by Jo Ann Derson
• Remember to write the date as “2020” on documents and checks. You don’t want anyone to add whatever number they want after 01/01/20… e.g., 01/01/2016.
• If you want to find out if your email has been part of a hacker attack, visit https://haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address.
• I hang a mesh laundry bag where I keep my hamper. Socks go in the bag. When I’m ready to do laundry, I tie a knot in the bag and toss it in. Socks stay together.
~ T.O. in California
• Last bowl of cereal? If you don’t like the cascade of bits and dust at the bottom of the bag, empty the contents into a colander before you put it in the bowl.
• Our neighbor’s dog got into the trash while they were out. They bought a crate, but he barked when he was in it. So they put the trash can in the crate and let the dog have the house. It only took a couple of weeks before they were able to stop using the crate entirely. ~ C.M. in Virginia
• Break in new shoes with a thick pair of wool socks. Wear the socks with the new shoes around the house while tidying up.
• My dad keeps a pants hanger in the bathtub to hang up the small nonstick mat that he keeps in there. He says if he hangs it, it doesn’t get mildew on the bottom around the suction cups.”
~ T.K. in Missouri
• Common substitutions:
Semisweet chocolate? Per ounce, use one square (1 ounce) of unsweetened chocolate and add 4 teaspoons of sugar.
Buttermilk? Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice per cup of milk.
Arrowroot starch? Substitute all-purpose flour.
• Clean and decorate a Pringles chip can to store a collection of colored pencils. Keep the lid on for portability. You can even roll up some plain paper to store inside for an on-the-go drawing kit.
• To heat up two plates of leftovers? Form the food into a ring (better for even heating), then set a microwave-safe glass or mug on the center of the plate. Set the second plate of leftovers on top.
• “If you thread a Slinky-type toy onto the pole of your bird feeder, the squirrels can’t get to it. You can usually find these at the dollar store in a plastic version, too.”
~ C.D. in Ohio
• Movie theater hack: When buttering up your popcorn, grab a straw and stick it down into the tub. Line up the straw with the butter dispenser, and you can distribute butter into the lower layers of your popcorn. Remove the straw and finish off with butter over the top.
• Defog your bathroom mirror with a quick shot of shaving cream. Smear all around and wipe off with a clean, dry face cloth.
~ L.A. in Georgia
• Use one leg of a pair of stockings over the hose of a vacuum cleaner to “dust” a bookcase. If you have small knickknacks they won’t get sucked up, but dust will. If your stocking gets clogged by a dust bunny, just wipe it off and continue.
• A toilet paper or paper towel roll slit down the side makes a handy clamp for keeping wrapping paper from unraveling.
• Mayonnaise can stand in for cooking oil in a recipe. Use in an equal amount. It works especially well in brownies.
• “When flossing, cut a length of floss, then tie the loose ends together. Now you have a circle and can hold it open with your fingers rather than wrapping the loose ends around your fingers and cutting off the circulation. All it takes is a little tension on the circle to keep the line taut.” ~ C.E. in Kentucky
• “If you have to wash dishes by hand, here’s a tip for rinsing utensils: Clean silverware together and toss into a colander. Then you can rinse the whole thing together instead of each fork, knife or spoon. This will save time, and water.” ~ M.V. in Ohio
• Apply car wax to shower walls to keep soap scum from hanging around. Petroleum jelly can be used in shower-door tracks to lubricate them, since it won’t wash away easily.
• I like to use metal cans for storage in my shop. To make them safer, I file the rims and dip them in a shallow disk of melted wax. When the wax hardens, it fills in all the potential jagged edges that might lead to a small cut. ~ F.J. in Florida
• Here’s a fun plumbing trick: Use a wad of soft white bread (centers only) to plug up a pipe you are working on. The bread disintegrates quickly but will stop up any trickle of water long enough for you to seal two pipes together.
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