Perfectly breaded chicken cutlets

To prevent coating from falling off in the oil, let chicken cutlets sit on a rack for about 5 minutes before placing them in a pan, to give coating a chance to adhere and ensure it will stay put during frying time.

Cleaning gold jewelry

Rub dulled pieces of gold jewelry a few times with a pencil eraser. This staple is made of clusters of tiny rubber particles that absorb the body oils that cause a dull finish.

Perfect chocolate shavings

To prevent chocolate from crumbling when you are shaving bars to decorate your desserts, try this tip. Give the block a 5-second sweep with a hair dryer to slightly soften it. Then shave the chocolate at a 45-degree angle with a paring knife, and use a skewer or toothpick to lift the pieces to transfer them to your dish.

Simplify your morning routine

If you are that kind of person that is always running late in the AM and, sometimes, forgets a vital step of your personal care before you leave the house, try this organizing tip. Wherever you store your toiletries and any other needed items, keep all together lined up in the order that you use them. You will never miss any step again, and your morning routine will be much easier and faster.

Allergen-free woolens

Wool attracts 10 times more allergens than other fibers because it naturally absorbs moisture from the air. To prevent your woolens (as such sweaters) from making you tired and bleary-eyed, throw them in the dryer on a low setting for 30 minutes once a week to dislodge particles from the fibers and keep them allergen-free.

Reheating pizza

Remove the oven racks and heat to 400F. Place some foil directly on the oven floor, and top with the leftover pizza. Cook for 5 minutes and you will have a crispy pie without burning it.

Soggy pie crust

For a pretty and flaky pie crust, coat it with 1 or 2 tbsp milk. Proteins in milk create a thin protective barrier that keeps the crust tender while it bakes.

Fluffy scrambled eggs

Using a pan that is too big for the number of eggs you want to scramble, can cause them to cook too fast and turn out hard and tough. Try to use these guidelines: a 6" frying pan for 2 eggs; 8" for 6; 10" for 8. The egg mixture should be at least 1/4" thick to give you more cooking control.

Easy way to peel a kiwifruit

Trim both ends of the kiwifruit, place a spoon between the peel and the flesh to separate, and then rotate the spoon. Gently squeeze the kiwi, and pulp will pop right out.

Removing garlic skins

Cook garlic cloves for about 5 minutes in a skillet over medium-high heat. Let cool, press them and the garlic will slip right out the skin. In addition, your food will get a savory roasted flavor.

Food grease on clothes

Cover the marks with baby powder and let sit for about 3 hours. Do not rub the area, since you can spread the stain by doing so. Shake out the powder and launder as usual.

Healthier houseplants

If your houseplants look "tired" and dusty, set a hair dryer on low and hold it directly above the leaves, moving it all the time. Heat will evaporate the moisture that makes dust stick, allowing the airflow to remove dirt. Leaf pores will be unclogged to absorb more nutrients and plants will look pretty and healthy.

Rust in cast-iron pan

Slice a small potato in half. Squeeze some non-gel toothpaste onto the fleshy part of one half. Dampen the rusty area of the pan and use the potato to rub in the paste. Rinse and dry. Phosphoric acid in the potato and abrasive in toothpaste will give you a rust-free pan.

Remove burnt residue from a nonstick pan

Peel 2 oranges, cut the skin into small pieces and place in the pan. Add enough water to cover and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it soak all day. Rinse and wipe dry. Citric acid will cut through the grease without damaging the coating of the pan.

Quick fix for shallow car dents

Place a toilet plunger over the damaged area, then pump as you would to unclog a toilet, creating a vacuum seal that will restore metal to its original shape when released.

Messy ashes in fireplace

Place a few sheets of aluminum foil underneath the grates before starting the fire. The foil will collect all the grime from the blaze, and afterward you will only need to fold up the sheets and toss mess in the trash.

Fog-proof swim goggles

Cover the inside of the mask with a thin layer of toothpaste, then rinse with warm water. The paste will leave behind an invisible coat of fluoride, which will dissolve water molecules on contact and prevent vision-blurring condensation from forming.

Toenails stained by dark polish

A dark nail polish stained your toenails with that unsightly yellow and you want to restore their natural shade. Gently scrub your nails with an old toothbrush and whitening toothpaste, using a small circular motion. Rinse with cool water.

Remove hair color from your skin

To erase traces of dye from your hairline, apply a small amount of white non-gel toothpaste to your finger and massage the affected areas until the pigment disappears. Rinse with warm water.

Stains or spots on garage floor

Pour 1/2 cup of cola soda on trouble areas, including grease spills and oil drips. Let the liquid sit for about 15 minutes before hosing down the floor with warm water. Acids will dissolve ground-in grime.

Antique look in photos

To create a sepia-toned look in new pictures, fill a jelly-roll pan with 1/2 inch of cola soda and immerse photos until they reach the desired tone (1 minute or more). Remove pictures from the liquid and dry them with a blow-dryer set on low.