Interesting Household Tips - Miscellaneous Home

Cleaning
Broken Glass
If you drop any glass, try using a dry cotton ball to pick up the little broken pieces that are too small to see.

Vacuuming in Hard to Reach Areas
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get into narrow openings.

Vinegar Stops the Action of Bleach
If you accidentaly spill bleach and to reduce its damage dab on vinegar with a sponge or cloth as quickly as possible.

Dusting
If you don't have a duster, use odd socks on your hand to dust. For harder to reach areas, use odd socks on the end of a broom and secure with rubber bands.

Stuck on Food
For food that is stuck on to a pan after cooking, fill the pan with hot water, then sprinkle in dish-washing powder and put the pan on the stove on low heat. The stuck on food will cook right off.

Keep Your Jeans Out of the Dryer
Putting your jeans in the dryer will only make them tighter. Instead spread them out to dry flat.

Parties
Thank You Cards
When you throw a bridal/baby shower, buy a pack of thank you cards for the guest of honor/close friend. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride/new mom sends the thank you's, they're already addressed.

Protecting China
Avoid scratching the good china by putting paper plates inbetween plates before stacking them.

Tupperware
When someone brings over food and you know that you won't see them for sometime. Transfer their item in to your own tupperware/dish and return their tupperware/dish back to them.

Mail/Bills
Reopening an Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. It will unseal easily. Unfortunately, you will still need to put tape on it to seal it back, but this way, you can still re-use it.

Sorting Mail/Bills
Have bins or folders with labels, where you can file these away as soon as you receive them. Labels for bill can say - pay now, pay next week, pay next month, paid. Labels for mail can say - junk, bills, for a specific person in the household, to shred, to throw away, to review later.

Weekly Ritual
Set aside an evening or specific time each week here bills will be the main focus. Another day can be focused on looking at mail that you have set aside to review for later.

Accordion File
For bills, it might be easier to sort them in an accordion file. This way you can be more specific as to what those bills are - utilities, taxes, car, home, credit cards, etc.

Storage
Trays
Small trays hold miscellaneous items in every room (i.e. in the kitchen-the tray can hold spices, soup mixes, etc.).

Labels
Add labels to find items quickly.

Magazines
Store these in baskets or wallmounted organizers.

Ziplock Bags
Use these in different sizes for markers, crayons, doll clothes, small toys, etc. Identify the bags with decorative labels.

Shoe Boxes
Use to sort bills, photos, and recipes. Can also hold cosmetics, tools, sewing supplies and similar toys (i.e. cars). Cover with fabric to make attractive along with a label to identify.

Laundry Bags
Can hold teddy bears, sheets, extra pillows, off season clothes, or blankets.

Have a great week!

Marlin