All these tips were received in an email & found on the Internet. Don’t blame me if they don’t work! heheh I’ve tried the ones with an asterisk (*) and added some notes in red.
Bed Sheets *
After drying your sheets, put both of the neatly folded sheets and one of the pillowcases in the other pillowcase. The next time you change sheets, you just take out the one pillowcase with the sheets and the other pillowcase inside. No need to look for matches. Works great!
Reheat Pizza *
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove—set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy microwave pizza. Perfect pizza!
Easy Deviled Eggs *
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal the bag and mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients (my recipe: mayo, mustard, black pepper, dill weed, celery seeds, and a dash of cayenne pepper), reseal, keep mashing it up, mixing thoroughly. Cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze the mixture into the egg. Then simply throw bag away when done—easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and take in fewer calories per serving.
Reheating Refrigerated Bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
My trick is to put them in a zip lock bag, squeeze out the air and zip it closed. Nuke it just until the bag starts to inflate—perfectly steamed!
Newspaper Keeps Weeds Away
Start by putting in your plants. Work your normal nutrients into your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds WILL get through some gardening plastics. They will NOT get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken pieces of glass—the fibers catch ones you can’t see!
My trick is to wrap masking or duct tape, sticky side up, around an old dry sponge and dab the floor to pick up any small pieces you might have missed.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn’t hurt the plant and the squirrels won’t come near it. To keep them from eating all of your bird seed, add red pepper flakes to the seed. The birds aren’t bothered by it, but the squirrels hate it!
Thank You Cards
When you throw a bridal/baby shower, buy a pack of Thank You cards for the guest of honor. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride/new mother gets ready to write out the thank you notes, they’re all addressed!
Bike ID
If you purchase a new bike for your child, place his/her picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. If the bike is ever stolen and later recovered, you can remove the grip and there is your proof who actually owns the bike.
Splinters
Smart splinter remover. Just pour a drop of Elmer’s Glue over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
Flexible Vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the ’fridge, add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum hose. It can be bent or flattened to get into those narrow openings.
Safeguarding Valuables
Take pictures of antiques, jewelry and other valuable items in your house. Burn them onto a CD and store in a safe spot (e.g. bank safe deposit box). If there’s a robbery or natural disaster, you will have a visual record for insurance purposes.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. The same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing pantyhose. Place the pin in seam of slacks and—voila!—static is gone.
Spilled Candle Wax *
Set iron to the lowest setting, place paper towel over wax, and iron the wax stain...it will absorb into the towel. Works like a charm!
I.C.E. *
In Case of Emergency. On your cell phone, add an entry with the name “ICE” and someone’s phone number for the paramedics or police to call in case you’re in an accident or other emergency. I have ICE on my cell phone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient (such as peanut butter) and watch how easily it comes right out.
Blood Stains on Clothes
Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!
I’ve heard this works on whites, not sure if it works on colors. I’ve also been told hospitals use this on bedding.
Foggy Windshield
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog up, rub with the eraser! It works better than a cloth!
Stop Itchy Mosquito Bites
To get rid of that pesky itch from mosquito bites, try applying a drop of ammonia on the area and you will experience instant relief.
My parents swear by it.
Storing Cords
Use an empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It’s a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It’s also a great way to use up the conditioner that you bought but didn’t like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass and pour in 1⁄2" of Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid—mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Unclog a Drain
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it “home” & can’t digest it, so it kills them. It may take a week or so (especially if it rains) but it works. and you don’t have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Scratched CDs
Wipe a small amount of peanut butter onto the scratched CD. Wipe off with a coffee filter paper.
Sand Be Gone
Take baby powder to the beach. Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you’re ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder. The sand will slide right off your skin.
Puffy Eyes
Apply Preparation H under your eyes.
Reopening Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.
Glass Shower Doors
To clean the glass in your shower easily, apply lemon juice to the glass with a sponge. Then, take newspaper and wipe the lemon juice off the glass. It will be clean and sparkle with no scrubbing!
Kids’ Finger Paint
Kool Aid in plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
