Grannymar

We have all done it - struggled to find the opening end on the roll of sticky tape.  Problem solved.  Use a small coin or a paper clip placed on the roll side just before you cut the tape, when the cut end falls back to the roll the end is always visible.

Do you want to remove pilling knots on sweaters?  Just rub a piece of sandpaper over the sweater.

When roasting poultry truss it with dental floss, it will hold the legs in position and not burn.

To keep potatoes from sprouting store them in the dark or with apples in the same container.

Tired of coating food with plain old bread crumbs? Why not substitute the bread with crushed crisps/potato chips, cereal flakes or pretzels. I also use the dust from my muesli.

“Take a pair of sparkling eyes,
Hidden, ever and anon,
In a merciful eclipse–
Do not heed their mild surprise–
Having passed the Rubicon,
Take a pair of rosy lips…..”

Never mind the sparkling eyes, just take a bar of soap instead:

Use a bar of soap as a pin cushion.  While sewing the soap on the needle or pins helps them to pass through the fabric easily.

If a light bulb breaks in the socket there is an easy remedy.  Switch off the power and then stick a bar of soap into jagged edges, use soap as a handle and twist to remove the broken bulb.

During the recent very hot weather the tarmac on the roads and pavements was melting.  To remove road tar from cars use sodium bicarbonate on a damp cloth or a little drop of petrol on a soft dry cloth to remove it.

Two DIY tips for the handy person:

To keep nails from splitting wood. Blunt sharp end of nail before you use it by tapping the point with a hammer.

When drilling tiles; to prevent the drill from slipping and scratching the surface of the tiles, put a strip of plaster on the tile where you wish to drill and work as normal.

Little did I realise thirty weeks ago when I made an appearance on RTE’s The Afternoon Show that it would lead to a regular post every Wednesday for handy hints.  The hints came easily at first, but in the last couple of weeks I have found it more of a struggle.  I am running a little dry for new tips at the moment.  Last week the well was very dry and in a mini panic I threw down the gauntlet to my blogging friends.  You all responded and we had fun, laughter and helpful hints!  If the drought continues I will discontinue this regular spot and find another way to fill a Wednesday.

In the mean time…

Recently I recieved via several emails the tip of how to open a locked car with the keys inside.  The method assumed that the car had a bleep system to unlock the doors.  The tip involved using a mobile phone to call the other holder of said keys and have them click their bleeper into the phone as you pointed your phone at the dashboard.  During the week I spoke to an RAC man trying to open a locked car.  I asked if he had tried the method above and he informed me that it ONLY works for Renault cars.  So if you got that email, don’t depend on it working for you!

In Ireland we are experiencing some welcome hot weather.  Perhaps with the heat you find it hard to sleep.  Baby powder sprinkled on the sheets will absorb moisture, make the bed smell nice and aid sleeping.

When you are going to the beach for the day, leave the rug at home and take an old flat sheet instead.  The sand won’t stick in the fibres and it will be easy to launder at the end of the day.  Sales & bargain bins are a great place to find odd sheets for this purpose.

If you are feeling a little overcooked after a day in the sun, try soaking in a cool (but not cold) bath with a handful of bicarbonate of soda swished in the water. A half hour should do the job nicely!

Try to keep the freezer full, it works better this way particularly in summer.  Loaves of bread help fill the extra space.

Today for a change I am trying something different -

Please share your most useful Handy Hint.

Everyone has a particular favourite, so come on don’t be shy.

Who will be the first…..

I think I will have to stop writing these tips late at night.  They seem to make me giddy and the more I laugh the harder the task becomes. for instance:-

Jayes Fluid in a ratio of 12 mls to 5 litres of water will remove moss from a bed.  *I thought he went home yesterday* (Cork people will get that one!)

Peel and cube fresh pineapple or melon and open freeze in a single layer.  When frozen bag up to store until required.  Very refreshing on a hot day and better than a commercial icepop.  It also works for well washed and dried grapes.

If you take regular medication, keep a list with the name, strength of each one and the number of times per day required, on your person.  That way you have it should an emergency arise.  Remember to update the list.

A few weeks ago we talked about putting the small ends of soap bars into little mesh bags.  Tie one of them to the water tap,in the garden, that way you can clean mucky hands and leave the mess outside.

When you return from holiday or business trip, clean out your toilet bag and refill or replace toiletries such as showergel or shampoo etc.  That way you are ready to fly off at a moments notice.

A couple of days with bright sunshine brings a warm glow to many a heart.  On the off chance that it continues I’ll begin with a summer-time tip for days by the sea.

To soothe a jellyfish sting and relieve itching douse the area with vinegar.

Who asked about mosquito bites?  To relieve the itch, apply hand soap to the area for instant relief.

Non gel toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

To prevent wicker furniture turning yellow, clean it by scrubbing with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water.  The salt will do the trick.

To remove food smells from plastic storage boxes, fill with warm water and add a little dry mustard.  Let it soak for an hour or more and then wash as normal.

Recently while shopping browsing looking (with money and cards buried deep in my pocket) around a rather elegant ladies clothing shop, a blast from the past accosted my nostrils. Something I associated with the next door neighbour from my childhood days. It was the smell of mothballs. A lady of a certain age had passed close by me. Her outfit was elegant, expensive and very high fashion. Alas the mothballs had killed the whole effect. PERMANENTLY!

Moths are beginning to make an appearance once more, so what can we do?

The best method to keep the moths away is to keep worn clothes and freshly laundered clothes in separate wardrobes/closets. Save and dry slivers of used soap bars & tie them in tiny net drawstring bags and hang them alongside your clothes. Now, not only will the moths stay away but your clothes will also smell nice.

For those without a garden who need to buy fresh herbs, wrap any leftovers in a slightly damp kitchen towel and place them in a plastic zip lock bag or cover with food wrap and store in the refrigerator to keep them for a few days.

Another tip from Judy that I tested over the last week.

Put any musty smelling old books into a brown paper bag with baking soda in it, close tightly, and let sit for approximately one week.

The next time your mascara runs dry, don’t toss it out. The brush is the perfect size for cleaning small nooks and crannies. Shampoo the bristles and allow them to dry - and get to work!

With all this talk of flu

If you have a sore throat you can soothe a throat by using a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle the solution, and then swallow. You can also add a touch of honey if you don’t like the taste.

Today I begin with an answer to an email request:

Any advice on how to get rid of mice?!

Thankfully I have not had trouble with mice for years.  A brother of mine grills bacon and puts a tiny bit in a trap while it is still warm.  Another friend suggests a tiny slice of Mars Bar.

I am beginning to wonder if I am a mouse since I can’t resist either of the above!

Do you grow Tomatoes?

Well an addition of crushed eggshells will give extra calcium to the soil & help prevent blossom end rot.

Remove the membrane from inside the shell of raw eggs (no need on boiled ones), wash them out well with warm water, and then leave them to air dry. When dry to the touch, put them into a see-through plastic then use the rolling pin to crush them. Once your shells are reduced to pieces as small as grains of salt, it is ready for working into you soil or sprinkling over your compost heap.

Wisewebwoman uses them instead of pebbles at the bottom of flowerpots for drainage and nutrition.

Judy had some suggestions last week that she had not tested, I have and they work.

In a pinch for a long match, use a piece of spaghetti. Just light the end. It’s great for lighting water heater pilot lights, etc. Please be careful as the spaghetti will bend as it heats.

Use glow-in-the-dark paint to dab dots on your light switches and doorknobs. This way you can easily find your way when the lights are off at night.

Oil a metal tape measure with WD-40. It will remove rust and help it slide more easily.

An extra tip this week

NB: NB: NB: NB: NB: NB: NB: NB:

When you turn the key in the back door to lock it…. REMOVE the key!

Come back on Friday and I will tell you why!

Eggs were on the menu on Monday and I start off with some eggie hints today.

Boiled eggs for breakfast? The water you boil your eggs in will acquire some calcium and other helpful minerals from the shells, when cooled it can be used as a liquid feed for your houseplants.

After cooking scrambled eggs, soaking your pan with hot water and a half cup of vinegar will clean up the pan easily while neutralizing that egg smell.

Need an emergency piping bag in a hurry? Use a re-sealable freezer bag with a corner cut off.

To remove ink spots from clothing, while the ink is wet, apply lemon juice liberally to the spot, and then wash the garment in a normal cycle with regular detergent using cold water

Wicker furniture should be cleaned by scrubbing with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water/salt will help keep your wicker from turning yellow.

And finally….. if you need a lift…..

I found this while surfing the net the other day!

The Cheese Sandwich for when you don’t have any clean plates or cutlery by ellyjelly

Before you ask -.-.-.- It is NOT my Elly

I think you all guessed I was having a little fun last week with it being April Fool’s day.  Today I have more serious hints for you.

Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

If you have a toe fungus problem use one part vinegar to one part warm water and soak your feet. This repeated over the course of a week will clear up your toenails.

To remove the smell of garlic, onions, or fish from a cutting board wash with lemon juice.

Poached fish will be firmer and whiter if you add lemon juice to the cooking liquid.

Feeling flat in the afternoon? Mix two teaspoons of Angostura bitters in a glass of tonic water and sip.  The mixture of the quinine in the tonic and the bark extracts in the bitters will refresh and revive you.