Squeaky Squeak! Is there a mouse in the dryer?

I noticed a high-pitched squeaking noise coming from our 8 year old GE Electric dryer. Thankfully, there was no mouse! I did some searching online and learned what to inspect to determine the cause of the squeaking. I took the dryer apart and inspected the front and rear bearings; both are intact. I cleaned the front bearing and vent and I'm hoping that's all it needed.

Here is the link to a wealth of DIY washer and dryer repairs:
http://www.do-it-yourself-washing-machine-and-dryer-repair-help.com/index.html 

I was surprised at how easy it was to disassemble the dryer and inspect the parts in question. A service call for something like this could easily have cost $50-$100. DIY price: $0! Never fear home repairs!

Vacuum Cleaner Tune-up

A vacuum cleaner is a key piece in your cleaning arsenal and a good investment in maintaining a clean and healthy home. Here are a few simple things you can do anually to extend the life of your vacuum.

NOTE: Always unplug your vacuum before working on it and check your manufacturer’s guide! (See links below)

1. Empty dirt cup/bag/canister. Dirt cups can usually be washed with a mild detergent.

2. Remove filters and clean or replace. Clogged filters can drastically reduce suction power. HEPA filters cannot be cleaned and must be replaced.

3. Remove brush bar(s) and clean. A brush bar that is matted with strings, pet hair, and other debris is very ineffective. The easiest method to clean the brush bar is to snip along the matted material with a pair of sharp scissors and remove it.

4. Inspect the brush belt to ensure there are no tears or signs of wear. A brush belt that snaps mid-vacuuming can do some serious damage- to you and the vacuum! Most manufacturers recommend you replace the belt annually to ensure optimal performance.

5. Wipe down exterior with a damp cloth, clean attachments with mild soap and water.

Bissell: http://www.bissell.com/how-to-videos/  (The videos on this site are very helpful for any brand.)

Dirt Devil: http://www.dirtdevil.com/customerservice/

Dyson: http://www.dyson.com/support/default.asp

Eureka: http://www.eureka.com/Customer-Service/FAQs/Maintenance-Tips

Hoover: http://hoover.com/support/manuals/

Kenmore: http://www.kenmore.com/shc/s/nb_10154_12604_NB_CCownersmanuals?adCell=WF

LG: http://www.lg.com/us/support/product/support-product.jsp

Oreck: http://www.oreck.com/Owners-Guides

Deals of the week 7/11/11

Here are the best deals I found at Kroger this week. The 10-item Mega Event provided some great savings. Here's the scoop- when you buy (WYB) 10 participating items you save $5 instantly.

OreIda sweet potato fries $1.49
Pop secret popcorn $.49
Kraft 16 oz. dressing $.99
Colgate tootpaste FREE
Gorton's fishsticks $1.49
Driscoll's raspberries FREE
Dannon yogurt $.88

Spent $43, Saved $76 (63% savings)

Not pictured: Manager's Special cupcakes for $2.29

The fishsticks and fries will make a great meal ($3). I try to stick to $10 or less for dinner so this leaves plenty of room to add some fresh veggies or maybe a splurge dessert.

The 3 packages of raspberries were FREE after coupons- who ever said you can't buy healthy food with coupons??

Checkout http://www.happyhomemakercindy.com/ for all the Kroger deals and links to coupons. Happy saving!!!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

This was my first attempt at making laundry detergent. It was surprisingly easy!

Ingredients:
4 c hot water
1 bar Fels-Naptha soap
1 c Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 c Borax

You'll also need:
Grater
5 gallon bucket with a lid (can be purchased at any home improvement store. I used an empty kitty litter pail)
Long-handled stirring utensil- not wooden (I used grill tongs)
Empty plastic laundry detergent container

Yield: 10 gallons laundry detergent

1. Grate bar soap. This took less than 5 minutes.
    Helpful hint: the smaller you grate the soap, the faster it melts.

2. Add soap to hot water, stir constantly over medium-low heat until the soap is completely dissolved, remove from heat. This took about 15 minutes. Next time I will grate the soap into smaller pieces.

3. Fill 5-gallon bucket with hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot tap water and stir.



4. Cover and let sit overnight.

5. The detergent will become gel over night. Stir vigorously until gel is broken up enough to pour the liquid. Fill laundry soap container half full with detergent. Fill the rest of the way with tap water. Shake before each use. Store bucket of remaining detergent in a cool place.

Use 5/8 c of detergent per load for a top-load washer. (makes approx. 180 loads)
Use 1/4 c of detergent per load for a front-load washer. (makes approx. 640 loads)


In my family of 5, we have a lot of laundry! This batch of detergent cost less than $3.00 to make and will last my family about 3 months. That's only $1.00 per month for laundry detergent! Now that's stretching a buck!!

Home repairs

Over the past month, I've noticed a pool of water appear sporadically in front of our refrigerator. I thought it was the ice maker leaking, but that wasn't it. A quick internet search revealed the real problem- a blocked freezer drain. A large sheet of ice was preventing the water from flowing to the drip pan. I used a hair dryer to melt off the ice, and presto! No more pool of water in front of the fridge!

The layer of ice is somewhat visible covering the drain hole on the left.

Never fear home repairs. I get great satisfaction from repairing something around the house. My philosophy: Why pay someone to do something I can do myself? Thanks to the shared knowledge of others, I was able to avoid a costly service call.

Living FabuLESSly

Frugal living goes way beyond couponing. My mother taught me the value of thrift stores at a young age. Thrift stores have only gotten better since then! I often find new with tags (NWT) merchandise for a fraction of the original price.

These Mossimo sweaters were originally $20 at Target. They were marked down to $5 and $10 each. I only paid $2.99 each.

This beautiful dress was originally $108.00 marked down to $75. I only paid $3.99. I can't wait to wear it for Christmas this year!

The key to thrift store shopping is persistence. The merchandise changes daily. If you're looking for something specific you might have to stop by the store several times. Patience and persistence provide fabuLESS results!

Grocery Saving Day

Caia and Allie had their semi-annual dental check ups this morning. After dropping them off at school, Lizzie and I ventured to a few stores.

At Kroger we got all of this....

..... for $5.

Lizzie helped count the 20 boxes of pasta and 8 cans of tomatoes (all were free after coupons and store sales).

At Meijer we found Chiquita Minis on sale, which were just the right size for little Lizzie

She enjoyed one of her "naners" while waiting for Caia and Allie's bus.  

What a beautiful day! We opened up the windows in the house and enjoyed some fresh air.

Crazy Coupon Lady

Recently I've taken on a new hobby of couponing- and it's addictive!
Last month I had my first balance due $0 shopping trip, and I'll have another this week! It takes a lot of time, but it's fun and totally worth it.
I'm couponing today- checking store ads, surfing the couponing sites I follow, and printing coupons.
My favorite couponing site: http://www.happyhomemakercindy.com/
Happy couponing!!!