HOMECARE AND HOUSEHOLD TIPS

• To keep flies away: Hang bunches of dries lavender in a room or add lavender to your flower arrangements

• To get cookers sparkling clean: Clean with a mixture of brown vinegar and soap liquid – great results.

• To remove baked on grease in microwaves – slices pieces of lemon and place in a microwave container with water – heat in microwave for 2-3 minutes. This releases the grease, allowing you to wipe away easily.

• When a spill occurs in the oven, sprinkle with salt immediately. When oven is cool, brush off burnt food and wipe with a damp sponge.

• To clean glass windows, apply white vinegar to a clean soft cloth to wipe surface, then buff to a shine with crumpled newspaper.

• Soak ‘cloudy’ drinking glasses in warmed white vinegar for a few hours to remove the film. Then wipe clean, rinse and dry.

• Clean your fridge with white vinegar – it will help to prevent mildew.

• To restore brass pot bottoms to a shiny state, mix white vinegar with salt; apply to pots and leave to soak for 1 hour. Wash pots thoroughly with warm soapy water.

• To remove lime scale and mould from taps, saturate tissue in white vinegar and use a plastic bag & elastic band to tie around taps for 24 hours. Remove and rinse thoroughly to obtain a shiny result.

• To restore silver jewellery to its original state, line a small bowl with foil (shiny side up) and fill with hot water. Add a generous amount of soda crystals and place jewellery in for a few seconds. Remove and rub off jewellery with a soft cloth or scrub with an old toothbrush to restore shine.

• To create your own dehydration fluids. Combine 1 litre of boiled water with 1 table spoon brown sugar, 1 lime or half lemon and a pinch of salt – allow to cool and drink one cup every hour (or 10 ml every 20 minutes if vomiting) for 24 hours. Consult your GP if there are no signs of improvement

• To remove Chewing Gum from clothing:

• brush on beaten egg white and wipe off or freeze item overnight then scrape off gum or

• brush with white vinegar – it works in minutes

• Use lemon juice and vinegar to clean your stainless steel appliances – it will bring out the shine.

• To remove burnt marks on grill pans and ovens, use household ammonia – it comes up like new.

• A teaspoon of lemon juice added to butter and sugar will make cakes very light.

• To keep cake fresh

• Cut an apple in half and place in the cake box or
• Attach, using toothpicks, a slice of fresh bread to the cut edge of the cake

• Rinse saucepan in very cold water before boiling milk; the pan will not get coated with milk while heating. This makes for much easier cleaning.

• To soften hard brown sugar, place in a glass dish, add a slice of white bread or apple; cover and put in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.

• When cooking cauliflower, add a little milk to the water; it will remain white.

• A slice of lemon cooked with cabbage will absorb the cooking odour.

• When cooking fish simmer a small pan of vinegar on the cooker; it will absorb the smell.

• Refrigerate your onions before chopping and there will be no tears!

• Potato salad is best made from potatoes cooked in their jackets and peeled and marinated whilst still warm.

• Lemon juice on cut bananas will keep them from darkening.

• Perk up soggy lettuce by adding lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and soaking it for an hour in the fridge.

• Remove the tops of carrots before storing. Tops absorb moisture and nutrients from the carrots.

• To prevent spaghetti or noodles from sticking together or boiling over, add a few teaspoons of cooking oil to the water.

• Line the bottom your vegetable compartment with paper towel. This absorbs the excess moisture and keeps fruits and vegetables fresher for a longer period of time.

• Spots on stainless steel can be removed with white vinegar.

• To remove candle drips from carpet, use a brown paper bag as a blotter and run a hot iron over it; the wax will be absorbed.