Miscellaneous Tips (2)

• Many people will have forgotten to switch off the light in their loft and are horrified to note when returning some weeks (perhaps months) later, that the light has been on all that time.  To avoid this oversight it is a simple matter to have the loft wired so that its light comes on only when, say the landing or the bathroom light switch is also on. Thus if you forget to switch off the other connected light, it will only waste electricity when that other light is used.             

Contributed by K. Hall

• For a nice picnic without an army of ants you did not invite, sprinkle a box of Tide with bleach around the picnic area - it seems to discourage them.  It also seems to repel flies and mosquitoes.  Ideal for people like me who don't like pesticides sprayed on their children.

Thanks to Melinda Noblett for sending us this one

• Scraps of wallpaper make ideal liners for drawers and shelves.

• When flat sheets wear out in the middle, slit the sheet lengthwise and re-join the sides to the middle using a flat seam.

• Worn out fitted sheets or flat sheets past redemption, can be made into pillow cases.

• When towels wear thin cut out good parts to use as face cloths, dish cloths, floor cloths etc. Hem edges to prevent fraying.

Thanks to Margaret Reeve for these.

• To remove tar or grease from white leather, try nail polish remover.

• When lengthening clothes to remove the crease left by the old hem, try sponging with white vinegar and press with a warm iron.

• Use double sided sticky tape as a quick repair for a loose hem.

• To remove "Pilling" or "bobbles" from clothing try sticky tape or an electric razor - I am not sure whether it will remove your beard after this though!!!

• To disguise the faded mark on denim when lengthening clothes try mixing a little permanent ink with water until it matches the shade required then carefully paint on with a small brush.  Allow to dry thoroughly.  Alternatively, fabric paint could be used or, at a pinch, felt tip pens.

• If a favourite piece of jewellery e.g. ring or watch bracelet, irritates your skin try painting the inside with clear nail varnish.

• To prevent zippers sticking rub them with a lead pencil or with edge of a bar of soap - you may start foaming when it rains of course!

• Use a hair dryer to remove wrinkles and creases from plastic material.  

• To help light a fire in difficult circumstances use cotton swabs soaked in petroleum jelly.

Thanks to Stefan Meyers for this one.

• To prolong the life of cut flowers add lemonade or a similar sugary carbonated drink to the water.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    Courtesy of Trisha - thanks.

• If you are required to write your name and address on sales slips, backs of cheques etc. use one of those little return address labels or carry a small self inking rubber stamp.                                                                      

Harvey Alexander sent in this one.