A sealed  envelope -  Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide  a
knife under the  flap. The envelope can then be resealed.(hmmmmmm...)
==  ==========================================
Use   Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them   neat
and you can write on the roll what appliance it  belongs  to.
============================================
For  icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put   Dawn
dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the  steps. They  won't
refreeze. (wish I had known this for the last 40   years!)
=============  =========================================
To   remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer   for
a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and  turn it  upside down. The
wax will fall  out.
============================================
Crayon   marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped   in
baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow  grease th at  is!).
============================================
Permanent  marker on  appliances/counter tops (like store receipt   BLUE!)
rubbing alcohol on paper  towel.
================================  ============
Whenever  I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I  immediately take a pair of
scissors and cut each pad into halves.   After years of having to throw away
rusted and unused and smelly  pads, I finally  decided that this would be much
more economical.  And now a box  of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact,
I have  noticed that the scissors get sharpened this   way!
============================================
Blood stains  on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little  hydrogen
peroxide on  a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood.  Works
every  time! (Now, where to put the  body?)
============================================
Use   vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal   for
inside windows. This way you can tell  which side has the  streaks..
Straight vinegar  will get outside windows really clean.  Don't wash  windows
on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and  will  probably  streak.
============================================
When  the  bulb is off, spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in   any
room to create a lovely light scent in  e ach room when the  light is   turned
on.
============================================
Place   fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes   will
Smell freshly washed for weeks to co me.  You can also do  this with towels
and   linen.
============================================
Candles   will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least   3
hours prior to  burning.
============================================
To  clean  artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add   the
flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt  will absorb all the  dust and dirt
and leave your  artificial flowers looking like new!  Works like a   charm!
============================================
To   easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop   or
two of dish soap and enough water to  cover bottom of pan, and  bring to  a
boil on stove   top.
===========================  =================
Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking  spray before pouring  in
tomato based sauces and there won't be  any   stains.
============================================
Wrap celery  in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and  it
will  keep for   weeks.
============================================
When   boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out   the
corn's natural   sweetness.
============================================
Cure  for  headaches: Take a lime, cut it in! half and rub it on   your
forehead. The throbbing will go   away.
============================================
Don't   throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for   future
use in casseroles and sauces. (Left over wine?  What's  that?!)
============================================
To  get  rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the   area
and you will experience instant   relief.
================================  ============
Ants,  ants, ants everywhere .... Well, they are said  to never cross  a
chalk line. So get your chalk out and  draw  a line on the floor or  wherever
ants tend to march. See for   yourself.
============================================
Use   air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better   still,
leaves a lovely smell to the  shine.
===========  =================================
When you  get a  splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting  to
tweezers  or a needle. Simply put the  scotch tape over the splinter,   then
pull it off. Scotch tape removes most  splinters painlessly  and  easily.
============================================
Now  look  what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in   two
Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush  and flush.  The citric acid
and effervescent action clean  vitreous  China.
============================================
Clean  a  vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase   or
cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer   tablets.
============================================
Polish   jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water   and
immerse the jewelry for two   minutes.
============================================
Clean  a  thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four   Alka
Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an  hour (or longer, if  necessary).
============================================
Unclog  a  drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka   Seltzer
tablets down the drain followed by a  cup of white  vinegar. Wait a  few
minutes, then run the hot   water.
=========  ===================================
Do your   friends a favor. Pass this timely (and some   not-so-timely)
information on to a friend! I just   did.
 
Makes you wonder about  ingesting Alka Seltzer,  doesn't  it?

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy  for a  strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is  the number  one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the  only way a banana can help us keep fit. It  can also help overcome or prevent a substantial  number of  illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.  

Depression: According  to a recent survey undertaken by  MIND amongst  people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a  banana. This  is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein  that the  body converts into serotonin, known to make you  relax, improve  your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the  pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates  blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in  iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin  in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood  Pressure: This  unique tropical fruit is  extremely high in  potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood  pressure. So  much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just  allowed the  banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability  to reduce  the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain  Power: 200  students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England)  were helped through their exams this year by eating  bananas at  breakfast, break, and lunch in a  bid to boost their brain power. Research  has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can  assist learning  by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in  fiber, including bananas in the diet can help  restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the  problem   without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the  quickest  ways of  curing a hangover is to  make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana  calms the  stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up  depleted blood  sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.  

Heartburn: Bananas  have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if  you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.  

Morning  Sickness: Snacking on  bananas between meals helps  to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.  

Mosquito  bites: Before  reaching for the insect bite cream, try  rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana  skin. Many  people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.  

Nerves: Bananas are  high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the  Institute  of Psychology  in Austria  found pressure at work leads to  gorging on comfort food like chocolate and  chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese  were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report  concluded that,  to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control  our blood  sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods  every two  hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana  is used as the dietary food against intestinal  disorders   because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw  fruit that  can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler  cases. It  also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining  of the stomach.

Temperature  control: Many other  cultures see bananas as a  "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical  and emotional  temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand  , for  example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a  cool temperature.

Seasonal  Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can  help SAD  sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.  

Smoking  &Tobacco Use: Bananas can  also help people trying  to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well  as the  potassium and magnesium found in  them, help the body recover from  the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium  is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat ,  sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water  balance. When  we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing  our   potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a  high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According  to research in The New England Journal of  Medicine, eating  bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death  by strokes  by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen  on natural alternatives swear that if you want  to  kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the  wart,  with  the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or  surgical tape!

So,  a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When  you compare  it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice  the   carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and  iron, and  twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in  potassium and  is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to  change that  well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"