Why does simple have to be obscure?

If ignorance is bliss, there should be more happy people. ~Victor Cousin

Before I get too far, let me be clear that this is not a Hints from Heloise blog. I loved those tips when they were in vogue, but I don’t know enough shortcuts to create even one. What I will do is explore a few good ideas that I ran across while looking for ways to relieve a few metaphorical headaches.

The first was squeaky shoes. I don’t mind people noticing when I enter a room, but I’d rather not be announced by footwear. The particular walking shoes causing angst were quite expensive, as were the insoles suggested by a podiatrist (also expensive). They were fine at first. Noiseless. After a few weeks, though, they began to complain. I hadn’t abused them, either by subjecting them to modern laundry equipment or by gaining an excessive amount of weight. Still. I felt like Pixie—or Dixie—drawing a little too much attention to myself. So, I googled the problem, of course, and the first thing that came up after typing ‘“squeaking shoes”  was a solution for the very brand I had bought. Apparently, there was moisture trapped between the insole and inside surface of the shoe. The cure was to remove the insole and sprinkle talcum powder to absorb the excess. Worked like a charm. Instantly.

Another challenge was removal of carbon and food debris from my gas grill racks. Cleaning those bad boys has never been my favorite pastime, and I’ll admit I don’t do it after every use. Don’t judge. We all have flaws; I just don’t know yours. Anyway, I had company coming and I knew we’d be using the grill. I don’t mind looking at that mess when it’s just me, but my friends probably think I’m more particular than that. I mentioned this to my daughter and VOILA! Just add water and a dishwasher pod to a container wide enough for the racks to lie flat. Soak them overnight to significantly reduce the effort needed to render them clean enough for guest inspections.

Last thing – and again, the issue was raised because guests were on their way. Be nice. My outdoor furniture cushions get pummeled by the wind and rain. With that and the grass clippings thrown up by the mower, they become a bit dingy over time and occasionally need a little spiffing up. Apparently I am not the only person with this problem, as there are a number of solutions online. The easiest method, depending on the type of stain, is to mix one part soda with four parts water. Brush away surface dirt with a soft nylon brush and apply the mixture with a microfiber cloth. Rinse.

So, how on earth did people come up with these ideas?  My solutions didn’t get me past using a Brillo pad on my grill racks and I had no idea there was a way to stop the mice in my shoes. I was going to give 409 a go on the cushions, but if the ‘real’ treatment involves baking soda, harsher chemicals might have a deleterious impact.  

Maybe if I had given it all more thought, I could have reached effective solutions on my own. I mean, I have a pantry. And chemicals under the sink.  And a search engine, which I used to find additional ideas for you, gentle readers. Click the blue button below for a sampling of what’s available out there, in case you need a wider scope of tips than you’ve found here.

Anyway, perhaps next time I’ll engage my 3.3 pounds of gray cells and ponder potential solutions before looking to a family member or searching the internet. Or maybe I’ll just leave it to those who are wired for that particular type of intellectual curiosity.

You?