Have you ever wondered about that small clanging sound you hear when you shake a can of spray paint? It's the sound of small metal balls bouncing inside the can, which help the contents to mix quickly when shaken. Same thing in the bottom of a bottle of nail polish. I always have been fascinated by the concept. Makes me wonder who thinks of these things. Today's first tipster suggests that same idea for a jug of homemade liquid laundry detergent. How clever!

DETERGENT CONTAINERS. I enjoy making my own liquid laundry detergent. To store it, I pour it into plastic gallon milk jugs. I add a few marbles in the bottom of each jug and give the jug a shake to mix the soap before I pour it into the washing machine. -- Nadine P., e-mail (For a recipe for homemade laundry detergent, visit the "Everyday Cheapskate" archives at www.DebtProofLiving.com.)

GREEN CLEANING. If you have noticed the buildup of mineral deposits in your tub or sinks, here is a less toxic trick that will make them easier to clean. Saturate a washcloth with apple cider vinegar and place it on the stain overnight. In the morning, rub out the mineral deposits. If it doesn't all come up, soak the rag with fresh apple cider vinegar, and let it sit another day. Eventually, you'll be able to wipe up the mineral deposits without scrubbing or scratching. -- Kyu L., e-mail

STAIR BRUSH. Here's a tip for cleaning stairs with carpeting between vacuuming: Get a lint roller brush and run it up and down the stairs. It picks up lint and dust. You'd be surprised at what comes up on the lint paper! -- Annette G., e-mail

PARTY PLANNING. Whenever we're having a get-together and I have a few weeks to plan, I'll pick up a nonperishable item every time I go to the store -- dip mix, canned goods, party decorations, paper plates, plastic utensils, charcoal, etc. When the party day arrives, I don't have to spend as much money all at once. -- Mary Ellen, California

SAVE THE FIZZ. After pouring a soft drink from a two-liter bottle, tightly cap the bottle, and shake it until it is firm. The fizz is contained still, and the drink will not go flat. -- James, Texas

MOVING BOXES. When we moved to a new home, we tried several places to get boxes. The best place turned out to be Wal-Mart. They stock shelves all night and have a lot of boxes available early in the morning. They're broken down, flat and easy to transport. -- Dick G., South Dakota

BERRY SAVER. When refrigerating fresh strawberries, they last longer if they are not touching. I either spread them out on some paper towels in a flat plastic container with a lid or divide them into single layers by saving and reusing the air-holed containers they originally came in. This works for all berries. -- Naomi L., e-mail

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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