HGTV.comHGTV.com

Household Uses for Spices

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-530 -- More Projects »
Click here to view a larger image.

Clean silk flowers by putting them in a paper bag and adding a cup of coarse salt. Shake the bag a few times, then remove the flowers and gently tap off any remaining salt.

TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham shares nontraditional ideas for using spices to combat household pests, keep animals out of the trash and other tasks.

  • Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the lids of outdoor garbage cans to keep critters out of the trash.

  • Keep pests out of flour and other dried goods in the pantry by adding a bay leaf to the top of the bag.

  • Place silverware and other silver items in a container, and cover with a mixture of equal parts salt and cream of tartar. Pour milk over the items to cover and let soak for a few hours. Remove the items and polish.

  • Use cream of tartar to brighten delicate white items such as a doilies or handkerchiefs. Soak the items in a solution of water, a tablespoon of cream of tartar and a little bit of laundry detergent, then run through the washer as usual.

  • Place a few cloves into a piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed with a ribbon. Use this as a sachet in a dresser drawers.

  • Place a couple of cloves in a musty insulated beverage container and let it sit for awhile to air out. Make sure to remove the cloves before filling the container with soup, coffee or other type of beverage.
Also in this Episode
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-530
•Getting Rid of Junk Mail
•Household Uses for Spices
•Washer and Dryer Care
•Tip of the Day
HGTV.com
Services Popular Content About
Our Sister Sites

Comparison Shop for Home Decor & Garden Tools at Shopzilla & BizRate

UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.

© 2008 Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.