Household > hints

Chewing gum removal 

Eucalyptus oil is excellent for removing substances like, glue, tar, chewing gum and other unknown sticky substances - place a few drops on the stained area, leave for 2 mins or until the oil has evaporated, then wash. It will also remove tar from shoes, apply the oil, leave, then sponge with hot soapy water 

Writing ink, carbon and other marks can be removed by a cloth dipped in this oil, plastic surfaces should first be tested in an unseen area to ensure it won't be adversely affected 

Cleaning your Washing Machine 

Fill washing machine with hot water and add 4cups chorine bleach. Run through a long cycle. Do not add any soap powder. When machine has finished and while still wet inside fill again with hot water and add 4 cups white vinegar and run through another complete cycle. Do this once every 6 months to clean out scum and mineral deposits from the spin basket and the hoses. 

Cooking with honey 

When cooking with honey, syrup or anything sticky, first spray the spoon with cooking spray.  The honey etc will roll off the spoon like magic & there will be less waste 

Home-Made Baking Powder 

To replace 1 tsp baking powder, use 1/3 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp cream of tartar and 1/8 tsp of salt. I keep the ingredients separate in my pantry, and mix them as I'm making a recipe and find this gives a better result than purchased baking powder. 

Painting 

The deep plastic trays that had fresh meat from the supermarket are excellent as roller trays for paints.  The ripples on the base are a bonus to wipe the roller  

Tinned tomatoes 

Great value can be found in cans of CRUSHED tomato with a 97% tomato content.  Whole or diced varieties usually contains only 60%. Crushed make thicker, richer, better bolognaise sauce.