Things You Didn't Know...

Finger Paint

Sure it's messy, but in the summertime, cleaning off finger paints can be as simple as dashing through the sprinkler. Here's a recipe for washable paints that will keep your artists well supplied.

Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/3 cup of cornstarch in a saucepan, then slowly add 2 cups of cold water. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture is a clear, smooth gel. When cool, stir in 1/4 cup of liquid dishwashing soap. Scoop into plastic containers, and stir in food coloring drops or tempera paints.

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Get Rid of Ants With Dish Detergent with 1 part liquid detergent and 16 parts water. Shake the water bottle so that the detergent and water mix well. Spray area.

-Find an old medicine bottle.
-Pour some dry dish detergent into the bottle. Empty a sugar packet or two into the bottle.
-Close the medicine bottle with its tight-fitting lid.
-Shake the bottle so that the detergent and sugar are thoroughly incorporated.
-Puncture holes in its top using a thick pin. The holes should be big enough for ants to crawl through and not close enough to the detergent for it to spill.
-Leave the bottle near access points. Allow the ants to crawl into the bottle and take the small granules back to their nest and consume them.

How to Kill Fleas With Dish Detergent
Instructions

Step 1:Fill a bathtub with warm water.
Step 2:Place your dog into the bathtub.
Step 3:Wet your dog's fur with more clean water.
Step 4:Squirt dishwashing detergent onto the fur and massage. Add enough dishwashing detergent to create a full lather on your dog's body.
Step 5:Pay special attention to the head, ears, face and neck areas as fleas migrate to these undisturbed points when their habitats are disrupted.
Step 6:Let the dishwashing detergent sit on your pet's fur for about 15 minutes while it kills the active fleas. Engage your dog in play to encourage it to remain in the tub. You may also use this time to keep massaging the detergent into the dog's fur.
Step 7:Tell the dog to sit so that the soapy water drowns the fleas.
Step 8:Rinse the dog's fur thoroughly. Dish detergent residue may irritate your pet's skin.
Step 9:Comb your pet's fur with a special flea comb that has at least 32 teeth per inch. Allow the fleas to drop into the soapy water.
Step 10:Take the dog out of the bathtub.
Step 11:Dry its fur.
Step 12:Slather a fur or skin conditioner for dogs on your pet so that its naturally occurring body oils are balanced again.
Step 13:Rinse the bathtub out to get rid of dead fleas.
Step 14:Bathe your pets with dish detergent at least once a week or when flea problems arise.