• Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.  An M&M will work, too!  (*Submitted by FrogLady)
• Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispie Treats in the pan -- the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
• When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead.  No white mess on the outside of the cake.
• Place a slice of apple or a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it again.
• Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
• Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies Treats in the pan. The marshmallow won't stick to your fingers!
• If you don't have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1 tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots. This helps preserve the life of your pans!
• To easily remove honey from a measuring spoon, first coat the spoon with nonstick cooking spray!
• Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar. It will stay fluffy & hold its shape better!
• Use lifesavers candy to hold candles in place on your next birthday cake!

• You can remove rust stains caused by a leaky faucet by rubbing well with kerosene.
• To remove starch buildup on your iron, set the iron to the rayon setting. Set several sheets of wax paper on top of some newspaper and run the iron over the wax paper. (The newspaper will absorb the wax.)
• Homemade Deck Cleaner: 1 qt. bleach, 1 qt. TSP, 2 qts. water. (TSP is Trisodium Phosphate - a heavy duty all purpose cleaner and degreaser.)
• An easy way to clean the ceiling fan is to cover your hands in a pair of old socks, and dip them in warm sudsy water and run your hand over top and bottom of each blade. Next time you clean the blades to your ceiling fan apply a thin coat of floor wax to them. It will keep future dust from clinging to them.
• Wipe mini blinds with a damp fabric softener sheet to eliminate static that collects dust.
• Use a blow dryer on low to clean pleated lampshades.
• Pet hair will come off your furniture easily with a roller lint brush.
• Make your own furniture polish by mixing one teaspoon lemon oil with two cups mineral oil.
• Water rings may be removed by rubbing petroleum jelly thoroughly into the spot.
• Polish ashtrays with furniture polish before using and they will wipe clean easily.
• Club soda--removes stains, cleans sinks.
• If your polished furniture has small scratches: Try rubbing them with a shelled walnut. You'll see the scratches just disappear!
• Use peanut butter to remove gum in your carpet.
• To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water--it softens hands while cutting through grease.
• Always spray your grill with nonstick cooking spray before grilling to avoid sticking.
• Make the kitchen smell good! Bake orange peels in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
• If you burn something in a pot or pan, here are some suggestions on how to get it off:
  • Cover the bottom on the pan with powdered detergent. Place a wet towel on top and leave it for a few hours. Then wash.
  • Or you can cover the burned area with baking soda and water. Leave soak overnight and then scour. (Do not use this method with an aluminum pan - it could etch the pan.)
  • Or sprinkle the burned on food with salt (wet the area first) and leave soak for about 10 minutes - then scrub.
  • Or cover the burned area with water and add a drop or two of dish soap. Place pan on stove and bring mixture to a boil. Then scrub.

Tips & Tricks for Computers & Printers

• To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
• To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
• To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag with an apple for 2-3 days.
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator it will keep for weeks.
• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
• Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
• Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
• Storing potatoes in the refrigerator will turn the starches in the potato to sugar.  Store potatoes in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place.
• Wrapping potatoes in foil when baking will trap steam and can cause the potato to become soggy and mealy.
• Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer -- no watery leaks from a plastic baggie.
• When making bread, substitute nondairy creamer for the dry milk--it works just as well.
• Mash and freeze ripe bananas, in one-cup portions, for use in later baking. No wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole, peeled, in plastic baggies.
• Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off.

• When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seeds in egg shell halves.   Simply crack the shells around the roots of your plants & transplant them outdoors--the shell is a natural fertilizer!
• Take four or five empty eggshells and put in 4 cups of water. Let stand for 24 hours. Water the plants with this mixture. It will help revive sick house plants.
• Nicotine Spray:  To help control caterpillars, aphids and destructive worms.  Take one handful of tobacco and place in 1 gallon of water.  Mix and let stand 24 hours. Dilute the solution to the color of weak tea.  Do not spray on tomato, pepper, eggplant or any other plants that are members of the Solanaceous family, since nicotine can kill them.

• To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
• To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan and bring to a boil on stovetop.  The skillet will be much easier to clean.
• Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces.  No more stains!
• If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up".
• To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
• Don't throw out all that leftover wine:  Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
• If you have a problem opening jars:  Try using latex dishwashing gloves.  They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
• To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area...instant relief!
• It is said that ants will not cross a chalk line.  So if you've got ants, draw a line on the floor or wherever the ants are coming in.  Bet they don't cross the line!
• Use air-freshener to clean mirrors:  It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
• Dripping faucet keeping you awake at night?  Tie a string around the head of the leaky faucet and let the end of the string flow down into the drain. The water will travel silently down the string. Then call your plumber in the morning!!
• Keep the linings from cereal boxes--they make great substitutes for waxed paper!
• Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle--no more messy, sticky jars or knives!  This also works well for homemade salad dressing!
• In recipes calling for margarine, substitute reduced-calorie margarine to help cut back on fat! Same goes with sour cream, milk, cheese, cream cheese, and cream soups.
• Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer.
• Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes. You'll greatly reduce the fat content! (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil).
• Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices.
• Rinse cooked, ground meat with water when draining off the fat--this helps "wash away" even more fat! Use HOT or Warm water so fat won't congeal.
• For easy "meatloaf mixing", combine the ingredients with a potato masher.
• Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces after browning.
• Poke an egg with a small sewing needle before hard-boiling, and the egg will peel with ease! And hold that needle in place with a magnet refrigerator clip.
• To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before boiling!
• Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces. No more stains!
• To start the flow of ketchup from a new bottle, insert a straw into the ketchup so air can get into the bottle.
• If you spill coffee on your clothes, rinse it off with cold water, not hot. Hot water will let the stain set in.

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  Things that make you go hmmmmm....
  Why does a wet sponge pick up water better than a dry one?

  ~~~ Top - Directory ~~~

Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer!

• Clean a toilet!  Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
• Clean a vase!  To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
• Polish jewelry!  Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
• Clean a thermos bottle!  Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary.)
• Unclog a drain!  Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar.  Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Tips & Tricks - Shoes & Tips for Odor Control