A collection of useful tips for the kitchen, clothing, living space and more.
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For new garments, apply a drop of clear nail varnish to the front and back of the buttons. The buttons will stay on longer because they are sealed in this way.
Rub a bar of soap on the zip fasteners to prevent them from snagging.
To remove a hem crease, rub the fabric with a little vinegar on a sponge and iron.
Nail polish remover removes oil and tar from light-coloured leather shoes.
White shoe polish becomes more even if the shoes are rubbed with alcohol or raw potato beforehand.
After polishing light-coloured shoes with shoe polish, spray hairspray over them so that no streaks remain.
Vinegar and water remove salt stains from shoes.
New, light-coloured canvas shoes stay clean for longer if they are sprayed with laundry starch before being broken in.
Nylon stockings last longer if they are frozen before wearing. Wet them and freeze them in a plastic bag. Thaw and hang to dry before wearing.
Dried herbs lose their medicinal properties quickly. Only ever store small quantities.
Wilted lettuce becomes fresh again when it is soaked in cold water with lemon juice.
Never pour water on burning fat, otherwise the flames will spread. If the flames are in the pan, extinguish them by putting the lid on and smothering the fire. Outside the pan, extinguish burning fat with a handful of salt or flour.
Use a light pot for cooking pasta. The water boils faster in lighter pots with a thinner base. This saves time and the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom so easily.
Jars or bottles with lids that are difficult to open are better opened with rubber gloves.
Silver does not tarnish so quickly if it is stored in sealable plastic bags.
If the cookery book does not remain open, you can place a heavy glass lid on top. This keeps the pages pressed down and you can read through the glass.
Tipp-Ex conceals scratches on porcelain, tiles and kitchen appliances.
Never wash out the refrigerator with a disinfectant, as the food absorbs the odour.
Always put detergent in the detergent compartment and not directly on the clothes, otherwise it can fade the clothes more quickly.
Spray surfaces on which fingerprints accumulate quickly with spray starch to prevent stains from forming so easily.
Place a piece of white chalk on silverware or jewellery. The circles absorb moisture from the air and prevent discolouration.
Freezers use less electricity if they are at least three-quarters full. When the frozen food is running low, fill a few empty milk cartons with water and use them to fill the gaps in the freezer compartment.
Wipe out the inside of the fridge with vinegar, as acetic acid kills mould bacteria.
The fridge always smells fresh if you keep a box of baking soda, coffee powder or a few cotton wools with vanilla extract in it.
Vegetable compartments lined with newspaper keep fruit and vegetables fresh.
Extension cables will not get tangled if they are folded up and stored in an empty toilet roll.
Blocked drain? The pipe can be unblocked with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. First pour the baking soda down the drain, then pour in the vinegar and the stopper. When it stops bubbling, pour a few litres of boiling water down the drain.
Store the eggs with the thick end facing upwards so that the yolk remains in the centre.
Place candles in the refrigerator a few hours before lighting to reduce dripping.
Rub your fingers on a stainless steel bowl before peeling and cutting garlic. This prevents your fingers from smelling of garlic afterwards.
Lemon extract removes scratches and scuff marks from suitcases and bags.
Mustard powder removes onion odour from hands and chopping board. Rub in and rinse off.
Bay leaves in the kitchen drawer and in the larder keep creepy-crawlies away.
