Twelve useful household tips

Much time and money can be saved by using everyday household products to solve common household problems. Besides being cheap and effective, they are also much more environmentally friendly.

1. Stubborn stains on pots and pans

Stubborn stains on pots and pans are normal problems in most household which can be removed by boiling a cup of water together with two tablespoons of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar in the stained pots and pans for about twenty minutes.

2. Stubborn coffee stains in mugs

Stubborn coffee stains in mugs can be removed by placing the mug with some vinegar in it in the microwave for about a minute or two.

3. Cars with stained fabric upholstery can be unsightly. To remove them, one can just dab some shaving cream on it. Then, rub and wipe away the shaving cream with a clean, damp cloth.

4. Storing chillies in freezers immediately after purchasing them will make them last longer.

5. A limp-looking stick of celery does not look appetizing. Placing the celery in ice water together with a peeled and sliced raw potato for about thirty minutes will make it look fresh once again.

6. Price tags or stickers on items bought at the supermarket leaves a sticky stain if not removed properly. The stickers or price tags can be easily removed by applying some vinegar over it and wiping it away five minutes later. Putting them in the freezer for a while works just a well.

7. Blunt sewing needles can be sharpened just by stitching through sandpaper. This also applies to blunt scissors which can be sharpened by cutting through sandpaper.

8. Dull looking aluminium pots and pans can be brightened up just by boiling a few pieces of apple peels in them.

9. Many people are concerned about their dry lips. Try applying a warm teabag to cleaned lips for five minutes. This will help to retain the moisture in the lips, resulting in a smoother appearance.

10. Ever wondered whether the eggs you are using is really fresh? Worry no more. To test for freshness, just submerge the eggs one at a time in a big bowl of water. If the egg floats, that means it is stale. If it stands upright on its pointed end, it is not fresh either. The freshest eggs are those that lie flat at the bottom of the bowl of water.

11. To prevent tools from turning rusty in tool box, put in some mothballs or a piece of chalk.

12. Try removing stains made by ballpoint pens by using hairspray or milk.