I looked around at Wal-Mart and Target and found that they had similar mattress covers.  Actually, these were more than a cover.  They were actually a mattress case.  These were much similar to a pillow case. 

I also discovered that these mattress covers offered a moisture barrier.  And since we’re still having some issues with bedtime wetting I got one for all three kids’ beds.  The initial expense was slightly painful; $70 for all three covers, but it was well worth it.  I can’t begin to tell you the number of times my husband and I have simply sprayed the mattress cover with a solution of vinegar and water and wiped it off.  Other than the aggravation of added laundry, night time accidents really are that simple now.  We don’t have to worry with scrubbing and airing out mattresses.  Hooray!

The hypoallergenic mattress cover works for me.  What works for you?

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit We Are THAT Family.  image from target

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Over the past year or so, I have become quite a fan of vinegar.  I have learned that it cleans very well, is inexpensive, and safe for your family and pets.  Here are some of the ways to clean with vinegar:

1.  Add 1/4 cup vinegar to laundry, along with the usual soap, to brighten colors and make whites sparkle.  Also helps kills athlete’s foot germs on socks.

2.  Soak or simmer stuck-on food in 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar.  The food will soften and lift off in a few minutes.

3.  Remove ink stains from clothes by soaking them in milk for 1 hour.  Then cover the stain with a paste of vinegar and cornstarch.  When the paste dries, wash the garment as usual.

4.  Appliances sparkle if cleaned with a vinegar and borax cleaner.  Mix 1 teaspoon borax, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 2 cups hot water and put it into a spray bottle.  Spray it on greasy smears and wipe off with a cloth or sponge.

5.  Deodorize your sink drains: Pour a cup down your drain, let stand about thirty minutes, then run cold water.

6. Use vinegar instead of laundry softener.  Vinegar prevents your clothes from getting that waxy build up on them.  Vinegar is suggested for using to rinse cloth diapers to keep them absorbent. 

7.  Remove water stains from leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.

8.  Loosen food grime and clean the microwave: Place a microwave-safe bowl with 2 cups water, 1/2 cup vinegar inside the microwave and microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes (it needs to boil). Keep your microwave closed for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen the grime, then open your microwave, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe clean.

9.  Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.

10.  Prevent mold and mildew in the shower: Wipe down tile or Formica shower walls with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and vinegar. The vinegar will clean the walls and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.

11.  An excellent toilet cleaner can be made from 1 cup borax and 1 cup vinegar.  Pour the vinegar all over the stained area of the toilet.  Then sprinkle the borax over the vinegar.  Allow it all to soak for 2 hours.  Then simply brush and flush.

12.  Add a cup of vinegar to your mop water or mop floors with vinegar and water after a normal mopping.  Vinegar removes the soap scum.

13.   Annie Berthold-Bond says her favorite window cleaning recipe is to combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent in a spray bottle.  Annie says the liquid soap helps remove the waxy residue.

14.  Boil vinegar and water on the stove to soak up bad smells from your house.

15.  Fill your water reservoir halfway with vinegar to clean your coffee pot.  Follow up by running 1-2 pots of clean water through to remove the vinegar.

16.  Vinegar also works as a safe degreaser.  No harsh fumes.  Use it on grease, undiluted.

17.  Clean vaporizers and humifiers by soaking unit in vinegar.  Soak unit and then run water through it.  I got this tip from the actual directions that came with my vaporizer, but it really does help to remove the deposits and also to sanitize.

18.  After washing your whites with bleach, run another rinse cycle with vinegar.  The vinegar will help to remove the bleach smell.

19.  If you have fruit flies, put some vinegar in a jar on your counter.  (I wish I would have known this one a few years ago.  I had some fruit flies and bought an expensive fruit fly trap.  It probably just had vinegar in it.  Errrr!)

20.  If your puppy (or child) has an accident on the carpet, apply full-strength plain white vinegar for about 10 minutes and then blot dry. You may want to test an inconspicuous spot first.

21.  Adding a cup of vinegar to a dishwashing cycle will help clean your dishwasher and will also help prevent spots from forming on your glasses.

22.  Vinegar helps to kill bacteria.  Mix up a solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  Keep it in your kitchen to spray your sink and countertops. 

23.  Use vinegar to clean your garbage disposal.  Run a tray of ice cubes with 1/2 cup vinegar poured over them.

24.  Use vinegar, hot water, and a little soap to clean baby’s toys.  Rinse well.

25.  For cleaning laminate floors, mix 1/3 part white vinegar, 1/3 part rubbing alcohol, 1/3 part water, and 3 drops diswashing liquid.  Mix this into a (recycled) spray bottle and you have the equivalent of the Pergo floor cleaner. Just spray and mop; also great for deodorizing a room and for a fast cleanup. I also use this on my tile floors with great results. Pergo is better off when water doesn’t sit on it too long, the alcohol is added to make it dry faster.

Have you tried cleaning with vinegar?  Do you have any other ways to add to the list?

Post from: Keeping the Castle

This is a dairy-free Strawberry Jello Cake:

Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix (replace eggs with Ener-G egg replacer)
2 boxes Jello gelatin (strawberry flavor)
2 containers of strawberries

Directions:
1. Make the cake according to the directions on the package. To make this egg-free, use Ener-G egg replacer). Let the cake cool.

2. Prepare the jello according to package directions. Let the gelatin cool but not set.

3. Poke a few holes on the top of the cake.

4. Pit strawberries. Arrange on top of the cake.

5. Pour the jello over the strawberries and cake. Let set in the refrigerator.

***
I was pleasantly surprised with the results of this cake. The yellow cake, as it is, is a bit sweet and crumbly when using egg replacers. The jello makes it very moist, and balances the sweetness very well.

I made this cake using  9″ springform pan. There are some advantages and disadvantages of using this pan. It’s great once the jello has set, and the cake rim taken out. However, when I was pouring the still-liquid jello, there was some leaking from the bottom of the pan. I’m still thinking of a way around this. I might just use a regular round pan, but I like being able to arrange the fruits on top of the cake without having to turn it upside down.

For those who have to make dairy-free cakes, this is a great way to spice things up beyond the ordinary yellow cake.

image from personal collection ©mmacalincag2008

Post from: Keeping the Castle

People with dairy allergies find that they are limited in the types of desserts and baked goods that are available to them. So many of the commercial products contain milk and eggs, so that finding a dairy-free cake mix like Duncan Hines is a cause for celebration.

However, making and eating the same type of cake over and over again becomes pretty boring after some time. Thankfully, Kim, one of the readers here at Keeping the Castle, has shared some tips for using cake mixes in creative ways:

* bake your cake using the DH cake mix and a can of soda

* make it into a Jello cake by poking holes and pouring a jello (not pudding) flavor over the top

* put together a cobbler by mixing a pie filling and can of fruit (cherry/pear or pineapple) in a 9×13, then pour the dry cake mix over the top. Layer Fleischman’s no salt stick butter (soy) over the top and bake till browned.

* bake the cake in icecream cones and topping with icing

Thanks, Kim!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

This is a newly discovered favorite treat at our house. I don’t know why I never made this before, it’s so good. I got the recipe right out of a package of Campfire Marshmallows.

Rice Krispie Treats

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 10 oz bag Marshmallows
6 cups crisp rice cereal

Melt margarine or butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add crisp rice cereal and stir until well coated. Using a buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into a greased 13″ x 9″ pan. Cut into squares when cool.

Microwave directions: In microwave-safe bowl, microwave margarine or butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 2 minutes. Stir to combine. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute longer; stir until smooth. Add cereal and stir until well coated. Continue as directed above.

I used soy margarine to make this milk-free. Kelloggs’ Rice Krispie cereal is also milk-free. I can’t say the same about other brands, so you’ll just have to check those. You can also adjust the amount of rice cereal you use. I like mine not so sweet, so I added more.

These treats are great to make ahead, to enjoy as a sweet treat during a picnic. They should be placed in an airtight container to retain their crispiness.

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Post from: Keeping the Castle