So how was the first day of school?

This next month we wil be conducting "Drive By'' Visiting Teaching Stewardship interviews. We will come to your home, have you come to our car and have a brief visit with you about the sisers you visit and your companionship, leave a treat and be on our way.No need for dressing up or leaving your childen. We have set times during the day and evening. An appointment sign-up sheet will be in the Relief Society Binder beginning this Sunday, September 1st. Please chec your calendars and set an appointment with us.
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Next Wednesday, September 4th is our Self-Reliance class. It will be held at the Roach home, from 6-7 pm. You don't want to miss this informative meeting.

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September's Relief Society meeting will be held at the Temple in the Baptismal Font. Please be working on bringing at least one family name to be baptized on behalf of. You are not limited to one but our goal is for every sister to find at least one ancestor that needs this work completed. If you need a recommend to do baptisms please let a member of the Relief Society Presidency know.

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Just a note about changes to the Church Cannery on Ann Road. It will no longer be used for the canning of bulk items but will now be a Home Storage Center with the same or more products already packaged for purchase. Canning of Food storage products will no longer be done on premises. A copy of the Home Storage Center order form can be found here. Use this form to prepare a shopping list of items you would like to get at the Center or purchase online.
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This is the final week of the Young Women's Personal Progress challenge. If you have worked on your Personal Progress email Christine S.

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Summer vacation is almost over but I'll keep the activities page up for a while still to help with those "I'm bored" moments. If you have suggestions to add to it let me know.

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Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 9 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that *language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.

***********

See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.

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Also see http://www.lds.org

Enjoy the final week of Summer break with your kids!

Join us tomorrow night at 6:30-8:30 pm in the cultural hall for a fun and informative Relief Society meeting. Brother Killian will be there with his Colors Personality Assessment. What color are you? Come find out and learn tips and tricks to working with other "colors". Bring spouses and friends. Child care will be provided.

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Seminary Fireside, Sunday, August 25 @ 6 pm. Come meet the seminary teachers for the coming year. If you have not yet registered your high school aged child, you will need to register him/her at the fireside.

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School begins in a week, if you do not have a Melchizedek priesthood holder in your home, contact your home teachers to get blessings for your children. I do not know of a better way to begin the school year than to have the our children receive a blessing at the hands of their father or another priesthood holder. If you do not know who your home teacher is contact Brother Jeff Barney or Brother Rodney Bowden.

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As this year is the Book of Mormon year of study for your Seminary student, I encourage you to also read/re-read the sacred book of scripture on your own on with your family. In 1980 President Marion G. Romney said, "I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness."

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September's Relief Society meeting will be held at the Temple in the Baptismal Font. Please be working on bringing at least one family name to be baptized on behalf of. You are not limited to one but our goal is for every sister to find at least one ancestor that needs this work completed.

***********

Just a note about changes to the Church Cannery on Ann Road. It will no longer be used for the canning of bulk items but will now be a Home Storage Center with the same or more products already packaged for purchase. Canning of Food storage products will no longer be done on premises. A copy of the Home Storage Center order form can be found here. Use this form to prepare a shopping list of items you would like to get at the Center or purchase online.
***********

   Do you remember the Personal Progress challenge issued to us by the Young Women? We were promised a dinner served by them if we complete more Value experiences and/or projects than they do. You can access an online Personal Progress manual here and by signing into your www.lds.org account you can keep track of your progress. The experiences are pretty easy but something we all need to work on at different times in our lives. I encourage you to check it out. If you're working on and completing the experiences contact Christine S. She will is weekly and monthly drawings for those working towards this goal.

**********

   Summer vacation is almost over but I'll keep the activities page up for a while still to help with those "I'm bored" moments. If you have suggestions to add to it let me know.

***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

    Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 9 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that *language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.

***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Bloom where you are planted

There were several quotes from President Lorenzo Snow in yesterday's lesson that I love and appreciate for the gentle (or not so gentle) reminder of who I am and what is expected of me. This one in particular was summed up very nicely yesterday in the above statement. "Let all, therefore, be encouraged, and seek to improve the talents they severally possess; and let him who may have the one talent use it and not hide it in the earth; that is, let him who may be endowed with little ability improve himself..." Let's bloom together.

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For those who came to the self-reliance class on the 7th, click here for Pilar's produce rinse and granola recipes. If you weren't there you missed a great class on dehydrating snacks.

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Mark your calendars and invite your spouses and friends to our Relief Society Evening meeting. Tuesday, August 20th 6:30-8:30 pm. Brother Killian will be there with his Colors Personality Assessment. What color are you? Come find out and learn tips and tricks to working with other "colors". Bring spouses and friends. Child care will be provided.

***********
September's Relief Society meeting will be held at the Temple in the Baptismal Font. Please be working on bringing at least one family name to be baptized on behalf of. You are not limited to one but our goal is for every sister to find at least one ancestor that needs this work completed.
***********

   Do you remember the Personal Progress challenge issued to us by the Young Women? We were promised a dinner served by them if we complete more Value experiences and/or projects than they do. You can access an online Personal Progress manual here and by signing into your www.lds.org account you can keep track of your progress. The experiences are pretty easy but something we all need to work on at different times in our lives. I encourage you to check it out. If you're working on and completing the experiences contact Christine S. She will is weekly and monthly drawings for those working towards this goal.

**********

     Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities page (to the right) for a list of ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.

***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

    Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 9 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that *language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.

***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Sorry about last week.

The Temple reopens tomorrow, August 6th. Please click on the New Temple Schedule page to the right for the new schedule and plan your Temple attendance accordingly.

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This month's self-reliance mini-class will be August 7th @ 6 pm. We will be learning how to make our own fruit rolls and dehydrated snacks. These taste so good, like candy or chips, and are so much better for us and our families. I personally love the seasoned zucchini and tomato chips, yum. Mark your calendar.
***********

Mark your calendars and invite your spouses and friends to our Relief Society Evening meeting. Tuesday, August 20th 6:30-8:30 pm. Brother Killian will be there with his Colors Personality Assessment. What color are you? Come find out and learn tips and tricks to working with other "colors". Bring spouses and friends. Child care will be provided.

***********
September's Relief Society meeting will be held at the Temple in the Baptismal Font. Please be working on bringing at least one family name to be baptized on behalf of. You are not limited to one but our goal is for every sister to find one ancestor that needs this work completed.
***********

   Do you remember the Personal Progress challenge issued to us by the Young Women? We were promised a dinner served by them if we complete more Value experiences and/or projects than they do. You can access an online Personal Progress manual here and by signing into your www.lds.org account you can keep track of your progress. The experiences are pretty easy but something we all need to work on at different times in our lives. I encourage you to check it out. If you're working on and completing the experiences contact Christine S. She will is weekly and monthly drawings for those working towards this goal.

**********

     Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities page (to the right) for a list of ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.

***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

    Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 9 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that *language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.

***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Happy Monday!

Thank you so much to all those who helped with the Young Women's camp dinner. The young women loved it!

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The Temple will be closing for its summer cleaning July 21-August 5. We have received word that there will be a schedule change beginning with the reopening of the Temple on August 6th. Please click on the New Temple Schedule page to the right for the new schedule and plan your temple attendance accordingly.

********** 
Next month's self-reliance mini-class will be on august 7th @ 6 pm. We will be learning how to make our own fruit rolls and dehydrated snacks. These taste so good, like candy or chips, and are so much better for us and our families. I personally love the seasoned zucchini and tomato chips, yum. Mark your calendar.
**********

If you've worked on your Personal Progress, don't forget to contact Christine S. She will be doing drawings for those working towards this goal.
**********

      Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities page (to the right) for a list of ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

  Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 8 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.
***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

This week in the valley.

Tuesday, July 16th will be our next Relief Society Meeting and we are very excited about it! We will be meeting at the church at 5:45 pm and car pooling to the Family History Center on 9th and Clark (be there @ 6:20). While at the FHC we will be researching our ancestors and identifying those that we can then take with us when we go to the Temple as a group in September and perform Baptisms for the Dead. Please bring your less-active and non-member friends with you. We do need to have a count for the 16th so if you would like to go and did not sign up on Sunday please email me and I'll make sure your name gets on the list. Child care WILL NOT be provided for this meeting.

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We are also asking that you be sure to have an account set up and activated with www.lds.org (the same username and password works for every LDS website). You will need your membership number and confirmation date to create an account (available from the Ward Clerk). If you already have an account please be sure you know your username and password. Having and knowing your account information will help things go more smoothly on the 16th and allow each of us more time to find those ancestors who are waiting for their ordinances. 

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Check out this page for more information on Family History and taking names to the Temple.
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Stake Girls Camp has officially been canceled. The Vegas Valley ward has put together a mini "camp" for the young women in our ward. If you were not able to attend the meeting Sunday after church please contact one of the young women leaders or Sister C. about the plan. Sounds like a lot of fun. The Relief Society will still be providing dinner on Wednesday night so if you signed up to help Sister M. will be calling you.

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The Temple will be closing for its summer cleaning July 21-August 5. We have received word that there will be a schedule change beginning with the reopening of the Temple on August 6th. Please click on the New Temple Schedule page to the right for the new schedule and plan your temple attendance accordingly.

********** 
Next month's self-reliance mini-class will be on august 7th @ 6 pm. We will be learning how to make our own fruit rolls and dehydrated snacks. These taste so good, like candy or chips, and are so much better for us and our families. I personally love the seasoned zucchini and tomato chips, yum. Mark your calendar.
**********

If you've worked on your Personal Progress, don't forget to contact Christine S. She will be doing drawings for those working towards this goal.
**********

      Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities page (to the right) for a list of ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

  Job Networking: Sister Le Rene Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 8 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.
***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

July's update

Our self-reliance mini class will be held Wednesday, July 10th, 6 pm. Due to a cancellation we've had to change the topic of this month's lesson, our lesson will be on sewing. Christy L. will be teaching the class. Please bring items to be repaired and your own sewing kit (there will be some available to borrow if you don't have one). Invite your friends and enjoy us for fun.

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Tuesday, July 16th will be our next Relief Society Meeting and we are very excited about it! We will be meeting at the church at 6 pm and car pooling to the Family History Center on the Temple grounds (be there @ 6:30). While at the FHC we will be researching our ancestors and identifying those that we can then take with us when we go to the Temple as a group in September and perform Baptisms for the Dead. Please bring your less-active and non-member friends with you. We do need to have a count for the 16th so if you would like to go and did not sign up on Sunday please email me and I'll make sure your name gets on the list. Child care WILL NOT be provided for this meeting.

***********

We are also asking that you be sure to have an account set up and activated with www.lds.org (the same username and password works for every LDS website). You will need your membership number and confirmation date to create an account (available from the Ward Clerk). If you already have an account please be sure you know your username and password. Having and knowing your account information will help things go more smoothly on the 16th and allow each of us more time to find those ancestors who are waiting for their ordinances. 

************
Check out this page for more information on Family History and taking names to the Temple.
*************

The Stake is still awaiting word on Girls Camp. We will have a definite answer no later than Friday. I will send an email as soon as I hear anything. We will plan on camp being next week unless the Stake tells us otherwise. You can be assured that neither the Stake nor the Forestry Department will allow the Young Women up there unless it is perfectly safe. The Stake does have a back up plan for the girls to attend camp if things do not work for next week. That information will be passed on when it becomes necessary.

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The Temple will be closing for its summer cleaning July 21-August 5. We have received word that there will be a schedule change beginning with the reopening of the Temple on August 6th. Please click on the New Temple Schedule page to the right for the new schedule and plan your temple attendance accordingly.

********** 

If you've worked on your Personal Progress, don't forget to contact Christine S. She will be doing drawings for those working towards this goal.
**********

      Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities page (to the right) for a list of ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.
*********

    Youth camps are here but some of the youth still have money they need to earn to pay for their camp. Please consider hiring one of the young men or young women to do odd jobs around the house to help them with this goal. For ideas of which youth need work, contact a youth leader.

***********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

***********

  Job Networking: Sister Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

**********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 8 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. If you know the language they are teaching in write in that language. I know my kids love to get letters in their mission language.
***********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

***********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Happy Independence Day!

It's a scorcher out there. Please be sure you are staying cool and hydrated. 

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I cannot adequately express the gratitude the RS presidency has for all of you who have helped with all of the service we have had these last few weeks. June was certainly a busy month for us. But one thing we have noticed is that when we serve each other the love in our Circle of Sisters grows and grows. Thank you so much.
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Pilar R's self-reliance mini class will be held next Wednesday, July 10th, 6 pm. The class will be on hair cutting. Invite your friends.

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This week's lesson from "Daughters in My Kingdom" will also include some discussion abut the Special Broadcast "The Work of Salvation." If you have not already done so, please watch the broadcast.

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If you've worked on your Personal Progress, don't forget to contact Christine S. She will be doing drawings for those working towards this goal.
**********

   Due to the success of last year's Point of Light program for girls camp, we ave been asked by the Stake Young Women to provide dinner to the young women of the ward the final night at camp, Friday, July 19th. We will be sending around a sign up sheet on the 30th for dishes that will need to be prepared. If you would like to help prepare part of the meal please be sure to sign up. We will be feeding close to 40 or more young women and leaders from our ward and will need a lot of help.
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    Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities  list for ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.
*********

    Youth camps are just around the corner but some of the youth still have money they need to earn to pay for their camp. Please consider hiring one of the young men or young women to do odd jobs around the house to help them with this goal. For ideas of which youth need work, contact a youth leader.

********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

********

  Job Networking: Sister Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 8 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. 

********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Patriotic Breakfast

 Come enjoy a wonderful breakfast and patriotic fireside.  Bring family and friends to this wonderful Stake activity. Saturday, June 29th 8:30-10:00 am @ the Stake Center.

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 If you missed the Special Broadcast on Sunday, here is the link. Watch it at your convenience, but I do recommend watching it. I am sure you will be as inspired as I was about missionary work and what we can do to help. In conjunction with this broadcast there is a new website to help "Hasten the Work of Salvation." Check it out. You can be sure we'll be hearing more about these resources in the future.
**********

If you've worked on your Personal Progress, don't forget to contact Christine S. She will be doing drawings for those working towards this goal.
**********

   Due to the success of last year's Point of Light program for girls camp, we ave been asked by the Stake Young Women to provide dinner to the young women of the ward the final night at camp, Friday, July 19th. We will be sending around a sign up sheet on the 30th for dishes that will need to be prepared. If you would like to help prepare part of the meal please be sure to sign up. We will be feeding close to 40 or more young women and leaders from our ward and will need a lot of help.
*********
    Don't forget to check out the Summer Activities  list for ideas of things to do when the kids are BORED.
*********

    Youth camps are just around the corner but some of the youth still have money they need to earn to pay for their camp. Please consider hiring one of the young men or young women to do odd jobs around the house to help them with this goal. For ideas of which youth need work, contact a youth leader.

********

   Send an email to Pilar R. if you would like to be included on her food storage reminder list.

********

  Job Networking: Sister Watts will be in the room next to the library at the Stake Center, 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights.  She will be helping to prepare resumes. Bring your education, employment, and any other pertinent information.

********

    When was the last time you wrote to one of our missionaries? We now have 8 serving from the Vegas Valley Ward and they would love to hear from you. Send them a note or card or letter. 

********

    See our "Calendar of Events (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  

********

Also see http://www.lds.org

Cleaning Tips from our Relief Society Meeting

If you missed June's mid-week Relief Society Meeting you missed a fun time. Here are the recipes that were shared for make-it-yourself cleaning products and some of the tips that were shared.

Shopping List (all of these items were purchased at the Dollar Store and the products can be made for less than $8 plus the cost of a spray bottle)

• White Vinegar
• Fabric Softener
• Baking Soda
• Dawn
• Lavender and Citrus Fragrance
• Olive Oil
• Spray bottle for each item

Use in the following 4 remedies:

Windex substitute

1 tsp Dawn

half bottle white vinegar

half bottle water

Pledge substitute

2 tsp olive oil (can use a little more)

2 cups water

1/4 cup water

*citrus fragrance

Fabreeze substitute

1/8 cup fabric softener

2 tbs baking soda

fill remainder of bottle with water

*lavender fragrance

Bathroom/Kitchen Cleaner (because vinegar & baking soda create a chemical reaction put some water in bottle first to dilute the reaction)

1/2 cup vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda 

fill bottle with water

*citrus fragrance

Store bought cleaners that work for other sisters:

• ZEP (home improvement stores)-for hard water
• CLR (home improvement and discount stores)-for hard water, doesn't hurt paint
• Simple Green (automotive section of discount store)-full strength for greasy stove, microwave
• SoiLove ($ store)-great for all laundry, rug, upholstery stains (used at the Temple)
• Magic Eraser (most stores)- great for cleaning the textured bottom of tub/shower and tub ring (give your legs a workout while in shower by using your feet to "scrub" with the eraser, takes an extra 5 min while you're already in there)

Household products used in a different way:

• Ammonia
• removes ink from clothing 
• place stove pans and grates in plastic bag with a little ammonia & hot water, seal and leave overnight, grease will wipe off easily
• soak combs and brushes in ammonia then rinse hair product buildup out
• Hair spray
• Also removes ink from clothing
• Rubbing alcohol
• use to remove cleaner buildup on granite, rinse afterwards
• Baking soda
• make a paste with water, wipe it all over inside of oven door, let sit at least 20 minutes, wipe off and rinse well
• unclog drains (Pour a pot of boiling hot water down your drain.Dump in about 1/2 c. baking soda. Let that sit for a few minutes. Then, pour a mixture of 1 c. vinegar and 1. c very hot water down on top of the baking soda. Cover with a drain plug-to keep the reaction down below the drain surface-if you have one and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.Flush one more time with a pot of boiling water.)
• Vinegar
• use in dishwasher instead of JetDry
• use in rinse cycle of washer to remove musky smell
• run in empty dishwasher to clean hard water residew
• Newspaper
• instead of paper towels for washing windows-no streaks or lint left over
• Bleach
• use with a toothbrush to clean grout in tile
• Household broom
• for cleaning the tub/shower enclosure quickly and without putting strain on your knees-apply cleaner to bristles and then use broom "scrub" all of enclosure, quick and easy (Sister Lopez has details)