Banana Peel Day!

From outdoor care to helping you to whiten your teeth, banana peels have awesome alternative uses that many people are not aware of...

Teeth whitener

Use the inside of banana peels to whiten your teeth. Rub the peels in a circular motion across your teeth for about 2 minutes, on a daily basis. The effects should be seen in as little as 2 weeks.

Wart curative

Rub the wart with the inside of a banana peel. The potassium-rich peel is supposed to get rid of growth.

Ointment for your knee

Rubbing scrapped knees with the inside of a banana peel will help promote healing.

Houseplant cleaner

Wipe your houseplant leaves down with the inside of a banana peel to remove dirt and leave a shine.

Leather polish

Use the inside of a de-stringed banana peel for a quick shoe shine. Finish up with a buff using a soft cloth or paper towel. The same technique is said to work for silver too.

Banana as fertilizer

Dry out leftover banana peels over the winter months. In the spring grind them up with a food processor or blender and use them as mulch when transplanting new plants or seedlings to give them a boost. If you do not feel like drying out and processing the peels, you can just bury them in your compost pile.

Protect your garden

Aphids are small bugs that feed on plants. To detract them from your garden, bury dried or cut-up bananas peels a few inches deep around the base of your rosebushes.

Prep basil in half the time

Cutting basil into thin strips always seems to take forever. Reduce prep stress by stacking about 6 or 7 leaves, rolling into a cigar shape, and then slicing the "cigar" crosswise.

Hide anchovies in a sauce

Anchovies lend a rich flavor to sauces, but many people do not like the idea of eating them. Keep your secret ingredient safe by using a garlic masher to mince them. The tiny pieces will separate and melt into the hot oil much easier than if the anchovies were just tossed into the pan.

Keep your food hot

As soon as you pull your dish from the oven, wrap it in foil, then insulate with newspaper and a second foil layer. When it is time to eat, unwrap and enjoy the hot dish.

Ready-to-go poached eggs

Avoid the last-minute process of poaching eggs by doing it early. Then submerge eggs in ice water and refrigerate (they will keep for up to 8 hours). Transfer eggs to a skillet of simmering water and reheat 2 minutes.

Sparkling smile

Add a drop of red food coloring to your mouthwash and swish for 45 seconds. Food coloring cannot adhere to teeth's enamel, and intensifies the pink of your tongue and gums, making teeth appear whiter by contrast.

Necklace knots

To keep necklaces and bracelets knot-free, thread each piece through a drinking straw and attach the clasp to the other end.

Bypass automated phone systems

After you dial an 800 number, answer the first prompt (usually requesting your account or order number) to identify yourself as a customer. If the next round of options does not offer "speak to a representative", push 0 then *, # or 9 (one at a time) until you get connected. This increases your chance of being directed to a live operator by at least 50%.

Creamy crab dip

Pasteurized crabmeat comes already shelled, but it is best to pick through it to check for any wayward shards. For perfect picking, separate the meat over a metal bowl. You will hear if any shells hit the metal.

Fluffy pancakes

Ensure your pancakes puff up by separating the eggs and beating the whites to form stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the pancake batter until just combined.

Velvety-smooth melted chocolate

If you do not have a double broiler, instead of microwaving the chocolate mixture, craft a boiler yourself. Place a glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl’s bottom does not touch the water. Add chopped chocolate and stir until melted.

Buttery and crispy puff pastry

Dock, or pierce, the surface of the thawed dough with a fork. The holes help deflate the layers, ensuring the crust bakes up flaky but flat.

Stubborn stains

Set the garment on a clean white washcloth, stain facing down. Apply a spot remover to the opposite side of the fabric. As the solution works its way through the fibers, it pushes the stain onto the washcloth.

Salt Day #5!

How many ways can you use salt? Thousands... Salt is one of the most versatile nonmetallic mineral! Here are just a few of the many ways you can put salt to good use in your home...

Set color when you dye fabric

Soak the garment for an hour in 1/2 gallon of water to which you have added 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup salt, then rinse. If rinse water has any color in it, repeat. Use only on single-colored fabric.

Clean a dirty iron bottom

Sprinkle a little salt on a piece of paper and run the hot iron over it to remove rough, sticky spots.

Tackle mildew or rust stains

Moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then spread the item in the sun for bleaching. Rinse and dry.

Remove blood stains

Soak the stained cloth in cold saltwater, then launder in warm, soapy water and boil after the wash. Use only on cotton, linen, or other natural fibers that can take high heat.

Remove perspiration stains

Add 4tbsp of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains fade.

Untangle Christmas tree lights

Your lights are a tangled mess and you cannot tell where one strand ends and another begins. Just plug one of the ends into an electrical outlet. When the bulbs of a single strand are lit, you can easily separate that string from the others.

Keep cleaners away from toddler

Hang a clear plastic shoe rack on the inside of a closet door to stash cleaning products. The clear compartments will help you find what you need, and you will avoid clutter under sinks.

Save a wet cell phone

Remove the battery and blow-dry the inside of the phone with a hair dryer. The blast of air reaches crevices that a towel cannot touch, preventing damage caused by moisture.

Loose knobs on your drawers

Remove the knob and coat its screw with clear nail polish. Insert the drawer pull while the screw is still wet. As the polish dries, it glues the screw to the hole, ensuring the knob stays put.

Mistaking your hair color

When you unwrapped the towel from around your head, you discovered that your hair does not look as you expected. Before the color sets, wash it twice with dandruff shampoo. The product opens hair follicles during the first scrubbing, and the second wash ensures the color molecules are released from your locks before they have time to take hold.

Blueberry pancakes

If you do not like the grayish-blue cast the batter takes on once blueberries are mixed in, toss the rinsed-and-dried berries in flour before adding them to it. The flour locks in moisture and creates enough friction to keep berries suspended in the batter, no matter how much you stir.

Stretch your knee-high leather boots

Fill several heavy-duty resealable plastic freezer bags with water and stuff them into your boots. Put each boot in a kitchen garbage bag and pop in the freezer for 24 hours. Water expands as it freezes, so your boots will stretch as well.

Clean old books

Sprinkle talcum powder between the pages of musty books, then wrap each one in a small paper bag and store for a few months. The talc absorbs stale smells while the bag collects odor-causing moisture. When you take them out of the wrapping and brush off the powder, they will smell like new again.

Revive bows and ribbons

Your used box toppers, bows and ribbons that you have been saving from gifts over the years look crumpled. Toss them in the dryer with a damp washcloth for 2 minutes on the fluff cycle. The low heat combined with moisture will expand the plastic ribbons to their original shape.

Longer-lasting Christmas tree

Instead of watering a fresh-cut Christmas tree, fill its water bowl with ice cubes. Two trays equals about a quart of water, which is sufficient for an average tree. You will eliminate spilling and splashing, plus keep the tree hydrated all day long, and extend its indoor life.

Drip-proof your gravy boat

No matter how careful you are, it is hard to pour gravy without leaving tell-tale signs. Protect your linens by rubbing a dab of butter over the spout of the gravy boat. The fat provides a barrier to stop the sauce in its tracks and send it back into the vessel.

Keep fish fresh longer

Place fish in an ice-filled colander set over a bowl, then put it at the back of the refrigerator on the bottom shelf (coldest part of the fridge). This re-creates the climate in which your fishmonger keeps the seafood fresh.

Seed jalapeños in seconds

Keep your skin sting-free when cleaning the red-hot peppers by using a grapefruit spoon. Its toothed edges are ragged enough to catch and remove all seeds, and you will not need to use your fingers.

Perfect homemade piecrust

Instead of rolling out the dough, shaping it and praying that it holds together when you transfer it to the pie plate, try to refrigerate the dough overnight, or freeze for 30 minutes. Once hard, use a box grater to shred, and then transfer the pieces to the plate, press and bake. Your piecrust will be tender and flaky.

Chili mixed with sour cream

To prevent cream from curdling, stir 1tsp cornstarch into 1/4 cup sour cream before adding to chili. The starch acts as a binder and keeps cream creamy.

Crumbling blue cheese

When you buy blue cheese in a wedge and crumble it at home, it always sticks to your fingers. Next time, freeze the wedge for 20 minutes beforehand. You will be able to break it into pieces without leaving its mark on your hands.

Remove soap scum from shower door

While showering, pour some of your shampoo on a moistened washcloth and use it to rub the doors. The alcohol-derived detergents in hair cleansers cut through oils, while the citric acid dissolves calcium and magnesium deposits.

Reseal vinyl floor

Place a piece of brown paper (you can cut from a grocery bag) on the area that you need to fix, and press with a clothes iron set to low. Then place a heavy object on the area overnight to help the floor stay flat as the adhesive resets.

Perfect picture placement

To create a perfect display of frames on the wall, start by cutting out patterns from tissue paper or magazines that are the size of each frame. Using straight pins, attach the swatches to where you would like the pictures to hang. Then replace the pins with nails, remove the paper and hang your frames.

Revive windshield wipers

If your wiper blades are spreading rain and snow across your windshield instead of whisking them off, rub the rough stuff along each blade with sandpaper to remove smudge-causing residue.

Look younger in a photo

Position yourself above a white object, like a tablecloth. The light in the room reflects back onto your face, creating a youthful glow and a sparkle in your eyes.

Tips for the Holidays!

... stay warm and cozy,

and have lots of fun!...

Gifting at your office holiday party

The general etiquette is to only gift people who work for you (assistants, interns etc.), not those who rank higher than you. Consider giving a bank gift card or a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. For co-workers, if there is no office tradition, it is fine to skip gifts. If you feel like spreading some holiday cheer, you can always leave out holiday candies or snacks on your desk.

Receiving and carrying your presents

When you travel for the holidays, bring an empty duffel bag in your suitcase to transport the gifts you have received home. You cannot forget that you are going to get presents as well.

Buying presents to be handled far away

Shop for gifts online to avoid baggage fees (you can easily get free shipping during the holiday season). Request the online store to deliver your packages directly to the location where you will be going to spend your holidays and give presents away.

Travelling during the holidays

To get cheap flights, book them at least 60 days in advance. If you cannot plan in advance, and have to buy last minute tickets, fly on the holiday instead of before. Often, the lowest fares go to travelers willing to fly on the holiday itself.

Embellish your dinner for the holidays

Use white plates! Food always looks better on them, especially during the holiday season. You can set the table the day before, iron your linens, and whatever you do, do not use paper napkins.

Homemade spa treatment for hands

If you wash your dishes in the sink, try this homemade treat. Apply a thick coat of hand cream, put on rubber gloves and then wash the dishes. It will work just like a mini spa and your hands will be smooth and silky even in winter.

Odor in trash cans

Place a couple of dryer sheets (even used ones work) in the bottom of the trash can to absorb spills and mask odors.

Deep fryer with leftover oil

Let the oil cool completely, and then empty it into a plastic container with a lid, such as an empty margarine or cottage-cheese tub. Cover and find a "hazardous" waste location to dump it. You can also try to drop it off at a local restaurant, which should already have a correct destination to its large quantities. Never dump fat down the drain, since it can cause clogs. Plus, liquid and solid fats do not break down easily, an issue if you have a septic system.

Rust-prone citrus zesters

Do not wash these nifty tools in water. "Dry-clean" a zester by placing it on or near a heat source, such as a still-warm oven or stovetop, or even a downdraft exhaust fan in the kitchen. The stuck-on lemon rind will eventually dry out, after which you can brush it off with a clean toothbrush.

Narrow champagne flutes

Bend a pipe cleaner in half, insert it deep into the crevice, rotate, and remove. Alternatively, use a baby-bottle brush. Wash the flutes in hot, soapy water. Dry with a microfiber cloth, which will not leave lint or tiny fibers behind on the glass.

Toaster-oven drips and splotches

Before you clean any part of the toaster oven, unplug it. Try to attack spills while they are still warm. Some toaster ovens have a nonstick interior, which can be cleaned with a nonabrasive cloth soaked in warm water. To clean up cheese or tomato sauce that has baked onto the coils, first let the heating unit cool, then wipe with a damp cloth. Never immerse a toaster oven in water.

Food trapped in the holes of a colander

Use a pipe cleaner and a sponge to scrub away any stubborn remnants left in the holes.

Cooked-on egg

Add a bit of water to the skillet and return it to the heat for a few minutes. This will loosen the egg and allow you to wipe out the pan effortlessly.

Stains burned onto casserole pans

Fill the pan with warm water, add a fresh dryer sheet to the bottom of the pan, and let soak for 15 minutes. Wash and rinse thoroughly. Alternatively, fill the pan with hot water, add a handful of baking soda, and soak for the same amount of time. Scrub with the abrasive side of a scrubber sponge, rinse, and then wash.

Stovetop splatters

As soon as the stove has cooled enough to touch (but is not so cool that the spill has hardened), wipe away the mess. Cover dried-on spills with a wet, soapy dish cloth and let it sit. Use the cloth to wipe up the softened spill. For stubborn, neglected messes, make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply to the spill, leave on for 10 minutes, and wipe away with a damp paper towel.

Burned-on sugar

To clean burned sugar from your pots and pans, pour in some boiling water, stir to loosen, and pour out. Repeat until all the sugar disappears.

Cleaning milk scum

Cream sauces, custards, and other cooked-milk mixtures nearly always adhere to pans. To clean them, fill the pot with warm water and add several tablespoons of baking soda or a powdered cleanser. Bring to a boil and let boil until the scorched milk loosens and floats to the surface.

Freezer spills

To clean up a leak, use an ice scraper (the same kind you would use on an ice-covered windshield) to loosen the splattered contents, and gently scrub with a wet, warm microfiber cloth.

Refrigerator spills

For liquids (pickle juice, milk etc.), simply place a microfiber cloth on the spill and wipe it up. If the jam jar has left a ring on the refrigerator shelf, wet the cloth with warm water and gently scrub the jam away. To get rid of meat and poultry juices, use paper towels soaked with a diluted solution of bleach and water, since juices from meats can carry bacterial contaminants that can remain trapped in cloth dish towels and microfiber towels.

Stains on plastic storage containers

Tomato sauce and other acidic foods leave stains on plastic that even the dishwasher will not remove. Set those plastic pieces out in the sun to naturally bleach the stains away (for stubborn spots, rub lemon juice first). Baking soda also works well in bleaching color out of plastic, and it helps get rid of strong odors.

Grease splatters on walls and backsplashes

Try an all-purpose cleaner that has the word "degreaser" on the label. Spray it directly on the spot and wipe clean with a paper towel. This is effective on walls painted with semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Beware that flat paint is not as forgiving, since it will absorb every splash.

Mold in bathroom

Run the bathroom exhaust fan or crack open a window while you shower, and for at least 10 minutes afterward, to prevent mold buildup.

Spotty porcelain pieces

Fill a stained porcelain serving dish or sink with warm water, then drop in several denture-cleaning tablets and stains will dissolve like magic.

Clean a dirty grater

To make grater cleanup a breeze, spray it with nonstick cooking spray before grating cheese and the residue will wipe right off.

Cooking the perfect rice

Use the proportion 1/2 cup rice to 1 cup water (for brown rice, change to 1/2 cup rice to 1 1/4 cup water). Adjust your rice-to-water ratio accordingly for larger portions. Never stir your rice, otherwise you will activate starch and make it gloppy. Always salt the water used to cook it, or else you will have a bland result. Let it sit covered for 10 minutes after it is cooked, and then fluff with a fork.

Salt Day #4!

How many ways can you use salt? Thousands... Salt is one of the most versatile nonmetallic mineral! Here are just a few of the many ways you can put salt to good use in your home...

Brighten colors

Wash colored curtains or washable fiber rugs in a saltwater solution to brighten the colors. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.

Dry clothes in the winter

Use salt, in the final laundry rinse, to prevent clothes from freezing, if you use an outdoor clothes line in the winter.

Extra bubbles in your laundry

If someone overfills laundry with soap, you can eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

Attack wine spills

If you drop wine on your cotton or linen tablecloth, blot up as much as possible and immediately cover the wine with a pile of salt, which will help pull the remaining wine away from the fiber. Later, soak the tablecloth in cold water for 30 minutes before laundering.

Clean a glass coffee pot

Add salt and ice cubes to a coffee pot, swirl around vigorously, and rinse. The salt scours the bottom, and the ice helps to agitate it more for a better scrub.

Clean rust

Mix salt and cream of tartar with just enough water to make a paste. Rub on rust, let dry, brush off and buff with a dry, soft cloth. You can also use the same method with a mix of salt and lemon.

Clean brass or copper

Mix equal parts of salt, flour, and vinegar to make a paste, and rub the paste on the metal. After letting it sit for an hour, clean with a soft cloth or brush and buff with a dry cloth.

Clean refrigerators

A mix of salt and soda water can be used to wipe out and deodorize the inside of your refrigerator, a nice way to keep chemical-y cleaners away from your food.

Clean stained cups

Mix salt with a dab of dish soap to make a soft scrub for stubborn coffee and tea stains.

Clean greasy pan

Cast-iron skillets can be cleaned with a good sprinkling of salt and paper towels.

Storing extension cords

Eliminate the tangle of unused extension cords by storing each one in a piece of pipe insulation foam tubing with a slit along one side. Simply fold the cord to size, insert it, and label the foam to indicate the length of the cord enclosed.

Organize scarves

Keep your scarves/pashminas all organized and in plain view by using everyday shower curtain rings to hang them off your clothes bar, or in a cluster on the door.

Left over wallpaper

You just finished a remodel and have extra pieces of wallpaper. Cut them into rectangular pieces to line the insides of your kitchen or bathroom drawers. Regular liners are often boring and muted, and wallpaper will bring some color into your storage spaces.

Protect your china and plates

Use coffee filters as scratch guards. Large filters, or even paper plates, are just right for cradling dishes without adding bulk while still avoiding chips and nicks. Alternate plates and inserts, and then carefully store in the cabinet.

Cleaning vegetable drawers

Newspaper is a very absorbent product, because it has to hold ink. It can also absorb all sorts of moisture, including the musty results of odors found in your refrigerator's vegetable drawers. Take a page of newspaper folded into squares and tuck it into the corner of your fridge for an overnight fix.

Prevent "cookie spread"

It seems that no matter how far apart you space your cookies, thin mixtures often spread once in the oven. Try dusting the baking sheet with flour after greasing.

Velvety cheese sauce

To prevent your cheese dip from being lumpy, stir in a few drizzles of white wine. The beverage contains tartaric acid, which puts a stop to stringing and lumping.

Cleaning vinyl flooring

Use a soft cloth or mop with a mix of one-half cup of ammonia per gallon of water. Sweep or vacuum frequently. Do not use detergents, abrasive cleansers, mop-and-shine products, or paste wax, all of which leave a film on the shiny waxlike finish applied by the manufacturer. Rub scuff marks with a nylon pad, sponge, or soft nylon brush dampened with the ammonia solution or isopropyl alcohol.

Stay hydrated to prevent hemorrhoids

Water is a key element of producing a soft stool which in turn reduces the pain of hemorrhoids. Drinking enough water can also help prevent them. In addition, you should avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine intake. Both alcohol and caffeine promote the loss of water from your body, which can cause hard stools and increase pain.

Relief hemorrhoids

Several types of over-the-counter (nonprescription) products offer quick relief of hemorrhoid symptoms. These include hemorrhoid creams, gels, foams, suppositories, and pads that contain hydrocortisone, witch hazel, or a constricting or numbing medication (such as, Preparation H, TUCKS Medicated Pads, and Lanacane). Oral medications that can help reduce inflammation and pain include acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Prevent hemorrhoids during and right after pregnancy

To keep you and your baby safe, you should talk to your health care provider about any symptoms you may have, such as rectal pain and itching, before trying any self-care treatments or products. One simple treatment when you are pregnant is lying on your left side when resting or sleeping to help reduce pressure on certain veins that can lead to vein swelling and hemorrhoids.

Avoid development of hemorrhoids

In the morning you may not feel like you always have the time to sit down and use the bathroom. While it is not necessary have a bowel movement in the morning, it is important not to put off having a bowel movement when you feel the urge. Delaying defecation can lead to constipation as well as aggravate and encourage the development of hemorrhoids.

Get exercise to prevent hemorrhoids

Exercise is a key component of preventing and treating hemorrhoids. If your daily life or job includes sitting for long periods of time, be sure to get up and move around for a few minutes every hour or so. Be aware that certain physical activities should be avoided, including sitting for long periods on the toilet, heavy lifting, and anal intercourse, all of which can increase the risk and worsen symptoms.

More fiber to reduce hemorrhoids pain

Fiber helps you avoid constipation and straining to pass a bowel movement, both primary risk factors for developing hemorrhoids. It also helps to reduce pain by making the stool soft and easier to pass. Some high fiber foods include fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans), bran, and whole-grain cereals and breads.

Use water therapeutically for hemorrhoids

Water can be very soothing to inflamed, painful and itchy hemorrhoids. You may get relief from applying cold compresses or soaking your rectal area in warm water for about 10 minutes several times a day.

Cleaning plastic-laminate flooring

Use a well-wrung-out cloth or mop with a mix of one cup of vinegar per gallon of water. Sweep or vacuum frequently. Do not wet mop, since water can seep into the seams and cause buckling. Do not use soap-based detergents, wax-based products, or mop-and-shine products, which leave a dull film. Do not use abrasive cleansers, which can scratch the finish. For tough stains, rub gently with isopropyl alcohol and a cloth. For greasy stains, use ammonia and a damp cloth.

Cleaning hardwood flooring

Use a well-wrung-out cloth, sponge, or mop, with a few drops of dish-washing liquid or all-purpose cleanser and warm water. Sweep or vacuum frequently to remove grit. Do not wet mop, since water will damage the finish. Do not apply wax to a floor coated with urethane or polyurethane. Do not apply sprays or oils meant for wood furniture; they will make floors slippery. For tough stains, scrub gently with a nylon pad dampened with dishwashing liquid.

Cleaning cork flooring

Use a cloth, sponge, or mop that has been wrung out, with a few drops of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleanser and warm water. Sweep or vacuum frequently; grit can scratch the cork's finish. Do not wet mop, since water and other standing liquids will damage the floor. For tough stains, scrub gently with a mop dampened with dishwashing liquid.

Cleaning mirrors

Use a microfiber cloth with plain water. For extremely dirty mirrors, make a solution of one part vinegar to one part warm water and use a squeegee. Keep water or the vinegar solution away from the edge of a mirror; moisture can seep behind the glass and cause damage. Rub tough streaks with crumpled newspaper and the vinegar solution.

Cleaning stainless steel

Use a soft cloth with a mix of 4tbsp of baking soda dissolved in one quart of water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth and polish with a dry cloth. Immediately wipe up acidic spills, like lemon and tomato, which can discolor the finish. Do not use abrasive cleansers or bleach, which can pit the surface. Remove streaks and water spots with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol and let air-dry.

Salt Day #3!

How many ways can you use salt? Thousands... Salt is one of the most versatile nonmetallic mineral! Here are just a few of the many ways you can put salt to good use in your home...

Remove water rings

Gently rub a thin paste of salt and vegetable oil on the white marks caused by beverage glasses and hot dishes on wooden tables.

Clean sink drains

Pour salt mixed with hot water down the kitchen sink regularly to deodorize and keep grease from building up.

Basic soft scrub

For a basic soft scrub, make a paste with lots of salt, baking soda and dish soap and use on appliances, enamel, porcelain etc.

Tame a wild barbecue

Toss a bit of salt on flames from food dripping in barbecue grills to reduce the flames and calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water does).

De-ice sidewalks and driveways

Lightly sprinkle rock salt on walks and driveways to keep snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and allow for easier shoveling/scraping. But do not overdo it; use the salt sensibly to avoid damage to plants and paws.

Kill poison ivy

Mix three pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water (use a gentle dish soap) and apply to leaves and stems with a sprayer, avoiding any plant life that you want to keep.

Repair walls

To fill nail holes, fix chips or other small dings in white sheet-rock or plaster walls, mix 2tbsp salt and 2tbsp cornstarch, then add enough water (about 5tsp) to make a thick paste. Use the paste to fill the holes.

Make play dough

Use 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2tbsp oil, and 2tbsp cream of tartar. Stir together flour, cream of tartar, salt, and oil, and slowly add water. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff. Spread onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the dough with your hands until it reaches a good dough consistency.

Arrange artificial flowers

Artificial flowers can be held in place by pouring salt into the vase, adding a little cold water and then arranging the flowers. The salt become solid as it dries and holds the flowers in place.

Keep cut flowers fresh

A dash of salt added to the water in a flower vase will keep cut flowers fresh longer. You can also try an aspirin or a dash of sugar for the same effect.

Cleaning porcelain and enameled cast iron

Use a soft cloth or sponge with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water. Do not use abrasive pads, abrasive cleansers, or wire brushes; dirt can settle into the scratches they make. For tough stains, scrub with a soft nylon brush and undiluted all-purpose cleanser or a paste of baking soda and water.

Cleaning hardwood cabinets

Use a well-wrung-out cloth or sponge with a few drops of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleanser and warm water. Scouring pads or powdered cleansers can damage the finish. To remove grease, rub gently with a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water. Buff lightly with a cloth.

Cleaning plastic-laminate countertops and cabinets

Use a dampened sponge, cloth, or soft nylon pad or brush A few drops or a spray of all-purpose cleanser. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth. Do not use a dripping-wet cloth near seams. Do not use abrasive cleansers, steel wool, or stiff brushes, which can scratch the finish. For tough stains, apply undiluted all-purpose cleanser, let stand, and then blot with a dampened cloth.

Cleaning glass

Use plain water and a microfiber cloth. For extremely dirty windows, make a solution of one part vinegar to one part warm water and use a squeegee. To reduce streaking, do not clean windows in the heat of the day. For tough stains, rub with crumpled newspaper and the vinegar solution.

Cleaning solid surfaces

On solid surfaces, such as corian or avonite, use a damp sponge, cloth, or soft nylon pad or brush with a few drops or a spray of all-purpose cleanser. Occasionally wipe matte-finish sinks with a solution of 1tsp nonchlorine bleach and one quart hot water. For tough stains rub matte finishes with a dampened green erasing pad and baking soda. For satin finishes, use a white erasing pad and undiluted all-purpose cleanser. For high-gloss finishes, use a one-part-vinegar to one-part-warm-water solution and a soft cloth.