So here is what I am trying and I hope it will help you as well to be mindful of keeping fluids in your sick kids:
* Use Pedialite freezer pops. Turkey Butt thinks they are ice pops and I am hoping she will eat them.
* Find a favorite color. Of course, I let Turkey Butt pick out her Gatorade and she picked pink. I’m trying everything.
* My LEAST FAVE IDEA – I let her go to bed with a cup of ice water. I will take any fluid any time I can get it down her.
* Use fun straws and cups they aren’t normally allowed to drink out of.
* Take them shopping for a new cup or water bottle.
* If they like pop cycles, then freeze their favorite juice in ice trays, cover with saran wrap and stick a toothpick in it.
* Make a smoothie with ice instead of milk and add fruit to the juice. This is very healthy and full of water.
* Let her pick out a fun kind of drink package like the healthy juice boxes and bags. Not the best thing to do to your pocket book, but it is very fun for them.
* Save a fun bottle and mix tang. My aunt does this and we call it special juice. My daughter will drink it like it is going out of style because of the packaging. This works great in the summer time for Turkey Butt.
* If they aren’t stomach sick, just not drinking, offer strawberry or chocolate flavoring to their milk. At least it’s fluid down the tummy.

I hope these ideas help you keep your kids hydrated during the summer and when they are sick. I am trying just about all of them right now. Wish us luck! Will update you tomorrow wither from home or the hospital.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1. Vinegar, we have talked about vinegar tons of times.
2. Baking soda.  Use it to polish your silver and freshen your carpets.
3. Lemons help keep your garbage disposal clean and smelling good.
4. 1 part Rubbing Alcohol added to a 1:1 vinegar water mix will shine up your mirrors and sinks nicely.
5. Salt added to lemon is a great scouring pad for your dirtiest dishes.
6. Don’t waste your money on bottle scrubbers. Boil an old toothbrush and use it instead.
7. Keep house plants inside.  This will help to naturally clean your air.
8. Use egg shells and ice to work your garbage disposal to a shine.
9. Use an old dryer sheet to shine up your chrome.
10. Use half a box of baking soda downa drain chased by vinegar to clean out any slow drains.  It’s best to let it set for about 10-15 minutes and then rinse it with hot water.

So there you have it.  My top 10 favorite green household cleaners.  Did you also notice that they are every day cleaners so you don’t have to spend any extra money using them?  See, I shot 2 birds with one stone (for lack of a better phrase)

Thrifty shopping …

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

In the Kitchen:

1. Make a paste with water to clean up your sink that isn’t very abrasive.
2. Stick a box in your fridge to keep the smell gone.
3. Mix 3 tsp with hot water to soak and remove tea and coffee stains from thermos’ and tea cups.
4. Use it on your counters to get rid of Kool-Aid stains off.
5. Rinse your fruits and veggies with baking sod. Make sure you rinse well.
6. Did you know it will tenderize meats?
7. If you like fish but hate the smell, soak your fish in water and baking soda for an hour in the fridge.
8. A pinch of baking soda added to tomato recipes can help cut down the acid in the recipe.
9. When you make baked beans, add a pinch of baking soda to the beans to help rid them of their gas producing ability.
10. 1/2 tsp of baking soda added to 3 eggs makes a light and fluffy omelet.
11. Baking soda is just as good as lemon juice for getting rid of foul smells on your hands.
12. I boil my baby bottles with baking soda to get them clean.
13. Just as with your laundry detergent, adding baking soda to your dishwashing detergent is a great idea.
14. Boil a little water and baking soda to get burned on food off your pots and pans.
15. Use it to clean your oven as well.
16. Make your own baking powder.
17. Keep an extra box near your stove in case of a fire.
18. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down your drain and chase it with 1c hot vinegar. 5 minutes later, chase it with 1 quart boiling water.
19. For the naturalist in you, when you are taking the feathers off the chicken, add 1 tsp baking soda to the boiling water.
20. Remove melted plastic bread wrappers from the toaster by using baking soda as a mild abrasive.
21. Use it as a mild abrasive to clean those stubborn stains in your Tupperware.

In the Bathroom:

1. Clear out slow drains.
2. Baking soda and water rubbed on rough elbows, heels, etc will help smooth and soften. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
3. 1/4 c baking soda and 2 cups warm water will work just as good as a clarifying shampoo.
4. Use it as a tooth whitener.
5. Put a box in the worst of the bathrooms (you know, the ones that the boys get hold of) to get rid of odors.
6. Mix 1 part baking soda with 2 parts oatmeal as a facial scrub.
7. Soak in the bath with baking soda will heal anything form poison ivy, sumac, sunburns, etc…
8. Soak your hairbrushes with warm water and baking soda to get the oil off of them.

In the Laundry Room:

1. Stretch your laundry detergent further.
2. Get the smell out of your clothes.
3. Soak cloth diapers with baking soda to get the smell and anything else that is there out.
4. Soak oil or grease stains with baking soda and water before washing the clothes.
5. You can also use it as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle if you use cold water.

General Cleaning:

1. Use it with water to polish your silver.
2. Mix it with Borax to make a great scouring powder.
3. Put it on a wet sponge to clean crayon off a chalk board.
4. Sprinkle it on your carpet or cloth covered furniture before you go to bed and them vacuum in the morning. Be careful not to let your kids crawl around before you vacuum.
5. If you have pets, sprinkle baking soda where they lay and let it set for 30 minutes. Vacuum it back up.
6. A bonus to vacuuming up baking soda is that it will help you keep your vacuum smelling better.
7. Use it for general cleaning by adding 4 tbs to 1 q of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and wipe clean.
8. Mix it with salt as a great soap scum cleaner.
9. Freshen up stuffed animals by rubbing them with Baking soda and then let them sit for a while. Shake them off and you are good to go!
10. Mix it with a little water as a great chrome cleaner.
11. Wash your garbage cans with baking soda.
12. Clean grease off the garage floor.
13. To maintain good drains, pour 4 tbs baking soda down each drain each week and chase it with hot water.
14. Soak your shower curtains with a baking soda/water solution to keep mildew away.
15. Take a soft brush and baking soda to canvas bags to clean them.
16. Take those stubborn black streaks off your RV or car with a little baking soda and a damp cloth.
17. Baking soda works well to clean your fish tank.  Just make sure you rinse it really well.

General Household:

1. Fill a pair of old socks with baking soda and place it in odorous shoes or your kid’s closet.
2. Put a sock in your car for when your sweaty football players come home.
3. Wipe water stains off your wooden furniture with baking soda and toothpaste.
4. I put baking soda in my diaper pail to help with odors.
5. Karen puts baking soda in the bottom of her litter box.
6. Clean corroded battery terminals with baking soda and water.
7. Put out small fires out by smothering it with baking soda.
8. Fill in nail holes in drywall with toothpaste and baking soda. Let it dry completely.
9. Mix slat and baking soda equally and sprinkle it where you see ants coming in to keep them from liking your home.
10. Need to determine if your soil is acidic for planting? Mix 1.4 c baking soda and 2 c water. Place 1 c soil. If the mixture foams, your soil is acidic.
11. Play Clay recipe: 1 1/4c water, 2 c baking soda, 1 c cornstarch.
12. Repel water from your windshield by heavily coating a damp cloth and wipe the windows inside and out.
13. Clean your jewelry with a baking soda paste and toothbrush. Silver does best but gold will work well too. Be careful with the gems themselves as some are soft and a toothbrush will scratch it.

General Health Ideas:

1. Mix baking soda and a glass of water for an antacid.
2. Gargle baking soda water to help with ulcers.
3. Put it on insect bites to take the sting out.
4. Use 1/2 tsp in a half glass of water as a mouthwash.
5. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to take care of zits.
6. Remove splinters by putting moistened baking soda on the band-aid over night.  The splinter should be easily removed in the morning.
7. A thick baking soda/water paste poured on a burn and wrapped in gauze will help the healing process and prevent scarring.

Hope you liked the list.  I have learned a lot.  I’m sure there was a surprise or two in there for you too.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1. Use Lysol or Mr Clean wipes in the kitchen. I usually don’t even wipe with a rag first. It’s really fast, easy, and sanitary.
2. Find ways to clean with your kids.
3. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain.
4. Do a load of laundry a day.
5. Clean your bathroom while your kids are bathing. It works for me and it teaches your kids to clean as well.
6. Get a timer. You will be much more motivated to get more done if you are up against a timer. It’s the Flylady’s montra!
7. Get organized. It is much easier to clean if you know where things go. I tend to let things get out of control if I don’t know where to put things.
8. Keep a mobile cleaning cart. This will help you keep all your supplies in one place and easily accessible to tackle any room.
9. Wash your pets regularly. This will hopefully keep down on pet hair.
10. Wear gloves when you can. This will keep you from spending time trying to get that smell off your hands and having to work harder to keep them moisturized.
11. Have a cleaning party. Don’t laugh. I love helping others clean their houses but I hate cleaning mine. Imagine if you and a best friend have a weekly cleaning or organizing date. Things would get done and you would have a ball! I would much rather clean with a companion. I get much more done.
12. Get a routine. This way cleaning is a habit. I go against the Flylady’s #1 rule. Shine your sink before bed. My feet hurt too bad by the end of the day so I turn on the dishwasher and leave the rest. I finish it in the morning when I am rested and my feet don’t hurt.
13. Wash the dishes right away. Because of #12, my dishes take more time to wash some mornings. It’s a price I am willing to pay, unfortunately.
14. Don’t scrub your microwave clean. Put lemon water or vinegar water in the microwave and let it boil. The steam will cut the grease and grime and save you time. Be VERY CAREFUL though and make sure your vinegar water is mixed well. Vinegar tends to explode when you take it out.
15. Take 5 minutes a day for the hot spots. That way they don’t get overwhelming. Just pick one every couple of days.
16. Turn the TV off. The TV is a fantastic time sucker! I like to listen to the radio when I get to clean.
17. Find a babysitter if you get overwhelmed. This might cost more but I get 5 x done when my kids are at the sitter or my DH takes them out for a while.
18. Magic Erasers are wonderful and they cut the scrubbing time in less than half.
19. Get some sleep.  I am twice as fast and productive if I am rested.
20. Have a time table.  This is different from a timer.  I am most motivated when I know I have to leave at a certain time and need to get a certain amount done before I leave.  Usually I am not too late but I get all my things on my list done and then usually one extra.
21. Make a list and cross it off as you get it done.  This is a huge motivator!  (this one was a bonus)

Good luck!  Let me know how you do.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy