Get Clothing Clutter Under Control

Dear Home-Ec 101, I have a dilemma. I find my bedroom becoming cluttered very quickly with clothes that are “too clean to wash” yet “not clean enough to put away”. I was a single mom for many years, going to school or working, sometimes more than one job, and as a result, I didn’t want …

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Can This Smelly Freezer Be Saved?

Dear Home-Ec 101, Help! Due to a series of unfortunate events, my small chest freezer (that sits under the house) was left unplugged for 3 WEEKS! Of course the entire inventory was a total loss, but the real problem is the SMELL. It really smelled like something died down there, and it permeated the house for …

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Where Do You Find that Cleaning Motivation

Dear Home-Ec 101, How do I motivate myself to clean? What do you do? Signed, Do I Have To PS. I’m also ADD Heather says: Living in a mess is like being in a bad relationship. It starts off comfortable enough, let’s just stay in tonight. You don’t need to put that away. But sooner …

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Zucchini Parmesan Crisps, Regular and Gluten-Free

Heather says Did you think oven fried goodness was out of reach just because you have to go gluten-free? Here’s a simple, magic substitution for you… swap crushed Rice Chex for Panko crumbs and you’re set. No other changes, no mixing a bazillion different flours or buying special bread to make your own crumbs. Take …

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Soap Scum and Acrylic Bathtubs

Dear Home-Ec 101, How do I remove built up soap scum from my acrylic tub? Signed, Scummed in Scuddy Heather says: Soap scum is a generic term for that funky film that is created by soap and hard water creating a loving bond with your tub or shower. It’s ugly and a pain in the …

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Acrylic Flooring Part Deux, Why Do We Do This Again?

how to clean acrylic floor

Dear Home Ec 101, I like your suggestion of using an acrylic polish, but the PLEDGE web site I saw said: “Pledge® FloorCare Multi Surface Finish should be removed from your floor every 6 to 8 applications, or annually, with a solution of 1 cup ammonia and 1/4 cup Pledge® FloorCare Multi Surface Concentrated Cleaner …

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Dealing With Too Much Stuff

Dear Home Ec 101, To put it simply, we’ve got too much stuff. I read an article about a mother with three children who had a baby on the way and felt her housework was not getting done as she would like. You said your life has changed, yet you still do your regular cleaning. …

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How to Fry an Egg

Heather says: Today we’re covering fried eggs -as new projects to procrastinate develop- I’ll also address: scrambled eggs, omelets, frittatas, quiche, and my as yet unnamed hybrid of the three techniques that feeds my family on a busy evening when I have no interest in effort.     So what is a fried egg? Well …

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Laundry and the Great Diaper Blowout

How to wash clothes with poop on them

Dear Home-Ec 101, I’m a brand new mom and I need to know if it is okay to wash clothes that have suffered through a diaper leak with the rest of the baby clothes. How do I make sure that poop (sorry!) doesn’t get all over the washer and the rest of our stuff without …

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