GETTING RID OF BED BUGS
It's really pretty easy and cheap. Ever wondered how come bed bugs are suddenly every where? They were only in certain colder places before but now... It is because of the AC. Bed bugs hate heat even more than we do and have hitched a ride with us to our nice comfy environments.
If it is really hot out, like 100+ degrees you can just turn off the AC in the affected rooms, take out the plants, kids and pets, close the doors and open the windows. Take a long hot shower, toss your clothes into the dryer or the affected room. Let that room get crazy warm. the warmer the better. At 100 degrees you had best leave it hot a couple of days to be sure. Bed bugs can't take the heat. Chemicals don't bother them but the heat does them in. Eggs too.
If if its not hot out just stick two or three space heaters in the room. Remove the house plants, pets and kids. Close all the doors and windows. Follow space heater directions and then turn them on high for at least 8 hours. (Ie, dont set the room on fire but make sure it gets to at least 110 and stays there for 6 hours)
GETTING RID OF PISS ANTS
Getting rid of fire ants is pretty easy using readily available ant bait form the hardware store. Getting rid of those tiny stinky black ants is tough. But I found out how.
Take a 1/2 gallon of vinegar and slowly poor it down their hole. Come back in two days and do it again.
The vinegar fumes them out, disrupts their communication and kills those who come in contact with it.
MAKING COLD BREW IN THE COFFEE MAKER
I can make cold-brew coffee easily in my coffee maker overnight and have fresh cold-brew to work off of in the morning. Why is this important you ask? Well for one really spectacular reason, it is late July and its bloody hot all damned day!
Cold brew is that thick stuff you have to dilute 50-50 you to make espresso strength and if you are like me, heart attack in a cup is the way to go. Hum, maybe I should rephrase that... Cold brew just means it is soaked at room temperature instead of heated. It is one of the secrets of coffee shops and finer restaurants.
before bed I place the filter and coffee grounds in the coffee maker as usual BUT
fill the compartment the coffee is in with water. Just let the water mix with the coffee grounds, not putting any in the usual water tank.
close the lid but DON'T PUT THE CARAFE IN ITS PLACE!
in the morning insert the carafe and the cold brew will come down.
I will have soaked the coffee grounds for the requisite 8 hours SO placing the carafe in the coffee maker will release the cold brew into the carafe for me to make whatever cold, or hot, concoction I like. While the amount of clod brew you get is only a cup or two, it is still enough to make a full pot of coffee and maybe just a bit more. No heat, no burnt coffee. Stick the carafe in the fridge with unused portions. It stores for days just fine..
mix 50-50 with water for espresso strength.
1 -4 with water for coffee strength.
Maybe tomorrow I will freeze cold-brew in ice cube trays to make iced coffee that gets stronger as the ice melts!
Try adding add a bit of cinnamon, vanilla or chocolate to the coffee.
CLEANING OIL STAINED CONCRETE WITH CLAY KITTY LITTER
Got an oils spot on the driveway or garage floor? Buy a sack of cheap clay based kitty litter. Dump a enough to cover the spot with at least 1/4 " of litter. Grind it in with your shoes. (probably older shoes would be best) Then sweep it up and into the trash. Repeat if necessary.
More to come