■ According to a study by Boston University, there is no difference between a diet drink and a regular drink. They are both linked to the same health problems.
■ To make bath towel more absorbent and soft, put a handful of salt in a bucket of water and soak the towel for 2 hrs. Wash and dry.
■ Grate some cucumber and freeze in an ice tray. Massage frozen cucumber cubes onto eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
■ Prepare a simple furniture polish with either lemon oil and beeswax, beeswax and olive oil, or mix 2 teaspoons lemon oil with one pint mineral oil in a spray bottle.
■ To make your skin soft, mix 2 tbsp of milk in 1 tsp of salt and apply on the face at bed time. This makes skin petal soft.
■ When putting curtains on a metal rod, slip a plastic sandwich or freezer bag over the metal end first so that it doesn't snag the curtain and it will also go on much easier.
■ Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.
■ Hot water blushes your skin and you won't feel fresh unless you have bath with little cold water. If you shower for a longtime, the dead skin will be automatically be removed. Do not rub with towel, just pat dry.
■ Loose leaf pages in an album or diary tend to tear easily. Reinforce them by removing them from the rings and sticking a length of cellophane tape along the entire length of the edge where the holes are. Repunch the holes.
■ Touch up matted suede by rubbing the area gently with an emery board. Then use a suede brush to raise the nap.
■ Fragile glass ornaments for the Christmas tree can be very safely stored in cardboard egg containers. Put one ornament in each egg space, well wrapped up, and tape paper securely around the whole container.
■ Save leftover bits of soap in a jar. When half full, fill up the rest of the jar with boiling water. The resulting jelly is ideal for washing dishes and glasses.
■ How to keep asparagus fresh: Stand the spears upright in a glass containing 1-2cm of water, cover with a plastic bag and store in the fridge. If space is an issue, wrap the spears in a clean, damp tea towel and store in the crisper section of the fridge. This way your asparagus spears will stay crisp for up to three days. Before using, snap or cut off the woody ends, then steam, boil, stir-fry or bake asparagus for 3-4 minutes or until bright green and tender crisp.
■ If you have an aquarium at home, save the water each time you change it and water your house plants with it. You'll be amazed at the results.
■ To get rid of onion, pepper or garlic smells from hands, mix a ratio of two level tablespoons of baking soda to a glass of water and soak hands for 30 seconds to a minute. Also great for getting rid of these smells/burning from mouth (rinse, don't swallow!).
■ For naturally pink lips, apply beetroot juice to your lips before going to bed.
■ For more effective dishwashing, add a few tablespoons of vinegar along with the dishwashing detergent when washing dishes. The vinegar cuts the grease and leaves dishes sparkling.
■ You will have a greater chance of continuing to exercise if you find it enjoyable so if you don’t like to run, do sit-ups, or swim, then don’t do it.
■ To unclog a drain when doing kitchen cleaning, mix a cup of salt with a cup of baking soda. Pour the dry solution into the drain, and then add a pot of boiling water.
■ Carry your baby as much as possible - with the aid of a sling or other baby carrier. This will help to keep your baby relaxed, especially during the early evening hours, encouraging an easy transition to sleep.
■ Never refrigerate fresh tomatoes. Cold temperatures make the flesh of a tomato pulpy and destroys the flavor.
■ Eliminate the green ring around hard-cooked egg yolks by avoiding overcooking and by cooling the eggs quickly after cooking. Run cold water over the just-cooked eggs or place them in ice water (not standing in water) until they have completely cooled. Then refrigerate the eggs in their shells until you're ready to use them. Hard-cooked eggs in the shell can be refrigerated up to one week.
■ Before storing tomato-based sauces or curries with lots of turmeric powder or other foods that can stain, spray your plastic storage container with nonstick cooking spray.
■ While packing shoes for trip, place each one inside a cotton sock. This keeps everything else clean and keeps the shoes from getting scratched. Then put the sock-covered shoe into a ziplock bag. No odor in your bag!
■ To keep your scalp safe when you bleach, don't shampoo or brush your hair for an entire day.
■ Nails should never be filed down the sides, as this damages them. To avoid ingrown toe nails, always cut them straight across.
■ A little Vaseline or cream rubbed on the grooves of the nail polish bottle prevents them from getting stuck. If it is so badly stuck that you cannot open it, dip the cap in hot water for a few minutes. The heat will make it expand and open readily.
■ A study has found that women who had a 420kJ salad before their meal ate about 12 percent less overall (salad included) than those who skipped the leafy appetizer. So get shredding those lettuces!
■ Lining shelves or windowsills with aluminum foil reflects light and provides extra light for houseplants during winter. Be sure there are no leaks that allow water to collect under the foil and damage sills.
■ For a perfect casserole, cut your ingredients, such as meat, potatoes and parsnips, into similar-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. Add ingredients such as broad beans towards the end of cooking.
■ Roaming cats, as well as house pets and wildlife, may climb onto vehicle engines for warmth during cold weather. Be sure to check under the hood before starting your vehicle and honk the horn to startle any animals seeking shelter inside.
■ A highlighter pen can deliver a sheer cream through a firm brush tip. Many of these products that cover redness and uneven coloring, contain reflective particles to add a glow but are not as dry or as the dense concealers typically are.
■ Don't prune your rose bushes in winter. To protect your roses from severe cold, attach a lump of mulch or soil to the canes. Shelter the rose plant with a thick cloth or by any other leafy branches.
■ To clean cilantro, plunge the bunch into a sink full or pot full of cold water. Swirl around a few times and let sit for a while. The sand, dirt, and other debris will settle to the bottom, and the leaves will float to the top and can be removed.
■ Did you that saffron can remedy sore gums, fatigue, eliminate mental blocks and even help lower the rate of heart disease? To get its full benefits, dissolve about 50 mg of saffron and a little sugar in a glass of milk and drink it everyday.
■ Did you know some nail polishes contain potentially harmful chemicals? Check the ingredients for toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate before buying, 3 chemicals that can irritate your eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
■ To remove any unpleasant odor, put a lemon-scented soap in your shoes, after having aired them. Then put the shoes in the cupboard.
■ An ideal diet for a pet bird should contain 10 per cent fruit, 50 per cent vegetables, and a dash of meat and dairy products, backed up by seeds, nuts or pelleted foods.
■ Refill ice trays that have 4-5 cubes with cold water and set it in the freezer. The ice will set faster.
■ Whenever possible, make mushrooms a part of your cooking. Turns out all 'shrooms contain lots of the antioxidant ergothioneine, which can help lower your risk of cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
■ Combining exercise and caffeine may help protect you from UV-induced skin cancer, says a research report. So go on, put on your trainers and run to the local café!
■ To moisturize the delicate area around your eyes, apply a little olive oil each day to give this area more moisture then the rest of the skin.
■ To curl fennel shavings and make them crisp, place the fennel in a bowl of iced water for 10 minutes. Drain, then add raw to salads.
■ To give your face a velvety, soft look, apply an eye shadow two shades down from your lip shade. And don't forget to use a lip brush!
■ Scatter clear, stackable plastic bins in all sizes around your kid's room. Kids can see inside, so they won't need to dump out several bins to find a favorite toy.
■ Whenever possible, buy whole spices, which you can grind in seconds at home with any blade coffee grinder, to retain their flavor for a longer time.
■ Roses are more than eye candy. Did you know their petals and hips make into snacks, tea, honey, and sugar-dusted or chocolate-covered garnishes?
■ All frozen foods have a use-by-date. To make sure you use them before they're spoiled, label and date the container/package before storing them in your freezer.
■ To make your potatoes last up to eight weeks without sprouting, place an apple in your bag of potatoes.
■ To retain the color of your vegetables and make that vegetable stew look colorful, add vinegar to the water when boiling them.
■ Dip a damp rag in baking soda to clean up any inside spots. For odors, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom and let it stand overnight.
■ A good way to keep kids content on a trip is to take along a goodie bag with more toys than you think you'll need. Include favorite toys, games, books, and some surprises.
