Hand sanitizer can be effective stain remover

You know all the hand sanitizer you keep in your car, purse and drawers at home, work and school? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you not use it in place of soap and water but as an option when soap and water are not handy. A surprised reader wants to share another use for the stuff.

Coffee stains: I spilled some coffee on a lightcolored blouse while driving. The only thing available was the hand sanitizer. I squirted it on the stain, and the coffee marks came out completely. — Patti

Glass cleaner: I use isopropyl alcohol to clean glass (mirrors, windows, etc.) instead of glass cleaners. I replace the screw cap with a spray attachment for easy cleaning. Most bottles have universal-size screw tops, so the spray attachments fit.

Isopropyl alcohol is much cheaper, and there’s no streaking. — Joanie

Cake saver: When I need to take a frosted cake somewhere, I spray the plastic wrap with cooking spray. This keeps the frosting on the cake and not on the plastic wrap. You can use this idea for any sticky substance. — Gerri

Wallpaper remover: Blue Dawn works well with hot water to remove old wallpaper. Put the hot water and some Dawn in a bucket. Get a sponge to apply the mixture to the wallpaper. I have found it works as well or better than the store-bought removers. — Diane

Keep the pieces together: When I remove the hardware for drapes or pictures from the wall, I take the smaller pieces (screws, nuts, bolts, whatever) and put them all in a zip-type bag. I attach the bag to the rod or picture frame with a large rubber band or some tape. That way, when I go to return the item to the wall, I have the hardware right there with it. — Toni

Best lemon: One lemon can contain two to three times as much juice as a seemingly identical lemon. To find the juiciest lemons in the supermarket, lightly squeeze several to compare them; those that yield under pressure will contain more juice than the others, even if they’re the same size, shape and weight. — Todd

Reheating breads: To warm biscuits, pancakes or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave alongside a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster. — Sue

Just in case: Keep extra batteries for your garage door opener in your car. My sister-in-law didn’t have a front door key with her, and her garage door opener’s battery died. She had to go to the store before she could get in her house. — Theresa