I have put together an assortment of tricks and tips that work to help keep my home running (well). Some of these may sound dubious, but I assure you that they have been tried and tested by yours truly.
1. Most of us have cried over split milk, literally. Milk takes its time to boil when you are watching it, without batting an eyelid, and yet, the microsecond you turn away, Mt Lacto-Vesuvius has erupted in the kitchen, leaving in its wake a sticky mess and a smell that you need to rid of quickly! Placing a wooden spatula over the milk vessel while it’s boiling will prevent the milk from spilling over.
Sprinkling a little bit of water on the top of the rising foam will prevent the milk from boiling over. The trick here is to be faster than the billowing foam!
2. All of us love having homes that smell good. One easy way to do this is to simmer a stovetop potpourri with a few spices from the spice rack—a few pods of cardamom, a small stick of cardamom, a few cloves, a star anise or two, and a sprig of rosemary. Feel free to add orange peels or a few drops of essential oils. Pour in enough water and let it simmer on a low flame till the fragrance wafts around the home.
3. I love having fresh flowers at home and use a hack that I have seen an elderly aunt use. Add in a generous pinch of sugar when you fill the vase with water. Change the water every 3-4 days, and don’t forget to add a new spoonful of sugar. Also, cutting the stems in a slanting direction helps them last longer.
4. Looking for a practical way to remove wax residue, dirt, and pesticide remains from fruits and vegetables? Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to soak fruits and vegetables and rinse them out. Soaking grapes in water to which salt and turmeric have been added helps cleanse out the pesticide residue usually found on grapes.
5. Wondering how to slow down ripening bananas so you don’t need to make another batch of banana bread? Apparently, keeping them away from other fruits, especially apples, helps slow the process. Another recommended tip is to wrap the stems in cling film.
6. Baking soda and vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution. Make a 1:2 solution and pour it down the kitchen or bathroom sinks to eliminate any odour and unclog the pipes on a regular basis.
7. Are you tired of squishy, wilted herbs week after week? Wrap the herbs in a damp paper towel before placing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The moisture from the paper towel prevents the herbs from drying out and keeps them fresh longer. You could try this with lettuce leaves as well
What are your personal favourite hacks that have helped make life easier? Do share them…
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
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