Uses for Common Household Items: Part 2

Here are some other money saving tips for using common household items in new ways.  Enjoy and please comment and share your own tips with us!

Coffee Filters

- Use as prep "bowls' for cut veggies and dry ingredients while baking.  They are easy to clean because you just toss when done!

- Use as a lint-free cleaning cloth when wiping down static-prone electronics.

- Put in the bottom of small flower pots to help slow drainage.

- Place filters between fragile plates and bowls to help prevent chipping.  This also works great for non-stick cookware.

- To be "green", make sure to use previously recycled filters and unbleached if possible.

Dental Floss (unflavored)

- Use to cut soft cheeses into neat disks.

- It is great for vines and leaning plants.  Use to tie the stalks or vines to a trellis or pole.

- Slice a cake in half by pulling a piece of floss through the middle for a clean cut.

- Floss can be used as a thread substitute in a pinch, ie. buttons.

Other Neat Tips

- Use a paper towel stand to store rolls of masking/duck tape and ribbon for a wrapping station.

- Use the shreds of paper from your home office paper shredder as gift packaging stuffing instead of buying tissue paper.

- Coffee mugs make great utensil holders for open cupboards or while hosting a party so people are not rummaging through your drawers.

- Dry spaghetti noodles make great candle and fireplace lighters.  Their length helps to keep your fingers away from the flame.

- Have old small baby spoons leftover from your child? Use them as cocktail serving utensils which are perfect for dips, toppings, and nuts.

- Instead of using toothpicks at your next party, buy skinny pretzel sticks.  Not only are they disposable but also delicious.

- Freeze berries in ice cube trays instead of water which can water down drinks.

- Looking for a bright or new shower curtain?  Hang two extra large beach towels.  Can change out as often as you want to switch up the feel of your bathroom.

- When you are done with those cinnamon scented pine cones for the holidays place them in your empty window flower boxes for a nice decoration until planting season comes again.

- Place a few hooks, or replace your cabinet knobs with hooks, in your bathroom.  Hang your shirt and pants up while you shower and the steam will naturally de-wrinkle your clothes.

- Toothbrush holders make great simple flower holders for a nice way to bring some freshness to your bathroom.

- Inflate plastic sandwich and freezer bags with air and use as packing cushioning when shipping or storing items.

- Lint rollers also make great lamp shade dusters.

- Use napkin holders as bill organizer in your office.  (I have done this for years and love it, so simple)

- A file rack can be used as a holder for your cookie sheets and cutting boards.

- Cant find your rolling pin?  Place the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a wine bottle.

- Empty water bottles make great boot supports.  Place in boots to help keep them upright and keep their shape.

Enjoy!

Fragrant Cinnamon Ornaments

The smell of cinnamon is one of the most comforting and pleasant smells there are.  These ornaments are not only easy and affordable but add a touch of rustic elegance to your tree.

Simply mix 3/4 cup of Applesauce to 1 cup of Ground Cinnamon.  You can use your hands but beware they will turn brown.  However, it washes off and smells great.  This makes roughly 10-12 ornaments so double or triple the recipe as you see fit.  I used the paddle attachment on my Kitchen Aid Mixer and it worked great for mixing the dough.

Portion the dough into roughly 4 equal parts and roll between two sheets of plastic wrap.  This helps to prevent sticking and staining of the counter.  The dough should be pliable enough that it does not easily crack, but dry enough that it is not tacky.  If too wet, add more cinnamon.  If too dry, add more applesauce.  Roll to roughly 1/4" - 1/3" thick.  You want it thick enough that the shape will hold and it will be easy to pick up.

Using cookie cutters, cut shapes into the dough.  Larger more simple shapes work the best.  We tried a reindeer and smaller gingerbread man and their arms, necks and antlers were just too thin.  You can also use a simple shape and then use a smaller cutter to cut in the middle of it for a window look.

Carefully peel dough away from the cut shape and using the plastic wrap flip the shapes into your hand.  You can use a drinking straw or skewer to poke hanging holes in the ornaments.  This can be done in your hand or while still on the counter.  Then carefully place them onto a baking sheet.

Next you can air dry them for 2-4 days, flipping every so often.  But I don't have that kind of patience so I dried them out in a 200F oven for 2-2 1/2 hours.  You still may need to flip them if they are not drying out on the bottom but be careful they can become fragile.  I used a metal sheet pan and a Pampered Chef baking stone and noticed that the stone was much more efficient at drying them out, probably due to the natural pores in the stone letting air and heat in from top and bottom.

Your house will smell amazing as these dry out, and for some time after.  Once dry, place on a cooling rack to further dry and cool off.  Once finished choose any ribbon or string of your liking, and tie loops in the ornaments so that you can hang them.

A Christmas tree with some homemade touches is much more special and representative of the season than any store bought ornaments or decorations.  Enjoy this project with your family and friends.   Crank up some holiday music while you are making these and then watch a festive holiday movie as you wait for them to dry.  These can be saved year after year if carefully packaged.  But they are also so easy to make and fun so why not make it a yearly tradition.  And I hope I don't really need to say this but, just in case, these are NOT to eat and will not taste good, no matter how wonderful they smell! ;-)  Happy Holidays!