Testing homemade kitchen scrubbers

I saw on Pinterest that people were making kitchen scrubbers from netting/ tulle. I thought it would be a great idea and so I picked up some from the remnants bin at walmart of all places (hey it was cheap and for a test I thought .75 cents was better then 1.50

I rolled it up and cut into 2 inch wide strips (I found that was easier then trying measure and use the rotary cutter) I then knotted the strips together. I then sat down with the picture (I am not good at following instructions) and got to work. I used my largest crochet hook, and started by using single crochet but after that did not look that great I made a 2nd using double crochet. It came out better but then I got an idea and made one that fits over 2 fingers.

3rd, 1st, 2nd

I have used them for a few weeks now and they are not as good as the ones you can buy, but I think that a larger tulle would make a better scrubber. they are great for delicate items and the one that fits over my fingers is great for a gentle face scrub (I would not use it every day but once in a while as needed) The one that used the double crochet is better, as the photo shows it has less open space. They do curve a little but that is ok for using them.

I would not rely on these in the kitchen but I am not sorry I have them, and I think I will keep one in the kitchen from now on.

so many projects at once

I think I am nuts for the number of projects I have going at one time...
I have the 2 tests in progress (both of them do not take time on my part, I did what I needed to do to get it started, one is about time, one about usefulness)
Then I have 2 sewing projects in progress, one is the 2nd quilt (see quilting post) and the other is the un named mother's day gift. that one is much closer to done, only one more sewing day to finish it. I usually sew for 1-2 hours on a day then my body says time out no more bending over the machine..
I also have 2 crocheting projects in the works (one is with scraps so it is not a main project) But there are days I cannot crochet (thanks hands for hurting when I have other plans)
so I am not able to have just one project in the works, I need projects that I can do while sitting, standing, and even laying down if I am having a really bad day..

Oh and I am in the planning stages of several more projects... One will be done this week, results will be posted in a few weeks (testing time, cannot post about something until it has been put threw the paces)


On a "fun" note my washer decided to start making odd noises and walking across the floor like it has never done before :( we found a repairman that would talk to us over the phone and he is almost 100% on what is going (it is only a $50 part but it can take 2-4 hours to replace, and the chances of another piece needed replaced is high, that part is $200 he said that the parts often break at the same time..) so after adding up the cost to fix it seems better to replace it, it had a good life,10 years and 4 moves. the last move it did not like and it gave us trouble for a week after that, and the main knob is having issues also (on the inside, but it does not happen all the time) If my dad was here to fix it it would be better to keep it... as it is the labor that adds up fast. I had thought about selling it on the local classifieds (a TV station runs a great site here) for cheap (as is, needs work, king of a deal) but it looks like we might have found it a home where it is needed and an improvement over the current one. I am a firm believer in helping others when you can, in any way you can. While I could make $100 off it I would rather gift it when needed so that when I am in need of a gift the chances of me getting it are higher (not thinking this person would "repay" it, but Karma : do good and good will come to you)

Orange Vinegar test

I finally took the orange peels out the vinegar to see if the orange vinegar is a good cleaner like I have seen on Pinterest.
I took the orange vinegar and put it in a spray bottle and I added that much water also (1:1) as I knew that I did not need it full strength most of the time.
I had waited until the counter was in bad shape to test it (I did not take a picture as I did not want to show off just how bad it got) this is the counter that we use for setting food an often for chopping/prep, so many people can imagine just how yukky it was. But it made for a Great test! I simply cleared off the items off the counter and the using a spray bottle I laid down a thin coat of the Orange vinegar. I then grabbed my sponge (I knew a paper towel would not hold up this time) and started wiping/using the scrubber side as needed. I was pleasantly surprised that it did a great job! I even had to rinse out the sponge a few times and that did not seem to change how fast the gunk was coming off. My hubby did mention the smell (but I think that came from a different source, I was multi-tasking) and I did take a paper towel to the counter after, just to dry it off.
I think that I had better start another batch as I am using it up fast! in the past 24 hours I have cleaned the counters (I did the other side today) I even used it on my pizza pan (the style with the med size holes in the round cookie sheet) that I used for heating a greasy leftover, it was MUCH faster and did a better job than the soap and sponge would have. All I did was spray it on, let it sit for 10-20 seconds while I grabbed the dishes from the table, then used a kitchen brush to clean it off. It took less then a min.!
I really like that it cuts hard water built up, grease and is 100% safe for us and the pets!
The next batch is going to be lemon as I found a great sale on them this week and for non-greasy cleaning the smell will be better, more like a cleaning product that you might find in the store. I plan on using it in the kitchen and bathroom for the more routine mess cleaning, keeping the orange for the harder jobs (next time I find oranges on sale....)

I am also in progress of 2 more tests both seem to have good uses, one of them not what was the application for witch I tried it, but still a cool, cheap way to clean... more later on those. The un-named mother's day gift's are also coming along nicely, but that post is gonna have to wait until I deliver the gifts, as posting before would give it away.

So goes life

I have several projects in the works, but non are finished (in the testing stage right now are homemade kitchen scrubbies, homemade air fresheners, and an un-named Mother's day gift...)
The title is one of the sayings I use a lot! Most often when people ask me about things that I cannot change or how I am feeling. I tend to end my comment with "and so is life" or "so goes it" It is my way of saying that I am not letting it get to me that I cannot change it but that I know that it is there.
This week I added a word to my medical file one that I had a good idea needed to be there but Doc did everything he could to make sure he could not find something my issues could be blamed on that fit better. That word is Fibromyalgia. I have been thinking about it and me for 4-6 months but I think that it has been lurking for years. I am blessed to have a high pain tolerance and an aversion to taking meds that make me dizzy (most rx pain killers do that and/or make me sick to my tummy) So when the pain that I have had for many years got worse after my eye surgery last July, I started doing research. But My Doc wanted to rule out as many things as he could first (makes logical sense to me) When I started down to road to SS Disability Doc did a bunch of tests to rule out and decided that I have more then just Fybro but that is a good place to start until we can find out what the rest of it is. I don't often talk about my physical issues as I would rather not have them :) but they are a part of me and I am stuck at home, not able to work and going nuts (so I do crafty things to keep me busy)
I cannot change it and yet I am doing what I can to make it better and have great friends and family that are always on the look out for a new natural thing for me to try out :)
So Goes Life...