Rachael Ray

When I think of Krazy Glue I think of commercials from the 70’s and 80’s. It was everywhere, and I vaguely remember some kind of catchy jingle. I always thought of it as some kind of gimmick and had basically forgotten about it until recently when I broke one of my kitchen blinds. I have faux wood blinds and was vigorously cleaning them when the end of one slat broke completely off. I envisioned ordering a new slat, waiting weeks for the manufacturer to ship it, then bungling replacement with the complicated cord system. I happened to mention the situation to my dad who without missing a beat suggested Krazy Glue. Worked ike a charm, and you can barely see [...]...

This summer’s heat wave is off the charts, and I don’t know about you, but at this point my lawn is very brown. You can go barefoot at your own risk as it’s basically turned to hay. Ouch. I recently came across this concoction which you mix up and apply to your lawn in order to transform it from brown to green. People have had mixed results, but it may be worth a try. Of course the sure-fire solution for a green lawn is to water your lawn regularly (water after sundown so the water doesn’t evaporate) but the best of us fall behind. Lawn Tonic Recipe: 1 can of beer (regular, not light) 1 can of soda (regular, not diet) 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid (not antibacterial soap) 1/2 [...]...

Recently I opened my water bill and it was up by almost $100 over the prior quarterly statement.  In looking back over the year, this was by far the highest bill I have ever received.  I called the water company and of course the first thing they asked is if I had a leaky toilet or one that “ran.”  I said there wasn’t one, but in my mind I recalled that the bathroom my kids used sometimes would run, but I would jiggle the handle and it would correct itself right away.  Despite my jiggling, I was still losing so much water that it cost me big time. They also told me that you could have a “silent leak” where you [...]...

Shoes shoes shoes. When I walk into my house I am often greeted by a pile - or sea- of shoes. Amazingly, this doesn’t seem to bother the other four humans (or two dogs) with whom I share my home. Grrrr. And not shoes lined up neatly but here a shoe, there a shoe. Upside down, separated from their mates, blocking the stairs. Sound familiar? A custom-built mud room with a locker or cubby for each family member (a girl can dream, right), would be nice, and I have whiled away many an hour on Pinterest drooling over mudrooms nicer than the finest room in my house. Someday. Sigh. In the meantime, here are some real world solutions to cut down [...]...

I don’t usually write about fashion in this blog but I must say, the world of aprons has finally evolved.  What used to be limited to the same old, unshapely butcher’s apron with maybe a logo or a funny saying like “kiss the cook,” has grown into something more, well, fitting.  Take a look at Jesse Steele’s products like the apron above or these decorative rubber gloves, for under $10 no less! Jesse Steele also has a line of professional aprons for chefs but also coated ones for stylists and hair colorists. I love the retro look and the fact that you can wear these while cleaning and cooking and look good!  I am one to wear an apron all the while [...]...

On the Cleaning Lady Blog we talk a lot about natural cleaning products (vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are the stars) but we haven’t actually covered how to quickly and effectively handle a laundry stain. Hot water or cold water? Apply soap or leave it alone? Here is a how-to on what to do when you spill on your favorite top. The most important thing is to move quickly! Blot up any excess liquid with a clean white cloth, paper, or other towels. Remove excess solids by gentle scraping or chipping with a dull knife or metal spatula. If the spill is a thick substance like mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Excess can be brushed off [...]...

Dear Cleaning Lady: I have had my trusty 9 x 13 brownie pan forever and I am noticing some rust spots. Is this dangerous? Can I clean off the rust or should I toss it? Thanks! Brownie Baker Dear BB: Don’t toss the pan but definitely get rid of the rust before you bake with it again. Here’s how: 1. Rinse the pan and shake it dry - do not wipe with a towel because you want it to be slightly damp. 2. Dust it lightly with baking soda (it should stick because of the remaining water), making sure you cover the spots that are rusting. 3. Leave the dusted pans for about half an hour. 4. Clean the pan gently with a scourer making sure you get rid [...]...

I love big jewelry - particularly necklaces - and I have accumulated so many necklaces over the years that they started to take over the very valuable and limited real estate of the top of my dresser. I have these cute necklace hangers/trees that were meant to be decorative yet eventually mine were overflowing with necklaces, to the point I couldn’t even see what I had. I resorted to keeping the necklaces (and bracelets and earrings) in little zippered bags on my dresser as well so then I really had no idea what I had. I ended up skipping wearing jewelry altogether. I knew there had to be some kind of jewelry organizer out there similar to an over-the door shoe organizer [...]...

A computer is a significant investment. It’s amazing how it looks so beautiful when you first bring it home and yet how quickly the screen can accumulate fingerprints and smudges, especially if you have kids. Most monitors now are LCD, or flat panel monitors. You would think you could spray some Windex or other glass cleaner onto the screen and be all set, but put down the spray bottle as this can significantly damage the monitor. Here are some tips on cleaning your computer monitor: 1. Turn off the computer or display. 2. Dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper with water only. The softer the cloth the better. 3. Wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen. You may [...]...