back your closet and finally enjoy your clothes.

Need your house clean NOW? Here is how!

14

Spring Cleaning Your Home

What you need to know to make your house a clean haven.

18

10 Natural Cleaners

Make your house shine, naturally.

20

Products To Love!

Hot trends, technological wonders of tomorrow and so much more!

21

DIY Project - April Bathroom freshening fun - Fizzy Toilet Fresheners!

Welcome Home is for entertainment purposes only. This magazine is not intended to solicit other brokers’ listings. If you are currently working with another broker, please disregard this information.

All pictures courtesy of sxc.hu unless otherwise noted. Thanks to Wikipedia for Random Fact information and aid.

Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor The information provided in this publication of Welcome Home or on any website maintained

by U.S. Cybertek, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees (collectively Publisher) is intended as a general guide illustrating common methods of common practices, and the publisher makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever of the safety, effectiveness, or other characteristic of any methods or products described herein. Neither does the Publisher assume any liability for information published in any website or other publication to which reference may be made herein. Readers are cautioned to review and comply with all written instructions, safety bulletins, and other materials provided in connection with any of the products mentioned herein and all products used in connection with any of the methods described. Neither Published nor any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees shall in any case be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special punitive or similar damages arising out of your use of or failure to use any of the methods and/ or products described in this publication or any other publication or websites to which reference may be made herein. Publisher disclaims all warranties, and any warranty or guarantee of safety, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose lies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.

Recipe and Design Spring Basket Door Decoration

Kickin' Orange Glazed Chicken

What You Need:

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

4 (5- to 6-oz.) chicken cutlets 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon salted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup orange marmalade 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon lemon zest, plus 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Preparation: 1. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle both sides of cutlets with salt and pepper. Melt butter with oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Cook cutlets in butter mixture until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Tilt pan; add marmalade and next 3 ingredients to drippings, and stir until combined. Spoon sauce over cutlets.

2. Broil 8 inches from heat until chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 6 minutes, turning cutlets every minute and basting with pan sauce. Spoon sauce over chicken.

3. Optional: Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans

• • • • • • •

Flat Sided Basket Faux Twigs and Vines Lightweight glasses Eggshells, cleaned Plastic eggs Feathers Pearlescent Spray Paint

• • • • • •

Hot Glue Gun w/ sticks Wide Ribbon Fresh Tulips Wheatgrass Florists Wire Sturdy hook for Front Door

Instructions: 1. Choose a basket with a flat side that complements your door, and wire faux twigs and vines to it to form a handle.

2. Stick lightweight glasses inside both sides of the basket to hold tulips, and tuck in wheatgrass to secure the glasses in place.

3. Hot-glue painted eggshells and feathers to the grass.

4. Apply letter stickers to plastic eggs, spray with pearlescent paint, and let dry. Remove the stickers.

5. Hot-glue the eggs to a wide ribbon, and hot-glue the ribbon to the basket.

6. To care for your door decoration, keep the tulip water fresh and periodically mist the grass.

Southern Living, APRIL 2016 Courtesy of Better Homes and gardens.com

A Brief History of Soap

Soap is something that we take for granted now a days but it wasn't always that way. Not everyone had soap so readily available to them in the shower or at the sink, so where did this wonderful cleaner come from and who invented it?

The earliest record of soap dates back to 2800 BC in Babylon where a recipe was recorded on stone. It is again seen in ancient Egypt where they used both animal and vegetable oils mixed with alkaline salts to create a soap like substance for bathing. They also used this substance for making wool for weaving. The actual word soap doesn't appear until the first century AD where it is written in "Historia Naturalis" as the word sapo, Latin for soap. It is believed that the word sapo comes from Mount Sapo where many animal sacrifices took place, and tallow from these sacrifices would then be mixed with the ashes to produce soap. Although this is only a story and the Romans never wrote of such a thing.

Aelius Galenus better known as Galen of Pergamon was a prominent Roman physician, who in 300 AD in one of his works describes soap and soap making. He tells of how lye is used and prescribes it for washing away the impurities from both the skin and clothes. He goes on to state how the best soaps were German made.

By the second half of the 15th century the manufacture of soap began to boom, by 1525 there were 2 factories in France producing soap. Finer soaps began to be produced and the knowledge of hygiene had spread. Advertising campaigns promoted popular awareness of the relationship between being clean and being healthy. The soap makers began to use more vegetable fat in their soap and less animal fat. Many of these soaps are still produced today.

Until the industrial revolution soap making was conducted on a small scale and the soap was rough and unrefined. In 1789 Andrew Pears began making high quality soap in London and in 1862 his son in law opened a factory. Soon many people were making soap all over the world. William Hesketh Lever and his brother James founded what is still one of the largest soap businesses in 1886. Then called lever brothers you now know it as Unilever.

Today soap is poured into many different molds and made with many different oils and fats. It is fragranced and colored to appeal to many different people. Although it is made in much the same way as it once was. Can you imagine a world with out soap?

Written by Brenda Hopkins. Article courtesy of ezinearticles.com.

How To Spring Clean Your Fridge

Keeping our fridge clean is generally not at the forefront of our mind until things start piling up. To avoid this problem, a weekly quick clean is in order. If you follow these simple steps you will never have to do a fridge spring clean again!

Here's how:

plastic sealed bag or plastic container. If you leave an onion half-cut in the crisper, you fridge will smell like an onion and your milk and juices will taste like it. Smells travel so keep them at bay.

Also add a baking soda box to the freezer and follow the same premise.

1. Wipe Down! Use a sponge or light, soft scrubbing pad and soak with soap and water or a kitchen cleaner to wipe down the exterior of the fridge. If you have lots of papers and magnets on the fridge, take those off first. Consider only keeping 3 magnets on the side or front of the fridge as this tends to instantly make a kitchen look cluttered. Remove all sticky marks, fingerprints and don't forget to wipe the top of the fridge for dust if you have access to the top.

5. Keep Leftovers in the Clear. There is nothing worse than opening leftovers from a month ago and having to smell and see what is inside. Know what is inside of every container by investing in some inexpensive clear storage containers. You might want to use some clear labels to list the date and the contents. Leftovers will get buried in opaque containers. You are also more likely to see the item and eat it instead of wasting it as it winds up in the trash.

2. To eat, or not to eat? Open your fridge and get out a garbage bag and do a process of elimination by sorting, keeping and tossing. Go shelf by shelf and start pulling items and looking at expiry and best before dates. Anything expired goes into the garbage. Likewise anything that looks like a leftover and you are unsure of when it was placed in there, goes too. Any other items that you don't need, want or use will also go. Anything you truly need and do use will go back in after the cleaning, set aside on the counter in one area. Do the same with the freezer

6. Everything in its Place. Set up your fridge so that like items are located in the same place. For example all condiments can live in the fridge door on one or two shelves All large containers of juice, milk and water are best on the top shelf of the fridge. Raw meat belongs on the bottom shelf as not to cross-contaminate should it leak. Each shelf can have a theme almost. Shelf two could be grain products like muffins, bagels, bread and maybe the associated spreads like peanut butter or butter. Use the fruit and vegetable crispers separately for what they are intended. This makes for faster cooking and preparation when you don't have to search the whole fridge for one item.

3. Clean on the inside. This is the most important part of the process. Now that the fridge is free from food items and containers you can take each glass shelf out and clean with kitchen spray or soap and water followed by a wipe down with glass cleaner. Make sure the inside corners and walls of the fridge are also wiped down. In the door of the fridge you'll clean each storage compartment then move to the fruit and veggie crispers etc. Take a good look and make sure that everything is sparkling. Wipe down all the bottles and containers with soapy water, dry and replace into the fridge.

4. Keep Odor under Control! Place a new opened box of baking soda at the back of the top shelf of the fridge. This will help keep odor in check as the baking soda absorbs bad smells. Always take a permanent marker and write the date on the box.

Remember to change it every 3 months. In addition always place items in the fridge in either a

7. Stay on top of it! It is easy to see a raw meat juice spill in the fridge and say "I'll get it later".

Later usually becomes never. Do yourself a favor and pick a day, maybe the same day you clean the rest of your house or grocery shopping day, to keep it clean. If you follow these steps weekly it will be much easier. When you look into your fridge weekly you'll only need to wipe it down, glass clean a few shelves, wipe down a couple containers and toss an item or two that has expired.

The Fridge can seem like a whale of a job but only if you let it get that far. Tackle this job once today and the payoff will be well worth it. Not only is it

presentable to your family an unsuspecting house visitors, it is also hygienic and clean to keep your family healthy!

Written by Karla Davis. Courtesy of ezinearticles.com

In The Kitchen

Catherine’s Lemon Squares BOTTOM LAYER: • 1 Cup Flour • 1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar • 1/2 Cup (one stick) Butter, room temperature • 1/8 tsp Salt Combine all and stir until well blended (I mix with my hands). Scrape mixture into a 9 inch square pan. Press down with fingers until even. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.

Next start preparing the top layer while the bottom layer is baking.

TOP LAYER: • 1 CUP Granulated Sugar • 3 TB fresh lemon juice • 2 large eggs • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/8 tsp salt

Beat eggs slightly and add other ingredients until well blended and thick. When bottom layer is done, pour the topping over the base and spread evenly with a spatula. Return to the oven (same temperature, 350) and bake for another 20 minutes.

Cool and dust with powdered sugar sifted through strainer.

Courtesy of jennifermoss.com

Health & Wellness

Citrus Citrus fruits are considered to be a type of acidic fruit because of their high content of citric acid. There are trace amounts of the toxic oxalic acid too, which adds a zing to the fruits' acidic taste. What distinguishes citrus fruits from other acidic fruits is that they are all so rich in ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, one of the most important of all anti-oxidants.

The body does not produce Vitamin C, so it's necessary to take it in very large amounts. As people get older their Vitamin C level decreases. Therefore, as they age people should increase their intake of Vitamin C in order to prevent this decrease.

Some of the more common citrus fruits are oranges, lemons, limes, citrons, grapefruit, and tangerines. There are a great many other citrus fruits as well, that may not be as familiar, but still contribute to a very numerous species. Botanical scientists have determined that the Citrus genus originally branched into three, perhaps four species, and through natural and manufactured hybridization, expanded to as many as 170 species. It's quite apparent then, that without a doubt, there's a whole lot of citrus out there. One obvious physical characteristic of citrus fruit is that the internal fleshy part is divided into individual segments that are filled with pulp vesicles (or sacs) and surrounded by a leathery kind of rind.

The rind is the primary source for the citrus essential oils used in aromatherapy and in treating other health conditions.

Unlike most essential oils, which are produced by a process of steam distillation, citrus essential oils are cold pressed

from the rind of the fruit. Besides being rich in Vitamin C, citrus fruits are sources of minerals and such essential nutrients as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin B6. Lemons have been used to effectively reduce the pain of bee stings; oranges and limes have long been used as preventives against scurvy, an abhorrent disease that is caused by extreme Vitamin C deficiency.

Citrus essential oils are often added to soaps, not only because of the widely and wildly varied, tangy scents they display, but also because they contain natural anti-oxidants that aid the body in strengthening and toning tissues. There are also some citrus oils used as exfoliates that balance and detoxify the skin. Citrus soap is made from any of an abundance of tropical fruit essential oils. As a single essence or combined with other citrus essential oils, nutrients, and ingredients, citrus soaps offer a unique bathing experience.

While providing a calming influence, they work together, soothing the skin against irritations and inflammations from acne and other flare-ups of the skin.

Citrus fruits are among the most important sources of vital nutrients, like ascorbic acid, that the body does not produce.

This acid is especially necessary to effect a number of metabolic reactions, such as the formation of collagen, which, among other things, aids in building strong connective tissue. The importance of citrus essential oils as a beneficial asset to our bodies, skin, and lives cannot be overstated.

Written by Craig Boggs. Courtesy of ezinerticles.com

Get Your Closets Buttoned Up

Feeling like an organizational failure because your clothes and shoes aren't color coded and perfectly aligned is a total waste of energy. With that said, there are times when you simply need a catalyst, a major 'event' that will help you get over your organizational 'hump' sort of like a shot in the arm.

And in that case, almost nothing comes close to the instant gratification that comes with tackling a closet bursting at the seams with stuff.

#1. Assess your "biggest closet problem" first: Do you have too many shoes for the space? Get a better shoe system like an over the door organizer or hanging shoe rack. Do you have too many clothes for the space? Get thinner hangers to make more room. Having trouble finding your items in the morning, divide the t-shirts, dresses, jeans, etc. into separated sections. Or is it that you have WAY TOO MANY EXTRA things in the closet? Find them a new "home" or contain them in one "extras" box in your closet. Whatever your biggest problem in the closet is, attack that first. The rest will be easier by default.

insurance information, or tax documents should never be in your bedroom closets. Pick up a Life.doc to organize all of your most critical information in one, easily accessible binder. Then get a File.starter to file away all of your important loose papers in a file cabinet or milk crate.

#2. Recruit the Troops. No matter how much of a super mom or dad you are, the whole family should help with this task. Not only should it be your spouse and kids' responsibility to organize their clothes, accessories and toys but chances are if you try to do it without them, you'll throw away something that seems insignificant to you but important to them. Plus you'll cut your cleaning time way down.

#7. Apply the 80/20 Rule: The majority of clothes you have probably go unworn. We don't know if it's true or not, but we've heard the statistic that the average American only wears 10% - 20% of the clothes they own. Try to eliminate some of the extras. As you rotate in your new wardrobe, put those items that you haven't worn once in the previous season in a bag to give to charity or swap with friends. And anything with holes in it should be either thrown out immediately or put in the rag bin. Be ruthless!

#3. Schedule Time: Block off an hour on your calendar this week or next to tackle the problem.

When you actually carve out out the time, it's amazing what you can accomplish in an hour. If you don't have a free hour, you should at least be able to break it up into two half-hour sessions. If you need to, arrange for someone watch the kids.

Better yet, have your spouse take the kids out of the house for an hour while you go to work and then return the favor when it's their turn to hit the closets. #4. Start from Scratch. Take the time to pull everything out of your closet and then throw away and donate what you don't need. If you don't take it all out, chances are you'll just move the same unnecessary or unwanted items to another part of the closet.

#6. Organize in Sections. Designate areas of your closets specifically for shoes, hats, sweaters, etc and stick to them. This will save you time in the morning when you're looking for that black cardigan. If you only have areas to hang items, put in shelves as this will better utilize your space

#8. Try the One in One out rule: For each new item you buy to put in a closet, force yourself to donate one item (or pitch it if it is past its prime).

This will keep the pack rat in you contained! #9. Keep It Up: Use 15 minutes a week to straighten and deal with your closet for every week after the "big clean" organizing day. When you tackle it BEFORE it becomes a nightmare, you save more time and will have less stress over it later. #10. Reward Yourself: Give yourself a treat when this pesky task out of the way. Do something to celebrate the clutter free closets like buying a stylish hanging sweater organizer or even a new shirt. You'll certainly have room for it!

#5. Declutter quickly. The easiest way to declutter your closet is to get rid of anything that is not clothing, shoes, or accessories. Bank statements, Written by Alice Rockmore. Courtesy of ezinearticles.com

How To Clean Your House In A Hurry!

You're lying on the couch in your living room, in one of your husband's old tshirts and a pair of baggie sweatpants, watching last night's taped episode of Desperate Housewives, when suddenly - the phone rings. You don't recognize the number on caller ID and you make the mistake of answering it. It's your long lost best friend from the sixth grade. She's in town and she just happens to be in your neighborhood. She'll be over in 10 minutes, and your house is a MESS. So, how do you clean up for unexpected guests in 10 minutes or less?!

1. Stay calm!

2. Do a clean sweep. Grab a trash bag or laundry basket and gather up everything that is lying around that shouldn't be, and throw it into the bag. Hide the bag.

3. Plump up pillows on couches and chairs in living room, fold blankets. Give each cushion a swat for crumbs.

4. Stack mail, newspapers and magazines in a nice, neat pile. Stick the pile in a corner or on a kitchen chair.

5. Give the bathroom a speedy sprucing up! Wipe out the sink, wipe off the toilet seat and quickly swish the bowl. Then, close the shower curtain, and throw odds and ends in cabinets or drawers. Spray some Lysol or air freshener so the bathroom will smell clean - even if it's far from it.

6. Rinse off any dishes in the sink and stack them neatly or toss them in the dishwasher. Wipe off the table and counter tops.

7. Take a peek inside the fridge - what beverages and snacks do you have that you can offer your guests?

8. Close the doors to all rooms that you don't want on display.

9. Light a yummy scented candle in the kitchen - like Cinnamon Buns or Chocolate Cake. Lighting a few scented candles will uplift the mood of any home and make guests feel welcomed. Throw some fruit in a bowl and place it in the center of your table. Fresh flowers also do wonders, if you have them on hand.

10. Take a deep breath. Give yourself a squirt of perfume and you're all set! You may even have enough time to get changed into something a little more presentable.

Cleaning up for unexpected guests does not have to be a mad rush, if you stay caught up on your housework as a rule. A friend of mine gave me some really good advice right after my husband and I got married, she said "The best way to keep a clean house is to entertain in your home at least once a month."

There's nothing like having company coming to get cleaning!

Written by Nicole Dean. Courtesy of ezinearticles.com

Spring Cleaning Your House How To Clean Your Safe Haven For Spring

Our homes are perhaps our greatest asset and a comfortable place for us to live. They need to be a retreat from the stresses of the world and for this reason should be refreshing, neat and tidy. Nobody wants to come from work to a messy home or even to entertain friends in it.

While we turn our attention to daily and weekly chores there comes a time when we need to turn our attention to a house spring cleaning. Not only will it ensure that every nook and cranny of our home has been thoroughly cleaned, this cleaning will enable us to concentrate on maintenance and prevention cleaning afterward.

Preparing your home for spring cleaning Clutter is the most prevalent problem facing spring cleaning. Before we can get down to the business of serious cleaning we first need to get rid of the junk that clutters our homes. Pick up and toss old magazines and papers. Tidy away toys and put other items back in their respective areas.

The key to successful spring cleaning is to be able to get to all walkways, surface areas, windows and doors. Your home should be tidy enough to get to the dirt that hides in nooks and crannies.

What needs cleaning?

Spring cleaning conjures up images of sunny days with the windows thrown wide open and sunlight flooding every room. It provides thoughts of freshness and summer scented air.

While it may not be possible to attend to every inch of your home, spring cleaning should cover lots of tidying, dusting and scrubbing. Study each room and make a list of what needs to be done. Your list will provide you with a timetable as well as what equipment will be needed. From this you will be able to divide up your chores into manageable sections. If you are aiming at washing all your curtains for instance plan to do them all at the same time. Without the clutter of curtains you will have the opportunity of getting to curtain rails, windows and windowsills. This will also give you the opportunity of dusting and cleaning high up into the corners of the ceilings.

Spring cleaning tips Spring cleaning is traditionally undertaken in spring, especially in colder climates. The warmer weather provides the motivation needed to get rid of dust and grime accumulated during the winter months.

However the warmer weather often calls for outdoor activities and spring cleaning is far down the list.

There are ways to help you get organized and in doing so alleviate the time taken for this chore.

1. First, decide how much time you want to dedicate to the task and when it is most convenient. For instance some people may prefer to tackle the task over an entire weekend while others may prefer to devote a few hours to it each day over a period of time.

2. Ensure that you make your task as enjoyable as possible. Put on your favorite music and be sure to take sufficient breaks.

Order your favorite take out foods as a treat at the end of the session.

3. Ask for help if you can. Get your family or friends involved and offer them incentives for helping you. Equip each person with a bag they can keep on them filled with cleaning materials and a list.

4. Be brutal about getting rid of items you no longer have any use for. Sort and separate them and sell them if you can. You can also offer them to friends and family or donate them to charity. Most charities will accept almost anything for fund raising. Be sure however that you offer them goods that are in good working order.

5. If you are disposing of hazardous materials ensure that you do so in an environmentally friendly way. You can either deliver them to a waste station or arrange for them to collect.

6. Arrange those items you are keeping in containers and find an area where you can store them neatly.

7. Once you have finished spring cleaning why not rearrange your furniture for a fresh look. If you can afford it, spring cleaning offers a perfect opportunity for re-decorating or re-painting.

8. Spring cleaning is a great way to get rid of the old and bring in the new. Pay attention to every area. De-clutter your bookshelves, cabinets, clothes and even your computer.

Written by Merilee Paige. Courtesy of ezinearticles.com

10 Natural Cleaners To Make Your House Shine

Most of these cleaners are things you may already have at home and in most cases provide a safe non-toxic alternative to bleach or ammonia based cleaners. Note the precautions mentioned where applicable. Once you begin using these natural products, you'll never need or want to buy those expensive cleaners again.

1. Vinegar This is probably one of the most commonly used natural cleaner, and with so many uses, you'll want to fill a spray bottle to keep handy as well as keep an extra gallon under the sink, just for cleaning. Use it as you would an all-purpose cleaner by mixing 1 part water to 1 part vinegar and use it to clean most areas of your home. It cleans, disinfects and deodorizes safely and effectively.

In the bathroom it works great in the bathtub, toilet, sink, floor and countertops. Try using pure vinegar in the toilet to get rid of rings. It works great tackling soap scum and hard water stains. For tough jobs, soak a cloth in pure vinegar and apply to the stain for an hour or so, then wipe.

In the kitchen use vinegar for the all the appliances, countertops, and floor. Soak hardened cleaning brushes in vinegar overnight to soften the bristles.

In the laundry room, vinegar works great as a natural fabric softener; just add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of store bought fabric softener. It also breaks down the detergent more effectively, reducing soap spotting. This is a real perk for family members with sensitive skin.

Precautions: Vinegar is an acid and if not diluted effectively can eat away at the grout in your tile. It should also never be used on marble surfaces.

2. Lemon Juice Lemon juice is also used to dissolve soap scum and mineral deposits from hard water. It does a great job of shining brass and copper. It works well as a disinfectant for a wood cutting board.

Simply cut a lemon in half and wipe it on the wood. Combine lemon juice with vinegar and baking soda to make a cleaning paste. Mix 1 cup of olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice to make a furniture polish for hardwood. Take a used lemon peel and put it through the garbage disposal to freshen the drain.

3. Baking Soda Baking soda works great as a gentle abrasive cleanser that won't damage delicate or coated surfaces. It is probably most famous for its deodorizing properties - open a box and place it

in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odors.

This actually works great anywhere to fight smells including sprinkling on the carpet before you vacuum. It also leaves a nice scent if you mix with lavender flowers.

4. Hot Sauce Simply rub it on dulled copper, rinse with water and polish with a soft cloth.

Precautions: Ensure you keep your hands away from your eyes, and rinse the object well.

5. Olive Oil Olive oil has wonderful re-hydrating properties and works great on dried-out wood (as long as it was originally treated with an oil finish). Simply spread a thin coat of oil on the wood and buff.

6. White Wine Douse a red wine stain with white wine, and blot with a clean cloth to absorb.

7. Salt Salt also works well to absorb red wine (depends on which is handier, the white wine or the salt). Just sprinkle on the stain, let it dry up and vacuum. Salt is also great for cleaning up grease spills in ovens or burners. While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt on the spill. If it has completely dried, then moisten with water before applying the salt. Once the oven cools, scrape away the spill and wipe clean.

8. Cornmeal Cornmeal works well to soak up grease. Simply cover a fresh grease stain with cornmeal, let it sit for a few hours and vacuum.

9. Mayonnaise This delicious spread can be used for more than tuna sandwiches. The next time you spill water on your wood furniture, leaving a water mark, apply a generous portion of mayonnaise and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe it away and allow to dry.

10. Borax (sodium borate) Borax is a natural substance that kills mold and bacteria, and makes a great alternative to bleach. It also deodorizes and breaks down detergent to improve its cleaning power. Try soaking old towels or gym clothes in a solution of borax and water to make them smell fresh again.

Written by Andy Asbury. Courtesy of ezinearticles.com.

Products To Love In April Baking soda disc. Eliminates odors so foods taste fresher longer. 30 days of freshness. Hang in the freezer, refrigerator or crisper. Includes suction cup hang feature. Replacement indicator. Made in United States. Please click here for more information.

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner, Clary Sage & Citrus. Safe and effective for all

surfaces including: toilets, countertops, appliances, baseboards, walls, floors, tables, showers, marine, recreational and automotive equipment, sporting goods, toys, fabrics and carpets (whew -- just to name a few). Effortlessly cuts through grease, grime, soapscum, hardwater stains and can even be used as a laundry pre-spotter. Free of VOCs, alkyphenol surfactants, and petroleum.

No rinsing or residue, just wipe clean.

Not tested on animals. Please click here for more information.

Custom Melt and Pour Soap Kit. This kit is so much fun and it is very easy to use. Just melt your soap in your very own reusable microwavable silicone mini loaf pan. Kit includes: Glycerin Soap 4 Stars, 4 Hearts, And 4 Seashells, Colorful Squigglies And Ribbons, Approximately 2-lbs Of Soap (1 White, 1 Clear), 2 Stir Craft Sticks, Silicone Mini Loaf Pan, 8 Gift Bags, 8 Jute Ties, 8 Gift Cards, Spray Bottle (Just add your own rubbing alcohol), and easy to follow instructions. Made and poured in the USA with quality glycerin soap and natural pigment colors.

Please click here for more information.

DIY Project - April

Ingredients: ½ cup Sodium Bicarbonate ¼ cup Citric Acid Witch Hazel 12 mL Lemon Essential Oil 6 mL Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill Droppers Spiral Flower Wax Tart Mold Optional: Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar

Instructions: In a large bowl, add the baking soda and citric acid and mix to combine. The baking soda and citric acid mixture may have clumps. You can use your fingers to break them up, or sift the powders through a strainer.

Add 12 mL of Lemon Essential Oil and 6 mL of Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill.

Stir the essential oils into the baking soda and citric acid mixture. Using your hands is the easiest method. Wear gloves if you want to protect your manicure, as citric acid will dull nail polish. Note: These fizzies may smell quite strong as you're mixing them together. They're heavily scented so the fresh smell fills your whole bathroom!

Check the moisture level of your fizzies. The mixture should be wet enough so when you squeeze the powder in your fist it holds its shape when you open your hand. If it doesn't hold its shape, spritz with witch hazel. You want to spray enough so that the powders stick together and aren’t crumbly. Be careful though, because spraying too much can cause the mixture to fizz prematurely and ruin your fizzies. How much witch hazel you use depends on a number of factors, including the humidity in your area. We used about 6-8 spritzes of witch hazel on a rainy day in Washington state.

Once the mixture holds its shape, pack it tightly into the mold. Make sure to pack the powder into the flower shape so the details are clear when they're unmolded.

Leave the fizzies in the mold until they're set up, which can take several hours or up to overnight. After they're unmolded, drop a freshener into your toilet and let it fizz. When it's done fizzing, flush and enjoy the clean scent!

Courtesy of thesoapqueen.com

Baking Soda or Sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt composed of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). The natural mineral form is nahcolite. Since it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many related names such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and bicarbonate of soda.

A paste from baking soda can be very effective when used in cleaning and scrubbing. For cleaning aluminum objects, the use of sodium bicarbonate is discouraged, as it attacks the thin un-reactive protective oxide layer of this otherwise very reactive metal.[citation needed] A solution in warm water will remove the tarnish from silver when the silver is in contact with a piece of aluminum foil. A paste of sodium bicarbonate and water is useful in removing surface rust as the rust forms a water-soluble compound when in a concentrated alkaline solution. Cold water should be used, as hot water solutions can corrode steel. Baking soda is commonly added to washing machines as a replacement for softener and to remove odors from clothes. Sodium bicarbonate is also effective in removing heavy tea and coffee stains from cups when diluted with warm water. During the Manhattan Project to develop the nuclear bomb in the early 1940s, many scientists investigated the toxic properties of uranium. They found that uranium oxides stick very well to cotton cloth, but did not wash out with soap or laundry detergent. The uranium would wash out with a 2% solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Clothing can become contaminated with depleted uranium (DU) dust, and then normal laundering will not remove it. Those at risk of DU dust exposure should have their clothing washed with about 6 ounces (170 g) of baking soda in 2 gallons (7.5 l) of water.

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