Grammafreddy's Home Remedy and Old Fashioned Nonsense Thread

grammafreddy · Post by **grammafreddy** » Aug 6th, 2007, 11:00 pm

Good one, ferri!!!

You could have used ice cubes, too. They harden the gum and remove its stickiness. This also works on candle wax melting where it shouldn't.

Cheers,
Gramma

grammafreddy · Post by **grammafreddy** » Aug 6th, 2007, 11:31 pm

Having just read this thread http://forums.castanet.net/viewtopic.php?t=8037&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

here's a remedy for repelling raccoons and skunks ...

MOTH BALLS

Just spread 'em all over and they'll stay away. They like to live under decks and buildings, so chuck a few handfulls under there, too. Put them in your garbage cans or hang them in a nylon stocking from the handles. Spread them around in your veggie garden, too.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Gramma

trapp · Post by **trapp** » Aug 7th, 2007, 5:33 pm

I'm not sure which smell worse, skunks or moth balls. #-o

Oh and plain butter also works for removing gum from hair, or even from carpets.

sarahpeter · Post by **sarahpeter** » Aug 7th, 2007, 5:51 pm

grammafreddy you are awesome! Thank you so much! I have another question! Don't know if there is a remedy for this, but it's worth a shot.

We had a housefire almost a month ago and the restoration crew is taking their sweet time getting to the repairs. Of course, it still smells like burnt wood because of the damage to the house. Is there any way to make it smell any better? It's particularly worse when it rains. Am I stuck with the bad smell until they fix it or is there any way that I can get it to smell better?

musiclover · Post by **musiclover** » Aug 7th, 2007, 10:49 pm

Have you tried baking soda?

onestop67 · Post by **onestop67** » Aug 7th, 2007, 11:24 pm

nose plugs.

grammafreddy · Post by **grammafreddy** » Aug 8th, 2007, 7:14 am

sarahpeter, that is a tough one. Unfortunately there is no absolute solution to your problem. There are things that can be done to minimize the smell of smoke on a day to day basis, however, increases in humidity will bring back the smell for many years to come.

Rather than try to answer your question myself, I will refer you to this website so that you will have a better understanding of WHY you have the smell of smoke and some possible solutions ... http://chicora.org/fire.htm

Basically, if it can be painted, paint it.

If it can be laundered, wash it.

If it can be scrubbed, scrub it.

If it can be thrown out, throw it out.

If it can be sealed, seal it.

I like their suggestion about small objects being sealed in bags with clay kitty litter, etc. I know that one works with other odours.

Newspaper stuffed inside containers also helps remove smells, so if something is small enough to fit in a container, you could try that, too.

Good luck.

Reminder to self ... remember to add that to my "Ask List" if I ever buy a house ... "Has there ever been a fire in this house?" If the answer is yes, then look elsewhere or be prepared to smell smoke when it rains.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Gramma

sarahpeter · Post by **sarahpeter** » Aug 8th, 2007, 8:45 am

Thanks grammafreddy, you are a terrific resource:) Love and huggles!

Catz · Post by **Catz** » Aug 13th, 2007, 7:42 pm

How do you get cat pee out of a mattress?
Thank you :smt023

westsidemom · Post by **westsidemom** » Aug 13th, 2007, 10:51 pm

Puffy wrote:How do you get cat pee out of a mattress?
Thank you

Cat pee is one of the hardest smells to get rid of. However, my husband and I deal with this often enough in our business and have found that vanilla really eliminates the odor the best. After a good shampooing, spray vanilla on and around the area. Good Luck!

westsidemom · Post by **westsidemom** » Aug 13th, 2007, 10:59 pm

Grammafreddy, thanks so much for this thread!

A few days ago when I first read about the icing sugar and baking soda for ants, I went straight to my cupboard and had my 10 year old mix it up and then he had a blast planting the magic powder everywhere. The next day I had the proof that its works.

I also found out something interesting, however I dont know if its very useful. One of my kids mentioned that ants won't cross cinnamon...its TRUE and kinda funny. We had cinnamon powder lines all over the place (good thing I buy in bulk)

Catz · Post by **Catz** » Aug 14th, 2007, 4:06 pm

Here's one that I just tries and it works.....

For candle wax stuck on the bottom of a holder, just put it in the freezer for a few hours, then tip it over and the wax falls out so easily. :130:

amomof2dogs · Post by **amomof2dogs** » Aug 14th, 2007, 7:20 pm

Hairspray takes ink out of clothes and carpets. Just spray and blot. The cheaper the hairspray the better. Just launder the clothing as usual or if on carpet or upholstery, blot with warm soapy water then follow with a blotting of clear warm water.

CountryAtHeart · Post by **CountryAtHeart** » Aug 14th, 2007, 9:18 pm

Gramma - great thread!!!!

I too did the ant remedy when Gramma first told us about it. Worked like a charm.

We went on holiday and after we got back I noticed some of them making their way back to the porch. So I mixed up a new batch. Woo Hoo!!! They are gone again.

Catz · Post by **Catz** » Aug 14th, 2007, 10:42 pm

I am just scared that my dog will eat it and blow up :200: