If there's one thing in life you should know, it's how to take care of your car. Getting around town is one of this hardest things to do unless you have a car. Automobiles transport us to work, to school, to shopping centers and they even take us to our impossible in-laws, but ...more
This is a bare bones science experiment using only items that would be sitting around the average household. Set up, research, and clean up of this volcano experiment will take under five minutes. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make a model volcano. All you need is ...more
I love cheap, nutritious food: lentils, rice, toor dal, and other beans and grains. Even popcorn. The only problem is that they usually come in floppy plastic bags that make measuring ingredients more difficult. I usually open up one corner of the bag only to have everything c ...more
In my last quick clip, I demonstrated how to take a bottle of soda and freeze it on command. I received many requests for a more detailed article on this, so here we go. This "super cool" trick works with cans of soda too, not just bottles! Video: . This project was inspired b ...more
When it comes to common household items with a million practical uses, baking soda reigns supreme. We all know that baking soda is great for deodorizing stinky things, whitening your teeth, and helping with clean-up around the house, but did you know about the other weirdly un ...more
Things smell, and whether or not those things smell good or not is up to you. For lingering food odors on your hands, try using stainless steel or coffee grounds to remove the stench. To de-stink smelly jars, use mustard and water. For cutting boards, use lemons and salt, and ...more
A few years ago I went hog-wild trying to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle. I didn't succeed, but the experiment taught me that we throw away things we could—and should—be using more. In ye olde days of our forefathers, people generally used every part of the animal in cooking. ...more
Is your beloved silver bracelet looking a little worn? Stick it in a bowl of tomato ketchup to remove the tarnish. The acid in the tomatoes oxidizes with tarnished silver, which helps make your silver items look newer than ever before. If you're not keen on the idea of mixing ...more
Flavored oils are amazing. They add a new flavor and depth to dishes not possible with plain oil. Most unfortunately, however, flavored oils almost always come with a hefty price tag to reflect their deliciousness and to capitalize on the general cluelessness of the public. Y ...more
Finally, the much-hyped Xbox One is out, setting the stage for an epic holiday showdown between Microsoft and Sony. While the PS4 was released a full week before the Xbox One, Microsoft's next generation system is fully equipped with the latest games and acts as an all-out med ...more
Chances are you've got a bunch of wooden takeout chopsticks doing nothing but cluttering up your utensils drawer. That's a darned shame, considering that chopsticks aren't just for shoveling food into your mouth—they're actually the best cooking tools a cook can have (plus the ...more
Onion scrubs, salt and olive oil blends, a baking soda slurry... despite the many methods already out there to clean your (old or brand-new) cast iron cookware, there's one you may not have considered: using a potato. Don't Miss: The Ultimate Potato Cheat Sheet According to ...more
If you have an oil stain on your asphalt driveway, wipe up the excess oil with an absorbent cloth or mop it up, then act quickly using the common household items below to make sure that it doesn't become a permanent eyesore or a headache to clean up later. Dawn dishwashing so ...more
Need a broom and a dust pan to clean up your living space? Look no further than your recycling bin and upcycle some of your empty drink containers to make new cleaning tools for your home. Using 3-5 empty 2-liter bottles (labels removed), a wooden dowel, and a few tools from ...more
The oven is arguably our most essential kitchen appliance (right alongside the fridge, freezer, and yes, even the microwave). But even though we've been using them for a few millennia, many of us know so little about our ovens that our cooking or baking can feel like a roll of ...more
Salad greens are a staple in my house and for good reason: they're cheap, nutritious, and work as a base or an accompaniment for almost all meals. However, it's all too easy to forget about them and then pull out a bag filled with sludgy dark goo or yellow, inedible leaves. T ...more
We all know to should swap out our toothbrushes one every three to four months, but did you know your used Toothbrush still has a number of handy uses once its time in your bathroom is done? You can use an old toothbrush indefinitely to remove silk from corn, exfoliate your li ...more
Cleanliness is next to godliness. My interpretation of that age-old adage means that keeping your house clean is just as un-fun and boring as being a goody two shoes. That's why they call things like laundry and doing dishes "chores," I assume. Yuck. Lucky for you, though, we ...more
The origins of vodka are shrouded in mystery, with both Russia and Poland laying claim to its invention. Some say Genovese merchants brought vodka (then known as aqua vitae, or the water of life) in the late fourteenth century to Russia. For many years, vodka wasn't just an al ...more
Originally discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet, borax is a mineral and a salt of boric acid, and is usually sold in white powder form in drugstores. Like baking soda, borax has many household cleaning uses, and can also be used to get rid of insects and pests from your living ...more
After cutting fruits, veggies, and especially meats, it's good idea to regularly disinfect and deodorize your cutting board thoroughly. From using kitchen chemicals, to all-natural ingredients you probably have around, there are several ways to do it. For an all-natural quick ...more
Aluminum foil is one of those things that every cook, experienced or just starting out, has in their kitchen. And while we may think we know how useful this handy material can be, there are hundreds of ways we could be utilizing tinfoil to make our lives a whole lot easier. 1 ...more
Learn how to remove blackheads from nose and face, naturally at home! Video: . The steps as described: Step 1: This Is a Scrubbing Technique. You will need: Old toothbrush Toothpaste Salt (Add lemon and baking soda to this if you want) Step 2: Steam Facial (A cool shortc ...more
Whites are the hardest color to keep looking bright and new after just a few months' time. Your sweat and oils quickly become stains, and colors from other clothes will eventually bleed into the fabric, discoloring your bright whites into something merely whitish. But before y ...more
Is your favorite black T-shirt starting to look a little old? To restore a faded black fabric color to its former glory, add two cups of brewed coffee or black tea to your washer's rinse cycle. If you have the opposite problem and need to make your dirty white tees look super ...more
Most of you probably spread ketchup all over hamburgers and fries. Some of you may even drink it straight. But did you know that tame (and slightly addictive) condiment in your fridge is also a powerful cleaning agent? Melissa Ibbitson, 19, consumes 3 bottles of ketchup every ...more
It's a well-known fact (supported by myriad sources, including Fitness Magazine) that in order to lose a pound, you need to cut and/or burn 3,500 calories... which, divided by the number of days in the week, equals 500 calories a day. So, if you cut or burn 500 calories per d ...more
Everyone has a junk drawer in their kitchen. It's like an unspoken rule. The junk drawer is full of all the strange bits of what not that accumulates in your home over time. Everything in there is useful, and you never want to throw any of it away for fear that you might need ...more
Boxed brownie mixes advertise their convenience compared to homemade brownies—with only a few ingredients, they promise a moist, chocolatey crumb. However, these "instant" mixes still require fresh ingredients and a baking time that matches that of homemade brownies. When you' ...more
Sometimes it's hard to remember that lasagna, pizza, cannoli, and other dishes are actually Italian in origin; they're so much a part of the American culinary landscape at this point. Wherever they come from, Americans of all kinds love to eat 'em. This guy was released from a ...more
In this video, we learn how to clean pennies with taco sauce. To do this project, all you need are some dirty pennies and a paper plate! First, pick out some really dirty pennies and grab a taco sauce packet you have laying around the house. Grab a paper plate and pour the tac ...more
This article is a guide for making Chainmail Armor from start (simple wire) to finish (a finished chainmail shirt). We will be using the European 4 in 1 weave, as this is the most common weave. This is the weave that you usually see in movies. There are several sections to thi ...more
Fire. It’s everywhere— always has been. From the Ordovician Period where the first fossil record of fire appears to the present day everyday uses of the Holocene. Today, we abundantly create flames (intentionally or unintentionally) in power plants, extractive metallurgy, i ...more
Lisa shows us how to clean up spilled candle wax using an iron and a paper towel, a trick from Japanese Urawaza. The household ingenuity captured herein really caught fire in the post-war period, when Occupied Japan's poor economy made a virtue out of frugal and clever homebr ...more
James shows us how to prevent stinky pits without using deodorant, but instead the Japanese Urawaza secret of baking soda and lemon. The household ingenuity captured herein really caught fire in the post-war period, when Occupied Japan's poor economy made a virtue out of frug ...more
In order to prepare Vegan Zucchini Cake, you will need the following: non-stick cooking spray, 4 cups of grated zucchini, 2/3 cup of canola oil, 1 mashed banana, 1 1/2 cup unbleached flour, 1 cup of sugar, 3/4 cup of cocoa, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoo ...more
Ingredients 3-5 browned bananas 1 cup brandy/rum (if desired) 1/2 cup butter 2 1/4 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips butter (for greasing pan) Prepare bananas Squish bananas in a ...more
Forget the store bought chocolate cakes, they are dry and who knows how long they have been sitting there. Watch this how-to video and learn how to bake a chocolate cake from scratch. Chocolate cake ingredients: 1 cup (250 mL) butter, softened 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) granulated s ...more
Ingredients 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 large or 3 medium bananas 1 teaspoon vanilla Optional: 1/2 cup raisins and/or nuts (walnuts or pecans work well!) and/or ch ...more
One of the most famous and repeated chemistry experiments involves money. Some would say this is more of a trick than an experiment, but you can be the judge of that. No one can just turn pennies into silver or gold coins, but someone with a few chemicals can. So, if you want ...more
You Want White Teeth Without Expensive Over-The-Counter Products? Here's An Inexpensive, Effective Solution. Everywhere you look there are products for whitening teeth. You could spend a fortune on products you have to use everyday. This tutorial will show you a natural, inex ...more
Learn how to make a functioning battery from a can of soda. I made a battery out of cola and pennies. Awww, snap! Who's got iPhone power at burning man?! Me!
According to Outer Banks, cleaning coins found on the beach is an easy job. First of all he doesn't clean pennies as he doesn't think its worth the time. First use a rock tumbler. They're not expensive and cost under $100.00. Toss the coins in a tumbler with small rocks or gra ...more
This how to video shows us how to clean up spilled egg yolk using salt. Avoid a slippery sticky mess with these great cleaning tips. The household ingenuity captured herein really caught fire in the post-war period, when Occupied Japan's poor economy made a virtue out of frug ...more
A clogged drain is not only an unpleasant but seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. Good thing there is a simple way to unclog most minor stoppages with a few household products. Be your own plumber and keep those drains free and flowing. Keep your sink drain flowing ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make laundry soap. First, grate soap up into a large bowl. After this, pour the soap into a large pot. Add in 6 c water, then heat this up on medium heat for 40 minutes, not letting the soap boil. Next, add in washing soda and borax into the p ...more
Having clogged gutters outside your home is no fun. Not only can it be a pain to clean, but it can also be something that leads extensive damage and possibly the replacement of certain parts. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to check and see if you even have clogged gutte ...more
Brew laundry detergent that cleans your clothes for just three cents a load -- a fraction of what it costs with store-bought detergent. You will need: Water A bar of soap A cup of washing soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate A half a cup of Borax A box of baking soda Four ...more
Oh, boy. A stopped-up drain. It'll inevitably happen with any home plumbing system and your kitchen sink is no exception. That clog won't go away on its own and will require immediate attention to keep any standing water from rising. But you don't have to resort to calling an ...more
Redneck Productions teaches viewers how to clean silver and coins. This shows you how to clean coins with electricity! This process is good because you do not have to rub or scratch your coins and silver in the process. First you will need to get a battery (AA) and wire. Conne ...more
Get your grout floors looking brand new again! With this tutorial, you'll learn how to remove stains that tend to form on grout. Mold, mildew, and food are some of the culprits that stain grout in your bathroom and kitchen, but a few household products and some elbow grease c ...more
Whether you really need to pinch pennies for a long road trip or are really at the end of your rope with your financial and living situation, desperate times call for desperate measures--and sometimes that involves living in your car for an extended period of time. It is certa ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make an eggless pineapple cake. You will need: 1 1/4 c flour, 1/2 c sweetened condensed milk, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp cardamom powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 c melted butter, and 20 oz can crushed pineapple. First, mix you ...more
Many of today's cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets, children, and even adults. Sure it can get the job done, but what's more important the health of others or your stuff? If you answered health, then check out this next tutorial. In the video, you ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to stain a concrete floor. To start, you will need to prepare your floor by cleaning it vigorously. Remove all dirt from the floor, then use detergent and water to wash, when finished dry with a shop vac. You will have to use a hand brush to scru ...more
It is of course, non-toxic, and usable on just about anything, from counter tops to pots and pans. To make the basic scrub, you simply need baking soda, as well as essential oil for scent. The advantage of this is that there are a variety of different essential oils out there- ...more
The Simple Chef is going to show you how to make everyone's childhood favorite and that's banana bread. You want to begin by taking two bananas that are past ripe because that's when they're the softest sweetest and peel them. Throw the peeled bananas into a bowl and mash them ...more
Cutting your old jeans up into shorts is SO last year! Take a cue from this video and freshen up your wardrobe by distressing a pair of your jeans. All it takes is a few household items that you probably have for cleaning like bleach and sandpaper. When you're done you will ha ...more
Unlike other slow methods of clearing up acne, this method of getting rid of pimples is supposed to work almost instantly! By simply using a mixture of baking soda and water and stirring until it forms a paste, you should apply the mixture to your face or other areas, which ar ...more
Don't call a pricey plumber! Anyone with a few tools can unclog a drain -- without even resorting to those strong, toxic chemicals. Most of the time, anyway. You will need baking soda, vinegar, rubber gloves, cleaning rags or duct tape, a rubber plunger, a plumber's snake, pet ...more