Bright Ideas!

Top tips for an easier life!

Wrist Warmers

I suffer badly from arthritis in my hands so when it gets cooler I don these lovely wrist warmers my daughter knitted for me. They really do help and still look pretty to wear indoors if I am using computers or out and about. What a handy, thoughtful gift – and a good use for spare balls of wool to make more. Sylvia Monk, Hayling Island

Sparkling Results

To clean an awkwardly shaped glass vase, scrunch up a ball of tin foil and place this into the vase. Add a little detergent and some warm water. Shake gently and the edges of the foil will remove any hard to reach grime. This works on all glassware with sparkling results. Mark Attwood, Basingstoke

Sew Easy

Use a rolled-up magazine when stitching the sleeve seam of a baby sweater – it makes it much easier to hold. Sheila Russell, Warrington

In One Piece

I wanted to buy some pies from the market but was a bit worried about getting them home on the bus in one piece. Then I had an idea and put a baking tray in the bottom of my shopping bag and it stopped them from getting damaged. Andrea Illingworth, Runcorn

Saucepan Safety

Place an old cork into the handle of your metal saucepan lid. It makes it safer and easier to take the lid off and no sore fingers. Sonja McLachlan, Fort William

Lovely Lavender

If you grow lavender in the garden, pick some and hang it upside down in the kitchen. When it dries you can use it in lavender bags or pot pourri. Linda Keen, Sheffield