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Gorgeous grooming

  • File claws with sandpaper

Most dogs don’t like having their claws filed, but doing so will keep them in good condition and avoid splitting in cold weather. To ease your dog’s stress about the nail-filing devices used by groomers, cut a small round of medium-grit sandpaper, wrap it around your index finger and gently work at it, stopping frequently to praise your dog and reinforcing his good behaviour with a treat.

  • Use tube socks for post-shampoo itchiness

Many dogs have skin that is sensitive to shampoos, leaving them scratching and irritated after their bath (which they no doubt didn’t I want in the first place). Keep a larger dog from scratching his neck and face by putting his back feet in cotton tube socks and pulling them up as far as you can; if you have a smaller dog (with shorter legs), try a pair of cotton baby socks.

  • Use olive oil on matted hair

Loosen your dog’s matted hair by rubbing a little olive oil into the knot. Then gently comb through the matted area with a wire brush until the brush teeth glide smoothly through his coat.

  • Oil away tar

Remove tar from your dog’s foot pads by gently rubbing them with baby oil or petroleum jelly. Then wash away the residue with a mild solution of soapy water. To keep tar pick-up to a minimum on your walks, carefully trim the hair that grows between your pet’s toes.

  • Dab off tear residue with baby oil

Some dogs’ tear ducts create a residue that collects in the hair below the corner of the eye. This may stain the hair of light-coloured dogs and, despite products sold to ‘whiten’ it, vets say there is little you can do — so it’s best not to fret. Still, you should remove the gunk. Pour a little baby oil onto a cotton ball and gently work it into the area to loosen the residue and make it easier to dab off. You could also use a very mild face-freshening toner, but take great care to keep it out of your dog’s eyes.

  • Vinegar ear cleaner

All floppy-eared dogs — especially water dogs such as Labradors and retrievers — should have their ears gently cleaned at least once a week to prevent waxy build-up and infections, which result in both pain and odour. Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water; dip a cotton wool ball into the mixture and carefully wipe out your dog’s ears, but without inserting the cotton wool ball into the ear canal. Use a separate cotton wool ball for each ear to avoid cross contamination in case of infection.

  • Prevent dog-hair blockages with a kitchen scouring pad

At bath time, you can keep your dog’s hair from clogging the bath drain by placing a nylon scouring pad or a snipped-off section of kitchen sponge over the drain. This porous barrier will collect hair, which you can then easily remove and discard.

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Walking the dog

  • Keep your dog on a ‘tight’ lead

Your dog will appreciate the elasticity of a lead that’s made from an old pair of pantihose. The idea is to knot it at 10-12 cm intervals and create a handle at the end by looping the pantihose and then knotting it.

  • Cool him with a wet T-shirt

If you’re feeling the heat, your dog may be too. If you’re walking him on a very hot day, dampen a large (or small, depending on the dog’s size) children’s cotton T-shirt with cool water, wring it dry and fit it over his head, pushing his two front paws through the sleeves. Tie a knot on the side to take up the slack, making sure that the shirt fits comfortably — neither too tight nor too loose. (Check it periodically to make sure it stays that way.) If the shirt dries out after a while, give it a quick spray with water.

  • Glow-in-the-dark collar

Even a few regularly spaced strips of reflective tape placed along your dog’s (or cat’s) collar will help drivers to see them if they happen to be out at night or at dusk.

  • Plastic bag pooper-scooper

Never throw away plastic shopping bags. Among many other uses they make perfect pooper-scoopers and they’re free. Just stick your hand into the bag, pick up the mess with your gloved hand and turn the bag inside out before tying it off and disposing of it.

  • Cardboard cleaning tool

 Cut a section from an empty cereal box to use as a disposable pooper-scooper whenever you walk your dog. Slide it under the pile of dog poo and put both the pile and your scooper directly into a plastic shopping bag. Tie the whole thing up and throw it in the bin.

  • Soothe paws with petroleum jelly

Extreme temperatures can damage a dog’s paws during a walk. Hot pavements and freezing paths may irritate your dog’s foot pads, leading to cracking. To soothe his feet and help initiate healing, rub a little petroleum jelly onto his paws. Before he comes back into the house wipe any excess off his paws so that he won’t track it onto the carpet or upholstery.

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Dogs’ dinners

  • Go bananas!

Add about a third of a soft banana to 1-1/2 cups dry food. Slice it, mash it or stir it into the pellets. Not only does it add variety and a bit of healthy sweetness, which most dogs seem to love, but a bit of banana can also settle your dog’s stomach.

  • Healthy snacks

If you have ever been on a diet, you know all about carrying around peeled baby carrots to satisfy a hunger pang between meals. The good news is that dogs generally love carrots, too. They’re sweet and healthy enough to make them a regular part of his diet in place of a biscuit.

  • Yogurt pots as doggie travel carriers

Save larger plastic yogurt pots with fitted lids; when you’re taking your dog along on a journey, they are the perfect size for his favourite small treats. Though most dogs don’t like to eat during travel, you can reward him for his good behaviour once you have reached your destination.

  • Put the jerk back in the food

Is your faithful friend a little finicky? Try this safe trick: put a stick of beef jerky into a new bag of dry dog food and reseal it for 24 hours. The scent might make the dry food more tempting to your canine.

  • Get your dog to take a pill

There’s no reason to wrestle your dog to the ground to try to get him to take a tablet; this is what cheese is for. All you need is some strongly flavoured cheddar cheese. Grate a small amount or buy ready-grated. Warm a little bit in your hands and roll it into a cheese ‘pill’, then insert the medicine and it should go down in just a matter of seconds.

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The great outdoors

  • Painting stones

Decorating medium-sized rocks with smooth surfaces is a longtime favourite children’s craft. Let their imaginations run wild when they find stones in different shapes. Wash them to remove dirt, grease and any mossy patches and then let the stones dry completely in the sun. Using poster or craft paints, children can paint the tops and sides of the rocks however they like. When the paint is dry, seal the surface with several coats of spray-on, non-toxic clear varnish, drying between coats. (Avoid brush-on varnishes because brushing is likely to smear the paint.) A sufficiently large stone would make a doorstop, while small stones could be used to decorate a kitchen windowsill or serve as paperweights on a desk.

  • Cleaning outdoor equipment with vinegar

A simple, inexpensive solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water makes a reliable cleaner for outdoor play equipment, children’s cars and bikes. For tough dirt, wipe with the vinegar solution, then rub the spot with bicarbonate of soda on a damp rag or sponge and rinse. It’s a good idea to wash swing seats and chains or ropes frequently. You can also use the vinegar solution to clean children’s car seats.

  • Autumn leaf paintings for a Junior Picasso

Nature offers us one of the most versatile and child-friendly paintbrushes in a fallen leaf. For a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon with a child, take him on a walk in a park and ask him to collect leaves of various shapes and sizes. Bring them home and, using an old toothbrush, gently remove any dust or dirt from their surfaces. Mix up a small batch of non-toxic finger paints, then spread the table with a few pieces of newspaper and top them with sheets of favourite, light-coloured stiff paper. Roll up your child’s sleeves and, using an index finger as a paintbrush, have him paint one surface of each leaf; immediately press them down onto the paper, paint side down. Count to 20 (another fun learning activity) and remove the leaf by its stem for instant (and free) art.

  • Pine-cone bird feeders

You can make many kinds of bird feeders from available materials and this one is especially easy and fun to assemble. All you’ll need are pine cones, sugarless peanut butter (the amount varies depending on the number and size of cones used) and birdseed. Tightly tie a length of string or yarn around the top or bottom of the cone. Then, using a plastic knife spread the peanut butter over the cone, pushing it into the nooks and crevices. Now spread a layer of birdseed onto a baking tray or a pie tin. Roll the cone in the birdseed, making sure it’s covered and gently shake off any excess. Hang the cone from a tree branch, fence, gatepost, balcony railing or a secure plant hanger. How could any bird resist such a tempting feeder?

  • Organizing sports equipment

Parents of young athletes are all too familiar with a house overflowing with a jumble of footballs, cricket bats, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, golf clubs, sweatshirts, running shoes and some things you can’t even identify. Even one sporty youngster can create a major mess. Here are three suggestions for keeping it under control:

  1. Put a tall plastic or metal rubbish bin in the garage or laundry to hold long items such as bats, sticks, extra golf clubs and cricket stumps. Weight the bottom of the can with bricks or heavy stones so that it won’t tip over.
  2. Install a pin board and hooks (you may already have one in a work area) for hanging rackets, hats, gloves, protective padding, swimming goggles and caps, wet clothes and shoes.
  3. Designate one large laundry basket for sports clothing — and do yourself a favour by laying down rules about who is to wash what and when.

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Healthy, safety and hygiene hints

  • Cover corners with shoulder pads

A great way to protect children who have just started walking is with a pair of old shoulder pads. Cut open the long straight side and slip the pad over a corner so the inner padding encases the edges. Adjust as needed and then tape the pad securely in place. Hiding the pads under an attractive cloth will look better and stop curious youngsters from disturbing them.

  • Colourful Band-Aids

When a child has fallen down and scraped his elbow or knee and you’re trying to console him, to no avail, try distracting him by having him decorate his own Band-Aid while you gently clean the wound with a dab of soapy water and antiseptic cream. While you work, he’ll be busy with a few plain Band-Aids and a rainbow of non-toxic, water-based markers, letting his imagination run wild. Then he can wear personalized Band-Aids as works of art.

  • Freeze stuffed toys for allergic children

Forestall sniffles in allergy-prone children by giving their stuffed toys the deep freeze for 3-5 hours, once a week. Slip the toy into a freezer bag, place it among the frozen peas and ice cubes and any dust mites will be killed.

  • Two tip-to-toe uses for fabric-softener sheets

If joggers smell like something has died inside them, stuff each shoe with a fabric-softener sheet every night to lessen the odour. And solve a flyaway hair problem by rubbing your child’s hair with a softener sheet to control static.

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Inspiration all around

  • New use for an old aquarium

An unused aquarium or fishbowl can be transformed into a fascinating 3-D decoration for a child’s room — and your child can pick the theme and do much of the work. Start by cleaning and disinfecting the tank or bowl. Then paint the inside of the glass with a diluted mixture of water and water-soluble craft paint to create the look of ocean water, blue sky, billowy clouds, rainbows, green fields or even abstract designs. The paint should be thin enough to see through, so test it for transparency and thin with more water as needed. On the bottom of the tank, spread a fairly thick layer (5cm or more) of sand or fish bowl pebbles. Now let your child choose what goes inside.

  • Quick clean-ups

By their very nature, children and dirt go hand-in-hand. Here are some easy ideas to keep your home clean using basic household supplies:

  1. Plastic or painted wooden toys Clean these with a paste made of 2 parts bicarbonate of soda to 1 part washing-up liquid. Apply with a soft cloth. Use a toothbrush to work the paste into small spaces. If the dirt is really stubborn, leave the paste on for a while. Remove it with a damp cloth or sponge.
  2. Outdoor toys and children’s vehicles Rub with full-strength white vinegar, applied with a cloth. Remove the residue with a damp cloth or sponge or hose it off and dry with a clean cloth or towel.
  3. Stuffed toys Clean unwashable toys by putting them in a plastic or paper bag, adding about a cup of bicarbonate of soda and shaking the bag for 30 seconds or so. When the toys look and smell clean, remove bicarbonate of soda residue by either vacuuming the toys with your machine’s brush attachment or shaking them in the open air and brushing off any residue with your fingers.
  4. Crayon marks on washable wallpaper Try warming the marks with a hair dryer. Give it a minute, and then wipe the marks away with a damp cloth. Another idea is to apply a coat of latex glue to the marks, let it dry thoroughly and then gently rolls off the rubbery glue.
  5. Vomit or urine on a rug first, wipes up what you can. Pour bicarbonate of soda onto the affected area, pat it in with a paper towel and let it dry completely before vacuuming up the residue. Bicarbonate of soda will clean, sanitize and deodorize the spot. Use the same method to clean a wet mattress.
  • Dry a baby’s beanie on a balloon

Machine drying a baby’s bonnet or beanie, even on the delicate cycle, often leaves it looking wrinkled, limp and less than pretty. To solve the problem, inflate a balloon to the approximate size of the child’s head, tie it securely and attach it to a smooth surface with tape (away from baby’s reach). Slip the washed and still-damp beanie or bonnet over the balloon. With your hands, lightly smooth out creases and gently shape the bonnet and brim. ‘Press’ ribbons and ties by running them through your fingers and laying them out straight.

When the bonnet is dry, pop the balloon and discard it. A few touch-ups with a warm iron will have the bonnet looking as good as new.

  • Secure sewing with dental floss

If you are tired of lost or dangling buttons on your children’s coats and jackets, substitute dental floss for sewing thread to get a strong, longer-lasting hold. Also use dental floss when replacing buttons, eyes and ears, and stitching ripped seams, in stuffed toys.

  • Tape your troubles away

When toy boxes, paperback book spines and colouring books are falling apart, use clear parcel tape to reinforce the corners, spines and edges.

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