How To Make Reusable Swiffer Cloths

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How To Make Reusable Swiffer Cloths

The Swiffer has become a well known household tool in the last few years. It does a great job keeping our floors clean and keeping dust out of our house. But it comes with a downside, it can be a constant cost to buy refills. Well, that may no longer be a problem with this new tutorial! You can officially make your own Swiffer cloth refills and it won’t break the bank. The best part about these cloths is that they are washable and can be thrown in with your normal laundry. Check out the instructions below to make your own reusable Swiffer cloths:

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Ingredients:

Fleece Material

Directions:

Basically, you take any type of fleece material that you have. Whether that be an old fleece scarf or if you head to the store and grab some fleece pieces.
Using your Swiffer as a template, measure out the pieces to size and cut.
Then, they are ready to use! Just attach cloths as normal and Swiffer away.
When they are ready to be washed, just throw it in with this appropriate load of laundry.

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What an easy way to organize the loose ends in your kitchen! You can just get the magazine holders from Target, Walmart, The Dollar store, etc for just $0.50 – $1.00 and use them to organize baggies, foil, plastic wrap, etc. Then you can stick them in your pantry and that way you’ll have an extra drawer in your kitchen for more utensils and things that need to go in drawers.  😉 You can buy a 5-pack of super cute colorful ones on Amazon if you don’t want to leave your house…

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I spent some time…actually a lot of time at Dollar Tree and scoped out the “Good” and “Bad” buys. I also asked for YOUR opinions on the Raining Hot Coupons Facebook page and so many of you gave me some great tips on items you love and items you don’t really care for from Dollar Tree. Thank you all for your tips. Below you will learn what to spend your money on at Dollar Tree (this may apply to other dollar stores as well since they all kinda carry the same stuff). Enjoy…Also, I would love to read any other tips you have in the comments!  🙂

I am going to break it down into categories and different sections of the store. 

Household Cleaning:

Things to Buy:

• ANY of the L.A.’s Totally Awesome products – I had a TON of readers says that they are like magic. The spot remover works awesome and the oxygen power cleaner works as good as the other expensive brands. I recently purchased the Orange cleaners from them and it really is wonderful and quite awesome.  😉
• Fabric softener – believe it or not, this stuff smells great, comes in a big bottle for a buck and is perfect for refreshing couches, rugs, and even pets!
• The Works cleaner – I have not tried this but a lot of readers swear by it. I can’t wait to try it!
• Palmolive Dish soap – there are often coupons available for these so you will get a great deal.
• Sun detergent or dishwashing soap – again, these often have coupons so keep an eye out and if a coupon pops up, you will score a nice deal.

Pass on these:

• Brooms – the handles often break on these
• Garbage bags – a TON of readers had negative things to say about the garbage bags, the rip and tear easily.

Health & Beauty:

Things to buy:

• Pregnancy Tests – these work really well and have always worked for me as well as all the readers who also recommended them! 
• 3 pack loofah sponges (these are perfect for kid’s baths)
• Hair bows, ties, bobby pins, headbands
• Shaving Cream – this stuff really does work and smells pretty good! I love it for just $1!
• Close-Up mouthwash – this is the only brand I would recommend (the others are not so great)
• Triple Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Scotties tissue – these will often have coupons so you will get great deals
• Cotton pads
• Name Brand make-up – I have spotted Elf and Maybelline and once again Maybelline always has coupons!

Pass on these:

• Q-tips (this isn’t the brand but pass on them) they bend and are not strong and the cotton on the end is very fuzzy
• Off Brand Lotions
• Perfume and Cologne

Birthday Items:

Things to buy:

• Wrapping paper – I am shocked at how much wrapping paper has gone up in price so the $1 store paper is a great deal and you can get a few different designs!
• Gift Bags
• Cards
• Candles
• Streamers (these come with 2 so they are only $0.50 each!)
• Cups
• Birthday decor (party hats, balloons, invitations, favor bags, etc)
• Mylar balloons
• Tissue paper

Pass on these:

• Plastic utensils (they break easily although I do recommend the table liners which is in the same section)

Food and Candy:

Things to buy:

• Movie candy – stop by on the way to the movies and pick up the boxes of candy for just $1! You may be able to find these at Walmart for $0.97 but if you’re closer to a Dollar Store then you may want to stop there instead!
• Candy for Pinatas and Party favor bags – they have several bags of candy that have individually wrapped pieces so this is perfect for Birthday parties! For example, ring pops, suckers, avengers candy pieces and more.
• Popsicles – These have $1/1 coupons which makes them FREE!!
• Soda Pop – I love these, they are off brand but they are huge and perfect for Birthday parties. In my opinion they taste like Shasta.
• Popsicle Molds – a pack of 6 for just $1 – that’s awesome!
• Hormel Pepperoni – Once again, there are often coupon for $0.50 to $1 off which makes them only $0.50 or FREE!
• Drink mixes – these are fabulous, just add 1 to a water bottle and it flavors your drink…they even have sugar free.
• Seasonings – can’t go wrong for $1!

Pass on these:

• Check expiration dates on all the food items…sometimes they tend to have things that go past that date.  😐

Kitchen and Bath:

Things to buy:

• Tupperware
• Tubs and Bins for organizing
• Glass Vases
• Foil baking tins (perfect for Thanksgiving and way cheaper than other stores)
• 3 pack kid’s toothbrushes – there are often coupons that make the kid’s toothbrushes free and sometimes the come with travel cases and covers
• Bathroom Decor – for just $1, that’s a steal!
• Shower curtain – I have heard of people painting these and coloring them for the kiddos bathroom!
• Shower curtain hanging rings (not sure what they are called exactly but they hold up the curtain and are normally very pricey)
• Kid’s bubble bath – this stuff works great and lasts a long time!
• Hefty plastic bags – normally coupons for them which makes them a great deal
• Napkins – they come with a ton and work great
• Tupperware – can’t go wrong with these packs
• Mason Jars – you can do recipes in these, cookies jars, gifts, crafts and more!
• Plates, Cups, Mugs, bowls – this is great if you need to just get a few or want some variation in colors
• Kitchen Towels and Mits – look how cute these are in the picture above..I love the green and purple and for just $1!

Pass on these:

• Pie Tins (these are not good for baking because they tend to rust) ALTHOUGH, they are good for kids crafts and play.
• Candles – they don’t smell that good and even if they do in the store, the scent doesn’t last once lit in my opinion
• Coffee Mugs – I have heard from several readers that these leak and the lids don’t stay on
• Toilet Paper – this is usually very thing and doesn’t work all that well.  😳

Art and Supplies:

Things to buy:

• Large Activity Coloring books – these are very big and the kids will have a blast with them (some even have stickers)
• Teacher corner – there are great tools here for not only teachers but homeschoolers, preschoolers or just if you want to teach some fun stuff to your kids. They also have sticker books which would be great for chores!  😉
• Sewing kits with bags – $1…enough said!
• Pom poms, felt, foam board, craft supplies
• Safety pins – I hear these run out often so if you see them, snatch them up!
• Vinyl Decals for decorating and for kid’s rooms – these are SUPER cute and can totally change the look of room or bathroom for just $1…I say yes!
• Poster board

Pass on these:

•  Glue sticks – they tend to be dried out or dry out fast after opened
• Frames – these usually break when you are trying to even just put the photo in… see what I mean?
• Garage sale signs – I say no because you can easily look across the aisle and find the BRIGHT colored poster board priced at $0.69 then cut them in half and you’ve got 2 signs so just about $0.35 each instead of $1.
• Crayons – they don’t work… weird huh? No really, the color is super dull.
• Playdough – this stuff is usually dried out….if you find one that’s not, you’re lucky!
• School supplies – you can usually always get better deals from places like Staples, Office Max etc as long as you buy at the right time…starting in about July and August they offer $0.01 deals, freebies and more. Just watch Raining Hot Coupons and I post them all Summer long.

Miscellaneous:

Things to buy:

• 3 pack socks that makes each pair about $0.33 each!
• Disposal bags for when walking pets – you get a ton for super cheap
• Big bottle of Bubbles – lots of Summer fun with these!
• Flip Flops – now I can’t say these are going to last but I’ve found that most $1 flip flops anywhere you get them don’t last long. They are great for public pools, the beach, etc so you don’t have to worry about someone taking them.
• Puzzles – great for the kids or even party favors or Birthday party game gifts
• Pack of Littles Toys – I LOVE to use the packs of insects, glowing stars, dinosaurs, erasers, etc for Pinatas! They work out perfect because you get quite a few for just $1.

Pass on these:

• Toy Cars – these tend to be very cheap and break (the plastic is flimsy)
• Outdoor lights – this may seem like a great deal but they don’t last long at all
• Lighters – don’t really work long
• Goggles – the water seeps through  😐
• Batteries – don’t last
• Anything electronic – according to many readers opinions and my own, anything electronic never last long.

Hope that helps….do you have anything to add to the list?! I would love to hear….

DIY Detox Foot Soak

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DIY Detox Foot Soak

Do you find that your feet are tired and sore at the end of a long day? Well there might just be a solution to this very problem! We are all on our feet for the majority of every day and that can take a serious toll on our feet! Luckily, there is a great detoxifying foot soak that will not only help soothe your sore feet it will also keep your feet looking really healthy! Check out this awesome recipe below to create your own DIY detox foot soak:

Recipe: 

1 cup of Epsom Salts

1 cup of Sea Salt

2 cups of Baking Soda

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients together. Store in airtight container as 1 batch of mix will work for a few soaks.
2. When you want to soak your feet, add 1/4 cup of the dry mixture into a tub of very hot water.
3. Soak feet for 30 mins to see results!
4. Use mix whenever you feel like you need to relax your feet!

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How To Quickly Cure Canker Sores

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How To Quickly Cure Canker Sores

Canker sores  can be a huge pain (literally) when they show up out of nowhere and hang around to cause serious discomfort. The ominous sores appear for a few reasons some of the most important being the brand of toothpaste you are using or emotional stress. The good news is there is a simple, home remedy that will nip cankers in the bud quickly. Check out the instructions below to find out how to quickly cure canker sores:

Ingredients: 

• Baking Soda
• Water

Instructions:

1. To start shrinking the canker sore, simply make a small paste of water and baking soda in a small bowl or on your finger.
2. Then rub the paste directly on your canker and make sure to cover the whole surface area.
3. Do this for 2-3 days until canker sores have completely disappeared.

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This next tip is a great way to clean a smelly old sponge and a perfect way to clean your microwave at the same time!

1. Get the sponge completely wet with water
2. Place in microwave for 1 minute
3. You can then put on some gloves and use the sponge to wipe out any old food that’s stuck in your microwave (be careful, the sponge will be super HOT).
4. After this, rinse the sponge (and if your microwave was really dirty, you may want to sanitize your sponge one more time)  😉
5. That’s it! You can do this a couple times until the sponge starts to deteriorate.

Tip – if you don’t feel comfortable re-using the sponge after a few times then you coud start using that same sponge to clean your bathrooms (just be sure to place it under the sink in a special spot so someone doesn’t re-use it in the kitchen).  😕

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When those little heart shaped berries make it onto the shelves in the store, you know that the summer season is upon us. Strawberries are one of the best summer time fruits and there’s nothing quite like a fresh, ripe strawberry on a hot summer day. I don’t know about you but when I buy strawberries, I find it hard not to dive right in and eat them all. Or to buy them all. Or to cover them with sugar.

Since they are only in season fresh for a few months, it’s a good idea to try to utilize the abundant amount available while you can. Here’s a few easy and delectable ways to enjoy strawberries incorporated into meals or treats that you might not have thought of.

1- Try strawberry infused water. The recipe could not be easier. Rinse and hull one container of strawberries. Slice or quarter and add to a pitcher of water. That’s it. The secret to getting the refreshing infusion is letting the mixture refrigerate and allowing the flavor to mingle for at least an hour, longer if you wait. Try adding lemons, limes or mint for some flavor mix ups. You can also use sparkling water for a touch of fancy or infuse the berries in a pitcher of tea instead.

2- What better way to enjoy strawberries in the summer time than as a fresh frozen treat? Puree fresh, rinsed strawberries and use the mixture to fill popsicle molds. Freeze for a few hours and enjoy. Mix in yogurt to the puree before freezing for a creamsicle like treat. These are much more healthier and customizable than what you can buy in the store. I have a RECIPE for Real Fruit Popsicles here.

Check out this great price on popsicle molds so you can get started on this frozen concoction!

3- Try a fresh produce adaptation of the ever trendy cake pops; Strawberry pops. Incorporate strawberries into the mix by first inserting cake pop or lollipop sticks into freshly rinsed and hulled berries. Dip into dark chocolate and roll in sprinkles or try white chocolate rolled in graham cracker crumbs. Remember to refrigerate if not served immediately.

4- Strawberry cheesecake is a popular dessert but baking it homemade is labor intensive and time consuming. Try a much simpler wanna-be version using cupcakes. Start with a boxed vanilla cake mix (I won’t tell!) and top with a cream cheese frosting and fresh, sliced strawberries. These won’t last long and will be much easier than a whole authentic cheesecake. Also, don’t forget to try my Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries Recipe (these are SO good and easy!)!

5- Freshen up a summer salad with strawberries. Add the sliced berries to a bed of spinach or kale, mix in your favorite assortment of salad fixings and top with a light dressing. There are many variations of this salad but you might consider adding kiwi, avocado, melon, mango, walnuts or almonds. Lightly toss with a honey dijon, honey lime or a poppy seed dressing. This would be a perfect side dish to a back yard barbeque.

Don’t forget to check out my recipes using strawberries too:

Stress Relieving Detox Drink (which uses Strawberries)

and

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries Recipe (these are SO good)

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How To Keep Avocados From Browning

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How To Keep Avocados From Browning

Avocados are not only delicious but are packed full of good nutrients and health benefits! However, once oxygen comes into contact with the inside of the avocado they start to brown and the process can move quite quickly. The good news is there is a way to prevent browning for a few days, allowing you to get the most out of your avocados.

There are two really great methods that will extend the life of your fresh avocado. The first method is for those who are using one half and want to save the other for a little later. Once you have cut the avocado in half, use the side that does not have the pit first. For the second half, leave the pit attached and rub some lemon or lime juice over the top surface. Place in a sealed bag and try to insure that no air is left in the bag, then refrigerate till your ready to use it. This can keep the half fresh for up to 2 days.

The second method is for those who want to prepare avocados ahead of time and keep them fresh till your ready to use them.  Remove the avocado from the skin and prepare as you prefer (diced, sliced, chopped etc.). Once you have prepared it the way you want, immediately submerge in  a bath of ice water. Keep the pieces in the water till your ready to use them, this keeps them away from oxygen. They will stay fresh for up to four hours in the water.

Kitchen Organization Ideas

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I always feel like I need to have my kitchen organized the most out of anything in my house. Since I cook a lot of recipes in it, I want to make sure I know where everything is, it all fits and I can find things quickly.  If it’s not organized. cooking and baking takes twice as long and stresses me out.

With that being said, below are tons of really smart ideas on how to organize your kitchen! Enjoy..

Don’t forget to check out my post on 20 DIY Cleaning Recipes, Tips and Tricks! And, 6 Steps to a Clean and Productive Kitchen.

(Photo Credit, source & to see directions: My So Called Home)

Use a cabinet door to hang your measuring cups…there is nothing worse than searching for a measuring cup when in the middle of making a recipe.

(Photo Credit, source & to see directions: My House, My Home)

Use plastic bins (buy at the dollar store) to organize tupperware…smart idea!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions: Everyday Organizing)

Labels…it may seem tedious but when things are labeled, you know exactly where to put things every time AND that in return means you will be able to find things easily too. Plus, after putting things away in their “spot” for some time, you will get use to EXACTLY where everything is in your kitchen.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Pinterest)

Love this idea because I hate when I can’t find lids or they all come flying out when you just want one! Use a drying rack and basket to make this lid organizer!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Martha Stewart)

Use a lazy susan, turn table in the fridge! I love this idea because how many times have you thought you didn’t have ketchup or something but it was actually hiding in the back.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Martha Stewart)

I needed a funnel the other day and kept trying to roll a piece of paper but it would constantly come undone. So, keep some envelopes in a drawer and if you need a funnel, cut a triangle out of it diagonally and then a large opening in the corner and that’s it!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Martha Stewart)

Buy some mini tension rods and put them in a cupboard or pantry to utilize the space better…plus things are easier to pull out and put away.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Simcoe Street)

I love these bins because since they are open in the front, you can easily see what’s inside of them. Once again, these can be found at a dollar store or even Walmart.

(Photo Credit source, & to see directions: My House, My Home)

If you have a lot of mugs, plastic cups or even baby bottles, etc then you may want to try out this idea. You can hang this on a door (like the pantry). This is just a shoe holder but can be used for many other things.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Organizing Home Life)

If you don’t have a lot of mugs then you may want to use that same idea from above (shoe holder) to store kid’s snacks, seasoning packets, etc!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Goodbye House, Hello Home)

Another smart fridge idea…Use tubs to organize you fridge. The great thing about these is that if a piece of fruit or something spills, you can easily pull it out and give it a wash! You really should be cleaning your fridge often so this makes it much easier and looks better.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Domestically Speaking)

If you don’t have this in your kitchen, I highly recommend it! It’s a great place to store sponges as well as sink stoppers.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Girl Loves Glam)

The kitchen is a great place to put this board organizer. You can keep your schedule on it, weekly meal planner, receipts, to do list, etc! As an added bonus, it looks super cute.

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Kevin & Amanda)

Talk about utilizing space well! You can get these Pan holders/organizers on Amazon! What a smart idea!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Fabulously Organized Home)

Believe it or not, (I still choose not to…you should see my drawer  :-?) you CAN have an organized junk drawer…Just find some little baskets that fit in your drawer and that’s it!

(Photo credit, source & to see directions, Fab n’ Free)

DIY Chalkboard Paint

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DIY Chalkboard Paint

There have been some trends in the DIY market that have come and gone, but there is one that has stuck around: Chalkboard Paint! It is such a creative paint to work with as you can apply it to just about anything and it becomes a writable surface. But have you ever considered making your own? It’s surprisingly easy to do and it will save you a ton of money by making it at home! Check out the recipe below to make your own DIY chalkboard paint:

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp of Unsanded Grout
• 1/2 Cup of Acrylic Paint (Any color you like!)
• Mixing Bowl & Mixing Tool

Instructions:

1. Start by combining paint and grout together in your mixing bowl.
2. Mix until no lumps are present and till your color is the shade you want.
3. Then paint your surface with your newly created paint!
4. Make sure to prep the chalkboard surface after the paint has dried by rubbing chalk on the full surface and wiping it off.
5. Your chalkboard is ready to be written on!
6. Store paint in the fridge between uses.

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I can’t stand a dirty kitchen. The crunch of tiny crumbs underneath my feet, dried cheese on the counter, and leftovers stuck in the dish drain. It’s enough to make me crazy, and I’d rather avoid the mess than tackle it before another meal is made, and another catastrophe created.

With 3 meals a day, plus snacks, keeping the “heart of the home” clean is certainly exhausting, if not almost impossible!

But with a little forethought, elbow grease, and discipline, we can turn the unavoidable into a welcome site, and an all-consuming mess into just another part of the daily routine.

Before you start

1. Begin with a clean slate.

First step, is to clear all the dishes out of the sink, wipe down the counters, put cereal boxes and other snacks away, etc before you even start to put any ingredients together for a meal.

I know I can’t so much as think when I’m surrounded by mess and clutter, so take a few moments to put the kitchen to rights and move forward. You’ll feel so much better!

2. Set kitchen limits and assign responsibilities.

From here on out, decide who is “allowed” to make meals and mess around in the kitchen. If you want to keep things the way you like it, you may have to consider instituting a “no-work-zone” for the husband, and kids who are old enough to start getting their own snacks.

This also means that you will be doing a lot more work, but the trade off may be worth it if you enjoy a clean kitchen!

If your husband does offer to do the dishes, or the kids are willing to make their own snacks, make sure they understand a few rules first.

• Is there a specific way you like the dishes washed and put away?
• Do you require all crumbs to wiped up on the counter before someone leaves with their snack?
• Should items be left in the sink, or placed in the dishwasher after meal time is over?

Set these expectations now, so the entire family knows what to expect.

During meal prep

3. Keep a garbage bowl handy.

You can go through quite a few dishes when making a meal, and instead of throwing everything into the sink, I like to keep a bowl right beside me to collect spatulas, measuring cups, and small bowls.

I might need to use a couple of those spatulas again, and if I throw them in the sink, they are immediately dirty in my book. But if they are resting in a bowl I had been using for the current meal, I’m more likely to grab it again and save myself some after-dinner dish duty.

There are some TV chefs who will throw everything in the bowl from egg shells to butter wrappers, but I prefer not to. The garbage is usually close by while I’m working, and I’d rather not dig out all the actual garbage later.

4. While dinner is cooking, start cleaning and putting items away.

If the meal doesn’t require a full set of eyes every minute, you can use this time to start putting your kitchen in order again.

Place ingredients back into the pantry, start loading the dishwasher, and even wash a few items to leave in the dish drainer while you eat. It’s definitely less overwhelming if you tackle this in bits and pieces, rather than saving everything until the meal is over.

After dinner rush hour

5. Define who does what.

Avoid the family’s mad dash away from the dinner table by setting those expectations we talked about in point #2. If you don’t mind cleaning up after everyone, that’s fine, but make sure everyone knows that.

If you prefer each family member take their dishes to the sink, rinse them off, and put them in the dishwasher, then let them know that too.

6. Decide what has to be done for the kitchen to be “acceptable”.

• Do all the dishes have to be washed and put away?
• The table and counters wiped down?
• A spotless stove?
• New dishcloths and towels put out?

Determine “good enough”, and then don’t fret about the rest. Mentally work your way through the after-dinner routine, and don’t be afraid to let a casserole dish soak in the sink until morning. The key is to not let it sit there until the smell becomes your unpleasant reminder.

Even if you’re not an avid foodie, and don’t particularly enjoy working in the kitchen, you can still set some sort of routine that works for you and your family.

Meal prep doesn’t have to be painful, and you might actually find yourself having fun without the worry of a disaster-zone kitchen!

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10 Ways To Use Ice Cube Trays

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10 Ways To Use Ice Cube Trays

Ice cube trays are good only good for ice right? Not anymore! With a little creativity you can make anything from chocolaty desserts to cubes of cooking stock. Check out these great ideas below on how to use your ice cube trays other than for ice:

1. Chocolate Strawberries: This is a great dessert idea when you are short on time! Simply place your cut strawberries in the trays and pour melted chocolate over top. Pop it in the freezer for fast chocolate covered strawberries. 
2. Herbs & Oil: Freeze your leftover herbs in ice cube trays to extend their life. Simply pack your herbs in the tray and pour olive oil over top.  Pop them in the freezer and use them whenever you need to spice up a dish or a soup.
3. Coffee Cubes: To save your ice coffee from getting watery, freeze leftover coffee in your ice cube trays. Then when you have your morning iced drink you can throw in a couple of specialty ice cubes and enjoy coffee flavor as it melts.
4. Baby Food: Freezing leftover baby food is  a great way to preserve it.  If you find you have too much and want to save it, throw it in the trays to freeze. When you need it, thaw a few cubes and your good to go!
5. Pasta Sauces: Freezing leftover pasta sauce in ice cube trays is a great way to save leftovers and will help you when you need sauce quickly. Warm up on the stove or in the microwave  and enjoy!
6. Buttermilk: When a recipe calls for buttermilk, you usually only need a tablespoon or so. A great way to save the rest is to freeze it in an ice cube tray and use it when you need it. It will last for 3 months and if you measure it out ahead of time it can making baking super easy!
7. Chocolate: Chocolate milk and ice cubes? How about chocolate milk and chocolate ice cubes! Freeze your favorite melted chocolate to enhance your favorite drink.
8. Juice: Freezing juice is another great way to enhance your favorite drink. Freeze any type of juice you like and use it when drinking water, juice or even alcohol!
9. Shake Freeze: A quick way to enhance your smoothie is to throw a couple of frozen kale or spinach cubes in.  Cook your greens, blend and pour into ice cubes for a quick smoothie add on!
10. Stock: Last but not least a great way to make soup stock last is to freeze it! Pour your favorite stock into ice cube trays and freeze. When you need a few just pop them out and thaw. Generally stock lasts for 2-3 months and is perfect when you only need a little bit at a time.

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How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Chrome

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How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Chrome

Hard water stains can be a tough thing to remove. When they have had time to settle into the chrome, the stains become more stubborn and it seems they will be permanent. But luckily, there is an easy way to remove them and it only takes one ingredient.

To remove hard water stains from your chrome fixtures such as your sink or your bathtub fixtures simply grab a lemon! Cut the lemon in half and start with one half on a set of fixtures. Slowly, rub the lemon in circles over the hard water stain concentrating on the darker parts first. The acid in the lemon will start to work away at the stains and they will slowly start to lighten. After a little bit of scrubbing with the lemon, the stains should fade away.  Repeat this method as hard water stains appear. Also, use this method when it comes to rust on items like razor blades or hair accessories!

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Ants

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Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Ants

Now that summer has arrived, so have the ants! They start showing up one by one, and before you know it you have a colony roaming around your house and no way to get rid of them. There is some traditional methods for getting rid of ants such as sprays and traps. But what if you want to get rid of them without the use of harsh chemicals? Well look no further! Check out the list below to find out how to get rid of pesky ants the natural way:

1. Baby Powder:  You can dust this directly on to the ants when you see them and at all entry points where you think they might be entering.
2. Cucumber Peelings: Leave cucumber peelings in the areas where ants appear, these peelings are toxic to ants and will ward them off.
3. Vinegar & Water Wipe: Wipe down any surfaces where ants appear. Counter tops, tables,  and even cupboards. They dislike the smell of vinegar, ultimately keeping them away.
4. Bay Leaves & Cloves: Another smell related trap for the ants. They’ll stay away from the smells they hate most!
5. Coffee Grounds: These can be spread around your house, but the best place for the grounds is the garden. It will keep your flowers and plants ant free!
6. Chalk:  Draw chalk lines from there point of entry. They will avoid it like the plague!
7. Lemon Juice: Dabbing lemon juice around doors and windows can keep ants away.
8. Baking Soda & Powdered Sugar:  If your looking to do more then keeping ants away use this little mixture to kill the small intruders! Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. The sugar will attract them and the baking soda will kill them.
9. Cinnamon: Using this in the powdered form or in an essential oil spray can do wonders for keeping ants away and is easy to clean up.
10. Cornmeal: This is best used out on your deck to get ants away from your patio or garden area. Just sprinkle cornmeal in high traffic areas.

7 Ways To Use Overripe Fruit 

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7 Ways To Use Overripe Fruit 

There is nothing worse then buying fruit only to have start browning and wilting right before your eyes! To most people, once a fruit is overripe it’s no good, but that isn’t the case anymore. Overripe fruit can be used in a ton of recipes and different methods of baking, reducing waste and leaving you with a tasty result. Check out the list below for 7 ways to use overripe fruit:

1. Jam: For overripe berries, apples and even oranges try making a homemade jam! It can made the traditional way over the stove or if you prefer jam can be created in the crockpot! You can also freeze extra jam if you find yourself with leftovers.
2. Freeze It: When fruit is starting to show it’s spots and becomes ripe it’s time to use it! If you don’t have any time to use it right away, try chopping and freezing the ripe fruit. This will keep it in a usable form and will make a great add in for smoothies.
3. DIY Fruit Leather: Buying fruit leather from the store is now a thing of the past. You can make homemade fruit leather at home with ripe fruit and a few simple ingredients. The leather will be way better then store bought and you’ll be able to customize the flavors to your liking.
4. Popsicles: Popsicles may not be your first thought when you think of using up fruit, but it sure is a tasty option. Simply, chop, mash or strain your ripe fruit and combine it with a liquid in your popsicle molds.  Let it freeze and before you know it you’ll have a tasty frozen treat.
5. Fruit Crisp: If you need dessert in a flash, why not make a fruit crisp? You can use any fruit you like as the base, add sugar and cinnamon for sweetness and oats for the topping. Bake until golden brown and serve with whip cream or ice cream!
6. Fruit Sauce: Whether it be ice cream, cake or even a bowl of yogurt, why not spice it up with a fruit sauce? All you need to do is to throw fruit, a dash of sugar and a liquid of your choice in a sauce pot and let it simmer.  After a few minutes the sauce will turn into a jam like texture and it will make the perfect topping for any dessert.
7. Juice: When all else fails, bring out the juicer. You can juice almost any fruit and make your own custom creation in minutes!

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10 Simple Sunburn Remedies:

With summer in full swing, sunburns become a common risk that can affect everyone and really put a damper on your day. The good news is that a sunburn can be easily taken care of and most times you can use items from around your house to soothe the pain.  Check out 10 ways to survive your sunburn this summer below:

1. Soak It: A good way to soothe sunburn pain is to soak the affected area in cold water. Alternatively, you can use a cold compress but only do this for 15 minutes.
2. Tea Compress: Green tea isn’t just for drinking anymore, it can be used to soothe your burn. Soak a hand towel in cooled green tea and apply directly to the burn.
3. Veggie Rescue: Using sliced vegetables such as cucumber or potato and rubbing them against the sunburn can really help. They contain ingredients that will help cool the burn.
4. Aloe Treatment: The number one sunburn recovery product is definitely aloe vera. You can either use aloe leaves directly from the plant or buy aloe vera in store and apply directly to your burn.
5. Ibuprofen:  Taking two Ibuprofen when you discover a sunburn can help bring down swelling and help to dull pain.
6. Milk Cloth: Did you know milk is a great help when it comes to a sunburn? Soak a cloth in cold, cold milk and apply it to skin for 20 minutes.
7. Avoid Makeup: If you have burnt your face and neck, try to avoid makeup for a few days. Your skin will heal faster and feel much better without any added products.
8. Loose Clothing: When you are suffering from a burn, avoid tight clothing. Loose, natural fiber clothing can help to avoid irritation of the burn and will help it to heal at a faster rate.
9. Vinegar Bath: It may sound funny, but adding two cups of vinegar to your bath can seriously help soothe and heal your sunburn. It will cool the skin and act as a antiseptic
10. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is one of the oldest remedies in the book for sunburn care. Applying cold oatmeal or a oatmeal infused lotion to your skin can relieve pain and swelling.

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I spent some time…actually a lot of time at Dollar Tree and scoped out the “Good” and “Bad” buys. I also asked for YOUR opinions on the Raining Hot Coupons Facebook page and so many of you gave me some great tips on items you love and items you don’t really care for from Dollar Tree. Thank you all for your tips. Below you will learn what to spend your money on at Dollar Tree (this may apply to other dollar stores as well since they all kinda carry the same stuff). Enjoy…Also, I would love to read any other tips you have in the comments!  🙂

I am going to break it down into categories and different sections of the store. 

Household Cleaning:

Things to Buy:

• ANY of the L.A.’s Totally Awesome products – I had a TON of readers says that they are like magic. The spot remover works awesome and the oxygen power cleaner works as good as the other expensive brands. I recently purchased the Orange cleaners from them and it really is wonderful and quite awesome.  😉
• Fabric softener – believe it or not, this stuff smells great, comes in a big bottle for a buck and is perfect for refreshing couches, rugs, and even pets!
• The Works cleaner – I have not tried this but a lot of readers swear by it. I can’t wait to try it!
• Palmolive Dish soap – there are often coupons available for these so you will get a great deal.
• Sun detergent or dishwashing soap – again, these often have coupons so keep an eye out and if a coupon pops up, you will score a nice deal.

Pass on these:

• Brooms – the handles often break on these
• Garbage bags – a TON of readers had negative things to say about the garbage bags, the rip and tear easily.

Health & Beauty:

Things to buy:

• Pregnancy Tests – these work really well and have always worked for me as well as all the readers who also recommended them! 
• 3 pack loofah sponges (these are perfect for kid’s baths)
• Hair bows, ties, bobby pins, headbands
• Shaving Cream – this stuff really does work and smells pretty good! I love it for just $1!
• Close-Up mouthwash – this is the only brand I would recommend (the others are not so great)
• Triple Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Scotties tissue – these will often have coupons so you will get great deals
• Cotton pads
• Name Brand make-up – I have spotted Elf and Maybelline and once again Maybelline always has coupons!

Pass on these:

• Q-tips (this isn’t the brand but pass on them) they bend and are not strong and the cotton on the end is very fuzzy
• Off Brand Lotions
• Perfume and Cologne

Birthday Items:

Things to buy:

• Wrapping paper – I am shocked at how much wrapping paper has gone up in price so the $1 store paper is a great deal and you can get a few different designs!
• Gift Bags
• Cards
• Candles
• Streamers (these come with 2 so they are only $0.50 each!)
• Cups
• Birthday decor (party hats, balloons, invitations, favor bags, etc)
• Mylar balloons
• Tissue paper

Pass on these:

• Plastic utensils (they break easily although I do recommend the table liners which is in the same section)

Food and Candy:

Things to buy:

• Movie candy – stop by on the way to the movies and pick up the boxes of candy for just $1! You may be able to find these at Walmart for $0.97 but if you’re closer to a Dollar Store then you may want to stop there instead!
• Candy for Pinatas and Party favor bags – they have several bags of candy that have individually wrapped pieces so this is perfect for Birthday parties! For example, ring pops, suckers, avengers candy pieces and more.
• Popsicles – These have $1/1 coupons which makes them FREE!!
• Soda Pop – I love these, they are off brand but they are huge and perfect for Birthday parties. In my opinion they taste like Shasta.
• Popsicle Molds – a pack of 6 for just $1 – that’s awesome!
• Hormel Pepperoni – Once again, there are often coupon for $0.50 to $1 off which makes them only $0.50 or FREE!
• Drink mixes – these are fabulous, just add 1 to a water bottle and it flavors your drink…they even have sugar free.
• Seasonings – can’t go wrong for $1!

Pass on these:

• Check expiration dates on all the food items…sometimes they tend to have things that go past that date.  😐

Kitchen and Bath:

Things to buy:

• Tupperware
• Tubs and Bins for organizing
• Glass Vases
• Foil baking tins (perfect for Thanksgiving and way cheaper than other stores)
• 3 pack kid’s toothbrushes – there are often coupons that make the kid’s toothbrushes free and sometimes the come with travel cases and covers
• Bathroom Decor – for just $1, that’s a steal!
• Shower curtain – I have heard of people painting these and coloring them for the kiddos bathroom!
• Shower curtain hanging rings (not sure what they are called exactly but they hold up the curtain and are normally very pricey)
• Kid’s bubble bath – this stuff works great and lasts a long time!
• Hefty plastic bags – normally coupons for them which makes them a great deal
• Napkins – they come with a ton and work great
• Tupperware – can’t go wrong with these packs
• Mason Jars – you can do recipes in these, cookies jars, gifts, crafts and more!
• Plates, Cups, Mugs, bowls – this is great if you need to just get a few or want some variation in colors
• Kitchen Towels and Mits – look how cute these are in the picture above..I love the green and purple and for just $1!

Pass on these:

• Pie Tins (these are not good for baking because they tend to rust) ALTHOUGH, they are good for kids crafts and play.
• Candles – they don’t smell that good and even if they do in the store, the scent doesn’t last once lit in my opinion
• Coffee Mugs – I have heard from several readers that these leak and the lids don’t stay on
• Toilet Paper – this is usually very thing and doesn’t work all that well.  😳

Art and Supplies:

Things to buy:

• Large Activity Coloring books – these are very big and the kids will have a blast with them (some even have stickers)
• Teacher corner – there are great tools here for not only teachers but homeschoolers, preschoolers or just if you want to teach some fun stuff to your kids. They also have sticker books which would be great for chores!  😉
• Sewing kits with bags – $1…enough said!
• Pom poms, felt, foam board, craft supplies
• Safety pins – I hear these run out often so if you see them, snatch them up!
• Vinyl Decals for decorating and for kid’s rooms – these are SUPER cute and can totally change the look of room or bathroom for just $1…I say yes!
• Poster board

Pass on these:

•  Glue sticks – they tend to be dried out or dry out fast after opened
• Frames – these usually break when you are trying to even just put the photo in… see what I mean?
• Garage sale signs – I say no because you can easily look across the aisle and find the BRIGHT colored poster board priced at $0.69 then cut them in half and you’ve got 2 signs so just about $0.35 each instead of $1.
• Crayons – they don’t work… weird huh? No really, the color is super dull.
• Playdough – this stuff is usually dried out….if you find one that’s not, you’re lucky!
• School supplies – you can usually always get better deals from places like Staples, Office Max etc as long as you buy at the right time…starting in about July and August they offer $0.01 deals, freebies and more. Just watch Raining Hot Coupons and I post them all Summer long.

Miscellaneous:

Things to buy:

• 3 pack socks that makes each pair about $0.33 each!
• Disposal bags for when walking pets – you get a ton for super cheap
• Big bottle of Bubbles – lots of Summer fun with these!
• Flip Flops – now I can’t say these are going to last but I’ve found that most $1 flip flops anywhere you get them don’t last long. They are great for public pools, the beach, etc so you don’t have to worry about someone taking them.
• Puzzles – great for the kids or even party favors or Birthday party game gifts
• Pack of Littles Toys – I LOVE to use the packs of insects, glowing stars, dinosaurs, erasers, etc for Pinatas! They work out perfect because you get quite a few for just $1.

Pass on these:

• Toy Cars – these tend to be very cheap and break (the plastic is flimsy)
• Outdoor lights – this may seem like a great deal but they don’t last long at all
• Lighters – don’t really work long
• Goggles – the water seeps through  😐
• Batteries – don’t last
• Anything electronic – according to many readers opinions and my own, anything electronic never last long.

Hope that helps….do you have anything to add to the list?! I would love to hear….

DIY Wrinkle Release Spray

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DIY Wrinkle Release Spray

Wrinkled clothing can really start the day off on the wrong foot and sometimes ironing is the only option. However, I know I am not alone when I say ironing can be a real time consuming pain.  So what can you do to release those wrinkles without having to pull out the iron or throw your clothes back in the dryer? Well, you can start by bottling your own wrinkle release spray and use it as your secret weapon on creased clothes. This is also a great way to save money on store brand wrinkle release formulas.  Check out the awesome DIY recipe below and leave your iron behind!