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.