**New!** Grate cheese over a sheet of kitchen paper - saves on dishes and mess! Thanks, Stephanie!
**New!** To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
**New!** To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
**New!** Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispie treats into the pan--the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers. And to add a special touch to them, add vanilla to the melted butter and marshmallows. It makes them taste fabulous!
**New!** To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of the pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop. The skillet will be much easier to clean.
**New!** Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator--it will keep for weeks.
**New!** Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it up.
Laminate your favorite recipe cards with a piece of clear contact paper. That way, if you do happen to have an accident, you won't lose a favorite recipe.
Put a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to stop ice cream dripping out the bottom.
Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces after browning.
Use a potato masher to combine ingredients for meatloaf.
Got ripe bananas? You can save them for baking later by either mashing them and put them in one cup portions to freeze, or you could peel them and put them in freezer bags whole and freeze.
To get the most juice out of citrus fruits, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm on the counter before squeezing.
Transfer your jelly into a small plastic squeeze bottle. No more messy, sticky jars or knives! You can also do this with homemade salad dressing.
To make washing dishes a little easier, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water. This will help to cut down on grease. You can also add vinegar to your rinse water to help cut grease and spots on your dishes!
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead. No white mess on the outside of the cake!
If you've over salted a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato. It will absorb the excess salt so the dish won't be a total loss.
Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer. Perfect size, no hard ice cubes, and no watery leaks from a plastic baggie!
Rinse cooked ground beef with water when draining it to wash off even more of the fat.
To revive limp vegetables, put them in cold water and put them in the refrigerator. Soon, your veggies should perk up!
Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes to greatly reduce the fat content.
Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to get a beautiful bakery style finish.
Place a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it floats, throw it away!
Don't throw out leftover wine-freeze it into ice cubes for future use in sauces and casseroles.
To make jars open a litte easier, try opening them wearing rubber gloves. You could also try cutting a piece of non-slip shelf liner into a 5 inch square and keeping that handy-it works great!
Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potatoes on the stains and rinse with water.
If you spray the tops of your syrup and molasses bottles and caps with cooking spray, the caps won't get stuck. Submitted by Aunt Mare
Clean and disinfect your sponges and even dishclothes in the dishwasher. They come out smelling fresh and germ free! Submitted by Sallye
When covering a cake or other dessert with plastic wrap, stick toothpicks in it so the plastic wrap will "float" above the dessert and not stick to it.
Whether you have a dishwasher or do your dishes by hand, you'll save time by sorting the silverware. I put all the forks; knives and spoons in a different section of the dishwasher, that way you just have to grab the lot of it and put it away. You can sort it when you're hand washing it, too-just separate it in the dish drain.
Keep a softener sheet in the bottom of garbage cans to keep them smelling...well, not bad!
When baking messy things, or just to make clean-up easier, line your pans with aluminum foil.
Spray plastic containers with nonstick spray before putting in food items to keep them from discoloring.
Cut a piece of vinyl flooring to fit underneath your kitchen sink. This helps to keep that area looking cleaner, it's easier to clean up, and it's durable.
The night before trash day, go through your refrigerator and throw out anything that you haven't or won't be eating. This is a great way to keep those green things from growing in there!
Keep a few grains of rice in your salt shakers to keep the salt from clumping.
If you put something pretty on top of you refrigerator, like a silk ivy in a basket, you're not as likely to use it as a clutter magnet. It looks alot nicer, too!
Store bath toys in a plastic colander. Put the toys in the colander after bathtime, and leave them near the drain to dry.
You can clean and sanitize bathtub toys and toothbrushes in the dishwasher.
Plastic grocery store bags are perfect liners for bathroom sized trash cans.
Use plastic baskets in the bathroom to keep toiletries organized. For example, put hair brushes, shampoo, and hairspray in one basket, toothpaste, mouthwash and floss in another.
**NEW!** Carry travel size baby wipes with you to wipe spots from your clothes when your in the car. They make pretty good stain removers. You know, like that "glob" of ketchup that drops out of the bottom of your hamburger, or when you miss you mouth trying to drink. Thanks, Christie! Keep a plastic grocery bag in the car for trash. It's better than the alternative! Keep a pen and note pad in the car. Use a sheet of fabric softener under the seat of your car to keep it smelling fresh.
Make your grocery list on an envelope, and put the coupons you'll be using inside the envelope. This is a great way to make sure that you don't forget something!
When you fold your sheets, put the folded sheets and extra pillowcase inside the other pillowcase-you'll be able to easily identify which sheet set they are, and they'll stay neatly together inside your linen closet.
You can use an over the door clear vinyl shoe rack to store Barbies or children's action figures. It will keep them neat, up off the floor, and since it's clear, the kids are able to find their toys when they want to play with them. Submitted by Joni
Make lists! Writing something down not only serves as a reminder, but it's also a victory when an item is crossed off!
In the winter, keep a basket by the door for hats and mittens. It's a good idea to keep a few extras in there, too!
Keep all of your holiday receipts together in an envelope. This way, they'll be easy to find if you should need to make a return.
**New!** We have a "Swimming Bag" on the hooks by our front door. In the bag we keep all our swimming needs - a towel each, sunscreen, blow-up floaties/toys, baby wipes, and some spare change for pool admission. When we decide to go swimming, we grab the bag as we head out the door, and we're off! Thanks, Stephanie!
**New!** Living in Australia, we do a lot of cooking on the BBQ. I have prepared a BBQ tray, which my husband grabs along with the meat for cooking - everything is at hand:- Use an old baking tray, line with a few sheets of kitchen paper, place in the tray a long-handled gas lighter, a pair of tongs, and a lifter/turner/scraper. Da-dum, BBQ in a flash! After all these things are used and washed, they are placed back into the baking tray with fresh kitchen paper, ready for next time. Thanks, Stephanie!
To cool off in the summer time, fill a small pool or even a shallow dishpan with cool water and soak your feet. You'll feel degrees cooler in minutes!
Save bottles with the pull up lids (my kids love Gatorade, so I've got tons of that kind!). Wash them out and fill them part way with water and freeze. This is great for bringing on a walk, to sporting events, or out in the garden. If you fill them the rest of the way with water, you'll have icy cool water to drink for hours!
If you live in a cold climate with a furnace running often in the winter, make sure that you change your furnace filters monthly. If you write the date on it, you won't forget when it was replaced, either! This will help cut down on the dust in your home, and your furnace won't have to work so hard. *The pleated ones really are worth the extra money!
In the winter, after you're done baking and the oven is turned OFF, but is still warm, leave the oven door ajar to let the warm air into the room. DO NOT do this if there are small children about!
You can use car wax on your snow shovel to make snow shoveling easier.
To keep frost off your windows, add 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol or antifreeze to each quart of water used. Rub the inside of the windows with a sponge dipped in the solution, then polish with a newspaper. Submitted by Larry
Use screws! If you've got the option, use screws-they go in faster, with less work and they hold better. Another benefit? If ever want to remove them, it's alot easier with screws. Submitted by Bob
Clean and save peanut butter jars to store small items. These work great for nails and screws in a shop-you can see what's inside the container, and it won't break if it's dropped.
For sticky windows, rub a block of parafin or even a candle along the sides of the jam. This will help the window to open and close freely.
Punch a few holes in the rim of a paint can with a nail or awl. This will keep the paint from building up on the rim of the can, and it drips back into the can.
When you're finished painting, close the paint can and put an old rag over the can, then tap the cover a few times with a hammer or mallot. This will prevent splatters and make a tight seal on the can.
**New!**Crayon marks on walls? Try a damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes of with little effort, and it's earth-friendly!
**New!** Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks
**New!** Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean.
Clean up spilled kool-aid (escpecially red), or red wine from your carpet by sprinkling salt over the spill completely covering it, the salt will absorb the color and then you can vaccuum the salt when it dries. Thanks, Christie!
You can get blood out of clothes or any fabrics with hydogen peroxide, if you clean it while it's fresh you can literally watch it disappear. Pour it on, let it bubble briefly then dab with paper towel. It also works great as a stain remover for you laundry. Don't let it sit for a long period of time on darks it will fade the color. Thanks, Christie!
To clean a vase or thermos bottle, fill part way with warm water and add a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets or denture tablets.
To get your windows sparkling clean, use newspaper-it won't leave lint behind, and if you remember not to clean them in full sun, you'll avoid streaking, too!
To clean silk flowers and plants, put salt and silk flowers inside a plastic bag, and shake-it really does remove dust!
When you've got to straighten the house in a hurry, carry a laundry basket from room to room. Throw in things that don't belong, and drop off those that do.
To remove unwanted artwork from your walls (crayon), use WD 40. Spray it on the marks, wipe off with a paper towel, and then use spray cleaner to get rid of the residue.
Save old toothbrushes to use as small scrub brushes or detail brushes.
You can remove dust from a fabric tablecloth by wrapping your hand in masking tape-sticky side out-and patting the surface. You can also toss it in the dryer with a damp cloth.
Make your rings sparkle by dropping them in a glass of warm water and a denture tablet for about 15 minutes.
**New!** Have a sealed envelope? Put it in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.
**New!** Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march -- see for yourself.
**New!** Unclog a drain--clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain -- followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.
**New!** Spray a bit of perfume on the lightbulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
**New!** Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning
**New!** Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords in. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to on the roll.
**New!** Permanent marker or ink on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt)try rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
**New!** Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact I have noticed that the scissors even get sharpened this way!Anonymous
**New!** Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have found a way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar of jam, pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I simply reach into the drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid!Anonymous
**New!** Lessen static cling with hairspray, ecspecially nylons.Thanks, Christie!
If you just cant seem to get around to buying one of those rubber discs to open jars, use the bottom of you kitchen rug. The rubber backing works great.Thanks, Christie!
Remove wax from carpet or other fabrics by placing a paper towel over the wax and ironing. This will re-melt the wax and then it will stick to the paper towel instead.Thanks, Christie!
Deodorize sneakers by placing a fabric softener sheet in your shoes overnight. They won't smell quite so bad in the morning.
Eliminate static cling from pantyhose. Rub a damp fabric softener sheet over the hose.
Next time you've got a splinter to remove, try scotch tape before you use the tweezers or needle. Just put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily!
To get the itch out of a mosquito bite, try applying a bit of soap on the bite for instant relief.
Put used softener sheets in dresser drawers to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Softener sheets can also be used to keep suitcases from smelling "old".
To make slipping curtains on a rod easier, wrap a baggy around the end. The curtain pockets will glide right through!
Keep a small piece of carpet, wallpaper, and drapery fabric from your rooms when you're decorating, to get a good match.
To freshen up curtains, throw them in the dryer with a damp towel and a softener sheet.
As you set your clocks back in the spring and fall, make a point to test your smoke alarms and flip over your mattresses, too.
Special Mommy Tips
To make a child go to sleep go to a backroom and have the lights turned
off. Lay the child down do not hold the child because then they will want
to be held for a long time. While standing in the dark hum the song
"you are my sunshine" really slowly. It always works for me when I
babysit.Submitted by Katie
Remind your kids to carry things "two hands, thumbs up". I've prevented quite a few messes this way! Keep a plastic zipper bag in the car with a spare diaper and a travel pack of baby wipes. When you use it, make sure that you replace it! Instead of using the babyfood "third foods" buy canned fruits and vegetables. It's more economical, and they're cut just right! Try flat, warm gingerale on an upset tummy. The ginger will help to calm stomach upset. Put together a "sick kit". Use a cheap flannel backed vinyl tablecloth and keep it in a large bucket. When needed, spread out the tablecloth under the bucket. This will protect your carpet.
I hope that you have found these tips and tricks useful.
Do you have some to share? You can submit them right here!