here's an idea...

I have compiled a list of unusual household tips and tricks for you. Some ideas are from friends and family, others are my own. Enjoy!

• If crayon finds its way onto every visible surface, then use a rubber, aka an 'eraser', to get it off.
• Baby wipes will clean almost anything. (Even if you don't have a baby, I reckon you should have a pack of baby wipes handy.)
• Put a bit of Napisan in with every wash and you'll rarely have to
  soak things.
• If, for some reason, non-washable markers end up all over your 'older' bathroom sink, rub toothpaste (yes, toothpaste!) onto the marks and then wipe off with a damp cloth. Best!
• Store all cards / money / play pieces from boardgames in snaplock bags within the game box. Environmentally friendly? Not really.
  Sanity saver? Absolutely!
• If you spill rice on the carpet, or if it gets thrown there, wait til it dries then vacuum it up. So much easier than picking single, sticky grains of rice from the floor. Also, the sound of all those bits 'pinging' up the tube of the vacuum is very satisfying. "ooh yeah. so much cleaning happening right now"
• If you use jar sauces (hey, we're not all out to win Masterchef), rather can spending hours scooping and scraping the last bits out with a spoon, add a little water, put the lid back on, shake it up, then pour it into the pan.
• After chopping onions, rub your hands on the kitchen sink to get rid of that onion smell. It really works! Try it.
  (I must check if that works for other things too, such as baby poo. That smell never seems to wash off.)

And, one more from my husband:

• If you drop zucchini on the floor, rub your face on a tea towel.

I am yet to find a way of successfully removing lipstick from carpet and getting an umbrella stain (??) off our dining table. Who knew that umbrellas could stain things? If I find an answer I will definitely let you know.

Onya Weigh bags

I'm really on a mission lately to rid my life, and the world, of plastic bags.
(You may have noticed).

It's probably my guilty conscience about continuing to use disposable nappies that is really spurring me on right now. It makes me feel better about the nappy thing when I can tell myself, "well, at least I'm -insert eco-friendly thing here-".

I'm excited to share my latest eco-find with you: Onya Weigh Bags!
These mesh bags can each hold up to 2 kilos and come in a 5 or 8 pack. I bought these bags to use at the fruit and veg store. They have been so easy to use. Heaps of people have commented on how great they are and one fruit shop owner even asked where I got them because he wanted to sell them to customers at his shop. I bought my 8 pack on Ebay (of course!) for $16.95 plus postage. That was the best price I could find.

These bags can also be used to wash produce, or store it in the pantry, or not even for food at all! You could use it to store anything really - or use it as a laundry bag in the wash. I haven't been that creative with them yet. I'm just pleased that we've now got even less plastic in the house!