30 Household Hints

30 Household Hints

1. Spray plastic food containers with non-stick cooking spray to prevent tomato based products like paste or sauce from staining.

2. If your oven racks no longer slide in and out easily, rub the outer edge of the rack with petroleum jelly.

3. To brighten copper pots that have become blackened over open flames, use a mixture of salt and lemon juice and then rinse with tepid water.

4. Turn the lid from a shoe box upside down and set your toaster in it to prevent crumbs from scattering over your kitchen counter. You can cover the lid with a decorative adhesive or wall paper to match your kitchen decor.

5. Remove burned on food from baking dishes by applying a liberal amount of baking soda to the burnt food, then cover with water. Let sit for a few hours, and wipe clean.

6. For an inexpensive copper cleaner, mix 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of vinegar.

7. Use a paste made from baking soda and water to remove coffee and tea stains from china or porcelain.

8. A box of baking soda in the refrigerator or freezer takes away odors and keeps them fresh. Replace box about every two months.

9. Don't throw out "old " baking soda. Use it to refresh sink drains and old garbage cans. Pour in the baking soda, then rinse with hot water.

10.Make silver polish with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub into silver with a clean cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft clean cloth.

11.Place a piece of chalk in your silver chest to prevent tarnishing.

12.Rust marks on linoleum can be removed with lemon juice.

13.A paste made of salt and olive oil will remove heat rings from furniture. Apply this to the ring and allow to stand for at least one hour.

14.Use a drop of baby oil to add shine to a stainless steel sink or chrome appliances.

15.Use ketchup to clean copper. Rub it on, then rinse off the residue with warm soapy water.

16.To remove crayon marks from walls and painted furniture, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and rub gently. Wipe dry.

17.Attach a stick-on air freshener to one of the blades on your ceiling fan. Turn the fan on to a low setting, to circulate the fragrance.

18.Try rubbing furniture polish on the top of your ceiling fan blades to minimize dust from settling on these hard to reach places.

19.To remove the smell of cigarette smoke or cigar smoke from a room within minutes, dip a small towel in equal amounts of vinegar and water. Ring out the towel and wave it around the room.

20.Pour a small amount of clean fine sand-like cat litter into ashtrays to extinguish cigars and cigarettes quickly. Clean-up will be easier and odors will be reduced.

21. Ripen green tomatoes quickly by placing them, along with an already ripe apple, in a paper bag for 2 days. For best results, maintain a ratio of about 5 or 6 tomatoes per apple. 

22. Keep your wooden or plastic cutting board clean by occasionally scrubbing it with a paste made from 1 tbsp each of soda bicarbonate , salt and water. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. 

23. To get rid of smells and dried - up spills inside the refrigerator, remove the contents, and then sprinkle some soda bicarb on a damp sponge and scrub the sides, shelves and compartments. Rinse with a clean and wet sponge. 

24. To clean your microwave, put a solution of 2 tbsp of soda bicarbonate in a cup of water in a microwave - safe container and cook on high for 2-3 mins. Remove the container, and then wipe down the microwave’s damp interior with a damp paper towel. 

25. Freshly cut flowers will stay longer if you add ¼ tsp. bleach per litre of vase water. 3 drops bleach and 1 tsp. sugar in 1 litre of water will also prevent the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria. 

26. Rose and other cut flowers keep fresh longer if crushed aspirin is putin the water. Other household items that can be added to extend the life of your flower arrangements include: a multivitamin, a tsp of sugar, a pinch of salt and soda bicarb. 

27. Clean artificial flowers by placing them in a paper bag with ¼ cup of salt. Give the bag a few gentle shakes and your flowers will emerge as clean as the day you bought them. 

28. The easiest way to pick up glass fragments is to press a slice of bread over the area. 

29. Tie a dozen pieces of chalk together and hang them in your damp cupboard. The chalk will absorb the moisture help prevent mildew. Replace the bunch with a fresh bunch every few months. 

30. To clean stuffed toys, rub a little corn flour onto the toy, wait about 5 minutes and then brush it clean.