Saturday, January 26, 2013

How to make a food/fruit dryer from a dorm fridge using recycled materials



How to make a food/fruit dryer from a dorm fridge using recycled materials.
Material list:
-dorm/bar fridge
-base from slow cooker/crock pot (found at dump)
-110V fan (though a 12V should work as well but then you'd need a power supply as well)
-thermostat assembly from an electric stove (found at dump) (save all the screws you take out to get the back of the stove and use them to mount the shelves etc.)
-neon indicator lights from same stove
-racks/shelves from old stove/fridge
-piece of aluminum angle cut into +/- 1" pieces for rack hangers
-on/off switch (a regular house light switch would work as well, but not as cool..)
-misc. wire, crimp terminals and wire nuts and misc. fasteners
-Mylar sheet/aluminum foil
-aluminum tape, duct tape
-screen material to cover vents and lay on racks
-And of course, some fruit to dry

Tool list
-wire strippers/crimpers
-screwdrivers
-drill, bits, holesaw
-utility knife
-And most important, basic common sense and the humility to ask for advice when needed.

Step 1: Remove freezer and controls


Remove the freezer compartment and controls from the inside and the compressor etc. from the back. Keep the fridge power cord for the new set-up.
Cut around the door shelf to remove it and using a fishing wire leader or piano wire or a guitar string slipped in through the cut at the top, saw downward and cut the foam and remove door shelve
source :http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-dehydrator-from-a-dorm-fridge/

Monday, January 21, 2013

Brown Recluse Spider


Brown Recluse Spider, Extremely Dangerous, contains 9 poisons, similar to rattlesnake venom. Self Treatment - Stage 1 - If you've been bitten by this spider (or any spider), the 1st thing you should do is apply activated charcoal directly to wound (keep in medicine cabinet for poison emergencies). You can find it in capsules sold at health food stores, or you can buy it in the aquarium dept. of a grocery store. Charcoal must be finely ground before it's used. Apply thick paste to bite area.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Cake Batter Rice Krispies Recipe




Ingredients:
  • 3 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 (10 oz.) bag of mini-marshmallows
  • 1/3 cup yellow cake mix (the dry cake mix, not prepared into a batter!)
  • 5 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 1 (1.75 oz.) container of sprinkles
Method:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in (dry) cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. I find spraying a knife with nonstick spray helps to cut them cleanly.

Source : http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cake-batter-rice-crispy-treats/


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Sunday, January 6, 2013

25 Tips You Can Clean with Salt, Dryer Sheets, and Other Common Household Items




Here's the secret though; it's not magic. It's not even hard. Necessity is the mother of invention, and I'm going to show you how to make those reinventions rock! 
Here are 25 surprising ways to clean, using things already in your house.



1. Stains at the bottom of coffee cups or pots are problematic, but using a citrus peel to rub salt into the bottom can get them out.
2. Has your iron seen better days? Sprinkle salt on a piece of plain paper and then run your steamless iron over it to get rid of the hard water and other stains on the bottom.
3. Cast iron skillets can be cleaned with salt and a soft sponge; Salt is an abrasive that removes the gunk while preserving the pan.
4. If you happen to get spills in the bottom of your oven when a casserole bubbles over, pour table salt on the mess to soak it up. When the oven cools, you will be able to wipe it up with a damp sponge.  (Using an old baking sheet under your casserole dish to catch the spills is another way to repurpose the baking sheet and prevent the mess in the first place.)
5. Use baby shampoo to clean make-up brushes. A few dabs of shampoo mixed with water does the trick.
6. Cotton swabs at the bottom of your make-up bag or purse will absorb spills. (Make sure to replace them as you don't want a bunch of gunky cotton swabs at the bottom of your purse.)
7. Acetone or fingernail polish remover is great for removing "permanent" marker stains and the like. It is also great for getting sticky residue from labels off of surfaces.
8. I love in-house, do-it-yourself painting jobs and I've found that oil removes paint from hands. Rub some on after painting and then wash with soap.
9. Stainless steel sparkles with a little oil on it -- just put some on a rag and rub  down with the grain. See how pretty?
10. Throw dryer sheets in your shoes or gym bag to get them to smell fresher. When the fresh scent is gone, you can reuse them as dust rags.
11. Dryer sheets don't actually clean your faucets, but they do make them nice and shiny after you clean them.  Rub a dryer sheet on a dry faucet for maximum shine.
12. To deodorize a food container or a lunchbox, ball up newspaper and place it in the container; then find the lid and cover, and let it sit overnight to soak up moisture.
13. Pour equal parts water and vinegar into your coffemaker's water chamber. Switch on the brew cycle, but stop it halfway through. Let the water-vinegar mixture sit for about an hour and then complete the cycle.  Run a few more cycles of plain water and your coffee maker is brewing fresh cups of coffee again.
14. You can run a half a cup of vinegar through the reservoir of your dishwasher and run an empty load or put a small bowl full of vinegar in a load by itself.  Voila!  You've now cleaned your dishwasher.
15. Ounce of prevention? You can get rid of mineral deposits on your iron by filling it with equal parts vinegar and water; then press steam, let cool, empty and rinse.
16. To unclog a drain, pour half a box of baking soda down your drain. Then take half a cup or so of vinegar and pour it in. Get an old rag and stuff it into the drain so that the chemicals will mix without backing up into your sink.  Give it thirty minutes and then slowly pour a kettle of hot water into the drain (you can use the hot water you made when cleaning the coffee maker, you multi-tasker, you!).
17. Rinse your glasses with hot water with about a cup of vinegar mixed in. Spotless.
18. Dip your showerhead in pure vinegar to get rid of mineral stains. You can either remove your shower head for this, or repurpose a plastic bag or two, filling them with vinegar and knotting so that the shower head sits in the vinegar overnight.
19. You can mix vinegar with water or just use it straight for extra-clean windows. Another tip: wipe it off with newspaper.  Can you say, "Streak free in 2012"?
20. Odors in your upholstery?  Sprinkle a little baking soda on the item (or a lot, depending on the odor) and after half an hour or so vacuum.
21.. Crayon marks on the walls? Make a paste out of equal parts water and baking soda and scrub the walls with it. (Be careful: Some brightly colored walls will become dull if you scrub too hard. Test in a small, out-of-the-way area first.)
22. Baby wipes can be used to get deodorant stains out of your favorite black shirts and dresses.
23. Old pillow cases can be used to clean your ceiling fan.  Put the case over the blade and then pull the case back towards you, wiping the blade.  The dust accumulates in the case, not on your floors - or your head, mouth, hair...
24. The mesh bag that your potatoes and onions come in can be used as a scouring pad.  Just add warm water and elbow grease and you have got yourself a handy way to save money and the planet.
25. Citrus peels can be used to deodorize garbage disposals. Just throw the peel in and freshness is yours.
Now, look at you!  Your house is cleaner and fresher and you didn't even have to go any further than your own super creative house.  There are plenty of expensive things out there that do the same jobs, but what's right under your own roof is always Good Enough!
source : http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/take-charge/25-things-you-can-clean-with-salt-dryer-sheets-and-other-common-household-items.html

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir



Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir...It is a natural remedy for heartburn, helps clear up skin conditions and acne, promotes digestion and will keep you regular, helps control weight, can help regulate blood sugar, helps reduce sinus infections and sore throats and can help ease menstrual cramps. It is rich in enzymes and potassium.

recipe :


Sweetened Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir:
  • 1 1/2 cup of cold filtered water
  • 2 tbs of apple or grape juice
  • 2 tbs of raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp of stevia (powdered) if using liquid you only need a few drops.
* I only suggest using raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.
Place all the ingredients together in a glass and stir until it is all mixed together. You can add a little ice if you like, and drink!
This tastes sweet and delicious! If you try this--please come back and let me know what you think.

How to Treat Acne in 4 Days With the Help of Banana Peels

What makes bananas priceless in the fight against acne is the potassium and the antioxidants housed within their peel. They have the ability to drastically reduce skin irritation, swelling and redness, as well as to diminish the visibility of scars.

So, right now you are just 5 steps away from an acne-free face:
  1. Eat a ripe banana (you know how beneficial they are for your overall health, don't you?)
  2. Cut a small piece of the peel (approximately 1,5 inch).
  3. Rub the inside of the peel gently over the irritated area. Rub for about 5 minutes or until the inside of the peel gets brown. Replace and throw away the banana peel once it is entirely brown.
  4. Clean the skin around with lukewarm water but let the banana dry out on the affected area to do its magic.
  5. Repeat at least 3 times a day.
Apply daily to visibly reduce your acne. You will be surprised by the fast and glorious results and the clear skin you will be awarded with just a few days later. In fact, you will see the first results just overnight. 

After we discovered banana peels at home we waved goodbye to all commercial anti-acne treatments.

source: http://blog.kanelstrand.com/2012/01/banana-peels-against-acne.html

HOMEADE LAVENDER BATH SALT


HOMEADE LAVENDER BATH SALT 4 cups Epson salt 1 cup course ground sea salt ( preferably Dead Sea Salt ) 1 to 2 tsp. glycerin ( optional) 30 - 40 drops of essential oil ( aromatherapy kind ) 1 cup baking soda 1 cup ground ( powdered ) oatmeal ( optional )

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon



It is found that a mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries. Scientists of today also accept honey as a very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chappati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as age the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder
mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any Chronic cholesterol is cured. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

INFERTILITY: Yunani and Ayurvedic Medicine have been using honey for thousands of years to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before going to sleep, their problem will be solved.

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women, who do not conceive and need to strengthen the uterus, have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who
cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey
and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

A couple in Maryland, USA, had no children for 14 years and had lost hope of having a child of their own. When told about this process, husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above; the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of Honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton who has done research says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restore hearing.

*NOTE:The honey used needs to be REAL RAW UNPASTEURIZED HONEY. If it says PURE honey it is most likely pasteurized. It is best to onlybuy honey that says RAW or UNPASTEURIZED on the label. The difference is that the enzymes are all heated out of the pasteurized honey
 

source : http://fatalfacts.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F1308-facts-on-honey-and-cinnamon-it-is-found-that-a-mixture-of-honey-and-cinnamon-cures-most-diseases%2F

Saturday, January 5, 2013

How to clean aluminum and stainless steel


How to clean aluminum and stainless steel: DAILY DUTY: Wipe down with white vinegar and water using a soft terrycloth or microfiber rag. HEAVY DUTY: Sprinkle baking soda on the surface and scrub with microfiber to avoid scratching your stainless steel. Rinse well, dry and repeat if necessary.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Toothpaste as CD Cleaner


Toothpaste as CD Cleaner: to restore a damaged CD, apply a dot of non-gel formula toothpaste to a cotton cloth & rub in a straight line from the center of the CD outward, covering any scratches. Rinse off the toothpaste with water.

Methods of Alternative Refrigeration


Passive Cooling

Here are three methods of alternative refrigeration you can use without electricity. Your best success will come using a combination of all three passive cooling methods.
Having a way to refrigerate your food and “chill out” when the power goes out could be one thing to help ease the stress during a crisis.

Solution 1: Evaporative Cooler Fridge

Evaporative Refrigerator
Supplies needed:
  • A shelf unit
  • Burlap bags
  • Clamps or clothespins
  • Large pan for water (if needed)
  • A cheap PVC shelf unit from you local hardware store works well. It’s lightweight and inexpensive.
Assembling Instructions:
  • Assemble shelf with the top shelf inverted (shown in picture) to use as a built-in tray for water.
  • Cut burlap to fit around shelf. I recommend doing this ahead of time in case you need to sew pieces together.
  • Soak burlap in water and place around shelf as shown using the clamps or clothespins to hold cloth in place.
  • Fill the top (or large pan/cookie sheet) with water.
  • Leave an extra amount of burlap folded over on the top to soak in the water.
As the water wicks down the burlap there's a cooling effect on the items placed inside on the shelf.
Putting it in the shade is of course optimal and a slight breeze is helpful too.
One year when I was at a family reunion in Pinedale, AZ during the summer, we used this alternative refrigeration method to keep our things cool because there was a short supply of ice for coolers. It worked VERY well.

Solution 2: Zeer Pots

Supplies needed:
  • 2 clay pots that are able to nest inside of each other (round pots work best). They need to be clay/earthenware and MUST be unglazed.
  • Sand-- enough to fill in the space between the 2 pots
  • A piece of burlap or thick blanket
Zeer Pots
Mohammed Bah Abba of northern Nigeria won a Rolex Award for his pot-in-pot invention. It is a refrigerator than runs without electricity. “A key reason for the pot-in-pot’s success is the lack of electricity in most of the northern rural communities, for without electricity there can be no refrigeration.”
This alternative refrigeration method is being used in Third world countries to help fresh produce last longer.
Here's how it works. You take a smaller pot and put it inside a larger pot. Fill the space in between the two pots with wet sand. Cover the pots with a wet cloth. When the water evaporates, it pulls the heat out with it. This simple alternative refrigeration unit uses basic laws of physics to keep the inner vessel cool.

Solution 3: Radiant Fridge

Solar Cookit Open


Using a solar oven of all things!
This is a fabulous way to sometimes actually MAKE ice at night in the same item that you used during the day to cook your food! You can then use the ice to cool things during the day. The only problem with this option is that it requires you have to have a clear NIGHT to work.
Set it up like a solar oven. The same rules apply. Just put the jar or pan with a bag around it with the water inside. The air is concentrated into the container just like the sun is during the day. In the morning you have ice, or at the least you can put an item that needs to keep cool inside the pot so that the temperature can be colder during the night.

Two Examples Radiant Cooling

How to Use the Solar Funnel as a Refrigerator/Cooler
Here’s an excerpt from the writing of Steven Jones, a retired physics professor.
Solar Funnel Cooker/Cooler
“Funnel Cooker can be used - at night - as a refrigerator. Here is how this is done.
The Solar Funnel Cooker is set-up just as you would during sun-light hours, with two exceptions:
  1. The funnel is directed at the dark night sky. It should not "see" any buildings or even trees. (The thermal radiation from walls, trees, or even clouds will diminish the cooling effect.)
  2. It helps to place 2 (two) bags around the jar instead of just one, with air spaces between the bags and between the inner bag and the jar. HDPE and ordinary polyethylene bags work well, since polyethylene is nearly transparent to infrared radiation, allowing it to escape into the "heat sink" of the dark sky.
During the day, the sun's rays are reflected onto the cooking vessel which becomes hot quickly. At night, heat from the vessel is radiated outward, towards empty space, which is very cold indeed (a "heat sink").
As a result, the cooking vessel now becomes a small refrigerator. We routinely achieve cooling of about 20º F (10º C) below ambient air temperature using this remarkably simple scheme.”
Using a Solar Oven as a Radiant Refrigerator at Night
Radiant Refrigeration
Richard McMahon of Western Australia
He used a box cooker to make ice. The “Uncooker” was placed in a location where it saw a maximum amount of sky and no trees or buildings. He was getting ice in the cooker even though the outside temperature was above freezing. During the summer months he was unable to make ice.
Later he built a radiant refrigerator. During the summer months the temperature inside the fridge would not rise above 16° C. Read More . . .


Source : http://www.provident-living-today.com/Alternative-Refrigeration.html