I tried the chalk line a while back--the ants apparently hadn't been told it was a 'do not cross' sign. Alcohol is the best way I've found to clean windows. Putting sugar in corn while cooking will add a little sweetness, but it makes the corn tougher. I just buy supersweet corn at the farm stands--it doesn't need sugar. for cleaning vases with narrow necks, I break up a denture cleaning tablet or 2, drop in and add warm (not hot) water. Interestingly, when I took a pate de verre class (molding glass pieces from frit), the instructor--who was a nationally known glass artist also used the denture cleaner method for cleaning the plaster bits of the molds off the molded pieces. Elmer's glue also works for splinters. Spread it on over the area, let dry and peel off the glue--the spinter usually comes with it. Murphy's oil soap also works well on crayon marks if they're on something like wood. Baking soda is my #1 go-to cleaner in the house. It takes those brown specks off frying pans and ranges, removes KoolAid and Grape juice stains from formica, safely scours surfaces that can't tolerate real cleanser or steel wool pads, it disinfects, deoderizes, is cheap, readily available... I buy it in 5 pound bags, and keep a decorative jar of it on my kitchen sink, since I use it pretty much every day.

Some of the tips below are for repurposing/recycling in general. Hope no one minds. Use binder clips to keep bags and other types of packaging for coffee, bread, frozen vegetables, etc. closed and to keep the air out. They provide a tight and secure closure. If your Pilates ring or exercise circle breaks, use extra thick pillows or shams to tone your thighs. Use 2 together for added resistance. Use sponges as cushions to miminize scratching the sink when washing heavy items such as stove grates. Check to see if you can get money off when you bring in your old broken items. For example, some retailers offer money off a new paper shredder when you bring in your broken one. The retailers will probably have it recycled. Not repurposed but at least there's hope that it doesn't end up in the landfill. I got a great micro cut shredder on sale with another $30 taken off. It's not green to buy bottled water but there are times when I just need to have it in the refrigerator. I recycle the corrugated bottoms that comes with cases of bottled water by using them as trays to cushion and protect pantry shelves and cabinet from stains and scuff marks. I use them to store spices, cooking oils, cleaners etc. They can also be used as drawer organizers too. Cover them with decorative contact paper. Another use: I use a corrugated bottom to create another layer inside a corrugated box. The materal/color blends in. My laptop is placed underneath the corrugated bottom and cleaning supplies are placed on top. I do this to hide my laptop from thieves in case my house gets burgled. A Shake and Bake box is used to hide my e-reader in the pantry. Place old broken laptops, Ipods, and other electronics in strategic areas to act as decoys when you're away. Burglars might take them and be satisfied with the loot and leave. I have an alarm system and I like to take extra precautions. Otherwise, drop them off at at responsible recycler. I use old terry face cloths as mats under my electric toothbrush and oral irrigator to absorb any drops of water. My bathroomm countertop is made of ultra-hard porcelain decorative squares. I feel uncomfortable not using something to at least cushion the surface. Use an old towel to clean floors by wrapping it around a Cuban mop. A Cuban mop is a simple T-shaped mop with no material mop head. Sham Wow type chamois cloths can be used with this mop too. Toss the towel in the wash. Sham Wows can simply be rinsed. At Lowes, a clerk once mistakenly threw in three 2-1/2 quart "Mix and Measure" containers in my bag without my knowledge. When I got home, the minimalist in me wanted to throw them out but I decided not to. I finally found a use for them. Instead of filling a big bucket, I fill one of the mix and measure containers with the right proportion of water and cleaner or water/vinegar to tackle small cleaning jobs such as the floor in one room. I also use them to store cleaning brushes. Keep an old toothbrush near the sink to clean ridged coffee filter holders, fork tines, ultra sharp knives etc. It sounds strange to mention soup and detergent in the same sentence. I use plastic takeout food containers with lids to store homemade soup in the freezer and store handy amounts of powder laundry detergent to keep near the washer. I designate specific containers for single purposes. Use old mouse pads as coasters or cushions to place jewelry, eyeglasses. The porcelain in my bathroom counter wore off a little of the finish on my eyeglass frame so I use an mouse pad in there. Empty garbage bag boxes are used to store plastic grocery bags. If you're using kitty litter that comes in a big plastic bucket, save the bucket when the kitty litter is used up. Wash it thoroughly and use it to brine a turkey. It actually fits in my refrigerator. I eventually switched over to a brand that doesn't use plastic. Plastic grocery bags or newspaper bags are used for dumping coffee grounds into them to prevent contents from spilling all over the garbage bin if the kitchen garbage bag breaks. Always Freecycle, and donate to Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

It's interesting what writersblock said, that the local Lowe's let go all their "pros" because that is what I see happening. Pros knew the merchandise and therefore knew how to serve customers. But they cost more to employ. Once you ditch that, your store is just a big warehouse with folks milling around. But that costs you money too, to run it and staff it, Then might as well be online and folks can "mill" around over the computer. IKEA is an interesting riff off of the warehouse concept, kind of like what I was talking about, a nice big showroom and then the warehouse below where you actually pull the stuff and assemble it. Lots of furniture I see is going to that model, albeit sans the warehouse so more risky for the customer. Seems like the jobs of the future are going to be in warehousing and truck driving and UPS-ing! However, we as customers are not going to be well served by this. However, it was always thus. Folks ordered from the Sears catalog back at the turn of the century, and it came via train and "Wells Fargo Wagon." Only the wealthy could afford custom built things with customer service. The department store was a departure that spread to the middle class, but I guess times were more flush then. Not sure what kind of storefront anyone could make a go of these days, but I know tons of people who fondly remember the joys of actually being able to go somewhere and shop in person. In my case, downtown and big department stores were FUN. I always hated malls, but even they used to be much more fun than they are now. I think a few artsy upscale neighborhoods can still support storefronts, but in my poor rural area, few businesses seem to be able to stay going at all. And they carry limited selections which means they just can't hardly even afford to keep the storefronts open. Can't even keep a florist shop storefront open, although my experience with ordering flowers and plants online has been DISMAL. The stuff that shows up half the time is crap, unless you hit the jackpot and find a decent local place that is partnering with the online ordering company.

Now, that you have cleaned it, its beauty shines through. Its an oval cut and apparently a good cut. If it is glass, its a nice piece of costume jewelry, but, somehow, I think its better than glass. Have a gemologist check it out. There is no sign of a 'cat eye in your straight-on shot making me think that its RI (reflective index) is greater than for glass. Although the ring band does not show much wear, there is evidence of wear on the stone. Look at the edges of the table (the lines where the facets meet) and you will see that few of these edges have tiny chips showing that it has been knocked about from normal wear. Use a magnifier to examine the cut. However, I do not see any scratches on the stone indicating that it likely is harder than glass, possible the hardness of quartz or greater. Do have it examined by an expert. After cleaning, it is a very nice wearable ring.