Melted Wrap on Toaster:
Next time a plastic bread wrapper melts onto the toaster or the coffeepot, try rubbing some petroleum jelly on the spot. Reheat the appliance and use a paper towel to rub off the plastic and the printing.

Easy Blender Cleaning:
Fill dirty blender with hot water, add a drop of detergent, cover and turn it on for a few seconds.  Rinse and drain dry.

Scorched Pan Cleanup:
If you happen to scorch your saucepan fill the pan halfway with water and add 1/4 cup of baking soda. Boil until the burned portions loosen and float to the top.

Smart Kitchens:
Follow this link for smart kitchen tips--a list of tips published in Family Circle Magazine.

Refrigerator Seals:
Clean refrigerator seals with baking soda and water.  Then apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the seal to prevent it from sticking and bending out of shape.

Cooktop Filter:
Wash the cooktop filter in the dishwasher, or let the filter soak in water with dishsoap and baking soda, then rinse.

Garbage Disposal Odors:
Remove the splash guard and scrub.  Replace; then sprinkle 1/4 C. baking soda; follow with white vinegar.  Run disposal.

Pantry Pests:
Bay leaves or mint leaves on pantry shelves will ward off many pantry pests.

Refrigerator Odors:
To eliminate bad odors in the refrigerator, dip cotton balls in vanilla extract and put on a back shelf in the refrigerator.

Caustic Cleaners:
If you see the word caustic on any of your cleaning agents, that means there's a danger of chemically burning your skin. Wear rubber gloves when using caustic cleaners, and be especially careful to avoid splashing these chemicals.

Cleaning Rags:
Not all fabrics make good rags.  Cotton is great--try old diapers, undershirts, or flannel pajamas. Old linen napkins work well, too, but stay away from synthetics. They don't absorb water or pick up dirt very well.

Burned Pan Cleaner:
To clean burned food from the bottom of an aluminum pot or pan, wet the burned food, cover with baking soda, and set aside for a couple of hours.  Then scrape, wash, and rinse the pan.

Cutting Board Cleaner:
To clean, cut grease, and absorb odors on your wood cutting board, wipe down with white vinegar.

Microwave Freshen-Up:
Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a small bowl and heat for five minutes in microwave.  This will remove lingering odors and soften baked-on food spills.

Coffee Maker Cleaner:
Fill the reservoir with full-strength white vinegar.  Run the vinegar through one cycle.  Run two cycles of water to rinse.

Do School Thermoses Smell Bad?
Make a thin paste of lemon juice, cream of tartar, and baking soda; fill the thermos about a third full, andshake well.  Allow to soak for about 20 minutes, then scrub with a cloth wrapped around a wooden handle. Rinse well.

Oven Odors:
To get rid of the smell of burned food in the oven, sprinkle cinnamon in a shallow pan and place the pan in the oven while it's still warm but not hot.

Rusty Dishwasher Trays:
Put clear fingernail polish on them and you won't get rust stains on your dishes!

Sour Dish Rags:
Drape dish rag over top rack of dishwasher each time you run the dishwasher. You can also throw in sponges & other cleaning items.

E-mail BusyBee your tips at: cgibbs@amen.net

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