Great readers share more great tips potpourri

Receiving so many awesome time- and moneysaving tips from my dear readers always reassures me that I have the best job in the world. You never fail to make my day.

Fresh

When I peel apples, oranges and other fruit, I save the peels in a freezer bag. When I want some potpourri, I dump the peels into a small saucepan and add a little water. I sprinkle the peels with cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves and any other fragrant spices I have on hand. I let the mixture simmer on the stove. The house always smells wonderful in no time. — Lisa

Simple humidity

Winter air can mean runny or stuffy noses, which make it difficult to sleep. We don’t have a humidifier, but when someone needs the benefits of one, I hang a wet towel over a chair in the bedroom. That releases plenty of moisture into the air during the night. It’s a simple solution, and there are no filters to buy or clean. — Jennifer.

Bobby pin corral

My daughter uses hundreds of bobby pins, as she’s on her high school dance team. They end up all over the house, so I came up with an idea to keep them together. I bought a cheap, magnetic paperclip holder, which holds a ton of bobby pins. My daughter likes it because she can toss the holder in her dance bag, and she never has to scramble to find a bobby pin. — Lynn

Pet hair ‘magnet’

I went to a local dollar store and purchased a package of washable microfiber cloths, which I use on my Swiffer broom. They work well because the microfiber picks up everything, especially pet hair, and I won’t run out of refills anytime soon. When I’m done cleaning, I shake out the cloth, wash it and air it dry so it’s ready for the next time. — Susan

Shoe shine

I use Vaseline to clean and polish my leather or vinyl shoes. I often don’t notice that my shoes need cleaning until I get to work. I use a small dab of Vaseline on a clean tissue to wipe away the salt, water and dirt stains. It keeps them supple and protects the leather the way mink oil does. — Judith

Carpet spot treatment

A professional carpet cleaner once told me the main ingredient in the solution he used was hydrogen peroxide. I bought a bottle, added a spray top and squirted the solution onto the carpet stains. By the time I came back with a towel to blot the liquid, the stains were gone. Just make sure you test on a hidden area of the carpet first. — Debbie

Laundry softener

Baking soda works really well as a fabric softener, in place of Downy or dryer sheets. I add one or two tablespoons of baking soda to the last rinse. — Barb

Inexpensive storage

With the price of plastic storage containers so high, I’ve started reusing glass jars after they are empty. I wash and save them to store leftovers. Glass jars keep food fresh and can be safely put into the microwave (without the metal lid) or dishwasher. It is also safer to reheat food in glass. — Nadine