Removing Labels from Jars

File this under {useless? crazy? may need it at some point?} interesting things I have learned. Or may never need again?

I recently purchased spaghetti sauce in nice jars.  (Thanks to a tip from a coupon site they were inexpensive!).

I then decided to recycle the jars and fill them with homemade bath salts. The problem was ~ how to get the labels off the jars!

A quick internet search yielded Arm and Hammer Washing soap.  Two problems.  #1. I didn't have any and this would require me to run to the store to get some.  #2. It apparently needs to be handled with care and I didn't feel like dealing with it. (Hmmmm, I'm starting to sound lazy.)

I found another solution via an internet search.  A simple solution. And I'm all about simple!

Soaking in oil and baking soda

Oil {as in vegetable, canola, etc. any cooking kind} and baking soda.

Now this I had at home!  I took the jars, put them in a dishpan (the oil does make a greasy mess) and added the baking soda and hot water.

I let the jars sit for a few minutes and came back. The labels peeled off easily.  I then let them sit for a little longer. The total time was about 30 minutes.  I took a cloth and scrubbed the labels off. (It did not take much effort, but I wanted them to be clean.)  And it worked!

Incidentally, I had forgotten one jar. I had it soaking and it was then put in the dishwasher. I figured the label would come right off since it had been soaking for quite a while. However, to my dismay it did not. It may have been re-glued on with the heat of the dishwasher.  I had to resoak it again! It then came off easily.

After just few minutes you can see the label peeled off easily.  

Fruit Flies

So we have had a nasty time with fruit flies. It always seems to happen this time of year. For many years I have LOVED Terro! The product worked great and all went well. However, over the years they changed something, or it has become less effective!

Soooo, I decided to try something a little simpler! And something I've used in the past. And much cheaper. I took some cider vinegar and a little dish soap (any brand - Dawn, Joy, etc.)

I put that in a dish (no need to mix) and within an hour or so I had fruit flies!

I've since had to put them all over the house.  I (sadly) pitched the Terro one.)

I will add that "newer" vinegar is not as effective as vinegar you've had around for a little while, but both work. The nice thing about this is that after a day or so you can dispose of the fruit flies and vinegar and then add new vinegar and dish soap! They do tend to last for about two days and then you need to change out the vinegar/dish soap.  

Organizing ~ Earrings!!!!

So admittedly I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was older. Um, not that old. But older than most!!! Let’s just saw it was after my 20’s! Once I finally took the leap (I had waited for many reasons) I had started to accumulate many pairs of earrings. All just everywhere!! Which quickly lead to how to organize them!?!?!?

I think I found this in a magazine. And it’s perfect! Well, perfect as long as you put them back! I {obviously} clip or hook any earrings together that I can do just that with! However what to do with all the other pairs? I put them on a button. Yes, it’s that simple! Better yet, I use the button collection I have of all those buttons that come with a top or such that “you just might need one day” if said top loses a button! Yes, those. The ones you can’t decide if you should hang on to just in case or where to stash them “just in case”.

 Honestly when I think about it my grandmother (my beloved Mimi) had a button collection. Just the other day I took buttons off an old dress shirt  my husband had that was torn! Into my button collection they went! Using those buttons to store your earrings is perfect for that collection!

This is simple it is!

Earrings hooked on buttons!!!