Dial-a-Maid
This is the season to spend too much time and money on little details and mishaps. Here are tried-and-true tips and tricks to make your holidays a bit easier, says a 40+ year old Residential Cleaning Service in Evanston, Il.
Fallen Pine needles. If you don't want to bring out the vacuum, wrap a piece of duct tape around your hand and pat to pick up pine needles.
Dried candle drips. Set your blow-dryer with a nozzle on a high setting. Direct the heat over drippings, and hold for 20 seconds or until the wax melts. Wipe immediately with a paper towel. For Hanukkah candle holders- remove the melted wax with Q-tips.
Cranberry sauce stains. Remove any remains with a butter knife. Rinse with cold water, Place a clean paper towel or cloth under the stain to prevent "bleeding". douse with aerosol hair spray to loosen the stain. Blot with a clean cloth or paper towel. Launder per care instructions.
Fill glass vases with candy, pine cones, ornaments or fruit. Rather than buy floral centerpieces that can cost $ 40 and up, fill cylinder vases you've collected from flower deliveries with candy canes, peppermint swirls or red and green Hershey Kisses.
Use decorative cupcake liners for individual snacks. Fill with items such as mixed nuts, small pretzels, or trail mix.
Dab incandescent lightbulbs with peppermint oil, suggests a 40+ year old Residential Cleaning Service in Evanston, Il. The scent will be activated when the lights are turned on, warming the oil and adding a fresh holiday scent. Make sure that the bulbs are off and cold before adding the oil.
Make a ribbon dispenser out of a shoebox. Cut a hole at each end of the shoebox wide enough to put a paper towel tube through it. Trim the tube through it. Trim the tube to fit. Place spools of ribbon on the tube, and insert it into the holes. On the long side of the shoebox, cut half-inch slits to thread ribbon from each spool. Pull each ribbon through its slit. Do not seal the ends where the tube is inserted sot hat you can restock the spool. The above suggestions are in Bottom Line Personal Magazine by Julie Edelman ( The Accidential Housewife).
