10/18/24: Dollar Stretcher Tips

From the Editor's Desk

by Andrea Norris-McKnight
[email protected]

Hello Frugal Friend!

Yes, we're still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Hopefully, we'll be back in business next week.

Take care,
Andrea

A Carpet Cleaning Trick

I spilled some white carpenter's glue on the rug and tried to get it out with regular cleaners with very limited results. We lived with it for about six months, and we were renting at the time.

Before we moved out, I hired a professional carpet cleaning company (didn't want to lose our security deposit), and they got it out! One of the employees said that they use dry cleaning solution on tough stains. I have since obtained some, and it works great!
M.

Related: 5 Tips for Getting Your Security Deposit Back

A Trick for Cleaning Bathroom Grout

I was looking for a way to clean the bathroom grout that was easy. Moving into a new place, the bathroom was dirty. I bought some store brand scouring pads (much cheaper than the name brand and worked just as well) and used those to clean the tile grout in the bathtub area. It cleaned like a gem! With just a simple scrub back and forth across the tiles and a rinse, they looked new again.
Daisy

Related: 10 Things You Don't Want to Get Caught Doing In Your Bathroom

Unbrewed Coffee Grounds, Odors, Milk and Ink Stains

This tip is for using coffee grounds that have NOT been brewed. They work wonderfully to remove heavy perfume or laundry scents from clean clothing. I scoop some into a garbage bag, tape the top closed around a hangar with the blouse or other clothing, and hang it overnight.

An alternative is to pierce a small hole into a trash bag, insert a hanger, and hang the garment over a small container of dry coffee grounds, being sure the bag fits snugly.

Another alternative is placing the garment on a rack with fresh coffee grounds underneath; again enclosing so that the coffee oils bind with the odor and don't escape.

If the odor is really offensive, this might require a couple of days to work. I like to slightly shake the grounds to allow the air to circulate better around the garment.

Another tip is that soaking an ink stain in milk before laundering will remove the ink.
Beverly

Related: Removing Ink Stains from Clothing Inexpensively

The Challenging Light Bulb

Sometimes it's difficult to screw in a light bulb because it won't turn easily in the socket. The job will be a breeze if you first rub its base with a very thin film of petroleum jelly. It'll then go in without a problem.

Of course, never put your fingers or anything else into the socket itself. You might experience a bad shock or worse!
Phil

Related: 12 Money-Saving Uses for Petroleum Jelly

A Coffee Stretcher

Sometimes we don't drink more than one cup of coffee in the morning. To keep the remaining coffee from sitting and growing stronger during the day, I take a clean Thermos and pour the leftover coffee in and put the lid back on. I can have a fresh cup of coffee in the afternoon without having to start another pot.

We have had hot coffee even in the late evenings. This, of course, depends on how good your Thermos is.
Wanda

Related: 10 Things You Can Do With Leftover Coffee That Saves You Money

Fresh Again

After baking and turning off the oven, if I have Saltines, Ritz or Graham Crackers that have lost their crispness, I spread them on a cookie sheet, place them in the oven and close the door. After the oven cools, all are restored to original freshness.
Frances