DIY Life

My Rubbermaid containers have lived through one too many pasta casseroles and are starting to smell like it, too. Naturally, I researched a few options on how to take the scent out of plastic and stumbled upon a great solution that I can't wait to try on my next set of Rubbermaids.

Turns out that if you sprinkle a bit of salt in an empty airtight Rubbermaid container before you store it, you'll keep the smell at bay. Go on --- give it a shot and report back. ;)

And yes, I realize we're talking salt yet again here at DIY Life, but honestly --- can you ever get enough of the kitchen hacks? I certainly cannot, and just to show you how necessary a bit of sodium really is, here's another handy (and salty!) post to whet your whistle:
-Make Your Own Toothpaste (YES! With salt!)

Convinced?

By now you should realize how much I love a good kitchen hack, especially when it includes items and ingredients I already have around the house. One of my favorites? Forget harsh detergents and solutions when scrubbing grease spots off your cast-iron cookware. Instead, grab a pinch of salt and a paper towel to create a salty solution that works wonders!

Proof that sometimes the most natural ingredients are the best DIY lifesavers.

Want to know some other ways a pinch of salt can make your life easier? Read on, right here at DIY Life:
Find out the various uses of your average table salt: The Many Uses of Table Salt
Spice up your beauty routine with salt: Make Your Own Salt Scrub
Salt for your green thumb: Epsom Salt in Your Garden
And, lastly, salt in the kitchen (of course!): Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Your Microwave

I looove salt, but my husband likes to keep it at a minimum. Of course, any time I do the cooking (which I'll admit is totally rare), there's always too much salt added for the husband. Instead of adding a little bit of everything to even things out, I learned a bit of a trick to tame the salt: toss in a peeled potato while the dish is still cooking.

Surprisingly, it works like a charm. Want to know a few more additional tips and tricks you can use the trusty potato for? Some of these fun kitchen hacks will surprise you!:
-Change a Broken Light Bulb with a Potato
-Use a Potato Chip to Light a Fire While Camping

And, of course, just for fun --- you can make lasagna in your dishwasher. How's that for a kitchen hack? Now if only my oven could do the dishes for me...

Mmm-mmm. Fresh basil. It's so very fragrant -- the indispensable ingredient in a host of mid-summer recipes.

My basil is lush, green and ready for picking. Okay, I don't have a whole lot of it out in my garden; however, I'm planning on growing a lot more next summer. In preparation for that lofty enterprise, I thought it'd be cool to find out how the expert basil-growers harvest their beloved herb. Here are some tips I picked up:

1. Know your basil. There are lots of varieties out there, and it's always good to know which one you have, as the flavors vary quite a bit between them. Chances are good that, like me, you've got the most common variety: Genovese sweet basil.

There was a time when I used the microwave for everything. Now I use it as little as possible, but I could never give up microwave popcorn, or my nightly heating pad, so our microwave remains a household staple.

Of all the things you can do in microwaves, I never would have guessed that you could sun-dry tomatoes (ok, not really "sun," but definitely "dry"). It will allow you to use your garden tomatoes in recipes all year round.

Drying them in your microwave is the fastest and easiest method. All you need is the tomatoes, salt, and if you choose, seasoning salt and garlic. Prepare, microwave, let them sit according to the instructions, seal them in a baggie, toss them in the fridge, and keep them as long as you'd like.

I'm sort of embarrassed to admit it, but mildew got its spotty little grip on my bedroom curtains this winter. The fabric was sort of bunched up against the window pane a lot. Little did I realize it, but every sunny morning was like a mildew fiesta back there.

When sunlight and warmth hit the cold glass, condensation formed on the inside of the pane. The curtains soaked up the moisture and the warmth. Lo and behold, a big ugly patch of mildew was the result. Yikes!

What makes mildew so revolting is its sheer persistence. Once it gets its hooks into any household surface--whether it be a painted ceiling, an item of clothing, or a home fabric such as curtains--removal is genuinely tough.

We all have our own DIY thresholds. Some of you are fabulous mechanics, but leave the gardening to somebody else. Others might love electronics, but wouldn't dare take on the simplest sewing project. I'll make my own cleaners and spa products, but I head straight for the store when our tube of toothpaste is low.

I don't think I could ever really wrap my head around making my own toothpaste, but if you're ready to take that extra step into greener DIY living, then be my guest. You probably already have these ingredients in the house, or can get them easily enough. Here's what you'll need:

1. Baking Soda
2. Table Salt
3. Water
4. Peppermint oil for taste
5. Gylcerine

Check out the full post for the recipe and mixing instructions. Spread some of this green goodness on your homemade electric toothbrush and polish those pearly whites.

Depending on where you live, winter driving can be anything from an adventure to just plain stupid. If you are going to be out on the roads there are some car preparation and driving tips that are crucial. How to Winterize your Car.....and your Brain for Winter Driving outlines important tips, from preparing your car for the season to safe driving behavior and habits in specific conditions. Along with their tips, they have a supplies checklist for a vehicle emergency pack.

Vehicle emergency pack

1. Flashlight
2. Flares
3. First-aid kit
4. Blanket
5. Warm winter clothes
6. Bag of sand or salt (to use for traction if your tires get stuck)
7. Snow-brush, ice scraper and snow shovel
8. Wiper fluid
9. Paper towels
10. Food and water

You might already have some of these things in the trunk, but have a look through and make sure everything still works. Add the items you're missing and throw them together in a backpack. Hopefully you only ever need to go in there for some sand or an ice scraper, but if you do ever find yourself needing flares or warm blankets, it could save your life.

It's been a miserable year for allergy sufferers: everyone I know who has problems with ragweed, including me, felt sickly for months.

Now that it's almost December, it's just about time for everyone to come down with colds and flus. Many happen at this time of year, due to germs passed around during social gatherings and holiday shopping, nasal passage dryness caused by artificial indoor heating, and the indoor allergies that proliferate in colder areas during the winter.

Constant congestion can lead to sinus infections, which require a visit to the doctor, and antibiotics, to clear up (even if the initial illness was viral). But there's some simple maintenance you can do that will nip a potential sinus infection in the bud: rinsing out your sinuses, also known as nasal or sinus irrigation or lavage.

This may seem gross, but most people who try it find it extremely helpful. It clears out stagnant mucous and helps to moisturize your nasal passages. It's my number-one "Don't get sick!" tip. Find supplies, recipes, and instructions after the break.

Play dough is one of those things that parents and kids can sit down together and waste a whole chunk of time just playing around. You are the architect of whatever creation you've got planned for that little chunk of dough. Store bough play dough dries out pretty fast and has that disgusting smell. You know the smell, some of you probably like it because you immediately associate it with the fun of play dough. Still, the homemade stuff lasts way longer and gives you a lot more flexibility with color and fragrance.

Instructables posted this homemade play dough recipe. It's the same one that I've used many times and it works well. I've left out the cream of tar tar a few times and it does decrease the elasticity, so I'd recommend having some on hand.

The Problem: You're hungry. (Again.) And, of course, you can't find your salt and pepper shakers.

The Solution: Make your own. Honestly, I'm not so sure about this one ... but I found it at Ready Made. For those of you ambitious enough to try it, please let me know how it goes.

I am constantly cleaning my house with items I have in my home. Most of the items in my pantry can be used for cleaning. One of those items is table salt. Table salt doesn't give me migraines like the commercial products you buy on the market today and it is just as effective as those smelly products.

• Sometimes when I get over friendly with the soap I put in my wash machine and it starts to overflow with suds, I just open her up and sprinkle salt on top of the suds and the suds disappear.

Have you ever lived in a house or apartment that has a bathroom with no privacy, or had a window that looked out on an ugly view? Blinds and curtains can certainly be helpful in covering up your windows, but you can also create your own window frost. Here is a simple recipe to give you privacy and give you a better view.

You will need:

4 heaping tablespoons Epsom salts
1 cup beer
1 paintbrush, 2 inches wide
Facial tissues or a terry cloth

Make sure your windows are clean by washing with equal parts vinegar and water. Dissolve the Epsom salts in the beer and let the foaming mixture sit for about 30 minutes. Apply with the paintbrush in a circular motion to the inner windowpane. The mixture will dry to form beautiful crystals that will last for a long time.

For an even prettier design, try applying the salt and beer mixture with a wet facial tissue or a terry cloth. Apply as if you were washing the window. While the mixture is still wet, go back and dab it with the wet tissue. This effect will give you a nicer crystallization pattern. To remove the crystals, simply wash the window with water and a terry cloth.

Now you are ready for taking your bath in private. You won't have to worry about nosy neighbors and what's even better, you don't have to look out at that ugly brick wall across the way.

Simply put, weeds are the bane of my existence. They surround our building -- peeking up from cracks in the concrete, mocking me as they brazenly poke their haughty heads through the weed-proof layer beneath the mulch. I hate weeds!

Luckily for me, living in a highly-urbanized downtown area doesn't leave much space for weeds to grow, which keeps my weed stressing at a tolerable level. I can't imagine how crazy I'd be if I had a real yard, with real grass, and lots and lots of real weeds. Suffice it to say, weeds and I don't get along, and I'm always on the look out for new, ingenious ways to kill them.

The most obvious way to kill weeds is to buy some name-brand chemicals from your local hardware store, and spray those suckers till they shrivel up and die. Over the years, however, there have been allegations made that certain weed killers are harmful to the environment (beyond the weeds) and wildlife. So what's the best way to get rid of weeds using safer, less expensive ingredients? The three most common DIY weed killers are:

The summer months can be pretty hard on the skin. With all the outdoor activities and sun exposure, my skin looks and feels dry and dull by the middle of July. From time to time I will have a gift certificate to a spa for a slat rub and I come out feeling like a new woman. But as a single mother of three kids, I never buy a certificate for myself so I have resorted to creating my own salt scrubs from a recipe my friend gave me.

Salt scrub recipes come in many forms and many sizes. Some recipes require a variety of essential oils and scents while others are all about simplicity. I like a sweet and simple recipe since my life is fairly hectic and my spare time is minimal. I also make my scrubs up as I go so that I don't have to worry about shelf life The basic gist of the recipe I use is to include a couple different kids of salts to scrub the grub, some oils to soothe the skin and some scent to calm the nerves. My favorite concoction is as follows:

• 2 T. Epsom salt
• 2 T. table salt
• 2 T. sweet almond oil
• 2 T. organic, extra virgin olive oil
• lavender oil to suit my nose

Simply mix the above together, let sit for a few minutes and then rub on to your rough, dry skin and let sit for however long feels good. Follow with a warm, soothing bath for some peace of mind, body and soul.