Killer Carpet Cleaner

by WiredBerries Readers — November 13, 2006

Monday, November 13th
Lactose-Free Berry-Banana Smoothie

Our smoothie of the week—from Brittany Maschal of Philadelphia, PA—is formulated for those who are lactose-intolerant. It’s low-cal and low-fat too!

1 cup fat-free lactose-free milk (such as Lactaid brand)
1 large banana
1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 packet artificial sweetener or 1 tablespoon honey

Blend ingredients in a blender or food processor. Serves one generously.

Tuesday, November 14th
Silver Sparkler

Another nifty use for that all-purpose household savior, vinegar, comes from Nancy Heiss of Orem, UT. To clean silver jewelry, place the items in a cup of white vinegar for a few hours. Then wipe with a damp rag and allow the jewelry to air dry. Use a disposable cup for the vinegar, as it may stain the container. “Your jewelry will be sparkling in no time,” Nancy says.

Wednesday, November 15th
Killer Carpet Cleaner

“Instead of expensive and often toxic carpet-cleaning products, here’s a recipe that will clean, freshen, and kill flees that may be hiding and breeding in your carpets,” writes Kori Rodley Irons of Eugene, OR. “All you need is Borax and your favorite essential oil—such as geranium, lemon, or lavender. For every two cups of Borax add about 12 to 15 drops of essential oil and mix using a wooden spoon. Sprinkle the mixture liberally over your carpets and rugs and let set for four to six hours or overnight. Then vacuum. Your carpets will smell wonderful and you’ll get rid of fleas without dangerous chemicals.”

Thursday, November 16th
Garlic Be Gone

Chopped garlic can leave an unpleasant odor on your fingers. “To rid your digits of the garlic smell,” recommends Jean Feigenbaum of Branchville, NJ, “simply wipe your fingers on the surface of a clean stainless steel knife—carefully!” Other members say any flat stainless steel surface will also do the trick.

Friday, November 17th
Creative Uses for Coffee Filters

Irene Zundel of Phoenix, AZ, has a fistful of new uses for inexpensive disposable coffee filters:

•	Put filters between your good china dishes to prevent scratches
•	Clean glasses, mirrors, windows, crystal, and computer screens with coffee filters (they’re lint-free)
•	Recycle your cooking oil by draining it through a filter-lined sieve
•	Use balled-up filters to apply shoe polish
•	Cover dishes in the microwave with flattened coffee filters to prevent splatters
•	To prevent soil from leaking out when you water your plants, line your pots and planters with coffee filters