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Save Time and Money Using Ordinary Household Objects

With the credit crunch taking it toll on every household at the moment here are a few ideas on how you can get more value out of everyday items.

Travel Light With Your Pet
Lightweight, disposable margarine tubs make perfect pet food containers and double as food and water bowls. and dog biscuits won't get crushed if you put them in a plastic tub. If your pet is staying with friends whilst you are on holiday make things a little easier for the pet sitter by putting one serving into each container, to be used and discarded as needed,

Keep Animals Out of Your Garden
Scatter old mothballs around the garden and flowerbeds and in potted plants to deter cats, rats, mice and squirrels. Most animals hate the smell. Take care to keep mothballs well away from pets and small children as they can be harmful if ingested.

Stop Pet Destruction
If your pet is not respecting your property, whether it be by chewing, tearing or soiling, you may be able to get the message across by leaving several onion slices where the damage has been done. Neither cats nor dogs are particularly fond of the smell of onion and they should avoid returing to the scene of their crimes.

Restore Leather Leads
You do not need fancy leather cream to take care of a favourite dog lead. Petroleum jelly does the job just as well. Apply, rub it in, wipe off the excess and the lead will stay supple and smooth

Soothe Sore Pet Paws
Sometimes your dogs paw pads can get dry and cracked. Give a little tender loving care to your best friend by rubbing the paws with a little petroleum jelly.

Remove Pet Hair
1. Slip a rubber flip flop onto your hand and rub carpets and rugs in the direction of the pile. The pet hair will form a ball that can be vacuumed up. works well on car seats too.

2. Pet hair can get a pretty tenacious grip on furniture and clothing. But a used fabric softener sheet will suck that fur right off the fabric with a couple of swipes. Just throw the dirty wipe in the bin.

3. Another idea is to put on a rubber glove and dampen it. When you rub it against the fabric the pet hair will stick to the glove. If you are worried about getting the upholstery slightly damp, test the wet glove in an inconspicuous area first.

Repel Fleas in Pet Habitats
If your dog enjoys his kennel or bed, it is likely that fleas do too. Keep fleas at bay by washing down the interior walls and floors of the kennel with a solution of salt water every few weeks

Say Farewell to Fleas
If you have a flea infestation in the carpet. put a few drops of liquid soap and some water on a plate. Place the plate on the floor next to a lamp. Fleas love light - they will jump onto the plate and drown in the soap

Remove Dog Mess From Shoes
Clean dog mess from the bottom of a shoe with the help from a can of WD 40. Spray some on the affected sole and use an old toothbrush to clean the crevices. Rinse with cold water.

Cure Canine Flatulence
If your dog has been producing a lot of noxious gas lately, the problem may be a lack of the digestive bacteria that prevent gas and diarrhoea. the active culture in plain yoghurt can help to restore the helpfull bacteria in the gut. Add 2 teaspoons of yoghurt to the food for small dogs weighing 7-15 kg. Add 2 tablespoons for large dogs weighing 16-38kg. Add 3 tablespoons for dogs larger than this.

Deodorise Rugs and Carpets
Freshen up carpets or rugs by lightly sprinkling them with bicarbonate of soda or cornflour, let it settle in for 15 minutes then vacuum up.

Repel Ticks and Other Insects
If you are going for a walk in the woods, smear some chest rub on your legs and trousers before you leave the house. It will keep ticks from biting and may stop you getting Lyme Disease which is spread by ticks. Annoying biting insects like gnats and mosquitoes will look elsewhere for victims if you apply chest rub to your skin before venturing into the countryside as they hate the smell.

Get Rid of Mess in The Garden
If you have a dog or cat, keep an old dustpan by the back door and use it to clean up any messes that are lying around on the lawn. Every so often scrub it out using a strong disinfectant

Do Away with Dog Odour
If your best friend comes in from the rain bearing his own special wet-dog scent, wipe him down with a used fabric softener sheet and he should smell as fresh as a daisy.

source: Extraordinary uses For Ordinary Things by Readers Digest
www.readersdigest.co.uk