What What

“Someone told me to try…”

Posted By: J.M.B | May 8, 2010 | 4 comments

Many of the pesky issues we deal with during our daily lives can actually be dealt with using common household products/foods. Here are a few solutions I’ve come to rely on over the years:

Problem: Yellow Teeth

Solution: Baking Soda, Strawberries and Milk.

For a powerful and effective at-home method of teeth whitening, take 3 or 4 strawberries (with stems cut off), and throw them in a blender with a few spoonfuls of baking soda and a little bit of milk. Blend it into a kind of “soupy” paste, and brush your teeth with it for about 5 min twice a day. Believe me, it does taste as horrible as it sounds, but it works wonders for your smile!

Be careful, however; baking soda is abrasive, so brush gently, and don’t over-do it. And obviously, if anything hurts- STOP.

Problem: Greasy Hair

Solution: Baby Powder, or Witch Hazel

Though I don’t suggest using them together (’cause that sounds gross), using one or the other on greasy hair will temporarily bring it back to go-out-in-public status.

I’m personally a fan of using Baby Powder for my blonde hair because it mixes well with the color. I just put a bunch in my hands, slap ‘em together and comb it all through my hair with my fingers, making sure to blend it well. For brunettes, however, Witch Hazel is probably the better choice. It’s a natural dehydrator, and helps “de-grease” hair a little bit when applied lightly to it with a cotton ball.

(NOTE: Witch Hazel can also be used for a temporary relief from facial sweating. Use a cotton ball and wipe a thin layer of it over your lip, over your brow, along your hairline and temples.)

Problem: Severe Toothache

Solution: Sea Salt and Garlic

Believe it or not, garlic releases an anti-biotic compound called allicin when it’s crushed. I’ve tried using it myself when I was unable to get to the dentist, and I was shocked at how well it works.

First, pour some Sea Salt into a small glass of warm water and mix it up. Gargle and swish that around in your mouth for a few minutes to make sure you get whatever food and stuff is caught in and around the affected tooth, while at the same time benefiting from the healing effects of Sea Salt. After you’ve done that, take one clove of garlic and peel it completely. (I, myself, did not crush the clove, and it still worked, so you probably don’t have to do that, although crushing may work better.) Stick the clove between your gum and the bad tooth, and hold it there almost like chewing tobacco. After a while, you’ll get used to the taste. Keep it in your mouth for as long as you can, or until you feel the pain subside. Tried and true method, people!

Problem: Wet Cell Phone

Solution: Dry Rice

Yes, I said a wet cell phone. Your phone might as well be a part of your body, right? Almost everyone has had the traumatic experience of getting their cell phone wet. Whether it be with pool water, rain water, or toilet water, any kinda of liquid is simply lethal to our little sidekicks. So, of course, it’s natural to panic when you realize your cell is soaked, but the key is- DON’T FREAK OUT, and whatever you do, DO NOT try to turn the device on and off trying to see if it still works (you’ll absolutely fry it.) So, what you do is immediately remove the battery, and set it apart. Then, go get yourself a bowl of dry rice (seriously.) Submerge both the phone and battery separately in the rice bowl and LEAVE THEM ALONE for about 24 hours. It’s going to be tough, but you can do it. Why? It’s not rocket science, guys- rice absorbs water. Just try it for yourself next time you find yourself with a soggy cell- you’ll be amazed!

Problem: Earache

Solution: Olive Oil and Garlic

There’s our garlic, again! Back to save the day from the other worst-pain-ever, an earache. I know this sounds more like the beginnings of a delicious pasta dish, but hear me out… First, heat up a few spoonfuls of olive oil in the microwave, and test it to make sure it’s not too hot. Second, finely crush up a clove of garlic and mix it in with the oil. Then, with a Q-Tip, dab a little of that solution into your ear-….hole, and tilt your head to the side, letting it drip a little bit down toward the ear-drum. It’s going to feel a little weird, but just think about how worth while it is if it helps alleviate that horrible pain!

Problem: Pimples

Solution: Toothpaste

This is a home-remedy I caught wind of a long time ago, and I’ve been swearing by it since. Just like any ailment, you want to catch and treat the pimple as early as possible because the worse it gets, the longer it will take to go away. So the moment that you feel a new pimple, you need to act fast. As soon as you can do this comfortably at home or whatever, find yourself some toothpaste and dab a little bit directly on the pimple; it’ll dry that sucker right up. The mintier, the better (as mint is a natural anti-inflammatory.)

Remember- DO NOT mess with the pimple. Don’t pop it, don’t scratch it, DON’T TOUCH IT. Just leave the toothpaste on overnight, and wash it off the next morning with the rest of your face; and if the pimple’s still there, let it chill out for a little while and repeat.

Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you as much as they’ve helped me. Please leave a comment if you know something useful that you haven’t seen here! I’ll keep collecting ideas myself, and sharing them with you, too… Good luck!

4 Responses

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Kathryne Braggs November 16, 2010 at 4:15 pm

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