2001 SHORTCUTS WORTH SHARING

March 2002

Black scuff marks on a floor are instantly wiped away with a small amount of baby oil or petroleum jelly on a cleaning rag.  Afterward, be sure to wipe the floor thoroughly with a spray cleaner, or it will have slippery spots.

To Remove gum from leather, just put a dab of peanut butter on the gum in a bit, the gum will peel right off.

Baking soda mixed with ground cinnamon or cloves makes a great carpet freshener

To clean pewter, rub the item with the outer leaves of a head of cabbage.  Then buff with a soft cloth.

Use a dryer softener sheet to wipe your television screen to remove static electricity.

Use a small brush-type hair roller to clean radiators.  Stick a pencil into the brush, making a handle and it's a wonderful brush for hard-to-clean places.

Fill a paint roller with your favorite wall washing solution and use a clean paint roller to wash your walls.  Rinse with clear water.  It goes much more quickly than sponging!

Make your own window cleaner by mixing equal parts of vinegar, ammonia and water.  Put in a spray bottle, squirt on windows and wipe off with newspaper or towels.

To clean mini-blinds or slats of shutters, use a clean paint brush.  It's a lot cheaper than buying expensive blind cleaning tools!

 

July

Adding a marshmallow to the top of each cupcake during the last two minutes of baking makes a quick frosting.

Adding a sheet of tinfoil under the napkin in your bread basket keeps bread warm longer

Clean paintings with a slice of Wonder Bread by rubbing it on the picture and wiping off the crumbs.  It will pick up the dirt and your picture will be like new.

Put a Wilson tennis ball on the end of the kick stand of your bike to keep the end of the stand from sinking into the ground.

Rub Vicks VapoRub on toenails to cure nail fungus.  Works quickly and no oral antibiotics are needed..

Use powdered Tide to clean up grease spots on a driveway.

Use Cascade to get crayon marks off of the walls without all the scrubbing.  (also see baking soda below) Put a teaspoon of Cascade on the crayon stain, add a bit of water and wait about l0 minutes.  Works every time.

May

ARE FLIES OR BEES bothering you?  Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive.

CRAYON MARKS ON WALLS?  This worked wonderfully!  A damp rag, dipped in baking soda.  Comes of with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

BLOOD STAINS ON CLOTHES?  Not to worry!  Just pour a little peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood.  Works every time!

WINDOW WASHING:  Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows.  This way you can tell which side has the streaks.  Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean.  Don't wash windows on a sunny day.  They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

April

STAY PUT ZIPPER - To keep a loose zipper from falling down, mist the teeth of the zipper with hair spray.

NO-STICK LASAGNA - Before covering your lasagna with foil, spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.  It won't stick to the cheese!

CLEANER LAUNDRY -  Twice a year, remove dirt and mineral buildup in your washing machine--fill it with hot water, pour in 1 gallon of white vinegar and run it through the entire wash cycle.  Your laundry will be cleaner and whiter all year-round!

QUICKER FASTENING - Have trouble fastening a bracelet?  Put the bracelet across your wrist and tape one end to hold it still.  Clasp and remove the tape!

MAKE STAINLESS STEEL SPARKLE - Stainless steel looking a bit dull and streaky?  Rut it with a soft, clean cloth dabbed with a little vinegar.

FLAKIER PASTRY - When baking pie crusts and other pastries, substitute one tablespoon of very cold lemon juice for one tablespoon of the water.  Pastries will be crispier and flakier.

EASIER PAINTING - Instead of lifting that heavy paint can to pour paint into the tray, use an old soup ladle.  When finished, just clean and store away until next time.

See you next month with more great ideas to save you time and energy.

March

WHENEVER A RECIPE calls for oil and beaten egg, measure the oil first and then beat the egg in the same cup.  All of the egg will slide out easily.

WHEN BROWNING ground beef for spaghetti sauce, casseroles, etc., add 1/2 cup water for every pound of beef. this eliminates lumps and makes constant stirring unnecessary.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND sweet onions, make your own.  Peel an onion, cover with ice water and add 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar.  Refrigerate overnight in a covered container.  Blot dry, slice and serve.

INSTEAD OF GREASING and flouring pans, when baking sweet breads, cakes, muffins and cupcakes, grease and sugar them for extra sweetness and crunch.  At holidays, I use colored sugar to give my baked treats extra sparkle.

TO PREVENT SOGGY CRUST on a one-crust pie, brush the unbaked crust lightly with unbeaten egg white and let dry before pouring in your filling.  If prebaking the crust without filling, brush it lightly with sugar dissolved in a little water as soon as it comes out of the oven.

WHEN PREPARING LASAGNA or manicotti, don't spend extra time precooking noodles.  Simply add more sauce, cover pan with foil and cook slightly longer. (You'll find stuffing dry manicotti is a breeze!)

WHEN A RECIPE CALLS FOR CRUMBLED BACON, dice the bacon before frying.  It cooks more evenly and looks nice and neat on a salad or casserole.

WHEN MAKING HOMEMADE SOUPS, drop a lettuce leaf into the pot to absorb excess grease.  Then simply remove the saturated leaf before serving.

WHEN COOKING CAULIFLOWER, add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to the water to keep the cauliflower white.