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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….

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!

How To Easily Clean Microfiber 

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How To Easily Clean Microfiber 

Microfiber can be a tough fabric to clean and to keep clean on a regular basis.  So how do you go about cleaning it? There is a ton of different methods to clean microfiber furniture using anything from baby wipes to a hairdryer. But those methods can be rather time consuming and demand a lot of elbow grease. Luckily, there is a new, easy method to cleaning your microfiber! Check it out  below:

Supplies:

• Windex (Any kind will do)
• Clean Scrub Brush

Directions:

1. Lightly spray the microfiber with the Windex. Make sure you don’t soak the item completely.
2. Then scrub out all spots that are showing. You shouldn’t have to scrub too hard to get them out.
3. Finally, let dry and use a dry brush to brush all the fibers in the same direction.
4. Repeat as you see necessary.

How To Unclog A Toilet Fast

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How To Unclog A Toilet Fast

Sometimes we run into a household problem that can begin small but turns out to be a big problem, such as a clogged toilet. Having a clogged toilet can get worse if it is not dealt with properly, but what is the best way to fix it? Well, you can use your plunger and work away at it, but what if that doesn’t work? Some clogs need a few more ingredients to help solve the problem, luckily we have the solution! Check out the instructions below on how to unclog your toilet fast:

Ingredients:

• Toliet Plunger
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Bucket of Hot Water

Instructions:

1. Start by adding a few cups of hot water to the clogged bowl first, before plunging. Let the water sit for at least 3-5 minutes.
2. Try to unclog the toilet, if it doesn’t work move on to the next step.
3. Add some dawn dish soap to the bowl and use the plunger to unclog the toilet.
4. Your clog should be fixed, however if it is still not working repeat this process.

7 Other Uses For Your Hair Dryer

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7 Other Uses For Your Hair Dryer

Hairdryers are great for the obvious, drying hair! But what else can it do? Maybe you use your dryer everyday or maybe your like me and only use it occasionally, regardless you don’t want it to just take up valuable cupboard space. So what can you do? Well, luckily you can use your hairdryer for other things! Check out this great and handy list below on how to use you hairdryer other than on your hair:

1. Wrinkle Remover: Your hairdryer can act as quick, mini iron.  Lay clothes flat on the bed and blow the wrinkles out. If you have extra wrinkly clothing hang them in the bathroom while you shower to steam then and then use your dryer to blow out the rest of the wrinkles.
2. Sock Warmer: On those cold winter nights, take your hairdryer to your socks. You can warm them up prior to putting them on for cozy feet!
3. Paint Dryer: Tired of watching pair dry? Take a hairdryer to the area you are working on and hurry up the drying process.
4. Wax Cleanup: Use your hairdryer to remove crayon marks or wax spills. Blow dry the stain until the wax starts to melt, then wipe off.
5. Set Frosting:  A great way to set frosting on a cake or bakery item is to use a hairdryer. Cool air will harden the icing and warm air will make your glaze sparkle.
6. Dusting: If you are short on time when dusting, use your hair dryer to remove a layer of dust and get in those tight corners.
7. Label Help: The stubborn, sticky label not moving? Heat it up with a hairdryer to help remove it. It should slide right off with a little bit of heat.

15 Uses for Coca Cola

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How To Make A Reusable Dryer Sheet

Remove Rust Spots From Silverware and Knives

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How To Clean Hair Brushes & Combs

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How To Clean Hair Brushes & Combs

One thing you might not think about cleaning on the regular is your hairbrush or comb. Of course, we remove hair build up every so often but do you take the time to really clean them? The downside is if we don’t clean them on a somewhat regular basis dirt, oil and hair products can build up and leave your hair feeling not so clean. So how do we solve this problem? Well, there is an easy way to clean our your brushes and combs and it only takes a few minutes. Check out the instructions below on how to clean hair brushes and combs:

1. Start by removing all hair that has built up in between the bristles of your brush or comb. If some hair is woven tightly, use a toothpick to loosen.
2. Next, soak your tools in a sink of warm water with a few drops of shampoo. This will help remove oils and any product lingering in the bristles. Gentle scrub to get them extra clean.
3. If you happen to have a wooden, padded, or rubber brush skip the soaking step. Simply run these type of brushes under water with no soap to remove oils and dirt.

That’s all it takes to remove the build up on your brushes and it can be done on a weekly basis to make sure your brush is as clean as possible.

7 Uses For Coffee Filters

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7 Uses For Coffee Filters

Coffee filters are great for the obvious, coffee! But what else can they be used for? Coffee filters prove to be helpful in any situation from cleaning to acting as a kitchen helper. The other great part about coffee filters is you can save a lot of money by using them as they can be bought for cents at a dollar store. Check out the 7 best uses for coffee filters below:

1. Use coffee filters to cover dishes that are going in to the microwave. They fit perfectly over most plates, dishes and bowls.
2. Use a filter for a spoon rest while cooking. Just lay one on the counter and save yourself a mess by resting your stirring spoon on the filter instead of  messing up the counter.
3. Coffee filters are great for saving a bottle of wine! If your cork shreds while you are opening it, strain the wine through a filter. This will get out all the cork pieces and rescue your bottle of wine.
4. Next time you pouring fluid into your car, use a filter to make sure you don’t spill. It will act as a funnel and save you a huge mess from spillage!
5. Instead of using paper towel for catching grease, which can be expensive use a filter. The next time you cook something like bacon or french fries, lay down a filter to soak up the excess grease!
6. Place a filter in the bottom of a potted plant to avoid losing any soil. This way you will only have water coming out of the drainage holes when you water it.
7. When you are moving or packing, coffee filters make a great packing material! You can use it in between things like plates, tea cups or even Christmas ornaments!