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Here�s an inexpensive bath oil; use peanut oil, safflower oil or sunflower oil in a hot tub of water. Put your favourite herbs, lavender, basil or rose petals in a little bag and let the water run over it. You get the oil and the sweet scent for little cost.
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To save on bubble bath, make your own by placing your soap slivers into a terry drawstring bag. Dangle bag from the tap at bath time, allowing the water to run over and through it.
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If you run an inch of cold water in the bathtub before adding hot water, your bathroom will be free of steam.
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To save on hand soap, stock up when it�s on sale, then unwrap each bar before storing. This allows the bars to dry out and become harder, which makes them last longer when
used.
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To make your own liquid hand soap, you need one (3.5 ounce) bar of soap (choose soap which contains moisturizing cream) and three cups of water. Grate soap, add water and microwave on high until well dissolved. Stir every two minutes. Cool and pour into a dispenser. To use up small pieces of soap, soften in the microwave for a few seconds on a piece of plastic wrap. Then add to your new bar.
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Bits and pieces of hand soap can be used up by putting into a toe of a nylon stocking and tied.
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After washing and drying your hands, make a cup of one hand and pour in some vinegar. Carefully coat both hands as you would with hand cream. You will have soft hands.
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Rub your hands with vinegar to get rid of food odours such as fish, garlic and onion.
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Vinegar will remove fruit and vegetable stains from hands.
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To get the onion smell out of your hands, rub them with a little dry mustard.
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To remove paint smells from your hands, use water and lemon juice.
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Dip hands in lemon juice to whiten fingernail tips.
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Before going to work in your garden, rub your nails over a bar of soap. This will prevent the dirt from getting your nails.
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Lather soap in your hands and add 1/2 tsp. Sugar to the lather to remove gardening stains from your hands.
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To save money on special soap, use laundry detergent as a hand cleaner for greasy, oily hands.
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If you�re bothered by hang nails, place Vitamin E around the cuticles.
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Baby oil does the same job as cleansing creams but at less than half the price.
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To save on costly facials here are two inexpensive homemade treatments. For normal to oily skin: one cup yogurt, one tsp. fresh lemon juice, one tsp. fresh orange juice and one tsp. carrot juice. Blend ingredients and apply to face, leaving on 10-15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. For dry skin: 1/4 mashed avocado, 1/2 mashed banana, two tbsp. plain yogurt and one tsp. wheat-germ oil. Combine and use as directed above.
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Use solid canned shortening as a makeup remover.
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Blemishes will fade if you dab a little lemon juice on them.
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Lemon rubbed on the skin will keep it white.
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At the end of the day, lemon slices rubbed on the feet will freshen them.
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Dead skin will peel off elbows, knees, feet and face which has been massaged with Miracle Whip Salad dressing.
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For an inexpensive shampoo, mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup dish detergent, 1/4 cup water and two tsps. mayonnaise.
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To stretch shampoo, mix one pouch of unflavoured Knox gelatin into one cup of warm water. Shake well. Pour your shampoo into a quart jar and add gelatin mixture.
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Make every drop of shampoo count. To use those last drops in the bottle, add a little water, shake the bottle and use. This works for hair conditioner as well.
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Put an end to shampoo waste by filling a clean plastic pump bottle with shampoo. A few pumps will deliver the desired amount of shampoo and there will be no more spills.
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To add lustre to brunette or red hair, after shampooing rinse with black coffee, followed by clear water.
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Add a bit of vinegar in the final rinse water will make hair shiny.
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If your young daughter�s hair has a tendency to spring out of rollers, fold strips of wet- strength facial tissue around each strand of hair before rolling on the roller. The curls will dry quickly and will be softer.
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To remove gum from a child�s hair, apply Spray & Wash generously to the gum then rub hair between fingers. Comb the gum out and wash hair.
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To remove gum from a child�s hair, use a little peanut butter and rub until the gum disappears.
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For an inexpensive homemade deodorant, make a dusting powder of equal parts baking soda, cornstarch and a pinch of ground cloves.
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Use baking powder as a deodorant. Just pat it on as you would powder.
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Clean dentures with lemon juice for a fresh-tasting mouth.
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Soak your dentures in a white vinegar overnight. It�s an inexpensive and effective way to clean them.
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TV commercials show toothpaste applied the full-length of the brush. All that is necessary is about 1/4 inch on the brush.
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If you run out of toothpaste, use baking soda.
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Get the last bit of toothpaste out by placing the tube under hot water before rolling and squeezing it.
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To get rid of onion breath, chew parsley with vinegar on it.
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Another way to get rid of onion breath is to drink a cup of strong coffee.
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Use a little salt in warm water for a mouthwash.
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Put your dentures in a cup of bleach for about 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and your dentures will be sparkling clean.
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If you use a razor and foam to shave, dry your blades well after use and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Then, with a soft facial tissue, wipe off any excess jelly. This will form a coating over the blades, making them last up to five times longer and ensuring a comfortable shave the next morning.
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To make your own hand lotion combine four ounces glycerine, two ounces alcohol, one dram gum-tragacanth (chips) and one pint of warm soft water. Mix and let stand 24 hours, shaking often. A favourite perfume could also be added.
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Make your own suntan oil cheaply by combining 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup cider vinegar.
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Fill a jar of pressed rose petals (or any sweetly-scented flowers), add as much glycerin as the container will hold and cover tightly. After three weeks or so, pour off the perfume into a perfume bottle.
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If you�re getting tired of your perfume and want to switch for awhile, put your old bottle in the refrigerator. It will not deteriorate and you can go back to it again when you feel
like it.
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Don�t throw away perfume that is not �you� - use a few drops in the bathtub or sprinkle a few drops on a light bulb for a lovely scent when the light is turned on.
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Store nail polishes in the refrigerator. They will go on more smoothly and last much longer.
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Grease the threaders on nail polish bottles and the lids won�t stick.
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Brushes and combs will come out like new if you soak them 15-20 minutes in a pot of lukewarm water to which one tbsp. baking soda or a little ammonia has been added.
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To clean hairbrushes, after hair has been removed, rinse brushes in cold water to which ammonia has been added. Shake and dry.
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To clean hairbrushes and combs combine 1/4 cup bleach, one cup water and two tbsp. Baking soda. Put in a jar and let combs and brushes soak in solution for a few hours. The solution can be reused. (CAUTION: This solution will break down protein hair) and therefore cannot be used to clean natural fibres such as pig bristle.)
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Contact lenses lost? Turn out the lights and use a flashlight. The lens will show up when the light falls on it.
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Use pierced earrings as a brooch on a sweater. That way they serve a dual purpose.
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Put a piece of chalk in your jewelry box to prevent costume jewelry from tarnishing.
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To prevent tangled necklaces, hang from cup hooks which have been put into a wooden hanger.
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Use fishing line to restring necklaces. It�s easy to handle extremely strong.
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Use empty egg cartons to store jewelry--the bottom for earrings, the lids for necklaces.
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When a ring gets stuck on your finger due to swelling, place your hand in a bowl of ice water. Soak until the ring slips off.
