Home hints

Georgina Bitcon shares tips on tangle-free knitting, making baby nappy changes a breeze, helping stubborn African violets bloom and more.

To prevent tangles when knitting with several balls of yarn, use a carry bag with multiple compartments, such as a wine bag, to keep the balls separate. It’s easy to carry your work as well.

ASK THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY

Q I splashed bleach on my black silk pants. I rinsed it off quickly so it didn’t make holes, but now there are small white spots. What can I do? S. Sweeney

A: Sadly, the damage is permanent, but you can hide the spots quite well by gently dabbing them with black permanent marker.

Bags for blooms

If your otherwise healthy African violet refuses to bloom, try placing it inside a closed paper bag for three to four days. Sometimes this treatment will force a recalcitrant plant to produce flowers.

Frozen to fresh

For fresh cupcakes at your fingertips, line muffin trays with paper cases, fill with batter, cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze, then transfer the frozen cakes to a zip-up bag. When ready to bake, allow them to come to room temperature or leave them in the oven for an extra five to seven minutes when cooking from frozen.

Scents that stay

Rub petroleum jelly or unscented lip balm on your pulse points before spraying your perfume to make the scent last longer.

Popcorn packaging

Dry-popped popcorn makes great packaging for a fragile item – and it’s biodegradable.

Stain solution

Remove berry, beetroot and carrot stains from your hands after cooking by rubbing them with a cut potato, adding salt and a little water for extra-stubborn stains.

Easy change

A multi-tiered fruit or vegie basket – either freestanding or hanging – makes a handy holder for all of baby’s bits and pieces when stored next to the change table.

Pavlova plate

When consigning your old microwave oven to e-waste, keep the glass turntable. It makes an excellent dish on which to bake and serve pavlova. It can also be used as a serving plate for a cake or a cheese selection.

All-purpose peels

Don’t throw away used orange peels: throw them into a large jar, cover with white vinegar, allow to steep for two to four weeks, then strain into spray bottles for an eco-friendly, all-purpose cleaner with the benefit of a little citrus oil. It will leave your home smelling lovely!

SHARE YOUR DOMESTIC SECRETS

Send your handy hints or questions to: Home Hints, The Australian Women’s Weekly, PO Box 92512, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141, or email awweditor@bauermedia.co.nz with “Home Hints” in the subject line. While every effort is made to ensure the efficacy of each hint, we cannot take responsibility for individual results.