More Useful Tips

So make up for lost time and start reading now.

Thanks are due to 'Cousin June' in the United States for this fantastic list of useful tips.

1. To open a sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife carefully under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.

Possibly a questionable tip but very naughty and handy!

2. Use an empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll which appliance it belongs to.

3. For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. This should save nasty bumps in unfortunate places.

4. To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out. This is a particularly useful tip because otherwise the vase could easily be damaged if any other method was used.

5. Do you have young children in the house and crayon marks on walls? This works well! Take a damp cloth, dip in baking soda and gently work at the crayon mark. Comes off with little effort.

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7. Whenever you purchase a box of metal scouring pads such as Brillo/S.O.S Pads, take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into half. This saves having to throw away rusted and half used smelly pads, This is so much more economical and keeps your scissors well sharpened as well. Two useful tips in one!

8. Blood stains on Clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Soaking in a bowl of heavily salted, cold water also works.

9. Use vertical strokes when cleaning windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. 1/3rd white vinegar in 2/3rds cold water mixed in an old spray bottle will make your job cheaper and easier. Don't clean windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will streak. Not a lot of people know about this useful tip which can save so much time, energy and frustration.

10. Are you having guests for dinner or a romantic night in? Spray some perfume on a (cold) light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on. Particularly good for side or table lights.

11. Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

12. To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm! A useful tip that also saves money.

13. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet/frying pan, simply add a drop or two of dish soap or detergent and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top. Leave to cool, then scour out.

14. Spray your Tupperware or other plastic containers with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains. Thanks again to Cousin June for so many useful tips.

15. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

16. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help enhance the corn's natural sweetness.

17. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

18. Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces ... Left Over what? What's that?

19. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experiance instant relief.

20. Ants, ants, ants everywhere. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself. Also shake your old talcum powder over them. They will return to their next and the talc will kill them and the others still in the nest.

21. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape/selotape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off in the right direction. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

22. Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer ... Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes - Brush and flush. My goodness - what does it do to your stomach!

23. Coke also works on the one above! The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China. Same remark applies!

24. More uses for Alka Selzer: Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

25. Polish Jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

26. Clean a thermos flask. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or overnight, if necessary).

27. Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of White Vinegar. Wait for a couple of minues and then run the hot water.