Page 4
Tidbits of Coachella Valley
Everyday CHEAPSKATE
®
by Mary Hunt
By Lucie Winborne
* A California man who made a personalized license plate that said “No Plate” received more than 2,500 parking tickets. * Avid readers won’t be intimidated by a hefty novel, but they’ll still surely be impressed by what’s been deemed the largest book ever. Weighing more than 3,000 pounds and measuring 16 feet by 26 feet with 429 pages inside, the book, which is titled “This is Muhammad,” was created in 2012 by 50 people working together in the United Arab Emirates. * Prior to 1949, tennis court grass was kept at 2 inches long -- that is, until a player was bitten by a snake. It’s now typically maintained at a length of 8 mm. * Scientists have found evidence of take-out restaurants in the remains of Pompeii. * Japan has the highest density of vending machines worldwide, with approximately 5 million machines, or one machine for every 23 people. You can buy everything from live lobsters and bread in a can, to underwear and Buddhist amulets from a vending machine. * The first European who learned to smoke from the natives was arrested back home because people thought he was possessed by the devil. * Dolly Parton’s parents paid the doctor who delivered her with a bag of cornmeal. * The most expensive domain name ever sold was Voice.com, which was acquired for $30 million in 2019. * Caribbean sperm whales have their own accents. * After an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City in 1985, nearly all newborn babies survived a collapsed hospital for seven days without nourishment, water, warmth or human contact. * A flea can accelerate faster than a space shuttle. *** Thought for the Day: “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” -- Danny Kaye (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
My Newly Discovered, Super Helpful Household Tips
Everyday Having lived and breathed time- and CHEAPSKATE ®
money-saving tips for over three decades now, I by Mary Hunt thought I knew it all. I cannot fathom how many thousands of tips and tricks my readers have shared together with all I’ve discovered on my own (borne out of desperation or just plain frugality). So far, I’ve learned enough to fill three hefty published books (“Tiptionary,” “Tiptionary 2,” “Cheaper, Better, Faster”) with clever tips and DIY solutions. Could it be I’ve only scratched the surface? I think so, given what I’ve learned recently. DOUBLE DUTY FOR TOILET CLEANER It’s not like I’d never heard of it, but I’d routinely dismissed the idea. Common sense, you know. Gel toilet bowl cleaner to clean grout? Not long ago, I decided to test and prove this was nothing but a wacky idea. Surprise! It actually works. The gel glides out in a perfect little line, like it was born to be a grout warrior. Here’s the drill: Apply the gel (Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel is a good choice) on the grimy grout, let it sit there for five minutes, then grab an old toothbrush -- or whatever scrubby tool you’ve got lying around -- and get to work. You won’t be scrubbing till your arm falls off. Only a little elbow grease, and voila! Your grout will look like new. RENEWAL FOR STALE CRACKERS Ever pull out a box of crackers only to find they’ve gone stale and less than crisp? Don’t toss ‘em just yet! Here’s a trick I’ve come to swear by: After baking something and while the oven is still hot, even though you’ve turned it off, spread the sad, stale crackers on a cookie sheet and pop them into the oven. Don’t turn the oven back on; just shut the door and walk away. By the time the oven cools, the crackers will come out crisp and snappy, like they just rolled off the
Vol. XX Issue No. 45
assembly line. No magic, no waste and no more soggy saltines. Pretty slick! THAT FRESH SMELL OF NOTHING Got a closet that smells like it’s auditioning for a role in “The Haunted Attic”? Here’s a quick fix: Grab a little organza or mesh bag -- something with holes so it can breathe -- and toss in a few sticks of chalkboard chalk. Hang it on one of your hangers, and let the magic happen. The chalk soaks up moisture like a pro, keeping things dry and fresh. No more musty, mystery smells lurking in your closet, just dry clothes that smell the way they’re supposed to. Hint: A challenging situation will work best with several of these chalk bags. DIY MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER Some homemade cleaners pull off stunts that store-bought stuff only dreams of -- and this little miracle cleaner is one of them. All you need is baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and suddenly you’re a stain-fighting wizard. Got yellow armpit stains on your favorite white shirt? Gone. Baked-on crud welded to your cookie sheets? No match for this magic combo. Here’s the routine: Pour some baking soda in a small bowl. Add enough fresh (it can lose its power after six months, or sooner if not stored closed in a dry, dark place) hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Seriously, it works on all sorts of stubborn messes that just won’t quit. And the best part? It’s cheap, easy and already sitting in your cupboard. Who needs fancy labels and chemical fumes when you’ve got baking soda and peroxide ready to do the dirty work? * * * Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate. com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM