How to Clean a Dishwasher - Get Rid of the Yukky and Extend it's Life

I know this probably has you yawning, but I just had to post about this cheap and easy way to clean a dishwasher and have it last longer or in my case... FIX IT.  (Not to mention the yukky stuff too!).

I was super impressed with this method, because last week my dishwasher stopped working properly, and I panicked!!

It is 10 years old and I assumed it was done.

Mine is the old basic style with a spray arm that pops up during the wash cycle.  It stopped popping up and the upper rack was not clean.

Hubby wanted to go shopping for a new one..  but the cheap part of me said.  "Lets try cleaning it".

I got that "yeah right" look... but guess what???    It totally fixed it!

They say "Clean Your Dishwasher Every 6 Months.."

... Well sorry to say, I don't remember ever doing this?  I sort of thought they were "self cleaning" but apparently NOT.  So try this:

What you will Need:

• Empty dishwasher
• 1 x cup of white vinegar
• 1 x cup of baking soda

Method:

Make sure there are no dishes inside your dishwasher.  Leave them in the sink until this is done.  Totally worth the aggro and extra time.

Step 1.  Place the cup of vinegar in a measuring cup and sit it carefully in the top rack.

(don't pour it in the washer, leave it upright in the cup)

Step 2.  Set the dishwasher to the hottest normal cycle, and let it run through.  Get on with your day for the next hour or however long yours takes.

Step 3.  Take the measure cup out, (which will just be filled with water after the cycle).  Now pull the bottom rack out enough to sprinkle the baking soda all over the bottom and the door.

Step 4.  Run the cycle again, but this can be a short one as it is simply to rinse away the baking soda.

THAT IS IT!!

I then loaded mine back up with dishes and later that night set it going and everything was working properly again.

The vinegar loosens the scale that can build up from day after day of use.  The scale was stopping the arm from popping up in my model.

The baking soda, simply washes away the scale and brightens up your machine and gets rid of any odors too!

Super Excited!

I know it is only a dishwasher and maybe I need to get a life, but this saved us money and I was right!!

So give this a try, especially if your dishwasher doesn't seem to be cleaning as well as it did.  Mine is 10 years old and now has a new lease on life.

DIY Spooky Hand Frame with Light - Halloween Decor on the Cheap

Another last minute fun Halloween decoration you can make yourself on the cheap using the Dollar Tree.

I have seen all these supplies at my local store, so this would be perfect for the entry way, for your party or on the porch for the actual Halloween trick or treat fun.

Check out this video by Mommy T.

What you Will Need:

• 3.5 x 5 inch frames from the Dollar Tree
• 
  
• Creepy Cloth (which is basically black cheese cloth)
• 
  
• spider webs
• 
  
• skeleton hands
• 
  
• E6000 glue (this glues anything!)  she uses a glue gun, but I think you need stronger glue for the skeleton hands.
• 
  
• Black tea lights (battery operated also at the Dollar Tree)

Method:

Take apart the frame and then cover the backing board with the creepy cloth.

Add some spider webbing

Cut the skeleton hand close to the base of the hand (you will need strong cutters for this part)

Put the frame back together

Glue the hand to the frame bunching the creepy cloth around the wrist to look like the hand simply punched through!

Place a tea light candle in the hand.

That's it!

Other Ideas to Add to This ...

You could use a bigger frame and have multiple skeleton hands sticking out with lights.  Or you could group many small frames together.

You could also wrap the frames in orange Halloween sparkle lights (also at the Dollar store) to add some more pizzaz to them.

There are so many ways you can change this up for your own Halloween Decor!  These would look awesome in a hallway for a party or on the porch for lighting!

Have fun and get creative this Halloween on the cheap.  It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to make your place inviting for that creepy night..

Or Skip the Frame and Use a Canvas

To keep this project cheap, purchase a random canvas print at the dollar store, and paint it completely black.

Glue the skeleton hands to the canvas.  Add some spider webs and the spiders that come with the web kit.

Hang the canvas on the wall or outside.

DIY Pumpkin Tower - Halloween Decorations on the Cheap

Still on my Halloween theme, I came across this cute pumpkin tower, that you can make from those plastic pumpkins in all the stores right now for cheap!

With a little bit of DIY, this could make quite a decoration especially in the window or on a covered porch outside the door.  This could be your Halloween night light!  Check out the video:

I found this video by "Love that Bug" of just how to make a quick Halloween door decoration and light.

What you will need:

• 3 (or more) plastic pumpkins
• 1 witch hat or something of your choice
• 1 drill or a way to cut holes in the bottom of the pumpkins
• 1 plant pot for holding the tower
• 
  
• Some rocks or weights to keep it upright and safe.

Method:

Cut the handles off the plastic pumpkins, and then create a hole in the bottom large enough to pass the twinkle lights through.

Cut a hole in the bottom of the plant pot and a notch out of the side so the light wire can pass through.

Turn the planter upside down and start feeding the lights through.

Add a pumpkin and leave some lights in each pumpkin (Note plug the twinkle lights in so you can see just how much light each one is getting)

Add some weight to each pumpkin (a small bring, or rocks)

Add the witches hat to the top.

NOTE:

I think it would look best with a planter that is black, so you could spray paint any plastic planter you have around.

That's it!!

I think this would look awesome on a covered porch (or use outdoor rated twinkle lights) in the main hall or on a table in the living room window to keep it out of the weather but to add some ambiance to your home!

DIY Ghost Light - Halloween Decorations on the Cheap - Super Cute!

Still on my Halloween theme, I was searching for cute crafts to make on the cheap, and came across these cute little ghosts that light up!   A fun DIY

I think they would make awesome windowsill decor, if you make a bunch of them and light them all, or as table decor for that Halloween themed party or dinner.  Check it out:

I found this video by Innova Crafts, and for very little money, actually you might already have all the supplies in your home..  You can make these cute little ghosts!

What you will Need:

• Toilet roll (start saving them up now, or use paper towel rolls cut down)
• baby wet wipe
• balloon
• white glue
• liquid soap
• plate to let it dry on
• scissors
• black cardboard (for eye cutouts)  or take heavy card and use a sharpie to make them black.
• flameless candles (you can get from the dollar store or in bulk online with AMAZON

Method:

Follow the video, but basically you use the liquid soap to stop everything from sticking to the plate and to the balloon.

Make sure the baby wipe is dried out.  You could use any wet wipe as long as it is dry.

Don't forget to cut the toilet roll down slightly to create the floating effect.

Make sure your project is totally dry before trying to remove the toilet roll and the balloon.

Place the flameless candle under your project and switch it on. 

YOU ARE DONE!

Now make a bunch of these!  Great family project.

These are super cute little ghosts!  Start saving those toilet rolls and paper towel rolls for this project.  Halloween is not that far off, and these are fun ways to celebrate! 

I think these will look super cute along windowsills for Halloween night!

DIY Halloween Lanterns Using Mason Jars!

I was looking for some cheaper ways to decorate my porch and inside my living room window for upcoming Halloween, when I came across this super cool craft using mason jars.

With a bit of DIY you could make a collection of these on the cheap!  Would be awesome at that Halloween Party too!

I found this video by Charmaine Dulak and she shows you just how it is done.  So check it out!

What You Will Need:

Old mason jars (you can also get online or at the Dollar Store)

Orange tissue paper (also dollar store)

Mod Podge  (or mix white glue 1/2 and 1/2 with water if you don't have this)

Battery Candles  or also known as flameless candles.  (much safer!!) also at the dollar store, or you can get larger amounts online with AMAZON

Assorted brushes for gluing and a covered table for creating the fun!

 Black paint or a sharpie

How to Make:

If using old mason jars, give them a good clean and dry completely.  You want the glue to stick!

As you can see in the video, she has the orange tissue paper cut into squares.  You could simply tear them into smaller sizes to save time as it all gets glued to the glass.

Working in sections stops the glue from drying too soon!

Look online for some face ideas to draw on with the black paint or markers, especially if you want them more intricate, but I love the simplicity of these.

Place the battery flameless candle inside and group them together outside, or in your window for a super cool looking display.

Get the Family Involved!!

I thought this was a super cool family friendly craft (although you are using glass jars, so it should be age appropriate)

I also found some mason jars in the basement.  Check with friends and neighbors.  A super cool way to recycle for your Halloween decorations.

Perfect for the Halloween Party

Turn out the lights and lets these DIY lanterns shine!  Totally get into the mood and create the ambiance, just add some spooky music!

How to Make a Soup Can Secret Safe On the Cheap

It has been said that if you want to hide valuables, that you should hide them in plain sight!

What that means... hide them among everyday items.  A thief only has a limited time to go searching for valuables and will look in the obvious places such as bedrooms, drawers and under the bed etc..

So you can outwit them by hiding your valuables in plain sight with this soup can safe idea.

Check out the video:

What you will Need:

1.  A soup can  (get one that looks like other soup cans in your kitchen so it doesn't stand out on its own!)

2.  A can opener that cuts from the side, this prevents the sharp edges.

3.  Mason or glass jar with a lid that will fit inside the can.

4.  Foam it for the bottom, but you could also place a piece of foam or fabric in bottom.

5.  Sandpaper and Glue Gun

Method:

Follow the video for the method.

Hiding Things in Plain Sight!

Just make sure you remember which one it is!  Using everyday products to hide your valuables is the perfect way to foil a robbery.

If you are not big on DIY but love the idea of these secret safes as a way to stash away small valuables, then check them out on AMAZON.

I absolutely love the idea of this deodorant safe!

I mean.. who would take the time to go through your bathroom products??  Also known as a "diversion safe"

Everyday products are simply turned into small spaces for safe keeping everything from some emergency cash to computer USB sticks to jewelry and even extra keys.

Some of these would be small enough to use in hotel rooms as well if you don't feel that your jewelry or extra cash is safe while you are out and about, instead of taping extra cash to bottom of drawers as some tourists do!

Check out some of these other ideas!  You can purchase these online or try and make yourself.





Hopefully the above items give you some super awesome ideas for a hidden or diversion safe. I especially love the hair brush idea. 

This would be perfect for expensive jewelry, or rolled up cash. Take your security to the next level and get that extra cash, jewelry, coins, papers or valuables out of the typical spots where they can be spotted and place them in plain sight!