Thrifty Mommy » crayons

School Supplies . . . There Really is a Difference

Karen Weideman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:08:18 +0000

As I was sorting through things in my basement, I came across a school supply list from the year I taught full day preschool. On the list I asked the parents not to purchase Dollar Tree or Rose Art brand school supplies.

Some of the parents probably thought I was a snot, but honestly there really is a difference in the name brands. Trust me, after teaching for several years I had seen student after student become totally frustrated and upset because their school supplies didn’t work well. I’ve seen glue sticks come out of the tube in a clumpy mess, crayons that worked as well as candle wax, and rubbery pencils that you had to sharpen half way down to get them to work. It is insanely annoying!!!!

The point of all this is to say that it is worth the effort to purchase the better brands of school supplies. They last longer and your child won’t become as frustrated. Thankfully, now is the time to stock up on quality supplies. Today I got the 2-pack of Elmer’s glue sticks at Target for 20 cents.

Have you noticed a difference in the brands? Which ones are your favorites?

free clip art image

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Recycle crayons for fun with your kids

kellys — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:50:19 +0000

Ever wonder what to do with all those little crayon pieces? Why not make more crayons? I ran across a great recipe for recycling old crayons. They turn out really pretty. They would be great for

New crayons,
Free party favors
Great gifts

I love recycling something that can be a unique result.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The Amazing Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Karen Weideman — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:44:56 +0000

Some friends of ours recently gave us a Little Tikes workbench. It was dirty and had a lot of crayon markings on it. I’m not complaining. It’s a nice toy. It just needed some cleaning. I tried baking soda and water, but it just wouldn’t get the crayon completely off. It did lighten it some, but there was still quite a bit left. Then I remembered I had a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser under the kitchen sink. I gave it to my husband and he starting scrubbing. He was quite amazed. The crayon wiped right off. He said, “How does it do that?!?”.

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser also cleans tile grout, soap scum, refrigerators, car wheels, microwaves, marks on walls, and more. The great thing is, it’s a thrifty buy! I wish I had tried the eraser first. Definitely a time saver too!

Click on the Mr. Clean site and you can get a free coupon.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Ten Ways to Clean With Baking Soda

Karen Weideman — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:43:13 +0000

Baking soda is an inexpensive cleaning tool. It is safe to use and gentle on your skin. This is important for me, since I have terrible eczema. Looks like I need to go purchase a large box of this amazing product. I am excited that there is a cleaner out there that won’t irritate my skin and cause pain. I hope you will try these tips for this frugal product.

Crayon marks – Clean crayon marks off your floors and walls with baking soda and water.

Clean coffee mugs – Mix 3 tsps of baking soda with hot water to clean stains from coffee mugs.

Laundry – Add some to your wash to help clean your clothes. You can cut the amount of chlorine bleach used in your wash by half when you add 1/4 cup to front loading washers and 1/2 a cup to top loading machines.

Sinks & Counters – Sprinkle some on your kitchen counter or sink. Perfect to use as a gentle scouring powder. Helps to remove kool-aid stains from counters. You can also add some salt and make a baking soda and salt paste.

Pots & pans – Shake some on your pots and pans, add dish detergent and hot water, and let them soak.

Freshen your carpet – Sprinkle some baking soda on your carpet before you go to bed. Vacuum the carpet when you get up in the morning.

General cleaner – For a general all-purpose cleaner, dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of water.

Soap Scum Remover – Mix baking soda and salt to make a paste that will remove soap scum. No harsh fumes!

Freshen Stuffed Animals – Give stuffed animals a dry bath in baking soda powder and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Brush off excess. This method is even safe for baby!

Clean Baby Equipment – Sprinkle some baking soda on your wet cleaning rag. Use it to wipe down the crib, changing table, toys, etc. Rinse and allow to dry.

Some sources and sites for more baking soda information: How-To Info, Arm & Hammer, The New Homemaker, Frugal Living.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

More Frugal Cleaning Tips For You

Karen Weideman — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 04:36:39 +0000

I was visiting “The Porch Light” again today and found more frugal cleaning tips for you. Don’t forget to check out the other ones I got from Revka last week.

To remove crayon scribbles spray with WD-40 and wipe off with a cloth.

Note: This tip is only for regular crayons and does not work for those horrible water-based crayons. Also, I do not recommend this for material; but if you do use it for that, you can use dish soap to remove the grease spot from the cloth.

To remove ink marks use rubbing alcohol or a hairspray with a high alcohol content, such as Aquanet.

Depending on where the ink mark is, you can try either rubbing it with an alcohol-moistened rag or pouring the alcohol directly on the mark. If the mark is on the clothing or other material, follow this treatment with a little bit of soap and warm water.

Thanks for the cleaning tips, Revka, although I hope I never have to use them. And by the way, see the lady in this picture? Why in the world is she smiling while she is cleaning crayon marks off the wall?

Do you have any thrifty cleaning tips/remedies you would like to share?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy