If left untreated, mites can cause your mouse to itch and scratch constantly, making feel him worse and worse over time. Your vet will prescribe one of the available mite-killing medications. These medications can by injected (by your vet), given by mouth (by you), or put on your mouse’s skin (by you). Follow your vet’s treatment instructions carefully.  A drug called ivermectin is a common mite-killing treatment for pet mice. Although ivermectin can be given by mouth or applied directly to the skin, skin application is the safer and more effective choice. If you are unsure how to give the treatment, ask your veterinarian to show you how. Since you will need to clean your mouse's cage, keep him in a separate cage with all of his necessities (food, water, toys) until he has finished treatment. Bedding is a common source of mites in pet mice. To prevent your mouse from getting re-infected with mites, remove and discard all of his cage’s bedding. Clean and disinfect his cage before you put fresh and clean bedding in the cage. After removing the cage accessories, clean the cage with hot water, detergent, and a scrub brush. To clean the accessories, put them all in a large bucket filled with hot, soapy water and clean them with a scrub brush (not the same one you used to clean the cage). Use a second bucket to rinse the accessories before disinfecting them.  Use an unscented dish soap. Clean the inside and outside of the cage. To disinfect, mix 1/2 tablespoon of bleach per 1 gallon of cold water. Put some of this solution in a spray bottle and spray the inside and outside of your mouse’s cage. You can either wipe the cage dry after 2 minutes or let it air dry. For the cage accessories, add the bleach solution to another bucket and let the accessories soak for about 30 seconds. Let them air dry before putting them in the cage. When cleaning and disinfecting your mouse’s cage, you should not be able to smell the cleaning agent.

Summary: Treat your pet mouse right away. Remove the bedding from your mouse’s cage. Clean your mouse’s cage and its accessories. Disinfect the cage and its accessories.


Some vehicle’s owner’s manuals will suggest that you can use a range of octane levels when choosing fuel.  Automakers suggest that in vehicles designed for multiple octane ratings, using the lower octane option may compromise the performance of your engine slightly.  However, research has shown that the difference in the performance of these engines while using the lower octane options has been negligible at best.  For most driving applications, using the less expensive, lower octane fuel will come with no adverse effects.  If your owner’s manual allows for a range of octane levels, choose the one that best fits your budget. Remember that the drop in the performance of your engine at a lower octane is negligible under most driving conditions. You may have heard the expression, “the air is thinner” at high altitude.  The “thinning” of the air is caused by a reduced amount of oxygen in the ambient air around you.  The higher you are, the less oxygen can reach you and your engine.  Effectively, driving at a high altitude affects your engine in the same way reducing the compression ratio would.  With less oxygen entering each cylinder, the likelihood of pre-detonation is reduced.  At many locations that are 5,000 feet above sea level or higher, 85 octane fuel is sold for this very reason.  If you live in a high elevation area (4,000 feet above sea level or higher) you can safely run a lower octane fuel than you might closer to sea level. Remember that running a lower octane fuel can become risky if you drive your vehicle to a lower elevation. If you find yourself in a situation where your engine could benefit from an increase in the octane of the fuel its running, either because of extreme weather or severe duty driving, you can add ethanol to the fuel to increase its stability.  Ethanol is a form of alcohol with an average octane rating of about 109, and mixing it with fuel can increase the octane rating of an entire tank.  Most gasoline purchased in the United States is already about ten percent ethanol. You can purchase ethanol octane boosters at most auto parts stores and many large retailers. Always add ethanol to a full tank of gas. Regardless of the octane level you choose, running top tier gas in your vehicle will increase the engine’s longevity, as well as possibly improving your gas mileage and performance.  To be considered a top tier fuel distributor, your gas must contain at least three times the required detergent levels set by the EPA.  Premium fuel often contains higher levels of these detergents, so you may opt to purchase premium fuel strictly because it will reduce the likelihood of your fuel system clogging.  You can find top tier gas at a number of gas stations, including:  BP (British Petroleum) Texaco Costco Exxon

Summary: Take your budget into account. Take the altitude into account. Add octane boosters to increase fuel stability. Look for top tier gas.


Tap out any excess flour. Whisk until blended well. In a large bowl, combine the vegan butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer (with paddle attachment for stand mixers) on medium speed, or with a fork and some gumption if you don't have an electric mixer. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture in three batches alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Scrape the batter into the greased-and-floured pan and spread evenly. Bake for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the blueberries, sugar, cinnamon and flour. Mix with a fork, lightly crushing the blueberries. After the cake has baked for 10 minutes, sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the cake. Continue baking until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes longer. The sides will brown a little. Run a knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Using a thick, dry dish towel to protect your hands, invert a large, flat plate on top of the cake pan and, holding both the pan and plate, invert them together. Lift the pan off, then invert a flat serving plate on the bottom of the cake and invert the cake once more so the blueberries are on top.

Summary: Place an oven rack on the middle rung, then heat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Lightly grease and flour the bottom and sides of the cake pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mash the bananas together with a fork ina small bowl until it resembles baby food. Add half of the banana mush to the butter-sugar blend and beat until just blended, then add the vanilla and the remaining banana together. Put into the oven. Make the topping. Add the topping. Transfer the cake to a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.


Beyond being unsightly, mold in your bathroom can contribute to health problems. Fortunately, getting rid of mold is not difficult. Add 1/2 cup (118 ml) of white vinegar to your toilet bowl or spray it directly onto mold. Then, scrub mold away with a toilet brush. Another tried-and-true product for removing mold is ordinary bleach. Add 1/4 cup (59 ml) of bleach to your toilet bowl, or spray diluted bleach directly onto mold. Then scrub mold away using a toilet brush. A less commonly-used, but still very effective product for removing mold is tea tree essential oil. Add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to your toilet bowl or spray a tea tree oil solution (5-10 drops of oil to a bottle of water) directly onto any moldy spots. Scrub with a toilet brush. If left to sit for too long in your toilet, all 3 of these products could potentially damage the inner-workings. As such, it is important to flush these products out of your toilet system. After scrubbing with any of these products, be sure to flush the toilet at least 3 times.
Summary: Use white vinegar. Apply bleach. Try tea tree oil. Flush your toilet at least 3 times.