WARNING - I AM NOT A VERY GOOD COOK OR HOUSEKEEPER. SO TRY THE FOLLOWING TIPS ARE YOUR OWN RISK. ALSO THESE ARE NOT
CHILDPROOF SAFE, SO BE CAREFUL USING
AROUND CHILDREN

Dip a pie plate in warm water for 2 minutes before inserting your graham cracker crust and it won't crumble or stick after baking.

Use lifesavers candy to hold candles in place on your next birthday cake! Kids love them.

Use a clean wide tooth comb to draw designs on your next cake icing.

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 don't have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1 tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots. This helps preserve the life of your pans.

Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar. It will stay fluffy & hold its shape better.

Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan. The marshmallow won't stick to your fingers!

Split layer caked horizontally with dental floss this also works for cheese

Bar cookies - use a pizza cutter to cut them

When making bread, substitute nondairy creamer for the dry milk-it works just as well!!!

Place a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up!

Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer.

Hand saver - pick up broken glass with pieces of bread.

Cornbread - don't through left over cornbread away. Make a side dish with it that tastes like hush puppies (poor boy). Melt butter in a skillet, add chop up onions to taste, and add crumbled up cornbread. Cook until hot. Make's a great side dish. Contributed by Kelly. Thanks

Slip a socks over sneakers while washing in the machine--they muffle the noise

No more lint if you add a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse

Fabric softener sheets:
..A used one is good for removing dust and static from TV and computer screens
..Use to buff shoes to high gloss
..Wipe eyeglass lenses to clean and prevent fogging
..Run threaded needle through a sheet before sewing to prevent tangling
Check out more uses for fabric sheets.

If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato. It absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up"! Discard potato when dish is done.

In recipes calling for margarine, substitute reduced-calorie margarine to help cut back on fat! Same goes with sour cream, milk, cheese, cream cheese, and cream soups.

Dip strips of bacon in cold water before frying. This prevents the bacon from curling.

Prevent boil-overs. Add a lump of butter or a few teaspoons of cooking oil to the water. Rice, noodles, spaghetti will neither boil over nor stick together.

Frozen juice concentrate - to quickly use simply mash it with a potato masher. No need to wait for it to thaw! A wire whip works also.

Cottage cheese stays fresher if you store it upside down in the fridge.

Nuts in the shell are easier to open if you freeze them first.

Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle--no more messy, sticky jars or knives! This also works well for homemade salad dressing!

Freshen stale potato chips, cereal, or crackers, by placing them in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds.

Dental floss is good for cutting cheese too. Contributed by Angie - thanks

Use coffee filters over small bowls and plates to prevent the food from splattering all over the microwave.

Popcorn stored in the freezer will stay fresh and every kernel will pop.   This is true for microwave popcorn as well as old fashion popcorn.  Contributed by Julie - thanks

Cut down on fat - when a cake, cookie, or brownie recipe calls for oil or shortening use applesauce instead.  It cuts down on the fat.  If you need 1/2 cup of oil you would use 1/2 cup of applesauce.  Contributed by JB - thanks

Did you drop an egg? Sprinkle salt over the raw egg and wait a few minutes. You can then sweep it away.

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling

To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish.

Use egg whites to seal letters and they can not be steamed opened.

Trivia - as an egg gets older, it absorbs air through the pores of the shell and forms a bubble at one end - that's why it floats. Contributor Angie - thanks

Water marks on glass vases - soak them in cold tea and vinegar with or without a dissolved denture cleaner table.

Cut fresh flowers, trim an inch off the stems while submerged under water. This prevents the stems from sucking in an air bubble that prevents the stems from taking up water. Also use slightly warm water, it won't shock the flowers like cold water does. Both these tips will help the flowers stay fresh longer. Contributor Angie - thanks

Flowers stay fresh longer if you add a dash of white vinegar or a cube of sugar to the vase.

Pick a watermelon that feels heavy for its size and has a sweet, fresh fragrance.

Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off!

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes!

Mash and freeze ripe bananas, in one-cup portions, for use in later baking. No wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole, peeled, in plastic baggies.)

To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature & roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing!

To get more juice from a lemon, zap lemon in the microwave for a few seconds. Contributor Angie - thanks

To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag with an apple for 2-3 days.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness!

Badly scuffed shoes that won't take polish - rub with raw potato, then polish.

Sliced onion left inside a newly painted cabinet will remove the smell.

When working with an onion and the smell gets all over your hands, take and pour dishwashing detergent into your hands and then rub them over your water faucet. The metal on the faucet somehow takes the smell totally away. This was shown to me by a chef. It does work. Contributor Linda - thanks

Use small plastic lids from coffee or margarine under furniture legs to prevent scratches on wooden floors

Slip socks over the legs of furniture you are moving to make them slide easily, also keeps from scratching the floor

Tulips - to keep from drooping, add a few drops of vodka to water.

Use chopsticks as stakes for small-to-medium sized plants

Use plastic foam trays as plant saucers

Cut used pantyhose into strips to tie plants to stakes

Use old t-shirts for plant ties. Bunch the shirt up lengthwise then cut. You get rings just the right length to tie tomato plants up. Contributor Angie - thanks

Put a tablespoon of Epson salts in the hole and mix with a little soil before planting tomato and pepper plants. This gives the plants an extra mineral boost for healthy growth. Contributor Angie - thanks

See the more tips section for more ideas

Stuffed cabbage - freeze the leaves first and they'll roll around filling easier. And you can skip blanching.

Rinse cooked, ground meat with water when draining off the fat-this helps "wash away" even more fat! Use HOT or Warm water so fat won't congeal.

Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices.

Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces after browning!

For easy "meatloaf mixing", combine the ingredients with a potato masher!

When roasting turkeys turn the breast down.  The white meat is much juicier.   When you try this you will be delighted.  Contributed by Julie - thanks

Use vinegar and newspaper to clean mirrors and windows. This makes the glass shine and never leaves streaks. Use approximately one tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water. Contributed by Mary - thanks

Appliances - rub exterior of appliances with wax paper for nice shine

Batteries - store new batteries in the refrigerator and they will last longer. Contributed by Stacey - thanks

Bolts and Nuts: pour club soda of rusty nuts and bolts to loosen

Candles stores in the refrigerator will burn longer.  Contributed by Julie - thanks

Crayon marks - to remove crayon marks, rub very gently with baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Crayon marks on vinyl can be removed with silver polish.

Cuts - Use lip balm, Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment, for all my boo-boos. Contributed by Angie - thanks

Headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go.

Sniffing peppermint oil is supposed to relieve headaches too. Contributed by Angie - thanks

Ice packs - Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer -- no watery leaks from a plastic baggie!

Hot or cold pack - fill one of your unmatched socks with about two cups of uncooked rice. Tie the opening of the sock off and store in the freezer for an instant ice pack. For a hot pack pop the rice filled sock in the microwave for about a minute. Works great.Contributed by Lesley - thanks

Insects - hair spray stops them in their tracks

Jars - If you have problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy!

To open something canned in a jar - place the jar in hot water and let it stand a few minutes, dry and it will open easily. Contributed by Peggy -thanks

When you have a jar, bottle, or any kind of container that still smells after washed, fill the item with water to overflowing and smell will leave.  Smell is a gas and water pushes it up and out. Thanks Leol

We've always banged the jar lid on the counter to loosen it. Don't know how or why it works. Bang lightly to avoid breakage. Contributed by Angie -thanks

You can use a spoon to loosen the seal on canning jars, works great. Contributed by Angie -thanks

Jewelry - place a piece of chalk in your jewelry box and it will prevent costume jewelry from tarnishing

Parties - keep food cold at parties by using a blow-up baby swimming pool.  Put in ice and then your food.  The pool will hold a lot of food and will keep it cold for hours.  You can use empty oleo containers to make an ice chunk to use in the pool.  It will last longer than ice cubes.

Ruler - for a quick ruler - a dollar bill is just a fraction over six inches

Salt Stains - to remove from shoes, wipe with a solution of 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vinegar

Shaver nicks - lip balm stops shaver nicks from bleeding.

Shovel lubricant - spray shovel with nonstick cooking spray or rub with candle stubs before using and snow will slide right off

Smelly shoes - Here's a solution. Put some tea leaves into a pair of stockings & stuff each into a shoe. Leave for a day or two & the smell just vanishes!

Shoe laces - to keep from coming undone, dampen before tying

Soap wrapper: Don't throw away the wrapper after removing a bar of soap. Place it inside your shoe cabinet or shoe box. It's a cheap way of filling the air with a nice smell.

Bath soap lasts longer if you unwrap it when you get it home from the store.  Use wrappers to freshen shoes or closets.  Contributed by Julie - thanks

Stainless Steel Sinks - To remove water spots and other stains from your stainless steel sink, just rub down with vinegar and water.  I usually put a little vinegar in the sink of clean water after I've finished using my sink and then wash the sink with a sponge.   Contributed by Judith - thanks

Stamp collectors: Place the envelope in the freezer for a few hours. You'll then be able to easily lift the stamps off with a pair of tweezers.

Toilet Bowl - pour left over coke down the latrine. After it's soaked a while - your toilet bowl will be sparkling clean.

Toe nail fungus - I have had these two suggestions from readers who say these work. Be sure you are not allergic to either item. Spread Vics Vapor Rub over toe nail to get rid of fungus. Apply till fungus is gone. OR Use white vinegar on a cotton ball and on nail that is infected while you are watching TV. Apply till gone. Contributors - Mary and John - Thanks

Toothbrushes - A toothbrush is just the tool for cleaning the blades of egg beaters and those lime deposits around your faucets. Good for a lot of tight fitting cleaning jobs both in the house and in your car

Waxed paper - Keep the linings from cereal boxes--they make great substitutes for waxed paper!

Zippers - run lip balm up and down the teeth to ease a balky zipper

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap & enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top--skillet will be much easier to clean now

To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water--it softens hands while cutting through grease!

Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces. No more stains!

To easily remove honey from a measuring spoon, first coat the spoon with nonstick cooking spray

Glassware - rinsing in cool water then drip dry will leave no streaks or stops

When you have a cabinet full of baking sheets, pans and casseroles so grimy or burned it seems nothing will clean the, place them (no wooden, plastic or other easily damaged materials) in your self-clean oven. Turn oven to self-clean. Let stand for time recommended. Voila, like brand new!

Cleaning a greasy pan...sprinkle salt into pan and wipe with paper towel. Cleans grease right out of the pan, and it is ready to wash. Contributed by Mary - thanks

My grandmother always boiled her skillets. Just don't use detergent on cast iron. Boiling opens the pores of the metal. That's all you really need to do to get the stuck on stuff off. Contributed by Angie - thanks

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