Surviving Ice and Other Problems

(Page 2 of 2)

February/March 1993
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Recently I ran into a stubborn drainpipe connection under the kitchen sink. I sprayed it with bolt loosener and took a large pipe wrench to it, but it was in tight quarters and I couldn't exert much force on the wrench. There was enough room to slide my jack under the handle of the pipe wrench, and slowly crank it up. The connection broke loose with very little exertion on my part, and saved me the price of calling in a plumber.

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-Mrs. C. Pruitt
Elkland, Missouri

Clean It With Kitty Litter

Last year, I used my wood stove all winter long. When it came to cleaning it out after the last fire of the season, I poured in about an inch of kitty litter. This absorbs the musty odor throughout our humid summer, and is easy to clean out once winter rolls around.

-Janet Cunningham
 Southern Pines, N. Carolina

Just Add a Hint of Flour

Recently I broke a glass bottle filled with cooking oil on my kitchen floor. Of course, I was far more worried about the shards of glass then the big mess, but I came up with a simple idea solution. I sprinkled a little flour on the area, waited a few minutes, and then removed the oil and glass dough. It even cleaned the cracks between the tiles.

-David Blake
 Alexandria, Indiana

Two Egg-citing Gardening Ideas

To fertilize house plants, save four eggshells, crush them, and put them in a sealable jar with water. Let the shells sit for three days, and then water your house plants with them, so that just the top of the soil is wet. Water normally the next day. This mixture works well on outdoor plants also.

-Cynthia Haymon
Greenweal Springs, Louisiana

When I want to add eggshells to my compost, I rinse the empty shells and let them dry in a mesh onion bag. When the bag is full, I put it inside a paper bag and crush all the shells. (Small kids love this process!) The bits of shell can easily be mixed into your compost pile.

-Elimore Davis
St. Maries, Idaho

Editor's note: MOTHER'S Country Lore section is a great chance for you to share practical, down-home solutions to life's frustrating problems. Write us and send photos c% "Lore," Mother Earth News, P. O. Box 129, Arden, NC28704--and please include your phone number. To show our appreciation, we will send totebags to everyone whose suggestions we print.

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