Ask Anna

How to Tune up a Dryer and Make it Last Longer

Our dryer is almost 8 years old and I have noticed it has been taking longer than usual to fully dry our clothes. My husband immediately started shopping around for a replacement, but I started to wonder if there was anything we could do to extend the life of our machine until we can save up for a new set. I found a tune-up kit on Amazon that says it was universal for front-loader washing machines. So I ordered it and got ready for my new role as handy-woman. In the kit I received, there was a very detailed set… Read More

How to Deep Clean a Refrigerator

This month’s reader question is, “How do you deep clean a refrigerator and get the gunk out of the crevices?” While this may not be the most fun thing to clean, you will be happy to get it out of the way before the holidays hit. You’ll need extra room for holiday treats and entertaining and it’s always refreshing to open the fridge to clean shelves and fresh, organized food! Grab a rag, a butter knife, and fill up your sink with hot soapy water. Let’s get started! 1) Take a quick look and throw out anything you know is… Read More

The BEST Moscow Mule Recipe

This summer we went out with some friends and I noticed a new-ish drink on the menu. I was intrigued by this “Moscow Mule”, so I ordered it, and to my surprise, I really liked it. I was refreshing, tasty and came in a copper mug that kept it extra cold! For my birthday two of my best friends surprised me and bought me a set of hammered copper mugs so we could make our own Moscow Mules at home. Lucky for me my friends husband is also a master drink mixer and researched Moscow Mule recipes to create his… Read More

Easy Pumpkin Pie Bars

A rich moist pumpkin layer over a sweet vanilla wafer crust cut into little squares for a delicious dessert. This amazingly simple dessert is the classic pumpkin pie in bar form, perfect for sharing during the fall holidays. Hi again! I’m Andrea from Cooking with a Wallflower, and this month I’m ecstatic to be back at Ask Anna to share with you my Easy Pumpkin Pie Bars. It’s definitely pumpkin season with all sorts of pumpkins stacked high in boxes at supermarkets. Everywhere I turn I see pumpkins of various shapes, colors, and sizes. And of course, all those pumpkin desserts… Read More

How to Wash Pillows in a Front Loading Washing Machine

Did you know you can wash pillows? Here’s an easy tutorial for how to wash pillows in a front loading washing machine and extend their life! I was having a conversation with a mom friend of mine a little while back. You know, talking shop while the little ones ran wild. The topic of pillow washing came up and I was surprised to find out that she didn’t know you could wash pillows. She said she just throws them out when they get past their prime. I was really and truly surprised! Did you know your pillows are machine-washable, or… Read More

Simple Organization Tips using a Silverware Tray

Personally I think bathroom drawers are one of the worst/messiest drawers in the house. There are so many things that need to be kept in the bathroom that stuff quickly takes over and ends up looking messy and unorganized. So today I’m showing you how I organized the drawers in two of our bathrooms using silverware trays. Yep, that’s right, I said silverware trays. They are great for storing and organizing silverware but they can also be very useful in the bathrooms! So the first thing you need is a messy drawer, then you’ll need a silverware tray. I purchased… Read More

How to Make Carved Pumpkins Last Longer

Today, I’m giving you some tricks for how to make carved pumpkins, and Jack-O-Lanterns, last longer and prevent rot. Let’s get carving! Fall is pretty much upon us, and that means Halloween is just around the corner, which means trips to the pumpkin patch! So today, I’ll be giving you a tip for how to make carved pumpkins, and Jack-O-Lanterns, last longer. I’ve also got a few tips that will make carving your pumpkins a little easier! Let’s start with those: Pumpkin Carving Tips Step 1 – Cut a Hole in the Bottom of Your Pumpkin Instead of the Top… Read More

The Easiest Way to Organize Wreaths

When I think of this time of year one of the things I think of are all the different holidays and fun wreaths for my front door. I love having a wreath on my front door because it makes it feel more friendly and approachable. The only problem with wreaths though are what do you do with them for the rest of the year when they’re not hanging on your front door? I’ve put them in trash bags and laid them on a shelf in the garage, but that takes up a lot of shelf space, I’ve seen the wreath… Read More