9/9/12

The conventional thought was that prerinsing pots, pans and dishes before placing them in the dishwasher made them cleaner. With advancements in dishwasher technology and automatic dishwashing tablets, the detergents and machines actually need dirty dishes. The detergent is designed to attack grime and grease; clean pots and pans mean the detergent will attack the cookware more aggressively, leaving it scratched or cloudy. Just scrape off baked-on food and start the machine.

9/8/12

Want a natural way to keep pesky flies out of the kitchen? Common sense first: Cover all food and keep whatever you can in airtight containers or in the refrigerator. Second: Keep a small pine-tree plant in the kitchen. Of all the natural oils and scents that deter flies, pine oil is the most effective and the strongest. By keeping a living tree in the kitchen, you'll keep flies away and have something beautiful, too. You can find easy-to-care-for varieties at any home improvement store.

9/7/12

Have some generic white coffee mugs you want to customize? Grab a permanent marker and embellish the front with whatever design you want, then bake the mug at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes in the oven. Turn off the oven and allow the mug to cool completely. The ink will set and make a permanent design on your mug. Now you'll never lose track of your mug again.