Time Saving, Money Saving, Clever Ideas

“Lots of tips and ideas are filed in this category, everything from homemaking to tips for frugal living. “

1. Keep insects out of your flour and sugar by placing a bay leaf in the sack.

2. Put on rubber or latex gloves so you can grip really well when trying to twist open a jar lid that is stuck.

3. If your child has trouble holding a glass, slip several rubber bands around the glass at regular intervals. The glass will be much easier to grip.

4. Get that yucky onion smell off your hands by washing them with dry mustard.

5. Stop the tears flowing when peeling onions, especially with large quantities for pickles etc. Peel and cut onions in half, place in a plastic bag in a single layer and put in the freezer. When frozen (usually a few hours, depending on quantity), remove from freezer, leave for a short time so they are not too hard, then chop or slice with a sharp knife.

6. Save orange, lemon and lime peels, apple skins (dry them out first before storing in a container) and add assorted spices. Add your favorite ingredients and simmer in a pot of water for an hour or more. This helps humidify the home and keep it smelling fresh.

7. Keep an open box of baking soda in your fridge at all times to ward off stinky smells.

8. Place an empty paper bag over an electric light globe before removing it from its socket. If the globe should shatter, the bag will hold the pieces and avoid what could be a nasty accident.

9. To re-use an old paint roller tray or to keep a new one clean, simply place the tray into a plastic supermarket bag or small garbage bin liner. Pour in the paint and the bag will sink into the shape of the tray. When you’ve finished, take off the bag and dispose of it, leaving your tray ready to use next time, with out cleaning.

10. Grow an aloe vera plant in a pot near the kitchen door. Break off a leaf and apply the juice for the best-ever relief from burns or insect bites. The plant will grow and proliferate with little care apart from some occasional watering. It’s a natural remedy, virtually free, and unequalled for burns from stove or iron.

11. Cloudy or dull glassware will come out of your dishwasher crystal clear and sparkling if you add approximately one tablespoon of Epsom salts to your next wash cycle.

12. Scuff marks caused by shoes on vinyl floors, which usually take hard scrubbing to get off, can be easily removed by wiping with a small quantity of eucalyptus oil on a paper towel.

13. Save money by making your own window cleaner. Add 3 Tbsp Ammonia and 1 Tbsp vinegar to a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water and use just like Colin. Use old newspaper to wipe off the cleaner for a streak free finish.

14. Lots of sticky/dirty fingers living in your house? Spray your walls and doors with starch to resist fingerprints.

15. Use a post-it note between the keys on your keyboard to clean up the crumbs and dust that have collected.

16. For beautiful, shiny clean jewellery, use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste. Rub lightly, rinse and polish with a towel. Diamonds and gold will simply glow.

17. Store all your silver jewelry in an airtight baggie. It will prevent tarnishing.