The One Easy DIY You Should Make Before Tomorrow

13 useful ways to reuse your plastic grocery bags, the best way to remove makeup, and more. November 24, 2021 [View Online]( Good morning! If you’re one of the many people who has a plastic grocery bag full of other grocery bags tucked away somewhere, you’re in luck, because Today’s Good Thing is all about practical ways to put those plastic bags to good use. And for Wash It Wednesday, I'm sharing one of my favorite homemade laundry solutions that may very well come in handy tomorrow evening. Learn how to make my 2-ingredient stain remover spray so you can quickly treat stains made by spilled food and drink. Jillee DAYS UNTIL 🦃 Thanksgiving: 1 🕎 Hanukkah: 4 🎄Christmas: 31 🎊 New Years: 38 TODAY'S GOOD THING 13 Smart Ways To Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags [Photos of various uses for plastic grocery bags.]( Have a stash of old grocery bags sitting around somewhere? Put them to good use with these 13 tips. After my grocery store temporarily banned the use of reusable shopping bags for several months at the start of the pandemic, I begrudgingly started yet another collection of plastic grocery bags, after having managed to clear out my previous stash through diligent use of my reusable bags. Since I’m not one to let things sit around collecting dust or taking up space, I recently decided it was time I figured out how to put those grocery bags to work. I found some great ideas, and today I’ll be sharing those with you in case you too have a pile of empty grocery bags taking up space somewhere. If your bags are dirty, or if you're worried about possible germs or contamination, never fear—there's an easy way to wash plastic bags so you know they're clean and safe to use. Here’s how to do it: Put a stopper in your sink drain and fill the sink with hot, soapy water. Place the bags in the water, swish them around a bit, and allow them to soak for 5 minutes. After soaking, drain the water and rinse each bag in clean water. Hang the bags upside down so they can air dry completely before you use or store them. One more quick note—if you have bags that are particularly gross or that were exposed to raw meat, you may want to toss those ones out. (I don't know about you, but when it comes to bacteria, I'd rather be safe than sorry!) Now that's covered, let’s get to the tips! Learn 13 practical things you can do with your plastic bags at the link below. [13 Useful Things You Can Do With Plastic Bags ➜]( Related • [How To Make A Recycled Plastic Bag Dispenser]( • [How To Clean Your Reusable Bags, Because They Probably Need It]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • If you suspect or know you have silverfish in your house, these tips can help you get rid of them for good. [Read more ➜]( • Cooking Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of work, but making one of these Instant Pot recipes can lighten your load. [Read more ➜]( • When arthritis pain in my hands is bothering me, this is my secret weapon for pain relief so I can take fewer meds. [Read more ➜]( WASH IT WEDNESDAY The DIY Stain Remover You'll Want At Dinner Tomorrow [A photo of a spray bottle of stain remover.]( Prepare for those inevitable Thanksgiving spills by making this easy and effective stain remover spray. There's no doubt that I passed my somewhat klutzy ways onto my kids, because we rarely make it through a holiday meal without food or drink spills. I like to keep a stain remover on hand so I can treat stains ASAP, and I highly recommend it! [My go-to DIY stain remover spray]( works wonders on food stains. Many food stains are oil-based, making them difficult to remove because oil is essentially impervious to water without an emulsifier. Surfactants like dish soap can emulsify oil and water, so I use Dawn in my stain remover spray to both cut grease and make it easier for the water and detergent to break up oily stains. The second ingredient, hydrogen peroxide, is an oxidizer that changes the structure of the molecules that give stains their color. This reaction helps to break down colored stains in the wash. By combining hydrogen peroxide with dish soap, you end up with an ideal stain-fighting duo for food and drink spills. Here’s how to make my stain remover spray: Fill a dark glass spray bottle two-thirds of the way full with hydrogen peroxide, then fill the remainder of the bottle with dish soap. (You can make as much or as little of the spray as you want using twice as much peroxide as soap.) Replace the spray top and tip the bottle side to side to mix. To use it, apply enough spray to the stain to saturate it completely. (For stubborn or greasy stains, it often helps to sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the top and scrub the area with an old toothbrush.) Launder the item in warm water, but don't worry—this step can wait until after dinner! [See The Full Tutorial ➜]( BEAUTY Here's What You Should Be Using To Remove Your Makeup [Photos of Jillee removing her makeup.]( Ever since I started using these, taking off my makeup is both easy to do and easy on my skin. Of all the changes I’ve made to my personal care and beauty routine over the years, switching from removing my makeup with wipes to using reusable cloths is definitely one of the best. While the fact that they’re a lot less wasteful is one reason I made the switch, it certainly isn’t the only benefit to doing so. With my [makeup remover cloths]( all I need is to dampen them with water to take care of my makeup quickly and easily—even my stubborn mascara! The soft and fluffy texture provides gentle exfoliation, whisking away makeup, impurities, and dead skin so that all that remains is perfectly clean skin. And I’m not the only one who thinks these cloths are the best thing since sliced bread—here’s what OGT readers have said about them: “I purchased these several months ago, and I have not been disappointed. They are so soft and remove makeup like a charm. I just ordered more sets to give as gifts.” “My daughters and I absolutely love these makeup remover cloths!” Based on reviews like these, I’m not surprised these cloths continue to be the top selling item in my shop. It's a great time to try them too, since they’re 30% off during this week’s Black Friday Sale. (Taking advantage of the Buy 3, Get 1 Free deal can save you even more. It lowers the price of each set to $10.49—regularly $19.99.) [See Microfiber Makeup Remover Cloths ➜]( JILLEE'S PICK The Inspiring Words Of Brené Brown [A photo of Brené Brown.]( "Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we'll ever do." - Brené Brown Since giving what is now one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time (“[The Power of Vulnerability]( in 2010, researcher Brené Brown has written multiple bestselling books and started hosting 2 different podcasts on Spotify, all while sharing a steady stream of wisdom and insight on her Instagram account ([@brenebrown](. Not only do her posts bring much-needed doses of empathy and positivity to my feed, but she explores topics that I don't see addressed very often elsewhere. Thanks to her research on vulnerability, shame, and courage, she has unique insight into how we can live more authentically and form deeper connections. To learn more about her work, check out the [Getting Started With Brené]( page on her website. And if, like me, you love the quotes and images she shares on Instagram, you can download many of them in the form of quote cards and posters in her [Art Archive](. POLL OF THE WEEK Decking The Halls Q: When do you decorate for Christmas? (Click one of the options below to submit your response.) 1. [Early to mid November]( 2. [Mid to late November]( 3. [Early to mid December]( 4. [Mid to late December]( 5. [I don't decorate / I don't celebrate Christmas]( Results from last week's poll: Sorry, turkey—on Thanksgiving, nearly half of OGT readers only have eyes for stuffing! Over 1,800 of you weighed in on the question “Which of these foods is your favorite to eat on Thanksgiving?” Here's how you responded: • 42.3% said “Stuffing” • 22.9% said “Turkey” • 14.6% said “Sweet potatoes” • 13.5% said “Mashed potatoes” • 6.7% said “Rolls” A FEW MORE THINGS... Solve Your Turkey Troubles: The turkey experts on [Butterball’s Turkey Talk Line]( answer 100,000 questions every year (up from a modest 11,000 during its first year in 1981). The Turkey Talk Line is active during November and December and takes calls from all over the US and Canada. For help with your turkey troubles, call 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) or text 844-877-3456. On This Day: In 1859, Charles Darwin published his book [On the Origin of Species]( which introduced his theory of evolution through natural selection. This theory formed the foundation of the study of evolutionary biology, which is why many consider it one of the most influential academic books ever written. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why, or you can [update your preferences]( or break my heart and unsubscribe [here](. View our privacy policy [here](.