A Little Book of Household Tips & Tidbits

It may be little but it sure has BIG ideas that help families organize and simplify their daily routines! Thanks to the creator of this little book, Janet A. Spiech, for including a tip from VickyandJen.com in it!  (We use chopsticks in our flour canister for quick and easy leveling of measuring cups.)

Here are few of our favorites from others across the nation who offer their best strategies for managing their homes, the easy and happy way!  For more family-focused tips, visit A Little Book ...

To Cook:

Marshmallows:  store marshmallows in the freezer.  When you take them out, they will always be fresh and never clumped together - Kim, Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada

Peppers:  peppers with three bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating, while peppers with four bumps are firmer and good for cooking - Dawn, Altoona, WI

Floss:  use unflavored, un-waxed floss to level a cake.  Hold the floss taught across the top edge of the cake pan cutting through it using a sawing motion.  Floss also works to slice soft cheese and hard-boiled eggs - Robin, New Castle, OK

To Clean:

Never-ending laundry:  make a schedule for doing laundry to avoid doing it every day.  For me, Monday, Wednesday and Friday were laundry days.  Sunday was always reserved for washing towels ... by our teenage children - Betty Ann, Irvine, CA

Subborn stains:  everyone has a favorite t-shirt or sweatshirt that has a stain that just won't come out with normal washing.  To remove it, grab your liquid dish soap (the grease fighting kind) and a cotton swab.  Soak the cotton swab in the soap and run vigorously on the stain.  Let it sit, tossing the garment in the washing machine the next time you do a load.  Yes, even clothes that have had heat applied to it by the dryer will see the stain come out - Nancy, Caledonia, Ontario, Candada

Vases:  denture cleaner is so great to clean vases.  Use one tablet for every eight ounces.  Fill the container with hot water letting the solution fizz for a few minutes, rinse - Suzanne, Downers Grove, IL

To Know:

Candles:  use cooking spray in the bottom of votive candles for easy removal when candles are finished burning - Judy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Rust preventer:  to remove a rust stain left on the sink or bathtub from a can of hairspray, deodorant, or shaving cream, sprinkle a little baking soda on the area and rub with some white vinegar on a cloth.  However, I'm a big fan of the principle that mess prevention is better than cleaning.  So, coat the bottom of your cans with clear nail polish to prevent rust rings from forming in the first place - Narelle, Perth Western Australia

Tiny brush:  save empty nail polish bottles.  The tiny brush can be used to stain a scratch on furniture, counter top, handbag, shoe, and anything else you can think of where you may need a tiny brush.  Simply clean its brush in nail polish remover.  Add a little more remover to clean the bottle and replace brush.  It will then be available for use - JoAyne, Plainfield, IL


Source: A Little Book of Household Tips and Tidbits by Janet A. Spiech