Every well-run household has its own unique solutions and quick fixes to keep it humming smoothly. Here are some of our favorite pearls of domestic wisdom to add to your collection.
- Have you tried baby wipes on carpet stains? They work so well, you'll be wondering why no one told you sooner!
- Keep candles in the refrigerator for several hours before use to slow down dripping and make them last longer.
- The best way to attack cooked-on spatters in your microwave: Heat a half-cup of water for two minutes on high. The steam will soften the food and the mess will wipe right out.
- To eliminate cooking odors (fish, fried bacon, gar1ic, etc.) heat white vinegar in an uncovered pot on the stove. (Don't boil.) Remove after 30 minutes. The light vinegar smell dissipates quickly, taking odors with it.
- When run through your coffee grinder, a handful of dried rice will sharpen the blades.
- After your next party, share flat, leftover beer with your garden. Plants love the yeast.
- Place unusable remnants of soap in a ventilated plastic bag and pack it away with seasonal clothes. This will keep the moths away, and your clothes will smell much better when you take them out of storage.
- Ants hate anything spicy. Sprinkle ground pepper, cayenne, even cinnamon, in their path, and you'll stop them in their tracks.
- After your next party, share flat, leftover beer with your garden. Plants love the yeast.
- Your chimney will stay clean if you throw a handful of salt on the fire.
- To clean tarnished silverware: Line a large cake pan with aluminum foil. fill with 8 cups of warm water 150°) mixed with 1/4 cup of baking soda. Lay silverware in pan, and watch the stains disappear.
- Fill nail holes with a paste made from cornstarch and water. Works just as well as putty!
- Leather needs to breathe, so never hang coats or jackets in plastic. Instead, make a dust cover from a pillowcase by cutting a hole in the top for a hanger.
- When a wooden door or gate sticks, bring out the hair dryer. By blowing hot air directly on the wood where it's sticking, you'll remove the moisture and the swelling will go down.
- Squeaky doors? For a dripless solution, use petroleum jelly on the hinges instead of oil.
- Simmer a sliced apple and a couple of cinnamon sticks in water on your stove. Your whole house will smell like apple pie.
# posted by Gregg Maul @ 4:20 PM
