CLEANING
Remove crayon marks on walls: Mix baking soda and water in a small container. Dampen rag and wipe area clean. Crayon marks come off with very little effort!

Get rid of permanent marker on counter tops and appliances: Dampen a paper towel or rag with rubbing alcohol. Wipe clean.
Clean artificial flowers: Add flowers and 3 tablespoons of salt in a large paper bag. Close bag and shake vigorously. The salt will remove dust particles and leave the flowers looking new!
Remove bloodstains on clothes: Dampen rag with hydrogen peroxide and use to wipe off blood.
Remove wax from a glass candleholder: Place glass candleholder in the freezer for a few hours. Take out and turn holder upside down. The wax will simply fall out!
Remove burnt food on your skillet: Add enough water to cover burnt food area and a drop of dish soap to pan. Place pan on stove and bring water to a boil. The combination of hot water and soap will make the food easily lift off the skillet.

Did you know you can use Alka Seltzer® to:
• Clean a toilet: Drop 2 tablets in the toilet and wait 20 minutes. Brush and flush - the toilet will be clean without emitting harmful chemicals into the environment!
• Clean the inside of a vase: Fill vase with warm water and drop 2 tablets into the vase. Wait 10 minutes and rinse.
• Polish jewelry: Fill a glass cup with warm water and drop 2 tablets in along with jewelry. After 2 minutes remove jewelry, rinse, and pat dry with cloth. Lay out jewelry on a small towel to fully dry.
COOKING
Keep celery fresh for weeks: Wrap in aluminum foil before putting it in the refrigerator.
Enhancing the sweetness in corn: Add a pinch of sugar to boiling water.
Leftover wine? Freeze it in ice cube trays to use in casseroles and sauces.

HEALTH
Headache: Cut a lime in half and rub over your forehead to stop the throbbing.
Mosquito bites: Wash the area with soap and water. The soap will give instant itch relief.
Splinter: Put those tweezers down. Grab the scotch tap and tap in line with the splinter. Then, pull off opposite direction (similar to waxing), and the splinter should come right out!

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GINA TUFANO
Gina is a happily married mom and RE/MAX Realtor. When not helping her clients find the perfect home, or supporting community organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the National MS society, Gina and her husband Ralph raise two beautiful boys. She can be reached at 703-574-3478 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it