The following housekeeping tips and other bits of country lore were submitted by readers.
Newspaper Cat Litter
Avoid paying 10¢ to 28¢
per pound for cat litter. Newspaper cat litter is safer, recyclable,
and free. Most cat litter is made from dried clay, which is rough on the
pads of cats’ paws, can cause pain and lead to infection. Clay litter
can also be tracked through the house, spreading germs and mess.
Newspaper, on the other hand, is soft and cannot get between paws; it is
also recyclable.
For your liner, take
two sections of newspaper that are of medium thickness. Place them into
the litter box with the two folded edges facing one another. Next grab
another section of the newspaper and, holding it by the folded edge,
tear off enough strips to fill the box. (Tearing off strips while
holding the folded edges seems to be the only way to get even strips
that tear off easily.) If you prefer to cover wastes more than your cat
has, add a few more strips to those already in the box. Dispose of the
box’s contents when full.
-Richard A. Bowen
Jacksonport, WI
Soybean Meal Soil Conditioner
If you have pets and are worried about spreading chemical fertilizers, try soy bean meal instead. While soybean meal is not a complete fertilizer, it is high in nitrogen and causes your grass to green up nicely. In fact, it is considered by many to be one of the finest soil conditioners, so you might try it in your garden also.
The only problem is dogs love to eat it. It is found in so many dog foods and does not seem to cause them harm.
While soybean meal does not seem to cause any burning of the grass, I would recommend several applications rather than one heavy one. Meal is available in most feed stores.
-Tom Fulcher
Glenelg, MD
Truck Cargo Net
When we needed to cover loads in our little VW pickup, my husband mounted small plastic hooks, open end down, along the outside of the truck bed to hook a tarp on. Eventually the tarp ripped to shreds. So I grabbed a piece of fish net, which stretched neatly and hooked over the sides. It worked so well we’ve never replaced the tarp. Nets that are used to cover fruit trees work just as well.
-Margaret P. Beals
Marshfield, MA
Hand Mower Blade Sharpening
Here are a couple of tips to make your hand-mowing experience easier. First, sharpen both edges of blade for forward and backward cutting. Using a file, cut seven or eight teeth on the end of the mower blade. It chews up leaves and grass and you don’t need an expensive mulcher. P.S. Always be sure to wear leather shoes!
– Stan Lubecki
Rome, NY
Walnut Tips
After harvesting my walnut trees for 12 years and suffering the dreaded “dirty hands” plague for 30 days afterwards, I found a cleaner that works immediately. Just wet a tissue with fingernail polish remover and wipe away the stain. It works like magic!
Also, hulling walnuts is a pain. Last year I left a bushel in a black plastic bag till the hulls were entirely black and mushy. Then I poured them on the ground and sprayed away the debris with the garden hose! I dried them for a day in the sun, and they were great all winter–no moldy or musty taste at all.
-SharonShreve
Tea Grime Prevention
Compared to urban water,
water from country wells is often hard. While more healthful than soft
water because of its mineral content, hard water can be destructive to
cooking utensils. But scientists have found one solution, especially for
tea kettles. Tea grime left in tea kettles and cups can be eliminated
by adding lemon juice when brewing or steeping tea.
Studies
conducted by scientists at the Imperial College of Science, Technology,
and Medicine in London found that the tea grime only occurs when tea is
brewed in hard water. The grime, when viewed under a microscope, is
actually caused by calcium and other minerals present in hard water.
Grime did not form when soft or distilled water was used. The acid in
lemon juice reacts chemically with the minerals, thus preventing the
scum from forming.
– Marilyn Porokney
Ord, NE
