1) Watermark Removal: If one scours the web for suggestions on how to eradicate water marks, many suggestions arise. Amongst them include mayonnaise (??) and other oil-based treatments. These do not work. The issue is that there is a thin layer of polish/wax, minimal though it is, that protects a wooden table's color from being easily removed. Yes, this is even in the case of those older tables.
What will remove a water mark is paste toothpaste. Trader Joe's provides an excellent choice, inexpensive--$2.99. It is also just a really good, low-chemical toothpaste that is a great-tasting alternative to Tom's of Maine toothpaste which is far more expensive.
Use a washcloth. Wet it lightly. Put a dab of toothpaste on the cloth. Then rub the watermark--circular or back and forth is not relevant. What is being removed is that thin top coating that protects the actual color of your table. Use another part of the washcloth, also lightly dampened, to wipe off the excess toothpaste.
Once the table is dry, polish your table as normal.
2) Toilet Bowl Scratches from a Plumbing Snake: Again, lots of useless suggestions on the web for removing them. They include chastising the person for scratching the bowl in the first place--akin to saying, "Why didn't you use your best judgment?"--and draining the bowl and painting it--ugh and again really useless. The only real solution is Barkeeper's Friend for about $2.99. It is a type of cleanser that you can get at your local hardware store rather than buying it online. Save the environment from all that packaging and keep your local shops in business while you're at it.
Do not mistake this for any kind of cleanser, such as Bon Ami or Comet, which have their uses. Barkeeper's Friend is not earth friendly like Bon Ami, but it is also the only cleaner that will work.
Again, opinions vary on the web regarding Barkeeper's Friend. Some say you need to scrub after letting it soak. Some say to combine it with bleach to create a really toxic blend. Neither of these are true. For a toilet that was covered in scratches from multiple snakes, this was all that was needed:
Shake the canister a few times. The water will be cloudy. Let soak for 15-30 mins, depending on how much of a clock-watcher you are. Flush.
The metal stains--which is what those scratches really are--will be gone.
3) Frizzy hair: There are a lot of solutions, including Bumble and Bumble, Frederic Fekkai olive oil glossing collection, and Sebastian Laminates. Or you can turn once more to Trader Joe's, who sells their own brand of Refresh Conditioner that smells vaguely like oranges. In itself, it is alright but doesn't help those with frizzy hair. However, add 1/4 cup of olive oil. You will need to pour some condition out initially in order to accommodate the olive oil. Shake well. The olive oil will stay suspended throughout the conditioner--no need to worry about separating.
The result? For $2.99, you get conditioner that smooths your hair, makes it shiny and healthy. Sure, if you want to spend $30-$50 on name brand products, you can. Or you can be smart. And maybe donate some of that money you saved to a better cause.
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