Fun Use Items

Organizing can be fun, and so can the gadgets and gizmos out there to keep you organized. You don't have love your labelmaker or sing over shelving to appreciate some of the neat and tools of the trade. This list of standout items might make even the messiest person want to clear out the clutter.

Fun Fact: Interesting other uses for an earring!

Posted by Janice Russell onJuly15,2010

Use as a bulletin board tack

Lend a little personal style to your bulletin board. Use mateless pierced earrings to tack up pictures, notes, souvenirs, and clippings.

Make a magnet

Give your fridge some glitz. Use wire cutters to cut the stem off an orphan earring and glue it to a magnet. What a great way to emphasize how pleased you are with that perfect report card when you stick it on the refrigerator.

Clip your scarf

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Fun Fact: Interesting Uses for Car Wax

Posted by Janice Russell onJuly01,2010

Fix skips on CDs

Don't throw out that scratched compact disc. Try fixing it first with a small dab of car wax. Spread a cloth on a flat surface and place the CD on it damaged side up. Then, wipe the polish into the affected area with a soft cloth. Wait for it to dry and buff using short, brisk strokes along the scratch, not across it. A cloth sold to wipe eyeglasses or camera lenses will work well. When you can no longer see the scratch, wash the disc with water and let it dry before playing.

Eradicate furniture stains

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Fun Fact: Interesting Uses for Egg Cartons

Posted by Janice Russell onJune17,2010

Use for storing and organizing

With a dozen handy compartments, egg cartons are a great way to store and organize small items. Here are some ideas to get you going. You're sure to come up with more of your own.

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Fun Fact: Interesting uses for Dental Floss

Posted by Janice Russell onJune08,2010

Lift cookies off baking tray: Crumbled cookies may taste just as good as those in one piece, but they sure don't look as nice on the serving plate. Use dental floss to easily remove cookies from the baking tray. Hold a length of dental floss taut and slide it neatly between the cookie bottom and the pan.

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Fun Fact: Interesting Uses for Duct Tape

Posted by Janice Russell onJune01,2010

Temporarily hem your pants: You've found a terrific pair of jeans, but the length isn't right. You expect a little shrinkage anyway, so why spend time hemming? Besides, thick denim jeans are difficult to sew through. Fake the hem with duct tape. The new hem will last through a few washes too.

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Fun Fact: Interesting Uses for Bubble Gum

Posted by Janice Russell onMay19,2010

Retrieve valuables: Oops, you just lost an earring or other small valuable down the drain. Try retrieving it with a just-chewed piece of gum stuck to the bottom of a fishing weight. Dangle it from a string tied to the weight, let it take hold, and reel it in.

Fill cracks: Fill a crack in a clay flowerpot or a dog bowl with piece of well-chewed gum.

Use as window putty: Worried that a loose pane of glass may tumble and break before you get around to fixing it? Hold it in place temporarily with a wad or two of fresh-chewed gum.

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Fun Facts: Interesting Uses for Cardboard Boxes

Posted by Janice Russell onMay04,2010

Shield doors and furniture: Use cardboard shields to protect doors and furniture from stains when you polish doorknobs and furniture pulls. Cut out the appropriate-sized shield and slide it over the items you are going to polish. This works best when you make shields that slip over the neck of knobs or knob-like pulls. But you can also make shields for hinges and U-shaped pulls.

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Fun Facts: Interesting Uses for Bottles

Posted by Janice Russell onApril27,2010

Make a foot warmer! Fill up a 1- or 2- liter soda bottle with hot water, then sit down and roll it back ande forth under your feet.

Use as a dog toy! A no-cost way to amuse your dog is to let her chew on an empty plastic 1-liter soda bottle. Dogs love the crunchy sound they make. Just be sure to remove the label and bottle cap (as well as the loose plastic ring under it). Replace it before it gets too chewed up -- broken pieces of plastic are choke hazards.

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Fun Facts: Interesting Uses for a Banana

Posted by Janice Russell onApril20,2010

Make a face mask! Use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin!  Mash up a whole banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply to face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off with cold water.

Tenderize a roast! Banana leaves are commonly used in many Asian countries to wrap meat as it’s cooking to make it more tender.

Brighten up houseplants! Wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel to remove dust and gunk and leave with a lustrous shine.

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Useful Ways to Use a Blowdryer

Posted by Janice Russell onApril08,2010

Get wax off wood furniture: Don't you hate when candle wax gets on your beautiful wooden table? Melt it with a blow dryer on its slowest, hottest setting. Remove the softened wax with a paper towel then wipe the area with a cloth dipped in vinegar and water. Then use the blow dryer again to soften the wax and peel it off.

Remove bumper stickers: Soften the adhesive with the hottest setting on your blow dryer, then peel off.

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