Home hints:
Georgina Bitcon shares tips on making baby nappy changes a breeze, helping stubborn African violets bloom and more, plus there’s a reader’s prize hint.
handy tips
and clever tricks
To prevent tangles when knitting with several balls of yarn, use a bottle shop carry bag with multiple compartments to keep the balls separate. It’s easy to carry your work as well.
ASK THE WEEKLY
QI 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, Fairfield, Vic.
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 ziplock 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 frozen.
Easy change
A multi-tiered fruit or vegie basket – either freestanding or hanging – makes a great holder for all of baby’s bits and pieces when stored next to the change table.
Popcorn packaging
Dry-popped popcorn makes great, quick 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.
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 ecofriendly, all-purpose spray with the benefit of a little citrus oil.
Scents that stay
Rub petroleum jelly or unscented lip balm on your pulse points before spraying your perfume to make the scent last longer.
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.