Reena's Notes:

Getting rid of ants:

• There are a number of solutions for tackling ants because what works for one will not necessarily work for another since there is such a large variety of ant species.
• To begin with, seal all doors and windows. Next, many ants will stay away if they smell an odour unpleasant to them such as: cinnamon, garlic, tea leaves or coffee grounds.
• You can also sprinkle ant hills with dry oatmeal, cornmeal or Cornflake cereal.
• Another option is to make what I like to call Rhubarb Tea. In a stainless steel pot boil rhubarb leaves with water. Pour the cooled liquid onto ant hills. This helps get rid of ants and because of the oxalic acid in rhubarb, your pots will come out sparkly clean!
• You can make your own ant ridder by combining 1 cup Borax with 2 tbsp. icing sugar; add a few drops of honey. Trickle near ants or leave this solution in a bowl and place it outside where ants are a problem. Keep this combination away from grass, pets and children.
• Lastly, push a metal pipe into the ant hill and pour hot water into pipe.

Summer Stains

Sangria, watermelon, peach and orange juice:

• Stretch fabric over a pot of boiling water.
• Pour boiling water through the stain, normally the stain will disappear. If the stain remains, mix equal parts white vinegar, dishwashing liquid and water in a squirt bottle and spray onto stain.
• Let stand for 10 mins. and rinse. You can also soak the fabric in one quarter cup borax and 4 cups hot water. Wash as usual.

Suntan oil/lotion:

• Oil stains require fast action.
• Begin by pouring cornstarch onto the area. Let soak in and wash. Or wash fabric in dish soap and water.
• If stain remains sprinkle area with 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar. Leave in the sun and wash as usual.
• Always test on an inconspicuous area first.

Grass stains:

• Apply non-bleach, non-gel toothpaste to the area. Leave for about one hour (because you always want to give everything a chance to work).
• Wash as usual. Or clean with denatured alcohol.

Information taken from Household Solutions 1, 2 & 3. For more information visit: www.householdsolutions.org