Have I told you lately how much I love my readers? Especially those who send me messages, questions, and tips. EC is crazy for great reader tips. Some I receive are startling and send me running to verify; others bring on gales of laughter. But mostly, they leave me wondering, “Wow, really? Why didn’t I think of that?!” Now, before we get going, please understand that while I find each of these to be great ideas, remember the words of Ronald Reagan, who famously said, “Trust, but verify!”
SILVER CLEANER
To clean your silver without harsh commercial chemical products, use the miracle powder in your pantry: baking soda. I used it on my silver candleholders when I was in a pinch, and it worked wonders. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and massage it in gently with an old toothbrush. Rinse under warm water, or if the piece is too big, wipe it off with a wet cloth and buff it to a shine with a clean cotton towel. I will never go back to $10 cleaners now that I’ve found the 50-cent solution. — Angela H., California
BRITTANICA ONLINE
I recall as a teen sitting for hours poring through my grandparents’ big heavy encyclopedias. While those books have mostly disappeared, the joy of discovery is still available for all without the financial investment up front and then for the annual updated volumes. Log on to Britannica.com to find a startling wealth of current information together with gorgeous photos and loads of fun. That site is such a great resource for kids’ school research projects, and reports too. While the site is generally free, there is a premium upgrade available, which I find to be a fabulous value for what it offers. — Ann T., Missouri
CHEAP “WHITE DRY-ERASE BOARD”
Instead of paying $30 for a small white dry-erase marker board, we purchased a 4 x 8-foot sheet of white tub paneling from Home Depot. It’s quite lightweight and flexible, works just the same as a whiteboard, and it’s HUGE! The best part: It cost only $25. We did…
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