Home hints: handy tips and clever tricks
Georgina Bitcon shares tips on de-icing windscreens, keeping mattresses clean when you move, stopping draughts and more, plus there’s a reader’s prize hint.
QI am plagued by daddy-longlegs. I don’t want to kill them, but as soon as I take them outside, they’re back. What can I do? G. Chambers, NSW. Spiders hate peppermint (and so do mice, for that matter). Spray a solution of 450ml water and 15 drops of peppermint essential oil in the area where the spiders congregate. Alternatively, add a couple of drops of peppermint oil to a cotton wool ball and place in these same areas, or wipe into corners.
On thin ice In extra cold areas, instead of scraping away at the ice on your windscreen, spray it with a 2:1 solution of vinegar and water, and it will be much easier to remove. Shelling out
If you hate peeling hardboiled eggs, simply slice the unpeeled egg in half lengthwise with a knife and slip the egg out with a spoon.
Dry clothes faster
To save time and money when using your clothes dryer this winter, always toss a clean dry towel in with your wet clothes.
Moving mattresses
When moving house, put a fitted sheet onto each side of your mattress – it’s a lot easier to wash two fitted sheets than it is to clean a mattress!
Use your noodle
Make a quick draught excluder: cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise, slide a piece of fabric, or even a thin towel, under the door and wrap the extending edges around a noodle segment on each side, until they fit snugly against the door.
Marmalade magic
When making marmalade, instead of skimming the foam from the top, stir a tiny knob (about 10g) of butter into the jam before ladling it into jars – the scum will disappear without any wastage and you can’t taste the butter.
Plant humidifier
If your indoor plants are getting over-dry due to winter heating, fill a shallow bowl with pebbles, add water and stand the pots on the pebbles, clear of the water, for a little extra humidity.
Knitting lifeline
If you have to rip back your knitting, use a darning needle and scrap wool to thread a “lifeline” through the row of stitches below your mistake – it will stop you ripping too far and it’s easy to pick up the stitches again.
Keyboard cleaning
To clean a dirty computer keyboard, disconnect the power and use a magic eraser with only one to two drops of water.
Instead of storing lemons in the fruit bowl, seal them into ziplock bags with as little air as possible and keep them in the fridge. They will stay softskinned and juicy for a month or more.