Car Cleaning Hacks

Hi Folks,

I thought today I would talk about "cleaning the car". If you are like me you have to clean your car yourself!! So, while on my phone playing around I found these hacks that I will share with you. I have to clean my car this weekend and will put a few of these tips to use!

1.  Apply Vaseline to Interior of car for a brilliant shine.   Old-fashioned petroleum jelly can be applied to the interior and dashboard of a vehicle to create a glossy finish. It is much cheaper than Armor All and just as effective.
2.   Use Charcoal to absorb foul orders.  Among other uses, charcoal is adept at absorbing odors. To rid vehicles of stubborn smells that cannot be covered, place a few pieces of charcoal under the seat.
3.  Make cheap car wash solution with everyday ingredients.  Mix a one-quarter spoonful of baking soda and a one-quarter spoonful of liquid detergent into a bucket of water for an effective, inexpensive car wash solution.
4.  Clean air vents.  Get rid of unsightly dust accumulation on the slats of the car’s air vents by using an old toothbrush, a paintbrush, or a can of compressed air.
5.  Keep leather upholstery fresh with vinegar and linseed oil.  Wiping down leather seats regularly with a solution of equal parts linseed oil and vinegar will keep the upholstery clean, moisturized, and free from cracks.
6.  Use a squeegee to remove pet hair.  Pet hair can be tough to remove from cloth upholstery. Lightly spray seats with water and rub with a rubber squeegee to remove hair quickly.
7.  Remove grease and oil stains with cornstarch.  Grease and oil can be removed from leather and cloth upholstery by applying cornstarch to the affected area. Let it sit for ten minutes, and the starch will soak up the stain.
8.  Remove baked-on stains with mayonnaise. Hard-to-remove stains can be lifted easily with the application of a dollop of mayonnaise. Let it sit for five to ten minutes and then wipe off with a clean rag.
9.  Use vinegar to boost cleaning solution.  The addition of a few tablespoons of vinegar to any cleaning solution will boost its power immensely. It is safe for use on windows and vinyl upholstery.
10. De -Ice stuck doors and locks with hand sanitizer.  The high alcohol content of hand sanitizer will quickly melt ice from stuck doors and locks in the winter. The gel solution is easier to use in direct applications than liquid alcohol.
11.  Use wet dryer sheets to remove bug stains.  Old, dried-up bugs can be difficult to remove from the car’s body with soap and water alone. Wet a dryer sheet and scrub the affected area to remove these bug stains.
12. Use rubbing alcohol to clean wipers blades.  Residue on windshield wiper blades can cause streaks or even ineffective wiping. Dip a ball of cotton in rubbing alcohol and rub away all residue to eliminate streaks.
13. Wash car with baby shampoo to remove stains. Caked-on stains caused by mud, grease, or bird filth can be quickly removed by pouring baby shampoo onto a clean wet rag and rubbing the stain in a circular motion.
14. Use lanolin-based hair conditioner for a glossy finish. Save time and money on wax finishes by applying lanolin-based hair conditioner to a freshly washed car. It is faster than waxing and buffing and equally effective.
15. Fill windshield reservoir with Vodka solution.  Prepare a homemade solution of three cups of cheap vodka, four cups of water, and two tablespoons of liquid detergent and pour in windshield wiper reservoir for a streak-free finish.
16. Use toothpaste to clean cloudy headlights.  Headlight cleaning kits are effective but can be expensive Use regular toothpaste, let it sit, and buff it off to clear up cloudiness quickly and cheaply.
17. Protect vinyl surfaces with lemon juice and olive oil. Vinyl upholstery and hard surfaces are susceptible to unsightly cracking if they are not protected. Use a solution of lemon juice and olive oil to keep them shiny and safe from cracks.
18. Use bleach to get shining black tires.  Tire-cleaning products are costly. Use a solution of everyday detergent and bleach mixed into warm water to bring back the shine.
19. Use olive oil to keep upholstery supple and like new. After washing dirt and grime off of leather seats with warm, soapy water, rub a small amount of olive oil into the upholstery to keep it from drying out and cracking.
20. Use kerosene for a cheap glossy finish.  Another alternative to time-consuming and costly wax finishes is the use of kerosene. Use a solution of kerosene and water and wipe the car dry for a brilliant shine.

Well, I hope these have been of some help to you the next time you clean your car.

Rambling thoughts:
I hope the pollen count goes down around here. It has been 11.2 lately!!

Oil Cleansing Method

This is a natural cleansing method I have been researching and it is called the Oil Cleansing Method or "OCM". This is mixing oils together and applying on your face to cleanse it.

What Oils Are Best for Oil Cleansing?

Castor oil.

Regardless of your skin type,this is one oil you will probably want. Castor oil is gives you the most cleansing, dissolving bang for your buck. It’s also highly antibacterial in nature.It can also be drying. So depending on your skin type, you’ll either use more or less castor oil proportionally to the other oils.

Good Oil Cleansing Varieties

·         Jojoba (all skin types, but very desirable for acne-prone skin)

·    Sweet almond (all skin types, especially oily)

·    Grapeseed (all skin types, especially oily)

·    Avocado (dry and aging skin)

·    Sunflower Seed (all skin types)

·    Olive (all skin types)

·    Apricot Kernel (dry, aging, and normal skin)

·    Argan (all skin types, especially aging skin … very pricey)

·    Tamanu (all skin types … very pricey)

The Oil-Cleansing Ratio

When you first start out with OCM, It’s best to think in ratios of thirds. You can measure these thirds out ahead of time and prepare a whole bottle full of oil. Or, you can do what I do and just eyeball it each time you use the method.

It might be better to use this on a “wash-by-wash” basis before you go mixing a whole bottle of oil together, just in case you want to change up the ratios if you notice your face is becoming too dry or too oily.

Here’s the rule of oil-cleansing thirds (remember, castor oil is important here):

·         Oily skin: Use 2/3 castor oil to 1/3 carrier oil. (Or measure out 2 tsp castor oil and 1 tsp carrier oil.)

·     Normal skin: Use equal parts castor oil and carrier oil. (Measuring out 1-1/2 tsp castor oil and 1-1/2 tsp carrier oil.)

·     Dry skin: Use 1/3 castor oil and 2/3 carrier oil. (Again, 2 tsp carrier oil and 1 tsp castor oil.)

These ratios are NOT set in stone, but they’re a great jumping off point. You can just eyeball it in the palm of my hand and go from there.

Oil Cleansing in 3 Easy Steps

1.   Prepare. Either mix your oils together ahead of time, or have the bottles ready. Set a clean washcloth beside the sink. 

2.   Cleanse. Starting with a dirty face (no need to pre-clean here, even if you’re wearing makeup), rinse your face lightly with the warm, running water. Pour the oil in the palm of your hand and then apply gently all over your face. Massage firmly, but gently, always moving upwards. Massage for 2 minutes, and then let the oil sit on your face for 30 more seconds or more.

3.   Rinse. Adjust the water from faucet until it’s cool enough to apply to your skin, but warm enough to soften the oil (it’s probably going to be hotter than the water you usually rinse your face with). Dunk the washcloth under the hot/warm water until it’s completely soaked. Wring out washcloth a little. Apply the washcloth to your face and hold it there for 10-15 seconds. Slowly begin to wipe off. Rinse your washcloth and repeat until you’ve wiped all the oil off your skin.

Rambling Thoughts:

 I am very tired of Sweet Gum Ball Trees !!!!

I am going to a 50's sock hop (dance party) tonight. Can't wait to see all the 50's attire there.

Hope you found this post helpful, 

See Ya

Varicose Veins

I don't know about anybody else but, the older I get the more varicose veins I get. My job involves a lot of standing and being on my feet for long periods of time. I would love to have them removed but, that is too expensive for me.

I have done a little research and come up with some DIY methods that I plan on trying. I do wear support hose and have decided to try compression stockings!!!

Here are some ideas that I have found.

Recipe 1:

Ingredients:

-          ½ cup of Aloe Vera

-          -Apple cider vinegar

-          -1/2 cup of chopped carrots

Preparation:

In a blender, mix the chopped carrots and the  Aloe Vera in a blender, and during the process of blending, pour some apple cider vinegar. Blend until the mixture is smooth, homogeneous and creamy.

Use:

Apply the miraculous creamy mixture on your legs, and put your feet up for half and hour, afterwards, rinse it off with cold water, repeat the treatment several times daily in order to obtain quick results.

To help your blood circulation, you should regularly take short walks.

(I am sorry I didn't write down where I got this information)

 From Dr. Ashe:

For varicose veins use Cyprus essential oil, which helps increase circulation of the area. He recommends doing a mix of cryprus oil with witch hazel daily, typically about 5 drops each and rub on affected area. Do this about 2-3 times a day.

Next exercising by doing weight  training or burst training on a regular basic. Exercise helps enhance and strengthen cell structure. Of course any type of exercise helps.

Wear compression socks. You can do this especially while exercising.  This will help if you have them on such areas such as your calves and leg muscles,

In terms of diet, consume more antioxidant rich foods. Taking bilberry in supplement form and take about 500 to 1000 milligrams daily. Other berries are great as well such as blueberries contain resveratrol and bioflavonoids which really help in healing those areas and strengthening the connective tissues.

Essential Oils good for varicose veins:

Essential oils such as clary sage, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, geranium, ginger, juniper, lemon, myrrh, neroli, peppermint, rose, rosemary and yarrow can be very helpful in restoring good circulation to the areas with varicose veins.

Conclusion;
I hope this is helpful to someone. I know it won't make them go away. I would at least like to minimize mine a lot!

Rambling Thoughts.....
I helped cut and bag dumpling noodles today at my local American Legend. It felt good and fun to help their cause.
I need to do yard work....but instead doing this post!

Til  later.......ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND ....See Ya.