Everyday Helpful Hints for Cleaning, Cooking and Home Improvement
Cooking
1. Use fresh lemon juice to remove onion scent from your hands
2. Don’t use a cover when boiling vegetables that grow above ground.
3. Want to keep the fresh color of vegetable greens? Try adding a lump of sugar to the water.
4. Odor from cooking cabbage and cauliflower can be strong. Add a little vinegar to the water. It will help.
5. Want to avoid those tears I talked about earlier? Cut onions under cold running water or place them in the freezer prior to cutting them.
6. Sick of having hot oil splatter while you are cooking? Sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.
7. Tomatoes are a natural meat tenderizer. Add to roasts and other meats.
8. Meat will turn golden brown if you add paprika to it while frying.
9. Place a small dish of water in the oven and it will keep bread crust from getting too brown or too hard.
10. Eggs can be tested for their freshness by placing them in a bowl of water. Eggs that float will need to be thrown away.
11. Egg whites will have greater volume when whipped if they are at room temperature.
12. There will be grease at the top of some homemade soups. Place a leaf of lettuce on top to absorb the grease. Throw away before serving soup.
13.Rinse a pan with cold water before scalding milk. It will be easier for clean up.
14. Sticky cooked noodles, not good. Add a lump of butter or a few teaspoons of cooking oil to the water while cooking. Tada, no more sticky noodles.
15. Keep celery fresh by standing it up in a pitcher of cold salted water in the refrigerator.
16. Want a juicier burger? Add cold water to the beef before grilling.
Vinegar
Vinegar can be used in a lot of ways when it comes to cleaning and pest control. Here are just a few.
1. Tomato stains. Soak the spot with vinegar and wash as usual
2. Spray bottle filled with1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. Wonderful window cleaner.
3. Clean your clothes washer. Run on large setting (no clothes). Add 1/2 of a gallon or a little less of vinegar to the water.
4. Problem with ants? Spray vinegar around doors and under appliances.
5. Clean tools by soaking in undiluted vinegar overnight.
6. Clean a clogged shower head by boiling it in a half of a cup of vinegar and 1 quart of water for 15 minutes.
Other Cleaning Tips
1. I never thought of instant coffee as something to use for cleaning. But it works wonders on nicks and scratches on dark wood furniture. Make it into a paste by adding water before use.
2. Get rid of crayon marks on painted walls by scrubbing it with a cloth soaked in ammonia or by using toothpaste. Rinse off wall and dry when done.
3. Have spilled wax from a candle on your carpet? Place a brown paper bag over the spot and iron it. Make sure iron is on a high setting. The bag will absorb the wax.
4. Remove hairspray on your mirror with a cloth and some rubbing alcohol.
5. Apply meat tenderizer and cold water to dry or wet blood stains. Let soak for 30 minutes or so and then sponge off with cool water.
I know I have found some of the above to be very helpful in my home. I am sure you will too! Good luck.
