Sticky goat cheese crumbles

Goat cheese tends to stick to fingers instead of breaking into pieces. Next time you have to crumble this kind of cheese, cut off the amount you need and place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Take it out and it will crumble much easier.

Prevent pear slices from browning

Pour some seltzer water over the pears. The carbonation increases the acidity of water and will keep the fruit from browning without changing its taste.

Avoid tears when cutting onions

Before slicing or chopping onions, cut them in half and run the pieces under cold water. This washes away some of the sulfur compounds that irritate eyes.

Perfect zucchini bread

To accomplish perfect zucchini bread you need to squeeze as much water as you can from the veggie. Place the shredded zucchini in a colander set over a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Then place a heavy can (or a jar) on top of the plastic and let sit for about 10 minutes, pushing down on the can once or twice, and your vegetable will be ready to use.

A fix for thin pasta sauce

If you find your homemade fresh tomato sauce too watery, stir some parmesan cheese directly into it, rather than topping each portion of pasta with cheese. The parmesan will improve flavors and also thicken the sauce.

Fresh-smelling dishwasher

Squeeze the juice of one lemon and one orange into the liquid-detergent compartment. Run the dishwasher while it is empty, setting it to steam dry. The citric acids bleach away stains and neutralize odor-causing buildup from the interior.

Extend the life of jack-o’-lanterns

After cutting pumpkins out, dip each one’s lid in cinnamon, which has antibacterial properties and will prevent deterioration. When it is time to lit the candle inside and close the lid, you will get an extra nice fragrance from your entryway.

Muddy footprints on carpets

To get rid of the dirt marks on your home or car’s carpets, pour a thick layer (about 1/4”) of Epsom salts on top of them and let sit for about 15 minutes. Epsom salt is super absorbent and will reduce the moisture that sticks dirt to fabric, so you just need to use a vacuum over the marks after all.

Messy pet’s meal

Every time your pet eats, he takes a mouthful of food from his bowl, drops it onto the floor and then chows down. Next time, serve him with a large shallow dish, which will allow him to chew in comfort. Deep bowls crowd pet’s meal and cause him to pick up and transfer food out of the dish.

Prolong a marker’s life

If your marker runs out of ink when you are almost finished with your project, dip the tip in white vinegar, close the cap and lay the marker on its side for about 15 minutes.

Saving water at home

For a little help on saving water at home, grab an empty plastic bottle, fill it with sand and place inside the toilet tank. This will take some space and reduce the amount of water used in each flush.

Cooking a perfect roast

To accomplish that caramelized surface and seal in the flavor and juices, raise the oven temperature by 50F for the last 10 minutes of cooking your roast beef.

Make sure pet’s water dish stays full

If your pet has a very energetic way to drink water and his dish keeps turning over, try this. Hammer a pole through the center hole of a rust-free angel food cake pan to keep it in place, and then fill the pan with water.

Hair color mistakes

When your hair dye goes wrong, ASAP wash your hair once or twice with a strong antidandruff shampoo. The zinc pyrithione in the lathers opens up cuticles, allowing hair to release color.

Static cling on clothes

When clothes start "grabbing" your body, rub the positive end of a new battery (AA or AAA) over the fabric several times. This will neutralize the negatively charged electrons on clothes that cause static cling.

Helping women’s weight-loss plans

Start your diet on the day your period ends. You will avoid the hormonal variations that activate cravings, making it easier to follow your new plan.

Button popping off

Apply some clear nail polish on each button of your apparel, front and back. This seals the threads, preventing them from popping off and going missing.

Brownies sticking to the pan

To prevent brownies from sticking to the pan, line the tray with greased aluminum foil, letting some hang over the edges. When brownies are cool, you will be able to lift out the entire batch very easily.

Break in new leather boots

Saturate a few cotton balls with rubbing alcohol and apply them to the areas inside your boots that cause pain and/or irritation. Put on the boots while they are still damp (wear socks!). The moist makes leather more flexible, and the boots will adjust to the shape of your feet.

Perfect baked potatoes

Sprinkle some kosher salt onto a flat baking sheet and place the potatoes on the salt bed. The grains will draw just enough moisture from them, and the result will be crispy skins and fluffy inside. It works better than wrapping potatoes in aluminum foil.