Dryer Lint and Old Candles=?

Most people might answer that lint and old candles are trash, and they're right, to a point. But they can have a second life, offering themselves up as a sacrificial victim to fire.

Well, that's dramatic, isn't it?

Here's what I mean, really: old candles and your dryer lint can be used to make firestarters. Our state parks in West Virginia have something similar available to people who rent cabins: a cake of wax with what looks like sawdust mixed in, waiting in a basket on the mantel for quick and easy fire starting. I found out how to make a slightly different version on Facebook, and it really does work--and uses two things I would otherwise toss in the trash.

The process is simple. First, plan ahead by saving dryer lint and your old candles, or find used candles at thrift stores and yard sales. I got a bundle of about 20 candles for $1.00 last summer. Most of them weren't nice enough for using in the house, but they were perfect for this project.

1. Melt the candles in a double boiler or other pan. Remove the wicks and toss--or you can use them as I did, cutting them into short lengths to use as lighting wicks for the firestarters.

2. Use cupcake liners in a muffin tin, or use cardboard egg boxes to hold your starters. Fill the liners or the egg box compartments with dryer lint, packing it down firmly. If you want to use the wicks, place the short pieces you cut into the lint with the tip sticking up, just like a candle.

3. Carefully pour the melted wax over the lint until the liner or egg box compartment is full.

4. Let the wax firm up, then remove the cupcake liners from the muffin tin or cut apart the egg box so that each compartment becomes a single firestarter.

5. Clean up your mess! Wax is tricky to clean off utensils and pans, but try putting them in the freezer until the wax is hard, then take out and let them sit for a bit. The wax will usually peel right off.

It's that simple. I  made 24 the other day in about 15 minutes, using the egg box method. Before Christmas I made them for gifts using the small tart-size cupcake liners and putting the cakes into old blue quart jars with zinc lids.

Now I'm on the hunt for more old candles. I have plenty of starters made for the fireplace, but it will soon be firepit season, you know!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

The Beauty of Olive Oil

Is your skin dry this winter? Do you get shocked every time you touch something? Does your  hair stand out like a freaky halo when you try to brush it? Then read up: this might be a solution to all three.

 Some years ago when we still had TV I heard a guest on Good Morning America recommend using olive oil as a moisturizer and as a makeup remover. According to this lady (whose name I cannot remember) Italian women have been using olive oil as a beauty aid for centuries.

I meant to try it but never got around to it until this year. I'm here to tell you, it's awesome. And I found a few tricks that I want to pass on.

First, it doesn't take much! A tiny squirt will easily moisturize both hands.

Second, I didn't want to go around smelling like olive oil, so I added a tiny bit of lavender oil to my little bottle. I love the scent of lavender and it masks the olive oil beautifully. I have to say though that the olive oil aroma really was very minimal, and not noticeable.

Three: you need only 3 things to make this awesome remedy: olive oil, lavender oil, and a small spray bottle. The oil won't come out of my bottle in a spray; it's more like little drops but that works fine for my needs.

Since using the olive oil, I have had zero problems with static electricity shocking me at every turn. I hate that! A little olive oil rubbed into my hands seems to have cured that little surprise of nature.

I also use it in my hair. Again, it doesn't take much! I squirt out just a wee little bit, usually one squirt, rub it into my hands, then run my hands through my hair. Instant tameness. If my hair still seems too dry, I use a little more. But it takes a miniscule amount. My hair is not greasy and it smells like lavender. Mmmmm.

The olive oil as a makeup remover trick works well too. You might want to use a little more for this purpose. It's a wonderful moisturizer. Rub on the oil, wipe off with cotton balls or tissues, then wash with a gentle facial soap.

Most makeup removers and body lotions are based on some kind of oil anyway; this just goes straight to the source, and no added chemicals. Give it a try--I bet you'll like the results as much as I do.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.