Start Making Choices: Banishing Life's Little Annoyances

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Simple ideas for living healthier on a budget.

How to get rid of unwanted things like wasps at a picnic, water in your ear, and tan lines.

Water in Your Ear

Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol (to dry) and white vinegar (to disinfect) in an eyedropper. Then put a few drops in the ear canal, wait 30 seconds, and drain it.

Spinach in Teeth

Get creative: Fake a cough and turn away, or pretend to drop something under the table so you can scrape your teeth. No toothpick? Try an earring post, or use a piece of thread as dental floss.

A Hand Stamp

Images from a fun night out should be stamped into your memory, not onto the back of your hand. Nail-polish remover with acetone, or baby wipes for those with sensitive skin, will remove a dark stamp.

Wasps at a Picnic

Yellow jackets and some other types of wasps are attracted to sweet scents, so your perfume or the watermelon drippings on your blanket are liable to prompt an invasion. Resist the urge to swat them away. Instead, use lids, plastic wrap, and napkins to cover all the food and drinks, even those you're using. Robbed of their food source, the insects should buzz off. At your next picnic, stick with a dark blanket and dishware. Wasps are attracted to reds, yellows, and whites, so leave that checkered tablecloth at home.

A Charley Horse

When a cramp hits, usually resulting from dehydration, don't fight your instincts. Stretch the affected area and massage in a circular motion, using mild to moderate pressure. Squeezing the area will also work if massaging is too painful.

Scars

Massage a new scar for five minutes, twice a day. Applying pressure forces the body to make scar tissue that is flatter and lighter in color. Start the treatment two to three weeks after the injury has healed and scabbing is gone. Stop rubbing after a year; no more improvement can be made to a scar after that.

Pinched Skin From Kneesocks

Need crease-free legs for a night out? Massage them with lotion to restore circulation. A cold compress or a mild hydrocortisone cream can help reduce redness.

Lingering Scent of Perfume

Perfume molecules that are bound to skin oil and protein can take several days to evaporate. To speed the process, scrub skin with soap, hot water, and a loofah. Wiping with a cotton pad and alcohol also works.

Tan Lines

If you have only a few hours (or less!), use a sponge to apply liquid bronzer (the same shade you use on your face) to the light areas, then dust with powder. If you have a few days, exfoliate the darker areas and apply self-tanner to the light spots. Blend with your hands to achieve an even tone.

Athlete's Foot

To treat the infection, whose symptoms include itching and peeling, keep your feet dry (moisture allows fungus to proliferate) and apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Sprinkling on foot powder will help reduce perspiration.