Drilling the ceiling

To minimize dust and mess when drilling holes in the ceiling, poke the drill bit through the center of a coffee filter (paper curling up away from the drill’s handle). The basket shaped filter will catch falling ceiling crumbs and dust, making cleanup easier.

Washing stuffed animals

To protect stuffed animals when washing them in a machine, place the toy inside a lingerie bag and use delicate detergent and cycle.

Remove ink stain from leather

If you find a pen mark across your leather accessory, squeeze some antibacterial hand sanitizer onto a cotton swab and use to lightly cover the stain. Let sit for about 15 seconds and remove any excess with a clean cloth. The alcohol in the product dissolves ink’s oils and the gel has moisturizing properties, so it will not dry out leather.

Healthy and crunchy French toast

When you bake French toast, instead of frying, the crust does not crisp in the same way. Next time, try coating the soaked bread slices with crumbled cornflakes. Cook in a 500F oven for 10 minutes, turning once. The flakes sear quickly and you will get the fried texture without adding any fat.

Cooking lamb

For a mild and tender taste, soak the lamb in milk for 30 minutes (or up to 5 hours) before cooking. The lactic acid in milk will break down the meat’s proteins.

Tinting white chocolate

To tint white chocolate properly, add the food coloring before melting it. If you add the color after melting it, chocolate will harden immediately.

Reduce the bitter taste in broccoli rabe

Before you sauté the vegetable in garlic and oil, blanch it in salted boiling water for 1 minute, then transfer to a bowl of ice water and drain. This procedure will remove any extra bite out of the green.

Keep salad greens crisp

Sprinkle the washed and dried leaves with some sea salt. The granules will absorb extra moisture and the greens will stay crunchy for hours until you are ready to serve your salad.

Fluffy homemade bread

To accomplish fluffy bread, chill the butter and the flour. Ensuring the butter stays cool while being worked into the flour results in airy bread. If the butter melts (even a little) during the work, it seeps through the flour making a denser product.

Glass cleaner substitute

An excellent alternative for regular glass cleaners is rubbing alcohol. It is less offensive and much cheaper than classic chemicals.

Wrinkle-free scarf storage

To prevent scarves from getting wrinkled, wrap each one around an empty paper towel tube. Run a ribbon through the tube and tie to keep fabric in place.

Cleaning crystal pieces

To clean a delicate crystal piece with deep etchings, just grab a soft head clean toothbrush. Its bristles are rigid enough to access tiny carvings but gentle enough not to damage the glassware.

Closing envelopes

When sealing envelopes, in case you do not want to lick the flaps or you run out of glue, just brush a little bit of clear nail polish on each adhesive flap, and work will be well done easily.

Against Mosquitoes

Mix 1 part garlic juice with 5 parts water, put the solution in a spray bottle, and spritz yourself as needed.

Seeding spicy peppers

To prevent that burning sensation on your hands that last for hours, cut off the stem end of the pepper with a knife, insert a vegetable peeler and rotate. The tool will pull out ribs and seeds without hurting you.

Curling parchment paper

Grab 4 refrigerator magnets and place one on each corner of a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. The paper will be firmly attached to the metal, making your baking job easier. Remove the magnets before cooking.

Keep casseroles crispy

The best part of a casserole is its golden cheesy topping. To keep it crispy after cooked, place a paper towel over the top of the dish before wrapping it in foil. The condensation from the hot pasta will be absorbed by the towel, instead of forming on the foil and dripping back onto the dish making it soggy.

Fluffy whipped cream

To make sure your topping stays fluffy all day, add 2 tbsp of marshmallow cream for each cup of fluffy cream. It also adds just the right amount of sweetness to your dessert.