Canned pumpkin cures a variety of ills (especially very loose or very hard stools). DON’T use canned pumpkin pie filling tho–the animals don’t tolerate those spices.
Just feed a tablespoon or so at a time until you know how your animal will respond.
For some reason when you updated your site, those of us following on the blogger dashboard lost all new posts. I had to actually manually go in and add a new follow link to your new updated site. It seems to think it is a new website and now I am following both “One Good Thing” by Jillee & One Good Thing by Jillee. (notice no “” on the new one) You may want to find a way to post to the old “One Good Thing” by Jillee, so that all your followers realize you are up and running again. I missed so much since because I was not regularly checking your page with it not on my newsfeed.
Jillee, if you or any of your ladies love to camp, or have children that love to camp, this will be a life saver:
Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads.� A nurse
discovered a safe, easy way to remove ticks where they automatically�
withdraw themselves when you follow her simple instructions. � Here is a
good way�to get them off you, your children, or your pets.� Give it a
try.�
Please forward to anyone with children, hunters or dogs; or anyone who
even�steps outside in summer!�
How to remove a tick.
�
This is great because it works in those places where it’s sometimes
difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head
full of dark hair, etc.”�
������������������������
“Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the
soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick
will come out on its own and be stuck�to the cotton ball when you lift
it away.
This technique has worked every time I’ve used it (and that was
frequently), and it’s much less traumatic for the patient and easier for
me..”�
������������������������
“Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can’t see that this would be
damaging in any way.� I even had my doctor’s wife call me for advice
because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn’t reach it with
tweezers. �She used this method�and immediately called me back to say,
“It worked!”�
�
Please pass on.� Everyone needs this helpful hint.
Love that! We visit our family who all seem to live in the country and sometimes those little buggers get past our “tick checks!” This seems so much easier then taking a tweezers to our little ones. Thanx Alisha!
I love this idea!!! My poor dog gets attacked no matter what I do! I put that horrendous chemical on her (any good homemade ones!???!!!) and we spray the yard with the tick stuff – but the neighbors don’t and every single day I’m checking my dog and finding at least one. She has fine hair and I know her so well I can feel when something doesn’t belong but it’s so traumatic for her! I’m trying this idea the very next Rick I find, but would soooo rather find something gentle I could rub on regularly so they just won’t get ON her at all!!! Can you feed the dogs anything that makes them not taste good to ticks? My brother drinks an ounce of cider vinegar every day and he has no trouble with mosquitos! :) Thanks for posting this non-invasive and gentle technique!!!
This is a great technique. I just noticed a tick on the abdomen of our terrified rescue cat. I put a little Walmart version of Dove extra sensitive skin body wash on a cotton ball and held it on the tick for a little while. The tick didn’t release, but I was able to pull it out and I think that I got the whole tick when I pulled. The tick must have released fairly easily because the cat didn’t show any pain. Then, I took a damp wash cloth and a damp paper towel and wiped his fur to remove all of the soap. After I finished, the cat easily licked his fur dry and is now back sleeping in his bed. This cat is freaked by everything – today the tick removal didn’t upset him at all. Thanks!
I am a Girl Scout Troop leader and I am going to laminate this to put into our “Camping ‘Good to Know’ Guide” that my girls I made, this is perfect as we have no “trick” for ticks in our guide except to make sure you pull out the head! We camp a lot, so this will be great! We have the liquid soap and cotton balls in our mini first aid kits, so this is perfect! THANK YOU!!!
i’m not a blogger. just a busy working mom who likes to have my home feel warm and welcoming. your ideas inspire me. i especially love your laundry recipes.
I just wanted to say I recently found your blog because of your and others pins on pinterest. Thanks for creating this blog, I haven’t tried any of your homemade products yet, but I am def. making a shopping list that looks to overall save me lots of money and get rid of alot of commercial chemicals. This blog seems to help alot of people from the comments I’ve read and I have a feeling I will be joining in on those comments soon! Keep up the great work!
Hi,
I’m a writer with Trendhunter.com & I was hoping to use your photos of the DIY lotion bars in a story on the bars. I see they are trademarked. If you don’t mind letting me know whether or not I can use them in my story, that’d be great!
Thanks,
Jenn
I really enjoy getting your emails with all your great ideas. I have a challenge for you, if you’re up for it. I have limestone throughout my house (floors and shower stall – floor and walls). I can’t use anything acidic on the tiles because it etches the stone. The shower is especially difficult to keep clean. Any ideas?
I tried your homemade toilet-bowl cleaner today, and happen to have stubborn rust stains in my tub due to our well water. I put some of the baking soda on it, and sprayed it with the vinegar- and let it sit. It ACTUALLY took the rust stain off!! I am now letting the more stubborn ones soak for longer… we shall see how it goes!! *excitement*!! Hope this helps, Janie & Jillee
I would have SWORN that I saw a post on your wonderful website about making a homemade swiffer pad using a diaper. I have tried key word searches with no luck! Do I have the wrong website? If not, please direct me to that post. I have the diapers and am rearin” to go! Thanks
I just wanted to pass by and tell you I LOVE YOUR SITE!!!! I was thinking about starting a blog about all homemade products because I hadn’t come across anything that was detailed and with pictures until I came across yours!! Thank you so much for all your details on all the products you have tired! I love it!!
I am so thankful for the laundry line-up. I have been using it fo about 2 months and love it. Have have shared all of the laundry line-up with family and friends and they love it.
Jillee!
First THANK YOU for the amazing site and homemade cleaning products and tips and ideas (I could go on but a sincere Thanks!). Just wanted to let you know today is a “Jillee” day in our house I’m making some things for around our house but also a bunch to give away as at an upcoming wedding shower I’m attending. I’m giving the couple a laundry gift basket full of goodies. So today we (the kids & I) are making: Homemade Fabric Softener & Reusable Dryer Sheets, Homemade “Shout”, Homemade Laundry Detergent & Gel Air Freshener.
Thanks for such great ideas, the kids love the ‘science’ of mixing it all together and making something we use everyday!
Sarah.
Sarah…that is so cool! What a nice idea! Fun for the kids to get involved and a great gift…that will keep on giving. :-) Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend!
I find so many great tips on your website, I thought I’d pass one along to you if you wanted to post it.
A friend of mine was just extolling the virtues of “Brew Rite”. He’d used it on a Thermos from his grandmother that had DECADES of coffee grunge in it. He said it sparkled like new. I looked up Brew Rite, and found out that it’s really just washing soda. Armed (get it? Arm(ed)& Hammer!) with that info, I threw a tablespoon of washing soda in my husband’s nasty thermos (he doesn’t like to wash it with Dawn because he says he can never get rid of it all) and filled it with hot water. The results were amazing. The grunge that came out was scary. I had to do it 3 times before the water came out clear, but I just shined a flashlight down the thermos, and it looks brand new inside.
I dissolved some washing soda in cup of hot water, poured it in my coffee maker, filled it the rest of the way with water, and hit brew. My thermal carafe – which I clean every month or so by brewing vinegar – had flakes of coffee stains peeling off of it after the first brew. I repeated with new solution, and now it is sparkling clean!
Of course, on both the thermos and the coffee maker, I ran a few doses of plain water through afterward to rinse the washing soda away thoroughly.
i was curious…do you think this would work with a keurig? mine gets so junked up & our water is horrible – which makes it worse. i do descale it with vinegar once a month, but that never seems like enough…and i can’t see the “insides” of it.
Keurig recommends using filtered water with their brewers. After you get it clean, try it for a while. We have lots of minerals in our city water, so I don’t mind getting the filtered water from our fridge!!!! You might consider a water filter for your kitchen tap, or finding a nearby place that sells those big 5-gallon bottles of filtered water. Our local Walmart has a fill-your-own bottle machine located inside the store.
Hi Jill,
A friend shared your t-shirt totes with me. Since I make memory quilts out of t-shirts she thought I would enjoy your idea and she was so right. What an innovative way to use the rest of the t-shirt after using the logo for the quilt.
Do you mind if I start making them for sale? I won’t if you object, I’ll just make them as gifts.
Thanks for the idea and I have bookmarked your website.
Pat Walling
I need your help! I am having some serious issues with squirrels! They are playing in my garden and around my bird feeders! They are digging up my bulbs and eating my strawberries! I love watching them run around the yard and play – reminds me of Chip and Dale….However the second I turn my back they turn into “Bad Squirrels”….I want to move them out of these areas but I certainly don’t want to get rid of them….Can you hlep?
Thank you and by the way I love your blog! I am a Utah native but now call Columbus, OH home…Nice to have a connection to “Home”….
They are beautiful and fun to watch, but if they get out of hand they can destroy things like fruit trees and the crops that come from them. I had to pay over seven hundred dollars to have a nest caught and relocated last year. He baited a live trap with peanut butter, marshmallows and apples. It was amazing what those traps caught . 7 squirrels , 2 possums, and a few birds. That is expensive but, doesn’t come close to the cost of getting a small orchard at its best. 10 years and maybe this year we will see some cherries, yum!
…and since my iPad went bonkers…I Thank you and my classroom thanks you for all of your cost cutting and inovative ideas that you post. I guess my fave “trick” is when using a cutting board and/ or mixing bowl….dampen a paper towel and place it under the cutting board or bowl. This helps to keep things from sliding and then you have a damp paper towel on the ready for any spills! Not exciting, but practical :)
I am really interested in a GF substitution for your english muffin bread. Can you tell me what you used and approx. how much of each if you used more than 1 type of flour replacement. half of my family is celiac and we used to make this about 20 years ago. When we went gf, we just didn’t try to sub gf flours, not wanting to mess up the flavor. Thank you for any help you can share.
I love your website and enjoy following you on Pinterest.
We have been going to lots of Little League in this crazy unusual Colorado heat and I sprayed the sunscreen on my arms and now on the edge of my favorite shirt, I can’t get the stain out. I have soaked it for hours in Oxi Clean and it seems to be getting worse. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you for a great blog! I have a rental, and it never feels clean and I’ve been going through your posts one by one and doing a thorough deep cleaning :) I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to remove a rust stain from a top loading washing machine? It’s ruining all of my clothes and my landlord won’t replace it :( Looking forward to hearing any ideas you might have!
Thought you should add this to your list of liquid Dawn soap uses. It’s a real no-brainer.
I don’t know why I didn’t figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in the shower! Do you use shampoo in your shower? When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning, “FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY.” Seriously?! No wonder I have been gaining weight! Well let me tell you, I have rid my bathroom of old shampoo and I am going to start using DAWN dish soap instead. Its’ label reads, “DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE.”
… Problem solved!
If I don’t answer the phone I’ll be in the shower!” or shopping – for a case of DAWN.
I had to laugh at this! But I really do use dawn on my hair! It takes the build up (hairspray and hair gel) out of my hair. It also helps to lighten to dark hair color afer coloring your hair :)
I recently ‘found you’ and subscribed. I love getting your daily emails.
Today’s tips were re: buying in bulk. Good suggestions, but where I live the weekly ‘loss leaders’ in my grocery stores are far better buys than for the very same brand labels at the Costcos and Sams. (For example: One or the other of my local groceries has brand name toilet paper on sale weekly at a price of about 23-25 cents/roll. It is not this ‘cheap’ at my nearby – 30 mi. away -warehouse stores.) I ‘shop smart’: buy in bulk when my local groceries have good sales, read the weekly local grocery store ads, and try not to be lured into buying in bulk at warehouse stores when their prices per unit are often actually higher. Also, I am helping my local groceries to ‘keep their doors’ open. Just a ‘word to the wise (shopper)’!
My question is what do u use in this soap mixture when someone is allergic too the dyes, etc? My husband and daughter are both allergic too tide, etc. I have been using All free clear for years and am interested in making my own laundry soap but it has too be use able for them also. Thanks
I bought Ultra Concentrated Blue Dawn Dishwashing Liquid – Original Fragrance to use for making laundry soap etc. since it was cheaper. Now I am worried that I can’t follow the “recipe”. Will it work? Should I use half as much since it is concentrated?
OMG! The is the very first thing from Pintrest that I ventured onto. The Rosemary and Mint fabric softener!!! And I found you. You should know that the universe (higher being) always links people of like kind together. Now, I know that this couldn’t be coincidence. I know you MUST be a very creative being such as myself because you 1) go for the good (and see all the good) in all that you do. 2) I too know of the journey…one foot in front of the other…day by day! 3) True inspiration and guts! Take care of YOURSELF! Then you can take care of Others….22 year c & s! Love and light to you! Your new friend! Thanks!
HI Jillee – Im a full time student and am about to have a 2 week break. I remember a post you had from a visiting blogger about freezing meals in advance… she was revamping your recipes and it was wonderful. I’m really hoping to make a ton of meals over the break to save time during the fall trimester, but I CAN’T FIND the post now. Can you send me the direct link or name of that recipe? THANKS!!!!!
Hey Jillee! First off, I loveee your blog! I follow you on pinterest too and love all your pins! I have a cleaning related question.. We just recently signed the lease on our new apartment, and it’s super clean and the carpets have just been shampooed but there is a lingering scent from the previous owners. A scent I can only describe as curry.. We have tried to air it out, febreeze it, and we have cleaned every single surface. Do you have any hints or tips on how to get this smell out? Please let me know if you do! Thanks so much! -Natalia
Light a candle (ideally in a jar/ can) and sprinkle fresh or dried rosemary in the melted wax once it starts to burn. We had water seepage when the washer overflowed and our basement carpet after cleaning smelled funky. We burned a rosemary infused candle for a few hours and it took care of the scent. Worth a try.
Same question about the Ultra Concentrated Dawn that Teresa had (July 21, 2012). Do we have to use less of it in your “recipes” since it’s concentrated? I know that for your homemade clorox wipes we only use 1/8 tsp of the ultra concentrated instead of 2 T of the regular Dawn. What about for your other recipes like the no-grate laundry detergent and dishwasher soap?
Hello Jillee,
You don’t have to reply, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I found you on Pinterest and noticed how many useful things I saw there came from “jillee’. So far I have used your granite cleaner, stove grate cleaning method, and hand soap refills…your posts are full of fun, money saving tips and just plain common sense. So refreshing! Anytime you feel frustrated, just keep thinking of all of us goofs who say “why didn’t I think of that?” when you post something you think is obvious. You are a joy.
Dear Jillee,
I just have to say THANK YOU! Your blog is such an inspiration to me and I follow because you have so MUCH great information! I use your ideas, actually put them into my daily life and share your site on my blog so that others can see how great you are! Please forgive my enthusiasm, but, I have really LOVED learning these great things from you! So, you have my complete stamp of approval and my admiration and that of my Husband who loves the ‘THRIFTY’ side you’ve brought out in me!
Thanks so much!
Sabrina
And!!! Thank you for the clothes dryer information… mine is a mess and I NEEDED to really get in there and clean. You’ve probably saved more than one life just on that article alone!
Hi Jillee – I have a challenge for you. There is a product available here in Australia called Dry Cleaners Secret (Here is a link to there page: http://www.ozkleen.com.au/products/dcs.php) This is the MOST fantastic product – the pack comes with three moist towelettes (for want of a better word) which have what I would imagine is some sort of dry cleaners fluid on them. You use a moist towelette to blot any stains on a dry clean only garment then put the towelette and garment (perhaps one overcoat or three jumpers per load/towelette) into the dryer (on cool I think – especially for natural fabrics) then remove them immediately when they’re done, hang them up and they are as good as dry cleaned! Here in Australia, they cost about $11 or $12 for a pack of three which is a HUGE saving on drycleaning. I’m not sure of the dry cleaning costs over there, but here a blazer would be more than $20 to get done and an overcoat would be over $30! So even though these are a LOT more cost effective, I was thinking that there might be a way to do it even more cheaply and if there was you would be the girl to find it!! (I did do a few Googles on the subject, but then thought that this is such a cool idea it might be one to share with your readers!)
Just have to add that I love your blog, and look forward to my daily Jillee email! My Pinterest Jillee pins are the most repinned of anything (I had well over 400 repins on one not to mention countless likes) and I didn’t even have 400 followers then!!
Big hugs and much love
Allison xx
can someone kindly shoot me an email on how much of the no-grate homemade laundry soap I can use in my HE washer for a regular load? Does the liquid go INSIDE the washer or in the little container? The container won’t hold 1 cup. my email is gsuarez78245@aol.com. I’ve searched the site and can’t find the answer.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe
This simple laundry soap recipe will leave your clothes clean and fresh and only comes to about 3 cents per load!
Ingredients:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap ( Ivory and Zote will also work)
½ cup washing soda (found in the laundry section at most stores)
½ cup borax powder (the 20 Mule Team brand is a good choice)
2 gallons water
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda (NOT baking soda) and the borax. Stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a 2-gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours until it gels. Use a ½ cup detergent per load of laundry. (1/4cup for HE washers)
Gloria: Jamie’s right and I can vouch that it really trully works! All of jillee’s laundry substitutes have been spot on (see what I did there:) Also, I ran actuals on the detergent and i can easily get the cost per load down to 2.4 cents. Seriously. And I figured out that the Fels Naptha, when grated and mixes with water to form a gel type soap works even better as a spot treatment. I just keep it in a msaon jar in the laundry room and rub into the spots. It’s particularly good on my husband’s underarm.anti-persparant and ring around the collar stains. I was just dipping the bar in water then rubbing on the stains. but that was a pain so I just finely grated a bar, pu it in a mason jar (1/2 pint I think) added war water to fill and let it sit. Gave it a few stirs and I’ve got this jelly, gloppy soap slime. I bought one of those hand brushes that you would noramlly put detergent in and then press the little button to scrub with. I just dip the bristles in my sope gel then rub into the spot. I let sit 5-10- minutes and then launder as usual. It’s like magic!
I have not tried these suggestions yet but I am looking forward to it. Anything that will save my family money and is natural and chemical free or close to it I’m all for. 8-22-12 Cecelia
I was wondering since I just started today using baking soda wash with a vinegar rinse. How often can I do my hair in the beginning? Today my hair seemed better will keep doing it for as lnog as it takes to get rid of itchy scalp and unwanted shampoo’s that didn’t work well either. Please e-mail me if you know at 1st how often I can do this method until my scalp and hair see results.
Hi Jillie. I have had an itchy scalp for 40 years and there is no cure. I got a perm and color recently and have had lots of cat balls in my hair. Last night when I went to bed I felt like I was sleeping on straw. A while back when I had a rash on my neck i was told to use a past of baking soda and water. That helped so I thought I would try your shampoo with 1 tablespoon of vinegar in hot water and rinse 1 tablespoon of vinegar in hot water. I half towel dried my hair leaving it wet. Then i applied “Renpure” Argon Oil which has a nice smell. Now I have nice soft hair which does not smell of vinegar. Today for the first time in 40 years my scalp has not been itchy. You are so nice to help people.
Jillee…I have some honey with your name on it. Let me know if you ever come to one of our farmers markets.
Salt Lake, Thanksgiving Point or Spanish Fork. Thanks for all the info.
I was reading your article on cleaning a vinyl floor. My floors needed the help but I had no ammonia on hand. I had also read the article on cleaning your oven racks which lead me to thinking if the fabric softener loosened that why wouldn’t it loosen the dirt on my floor. I had just made a bottle of fabric refresher using downy. I sprayed it on a small section of my floor and let it sit for a few minutes then using a scrub brush on a mop handle lightly ran over the area lightly (no real pressure behind it, could have probably just mopped) it all came up so easy and now my floor looks new! Not to mention my kitchen smells great to!
Thanks for all you do
Judy
I LOVE your wonderful blog! Thanks so much for sharing your tips! I have a daughter-in-law that is as allergic to wool as I am so your wool dryer balls would not work for us. I suspect that there are other readers that are allergic to wool. I have a set of OASIS DRYER BALLS that I got through HSN (Home Shopping Network). There are 2 balls with short little bumps for jeans and heavier fabrics and 2 balls with many longer little bumps. I LOVE THEM! I have had them for about 3 years and they work wonderfully well. Great since I am also allergic to fragrances that are used in dryer sheets, even the non scented ones! Keep up the wonderful work that you do! You are a lifesaver… literally! My new neighbor has celiac so I took her the Cauliflower Pizza recipe… She was so happy to see that. I know that she has signed up for your blog!
Jillee, I have a Dryel Bag…. It is 3.5 ft square. Three sides are sealed and there is a 2.5 inch flap that you seal with a velcro strip that runs the whole length of the opening. The material is very much like Tyrvek housewrap that builders wrap homes in for air filtration barriers. You can sew it and use it for tons of things but if you use it in heat (Like a dryer) don’t use it on HIGH. High heat can make it shrivel and distort so it is one thing to consider. The Dryel Bag contains the cleaning product so that it doesn’t dissipate before the dryer cycle is done. I am thrilled to have a recipe to use now. Dryel says one treatment can clean as many as 4 garments at a time and comes with only 6 packets of cleaner. (Their clothes are dryer sheet stuff. So you can recycle your used Dryer sheets. or coffee filters would work,too.) Anyway, my nearest store didn’t have Dryel refills last time but had another brand… 6 packets of cleaner were nearly $15.00! Thanks for trying everything!
Dear housrwife of RC
Is it fresh pumpkin you give them? My dog also suffers from blocked anal glands ans somebady told me to give her cooked carrots.
I give my dogs the canned pumkin. It works every time!
Canned pumpkin cures a variety of ills (especially very loose or very hard stools). DON’T use canned pumpkin pie filling tho–the animals don’t tolerate those spices.
Just feed a tablespoon or so at a time until you know how your animal will respond.
Cooked Pumpkin, canned or fresh works. If I am using fresh I puree it. The plus with fresh is that you know that only pumpkin is being eaten.
For some reason when you updated your site, those of us following on the blogger dashboard lost all new posts. I had to actually manually go in and add a new follow link to your new updated site. It seems to think it is a new website and now I am following both “One Good Thing” by Jillee & One Good Thing by Jillee. (notice no “” on the new one) You may want to find a way to post to the old “One Good Thing” by Jillee, so that all your followers realize you are up and running again. I missed so much since because I was not regularly checking your page with it not on my newsfeed.
Happy writing
Christy :)
I also can not open your new E mails… I get a circle that just rotates like it is looking really hard. Any ideas? Jane
Jillee, if you or any of your ladies love to camp, or have children that love to camp, this will be a life saver:
Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads.� A nurse
discovered a safe, easy way to remove ticks where they automatically�
withdraw themselves when you follow her simple instructions. � Here is a
good way�to get them off you, your children, or your pets.� Give it a
try.�
Please forward to anyone with children, hunters or dogs; or anyone who
even�steps outside in summer!�
How to remove a tick.
�
This is great because it works in those places where it’s sometimes
difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head
full of dark hair, etc.”�
������������������������
“Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the
soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick
will come out on its own and be stuck�to the cotton ball when you lift
it away.
This technique has worked every time I’ve used it (and that was
frequently), and it’s much less traumatic for the patient and easier for
me..”�
������������������������
“Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can’t see that this would be
damaging in any way.� I even had my doctor’s wife call me for advice
because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn’t reach it with
tweezers. �She used this method�and immediately called me back to say,
“It worked!”�
�
Please pass on.� Everyone needs this helpful hint.
Love that! We visit our family who all seem to live in the country and sometimes those little buggers get past our “tick checks!” This seems so much easier then taking a tweezers to our little ones. Thanx Alisha!
I love this idea!!! My poor dog gets attacked no matter what I do! I put that horrendous chemical on her (any good homemade ones!???!!!) and we spray the yard with the tick stuff – but the neighbors don’t and every single day I’m checking my dog and finding at least one. She has fine hair and I know her so well I can feel when something doesn’t belong but it’s so traumatic for her! I’m trying this idea the very next Rick I find, but would soooo rather find something gentle I could rub on regularly so they just won’t get ON her at all!!! Can you feed the dogs anything that makes them not taste good to ticks? My brother drinks an ounce of cider vinegar every day and he has no trouble with mosquitos! :) Thanks for posting this non-invasive and gentle technique!!!
This is a great technique. I just noticed a tick on the abdomen of our terrified rescue cat. I put a little Walmart version of Dove extra sensitive skin body wash on a cotton ball and held it on the tick for a little while. The tick didn’t release, but I was able to pull it out and I think that I got the whole tick when I pulled. The tick must have released fairly easily because the cat didn’t show any pain. Then, I took a damp wash cloth and a damp paper towel and wiped his fur to remove all of the soap. After I finished, the cat easily licked his fur dry and is now back sleeping in his bed. This cat is freaked by everything – today the tick removal didn’t upset him at all. Thanks!
Strike a match and blow it out then touch the tick , he will let go and you can remove him ,
this is how we did it when we got them at my uncle’s farm in Canada
I am a Girl Scout Troop leader and I am going to laminate this to put into our “Camping ‘Good to Know’ Guide” that my girls I made, this is perfect as we have no “trick” for ticks in our guide except to make sure you pull out the head! We camp a lot, so this will be great! We have the liquid soap and cotton balls in our mini first aid kits, so this is perfect! THANK YOU!!!
i’m not a blogger. just a busy working mom who likes to have my home feel warm and welcoming. your ideas inspire me. i especially love your laundry recipes.
This is not important, but how is it that almost all the good ideas I find on pinterest trail back to you
Thanks
I just wanted to say I recently found your blog because of your and others pins on pinterest. Thanks for creating this blog, I haven’t tried any of your homemade products yet, but I am def. making a shopping list that looks to overall save me lots of money and get rid of alot of commercial chemicals. This blog seems to help alot of people from the comments I’ve read and I have a feeling I will be joining in on those comments soon! Keep up the great work!
Hi,
I’m a writer with Trendhunter.com & I was hoping to use your photos of the DIY lotion bars in a story on the bars. I see they are trademarked. If you don’t mind letting me know whether or not I can use them in my story, that’d be great!
Thanks,
Jenn
As long as you don’t remove the “watermark” you can feel free to use them Jenn. :-) thanks for asking!
Hi Jillee,
I really enjoy getting your emails with all your great ideas. I have a challenge for you, if you’re up for it. I have limestone throughout my house (floors and shower stall – floor and walls). I can’t use anything acidic on the tiles because it etches the stone. The shower is especially difficult to keep clean. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Janie
Janie….I am ALWAYS up for a challenge! :-) Let me see what I can dig up.
I tried your homemade toilet-bowl cleaner today, and happen to have stubborn rust stains in my tub due to our well water. I put some of the baking soda on it, and sprayed it with the vinegar- and let it sit. It ACTUALLY took the rust stain off!! I am now letting the more stubborn ones soak for longer… we shall see how it goes!! *excitement*!! Hope this helps, Janie & Jillee
I would have SWORN that I saw a post on your wonderful website about making a homemade swiffer pad using a diaper. I have tried key word searches with no luck! Do I have the wrong website? If not, please direct me to that post. I have the diapers and am rearin” to go! Thanks
Hi Sandy,
I am sorry to disappoint…but that wasn’t my website. I DID make a STEAM MOP cover out of two CAR WASH MITTS! lol. Not quite the same though. :-)
I just wanted to pass by and tell you I LOVE YOUR SITE!!!! I was thinking about starting a blog about all homemade products because I hadn’t come across anything that was detailed and with pictures until I came across yours!! Thank you so much for all your details on all the products you have tired! I love it!!
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Hi Jillee
I would love to know how you make dish clothes out of old t-shirts???
Thanks
I am so thankful for the laundry line-up. I have been using it fo about 2 months and love it. Have have shared all of the laundry line-up with family and friends and they love it.
Jillee!
First THANK YOU for the amazing site and homemade cleaning products and tips and ideas (I could go on but a sincere Thanks!). Just wanted to let you know today is a “Jillee” day in our house I’m making some things for around our house but also a bunch to give away as at an upcoming wedding shower I’m attending. I’m giving the couple a laundry gift basket full of goodies. So today we (the kids & I) are making: Homemade Fabric Softener & Reusable Dryer Sheets, Homemade “Shout”, Homemade Laundry Detergent & Gel Air Freshener.
Thanks for such great ideas, the kids love the ‘science’ of mixing it all together and making something we use everyday!
Sarah.
Sarah…that is so cool! What a nice idea! Fun for the kids to get involved and a great gift…that will keep on giving. :-) Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend!
I find so many great tips on your website, I thought I’d pass one along to you if you wanted to post it.
A friend of mine was just extolling the virtues of “Brew Rite”. He’d used it on a Thermos from his grandmother that had DECADES of coffee grunge in it. He said it sparkled like new. I looked up Brew Rite, and found out that it’s really just washing soda. Armed (get it? Arm(ed)& Hammer!) with that info, I threw a tablespoon of washing soda in my husband’s nasty thermos (he doesn’t like to wash it with Dawn because he says he can never get rid of it all) and filled it with hot water. The results were amazing. The grunge that came out was scary. I had to do it 3 times before the water came out clear, but I just shined a flashlight down the thermos, and it looks brand new inside.
I dissolved some washing soda in cup of hot water, poured it in my coffee maker, filled it the rest of the way with water, and hit brew. My thermal carafe – which I clean every month or so by brewing vinegar – had flakes of coffee stains peeling off of it after the first brew. I repeated with new solution, and now it is sparkling clean!
Of course, on both the thermos and the coffee maker, I ran a few doses of plain water through afterward to rinse the washing soda away thoroughly.
i was curious…do you think this would work with a keurig? mine gets so junked up & our water is horrible – which makes it worse. i do descale it with vinegar once a month, but that never seems like enough…and i can’t see the “insides” of it.
Keurig recommends using filtered water with their brewers. After you get it clean, try it for a while. We have lots of minerals in our city water, so I don’t mind getting the filtered water from our fridge!!!! You might consider a water filter for your kitchen tap, or finding a nearby place that sells those big 5-gallon bottles of filtered water. Our local Walmart has a fill-your-own bottle machine located inside the store.
Hi Jill,
A friend shared your t-shirt totes with me. Since I make memory quilts out of t-shirts she thought I would enjoy your idea and she was so right. What an innovative way to use the rest of the t-shirt after using the logo for the quilt.
Do you mind if I start making them for sale? I won’t if you object, I’ll just make them as gifts.
Thanks for the idea and I have bookmarked your website.
Pat Walling
I need your help! I am having some serious issues with squirrels! They are playing in my garden and around my bird feeders! They are digging up my bulbs and eating my strawberries! I love watching them run around the yard and play – reminds me of Chip and Dale….However the second I turn my back they turn into “Bad Squirrels”….I want to move them out of these areas but I certainly don’t want to get rid of them….Can you hlep?
Thank you and by the way I love your blog! I am a Utah native but now call Columbus, OH home…Nice to have a connection to “Home”….
They are beautiful and fun to watch, but if they get out of hand they can destroy things like fruit trees and the crops that come from them. I had to pay over seven hundred dollars to have a nest caught and relocated last year. He baited a live trap with peanut butter, marshmallows and apples. It was amazing what those traps caught . 7 squirrels , 2 possums, and a few birds. That is expensive but, doesn’t come close to the cost of getting a small orchard at its best. 10 years and maybe this year we will see some cherries, yum!
Rosalie, Oregon
I’d like to receive updates from your page because everything I seem to click on @ Pinterest leads to you anyway! Great minds think alike? lol!
…and since my iPad went bonkers…I Thank you and my classroom thanks you for all of your cost cutting and inovative ideas that you post. I guess my fave “trick” is when using a cutting board and/ or mixing bowl….dampen a paper towel and place it under the cutting board or bowl. This helps to keep things from sliding and then you have a damp paper towel on the ready for any spills! Not exciting, but practical :)
I just came across your gluten-free graham crackers, and I linked them to my blog. Thanks so much!
I am really interested in a GF substitution for your english muffin bread. Can you tell me what you used and approx. how much of each if you used more than 1 type of flour replacement. half of my family is celiac and we used to make this about 20 years ago. When we went gf, we just didn’t try to sub gf flours, not wanting to mess up the flavor. Thank you for any help you can share.
Hi Jill,
I love your website and enjoy following you on Pinterest.
We have been going to lots of Little League in this crazy unusual Colorado heat and I sprayed the sunscreen on my arms and now on the edge of my favorite shirt, I can’t get the stain out. I have soaked it for hours in Oxi Clean and it seems to be getting worse. Do you have any suggestions?
Thought I’d share this … Poison Ivy Cure! A “homemade” suggestion from my coworkers pharmacist that’s works instantly!
http://pinterest.com/pin/14003448812081432/
Thank you for a great blog! I have a rental, and it never feels clean and I’ve been going through your posts one by one and doing a thorough deep cleaning :) I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to remove a rust stain from a top loading washing machine? It’s ruining all of my clothes and my landlord won’t replace it :( Looking forward to hearing any ideas you might have!
Thought you should add this to your list of liquid Dawn soap uses. It’s a real no-brainer.
I don’t know why I didn’t figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in the shower! Do you use shampoo in your shower? When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning, “FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY.” Seriously?! No wonder I have been gaining weight! Well let me tell you, I have rid my bathroom of old shampoo and I am going to start using DAWN dish soap instead. Its’ label reads, “DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE.”
… Problem solved!
If I don’t answer the phone I’ll be in the shower!” or shopping – for a case of DAWN.
I had to laugh at this! But I really do use dawn on my hair! It takes the build up (hairspray and hair gel) out of my hair. It also helps to lighten to dark hair color afer coloring your hair :)
I recently ‘found you’ and subscribed. I love getting your daily emails.
Today’s tips were re: buying in bulk. Good suggestions, but where I live the weekly ‘loss leaders’ in my grocery stores are far better buys than for the very same brand labels at the Costcos and Sams. (For example: One or the other of my local groceries has brand name toilet paper on sale weekly at a price of about 23-25 cents/roll. It is not this ‘cheap’ at my nearby – 30 mi. away -warehouse stores.) I ‘shop smart’: buy in bulk when my local groceries have good sales, read the weekly local grocery store ads, and try not to be lured into buying in bulk at warehouse stores when their prices per unit are often actually higher. Also, I am helping my local groceries to ‘keep their doors’ open. Just a ‘word to the wise (shopper)’!
My question is what do u use in this soap mixture when someone is allergic too the dyes, etc? My husband and daughter are both allergic too tide, etc. I have been using All free clear for years and am interested in making my own laundry soap but it has too be use able for them also. Thanks
My friend has to us all free and clear so I made the laundry soap with Ivory bar soap it worked great. Its just like all free and clear
Simply amazing blog! It’s my new addiction and I visit every day! You are fabulous Jillee!!
http://facebook.com/castmedicdesigns
I bought Ultra Concentrated Blue Dawn Dishwashing Liquid – Original Fragrance to use for making laundry soap etc. since it was cheaper. Now I am worried that I can’t follow the “recipe”. Will it work? Should I use half as much since it is concentrated?
I was wondering if the detergent is safe in HE front loading machines.
Thanks Tracy
I have been using it for over 6 months and have never had a problem. Everything I have read said it is safe.
Hi Jillee!!! Just have to say…so glad I found your site through Pinterest! You have saved me time & money with all your ideas! THANK YOU!!!☺
You asked where “NO WIRE HANGERS!” quote came from… it’s from Mommy Dearest
Jillie,
OMG! The is the very first thing from Pintrest that I ventured onto. The Rosemary and Mint fabric softener!!! And I found you. You should know that the universe (higher being) always links people of like kind together. Now, I know that this couldn’t be coincidence. I know you MUST be a very creative being such as myself because you 1) go for the good (and see all the good) in all that you do. 2) I too know of the journey…one foot in front of the other…day by day! 3) True inspiration and guts! Take care of YOURSELF! Then you can take care of Others….22 year c & s! Love and light to you! Your new friend! Thanks!
HI Jillee – Im a full time student and am about to have a 2 week break. I remember a post you had from a visiting blogger about freezing meals in advance… she was revamping your recipes and it was wonderful. I’m really hoping to make a ton of meals over the break to save time during the fall trimester, but I CAN’T FIND the post now. Can you send me the direct link or name of that recipe? THANKS!!!!!
Hey Jillee! First off, I loveee your blog! I follow you on pinterest too and love all your pins! I have a cleaning related question.. We just recently signed the lease on our new apartment, and it’s super clean and the carpets have just been shampooed but there is a lingering scent from the previous owners. A scent I can only describe as curry.. We have tried to air it out, febreeze it, and we have cleaned every single surface. Do you have any hints or tips on how to get this smell out? Please let me know if you do! Thanks so much! -Natalia
Light a candle (ideally in a jar/ can) and sprinkle fresh or dried rosemary in the melted wax once it starts to burn. We had water seepage when the washer overflowed and our basement carpet after cleaning smelled funky. We burned a rosemary infused candle for a few hours and it took care of the scent. Worth a try.
Same question about the Ultra Concentrated Dawn that Teresa had (July 21, 2012). Do we have to use less of it in your “recipes” since it’s concentrated? I know that for your homemade clorox wipes we only use 1/8 tsp of the ultra concentrated instead of 2 T of the regular Dawn. What about for your other recipes like the no-grate laundry detergent and dishwasher soap?
Hi,
I have a client who wants to advertise in your website onegoodthingbyjillee.com. Please email me back.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Hello Jillee,
You don’t have to reply, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I found you on Pinterest and noticed how many useful things I saw there came from “jillee’. So far I have used your granite cleaner, stove grate cleaning method, and hand soap refills…your posts are full of fun, money saving tips and just plain common sense. So refreshing! Anytime you feel frustrated, just keep thinking of all of us goofs who say “why didn’t I think of that?” when you post something you think is obvious. You are a joy.
Dear Jillee,
I just have to say THANK YOU! Your blog is such an inspiration to me and I follow because you have so MUCH great information! I use your ideas, actually put them into my daily life and share your site on my blog so that others can see how great you are! Please forgive my enthusiasm, but, I have really LOVED learning these great things from you! So, you have my complete stamp of approval and my admiration and that of my Husband who loves the ‘THRIFTY’ side you’ve brought out in me!
Thanks so much!
Sabrina
And!!! Thank you for the clothes dryer information… mine is a mess and I NEEDED to really get in there and clean. You’ve probably saved more than one life just on that article alone!
Hi Jillee – I have a challenge for you. There is a product available here in Australia called Dry Cleaners Secret (Here is a link to there page: http://www.ozkleen.com.au/products/dcs.php) This is the MOST fantastic product – the pack comes with three moist towelettes (for want of a better word) which have what I would imagine is some sort of dry cleaners fluid on them. You use a moist towelette to blot any stains on a dry clean only garment then put the towelette and garment (perhaps one overcoat or three jumpers per load/towelette) into the dryer (on cool I think – especially for natural fabrics) then remove them immediately when they’re done, hang them up and they are as good as dry cleaned! Here in Australia, they cost about $11 or $12 for a pack of three which is a HUGE saving on drycleaning. I’m not sure of the dry cleaning costs over there, but here a blazer would be more than $20 to get done and an overcoat would be over $30! So even though these are a LOT more cost effective, I was thinking that there might be a way to do it even more cheaply and if there was you would be the girl to find it!! (I did do a few Googles on the subject, but then thought that this is such a cool idea it might be one to share with your readers!)
Just have to add that I love your blog, and look forward to my daily Jillee email! My Pinterest Jillee pins are the most repinned of anything (I had well over 400 repins on one not to mention countless likes) and I didn’t even have 400 followers then!!
Big hugs and much love
Allison xx
What it my washing machine does not permit hot water loading as we are in asia.
can someone kindly shoot me an email on how much of the no-grate homemade laundry soap I can use in my HE washer for a regular load? Does the liquid go INSIDE the washer or in the little container? The container won’t hold 1 cup. my email is gsuarez78245@aol.com. I’ve searched the site and can’t find the answer.
thank you!!!!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe
This simple laundry soap recipe will leave your clothes clean and fresh and only comes to about 3 cents per load!
Ingredients:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap ( Ivory and Zote will also work)
½ cup washing soda (found in the laundry section at most stores)
½ cup borax powder (the 20 Mule Team brand is a good choice)
2 gallons water
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda (NOT baking soda) and the borax. Stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a 2-gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours until it gels. Use a ½ cup detergent per load of laundry. (1/4cup for HE washers)
Gloria: Jamie’s right and I can vouch that it really trully works! All of jillee’s laundry substitutes have been spot on (see what I did there:) Also, I ran actuals on the detergent and i can easily get the cost per load down to 2.4 cents. Seriously. And I figured out that the Fels Naptha, when grated and mixes with water to form a gel type soap works even better as a spot treatment. I just keep it in a msaon jar in the laundry room and rub into the spots. It’s particularly good on my husband’s underarm.anti-persparant and ring around the collar stains. I was just dipping the bar in water then rubbing on the stains. but that was a pain so I just finely grated a bar, pu it in a mason jar (1/2 pint I think) added war water to fill and let it sit. Gave it a few stirs and I’ve got this jelly, gloppy soap slime. I bought one of those hand brushes that you would noramlly put detergent in and then press the little button to scrub with. I just dip the bristles in my sope gel then rub into the spot. I let sit 5-10- minutes and then launder as usual. It’s like magic!
I have not tried these suggestions yet but I am looking forward to it. Anything that will save my family money and is natural and chemical free or close to it I’m all for. 8-22-12 Cecelia
I was attempting to read your organizing paperwork for dummies and got the following message: Sorry, but no results were found. Help please.
I was wondering since I just started today using baking soda wash with a vinegar rinse. How often can I do my hair in the beginning? Today my hair seemed better will keep doing it for as lnog as it takes to get rid of itchy scalp and unwanted shampoo’s that didn’t work well either. Please e-mail me if you know at 1st how often I can do this method until my scalp and hair see results.
Hi Jillie. I have had an itchy scalp for 40 years and there is no cure. I got a perm and color recently and have had lots of cat balls in my hair. Last night when I went to bed I felt like I was sleeping on straw. A while back when I had a rash on my neck i was told to use a past of baking soda and water. That helped so I thought I would try your shampoo with 1 tablespoon of vinegar in hot water and rinse 1 tablespoon of vinegar in hot water. I half towel dried my hair leaving it wet. Then i applied “Renpure” Argon Oil which has a nice smell. Now I have nice soft hair which does not smell of vinegar. Today for the first time in 40 years my scalp has not been itchy. You are so nice to help people.
Jillee…I have some honey with your name on it. Let me know if you ever come to one of our farmers markets.
Salt Lake, Thanksgiving Point or Spanish Fork. Thanks for all the info.
Love this tip!
I was reading your article on cleaning a vinyl floor. My floors needed the help but I had no ammonia on hand. I had also read the article on cleaning your oven racks which lead me to thinking if the fabric softener loosened that why wouldn’t it loosen the dirt on my floor. I had just made a bottle of fabric refresher using downy. I sprayed it on a small section of my floor and let it sit for a few minutes then using a scrub brush on a mop handle lightly ran over the area lightly (no real pressure behind it, could have probably just mopped) it all came up so easy and now my floor looks new! Not to mention my kitchen smells great to!
Thanks for all you do
Judy
How do you clean ink from Leather without discoloring the leather
I LOVE your wonderful blog! Thanks so much for sharing your tips! I have a daughter-in-law that is as allergic to wool as I am so your wool dryer balls would not work for us. I suspect that there are other readers that are allergic to wool. I have a set of OASIS DRYER BALLS that I got through HSN (Home Shopping Network). There are 2 balls with short little bumps for jeans and heavier fabrics and 2 balls with many longer little bumps. I LOVE THEM! I have had them for about 3 years and they work wonderfully well. Great since I am also allergic to fragrances that are used in dryer sheets, even the non scented ones! Keep up the wonderful work that you do! You are a lifesaver… literally! My new neighbor has celiac so I took her the Cauliflower Pizza recipe… She was so happy to see that. I know that she has signed up for your blog!
Jillee, I have a Dryel Bag…. It is 3.5 ft square. Three sides are sealed and there is a 2.5 inch flap that you seal with a velcro strip that runs the whole length of the opening. The material is very much like Tyrvek housewrap that builders wrap homes in for air filtration barriers. You can sew it and use it for tons of things but if you use it in heat (Like a dryer) don’t use it on HIGH. High heat can make it shrivel and distort so it is one thing to consider. The Dryel Bag contains the cleaning product so that it doesn’t dissipate before the dryer cycle is done. I am thrilled to have a recipe to use now. Dryel says one treatment can clean as many as 4 garments at a time and comes with only 6 packets of cleaner. (Their clothes are dryer sheet stuff. So you can recycle your used Dryer sheets. or coffee filters would work,too.) Anyway, my nearest store didn’t have Dryel refills last time but had another brand… 6 packets of cleaner were nearly $15.00! Thanks for trying everything!