ONIONS: The next time you cut up an onion, hold an unlit wooden match between your teeth to reduce tearing.
VEGETABLES: Cook green vegetables in an uncovered pot for four to five minutes in salted water. Drain vegetables such as asparagus, beans, Brussels sprouts and spinach and then immediately immerse them in cold water. This extra step locks in colour and flavour.
GREENS: Bury a handful of nails around trees with yellow leaves. Water regularly. The plant is said to extract the iron it needs from the nails causing the leaves to green up.
WATER: Before cooking, smear the inside edge of the pot with oil to prevent water from boiling over the rim.
OIL: To cure a squeaky hinge, cut a circle the size of a washer out of felt and soak it with oil. Remove the hinge pin, put the washer on it and reinsert pin.
WASHER: After purchasing new towels, wash them separately four to five times before adding them to other loads because residual dyes may ruin clothes. Tip: Do not use fabric softener when drying towels; it makes them less absorbent. Also, for fluffier towels, do not dry them completely after washing.
TOWELS: Ever wonder why your towels have small white marks on them? Bleach spots on bath towels and washcloths may be caused by whitening agents in toothpastes, creams and soaps. Extra Tip: If you have a pull on a towel, cut it off rather then ripping it thus ruining the textile.
TEXTILES: Pullover bibs for babies can be made by cutting the sleeves and back off of old sweatshirts (zig zag the edges).
BABIES: Use baby wipes to remove carpet stains. Success has been reported on spills such as blood, ketchup and motor oil.
KETCHUP: To polish copper and really make it shine, rub ketchup on it. Let stand for 10 minutes. Rinse under hot water.
RINSING: Clean your washing machine by rinsing hoses and unclogging soap scum. Pour one cup vinegar into an empty washing machine and run the regular cycle.
CLEANING: To clean spills in the microwave oven, cover the spill with a damp washcloth and turn the microwave on high for 10-12 seconds. The mess will wipe away easily.
MICROWAVE: Use the last bit of lipstick in a tube and mix it together with petroleum jelly to make lip gloss. Heat the solution in the microwave for one minute and stir. Let harden before using.
HEAT: When you find photographs stuck together, heat them on a low setting with a hair dryer.
STUCK TOGETHER: Keep your fingers from becoming stuck together when gluing or painting by slipping small plastic bags over your hands (if you need to get the phone you can easily remove the bags).
I enjoy your questions and tips. Keep them coming!
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, MB, ROA 0C0.
