Ants Away..

Sprinkle a line of flour wherever you see ants entering the house. Repelled by the flour, ants won't cross over the line =) .

Ink Stains! Oh No!

Your brand new carpet just got 'inked'? No worries, all you need is some milk and cornflour. Mix them together to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ink stain. Allow it to dry on the carpet for a few hours, then brush off the dried residue and vacuum it up.

Old Books..

After a few years, your books will deteriorate and smell musty. Clay-based cat litter is all you need to get rid of the smell. Just seal the books overnight in a container with clean, clay-based cat litter.

Cigarette Odour..

Not only cigar smoke smells bad, they also stick on your furnitures. This would cause the unpleasant smell to linger for quite some time. To tackle this problem, lightly sprinkle your chairs or couches with some bicarbonate of soda. Let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it off. The smell should be eliminated right away. [ Give up smoking and you won't even have to go through this problem =P ]

Grimy Oven Racks..

Cooked-on grime are really stubborn and won't be cleaned easily. Get them off your oven racks by laying them out on an old towel in a large laundry tub. Your bathtub is also an option but you may need to clean it afterwards. Fill the laundry tub or bathtub with warm water and add 1/2 cup of ammonia. Let the racks soak for at least 15 minutes, then remove, rinse off and wipe clean. The grime should be less 'stubborn' now and you should be able to wipe them off easily =) . [Please be extra careful when you are using ammonia]

Clothes Iron Cleaner..

In time, starch may build up on your clothes iron and cause it to stick. To prevent this, simply run your Hot iron over a piece of aluminium foil. Your clothes iron should be back to normal in no time.

Vase Cleaning..

It is almost impossible to scrub out the stubborn residue at the bottom of narrow-necked vases. No worries, all hope is not lost if you have Alka-Seltzer tablets with you. Bubble out the residue by filling the vase half way up with water and dropping in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Once the fizzing stops, rinse the vase clean.

Superglue Trouble..

Superglue are useful but if they got onto your skin, then you are in for a real mess. Since they will stick with great strength, trying to peel it off forcefully can cause skin damage. Try soaking a cotton ball with acetone-based nail-polish remover and hold it on the skin until the glue dissolves.

Neat Drawers..

Paperclips can get all over the place and make a real mess of your office desk. Place a magnet in your desk drawer to keep the paperclips together.

Cooking Oil Stain..

Cooking-oil stains are stubborn and won't easily be washed out. Try pouring a little lighter fluid directly onto the stain before washing it next time. The stain will come out in the wash.

'Kissed' Shirts...

Got lipstick stain on your shirt? Apply hair spray to the lipstick stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe off the hair spray and the stain should come off with it. After that, just wash your shirts as usual. Just be sure not to get kissed on your shirt again next time =)

Heartburn? Chew It Away..

Stomach gases and heartburn can be a real pain. Relieve those problems by chewing a spearmint gum. The oils in the spearmint act as an antiflatulent. Through the act of chewing, production of saliva is stimulated. The saliva neutralises stomach acid and corrects the flow of digestive juices. Spearmint also acts as a digestive aid. So, the next time you've a bad case of stomach gases or heartburn, just chew it away...

Glistening Toilet..

Scrub your toilet bowl with a stiff brush in a solution of 1/2 cup of borax in 4 litres of water. Not only will you disinfect your toilet bowl, but you will also make it shine and sparkle.

Sterilise 'em First..

Incase you just bought something from a garage sale, it is probably a good idea to sterilise the item before using it. Take the item and soak them for 5 to 10 minutes in a solution containing 3/4 cup of bleach, a few drops of antibacterial dishwashing liquid, and 4 litres of warm water. Rinse well, then air-dry, preferably in sunlight. [ Make sure the item you are about to sterilise is waterproof and please be careful when you're using the bleach =) ]

Tenderise 'em..

Your meat is as tough as a brick? Try giving it a rub-down in bicarbonate of soda. Let it sit for 3 to 5 hours (in the refrigerator), then rinse it off well before cooking. The meat should be nice and tender for you to cut after that.

Dry Up Pimples..

Try this tip to finally put an end to those troublesome pimples. Crush an aspirin and moisten it with a bit of water. Apply the paste to the pimple and let it sit for a couple of minutes before washing it off with soap and water. The paste should reduce the redness and soothe the sting. Repeat procedure as needed if the pimple persists.

Yogurt Face Mask..

Yogurts can be used as a revitalising face mask. Mix 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt with the juice from 1/4 slice of orange, some of the orange pulp and 1 teaspoon of aloe vera. Gently rub the mixture on your face and leave it for at least 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. You will definitely feel fresh and rejuvenated =) .

Clean Car Battery Terminals..

To remove stains and dissolve rust deposits on your car battery's terminals, pour some soft drink over the battery terminals and let it sit. After that, remove the sticky residue with a wet sponge. The acidic properties of soft drink can help to eliminate corrosion from your car battery.

Bye2 Sunspots..

Over-exposure to the sun can cause brown spots on your skin. These brown spots are not really a pleasant sight and could give a bad impact on your self-confidence. Before doing anything rash to remove the spots, try giving vinegar a try. Pour some full-strength apple vinegar onto a cotton ball and apply it to the spots for 10 minutes at least twice a day. The spots should fade or disappear within a few weeks.

Kitchen Deodorant..

The next time you scrub your kitchen / bathroom, try adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the water. It will help kill bacteria and at the same time, it leaves a fresh smell.

Grease Spots? Chalk It Out..

Don't throw your greased clothes into the washing machine just yet. Rub chalk on the grease spot and let it absorb the oil first. After that, just brush it off. If the stain lingers, rub chalk into it again before laundering. This also works on collar stains, just mark the stain heavily with chalk before laundering.

Fresh Water To Start Your Day..

Here is a great tip to improve your overall health. As soon as you wake up, kick-start your day by drinking fresh and clean water. Don't brush your teeth just yet. 2 or 3 glasses of water should be fine. Have your breakfast about 45 minutes after drinking. Try doing this for a few weeks / months. Your health will surely improve =) .

Humidifier Deodoriser..

After some time, your humidifier will start to smell bad. Deodorise it by using lemons. Just pour 3 or 4 teaspoons of lemon juice into the water. Not only will it remove the bad odour but will replace it with a lemon-fresh fragrance. To keep the odour from making a comeback, repeat this step every few weeks.

Chopping Board Sanitizer..

To fight the growth of bacteria on your chopping board, a handy tool you will need is hydrogen peroxide. Use a paper towel to wipe the board down with vinegar, then use another paper towel to wipe it with hydrogen peroxide. Ordinary 3 per cent peroxide is fine. Try to do this after you've just cut something on your board, especially chicken, or other meat.

Ewww, Foot Odour..

Permanently end smelly feet by giving them a daily tea bath. Soak them in strongly brewed tea for 20 minutes a day and say 'sayonara' to foot odour =) .

Mayonnaise @ Lice Terminator..

Massage a liberal amount of mayonnaise into the hair and scalp before bedtime. To maximise the effect, cover with a shower cap. Shampoo it out in the morning and then use a fine-toothed comb to remove any remaining lice and nits. Repeat the treatment in 7 - 10 days to permanently end the infestation. This method is actually recommended by dermatologists and they actually prefer it over the toxic prescription drugs. (Incase of allergic reactions, immediately seek medical attention)

Frozen Car Lock..

Fridge magnets can be handy to prevent frozen car locks. Place them over the outside door locks of your car overnight and they will keep the locks from freezing.

Simple Carpentry..

Need to drill or pound nails and screws into wood? Rub some lip balm over the nails and screws. They should slide in a little easier.

Rust? Wipe It Away..

Rust marks on stainless steel will come off easily. Pour a little lighter fluid onto a clean rag and rub the rust spot away. Use another rag to wipe away any remaining fluid.

Tea = Revitaliser..

Your eyes feel tired, achy or puffy? Try soaking two tea bags in warm water and place them over your closed eyes for 20 minutes. Tannins in the tea act to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes.

Smelly Microwave..

Does the smell of fish or some other strong or unpleasant smell linger in your microwave oven? Vanilla extract can solve the problem. Pour a bit in a bowl and microwave it on HIGH for 1 minute. Instantly, the bad odour will be removed.

Fogged Goggles..

Fogged Goggles can be seriously dangerous (especially when you are woodworking & skiing). Prevent it by coating the goggles with toothpaste and then wiping them off.

Sore Throat..

Incase of sore throat symptoms, try this tip for a momentary relief. Gargle with a mixture of 1/2 cup of tomato juice, 1/2 cup of hot water, and about 10 drops of Tabasco sauce.

Sweet Soothing..

Burned your tongue? No problem, relieve the pain by using sugar. Sprinkle a pinch or two over the affected area. The pain will begin to subside immediately =) .

Toothaches...Ouch!

Please make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible, if you have a toothache. In the meantime, use oil of cloves to get temporary relief from the pain. Eugenol, an active ingredient in the oil, is a natural pain reliever. Place a drop directly into the aching tooth or apply it with a cotton bud. Careful not to put it directly on the gums.

Onions = Rust Remover..

An easy way to get the rust off your knives is to plunge your rusty knife into a large onion three or four times. [ Extra stabs required for very rusty knives =) ]

Underarm Odour..

Regular deodorants do little to tackle the cause of underarm odour since what they do is mask the unpleasant odour with a heavy perfume smell. The ones responsible for the odour actually bacteria. To get rid of the bacteria that cause perspiration odour, dampen a cotton ball with a sugarless, alcohol-based mouthwash and swab your armpits. (Incase you have just shaved your armpits, please wait for another day to try this)

Mustard = Congestion Reliever..

Relieve congestion with a mustard plaster. Rub your chest with prepared mustard, soak a face washer in hot water, wring it out, and then place it over the mustard.

Dirt-free Curtains..

Just bought new curtains or just cleaned the old ones? To keep them dirt-free, apply several coats of hair spray on them. Make sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before the applying next one =) .

Shave-Irritated..

Your legs feel rough and irritated after a quick shave? Rub on hair conditioner, it acts like a lotion and can soothe the hurt away.

Extra Insulation..

Give your winter boots an extra warmth boost by taping the innersoles with gaffer tape, silver side up. The shiny tape will reflect the warmth of your feet back into your boots.

Prolong Candle Life..

Before burning a candle, place it in a freezer for at least 2 hours. This will make it last longer when they're burning..

Sparkling Sink..

To restore your stainless steel sink to its former sparkling glory, sprinkle flour over it, and rub lightly with a soft dry cloth. Next, rinse the sink to rediscover its shine.

Banish Cockroaches..

Cockroaches can't stand the smell of eucalyptus oil. Sprinkle some onto a damp cloth and wipe the insides of cupboards, around the kitchen, or wherever that is necessary.

Stuck Photos..

Photographs sometimes stick to each other and forcefully separating them would only ruin the pictures. Try sliding a length of dental floss between the pictures to gently pry them apart.

Easy Air Freshener..

Fill a coffee filter with bicarbonate of soda, twist-tie it shut and you have just made an air freshener. Make several and tuck them into shoes, wardrobes, or wherever they may be needed.

Bread Pickup?

Fragments of broken glass or dish are not easy to pick up. The large pieces may be easy, but the tiny ones are really troublesome. The simplest way to make sure you don't miss any is to press a slice of bread over the area. The tiny slivers of glass should stick to the bread. Be careful not to prick yourself when you toss the bread into the garbage.

'Urined' Bed...

This tip would benefit parents who have young, not yet toilet trained, babies. Whenever they 'leak' in bed, the smell can last for quite some time. To get rid of any lingering smell, dampen the area, then rub in some borax. Let it dry, then vacuum up the powder. As Borax can be highly toxic, discretion in use is recommended =) .

Better Beans..

Baked beans tend to make you feel 'gassy' after eating it. To significantly reduce their gas-producing properties, try adding a pinch of bicarbonate of soda when you are cooking them.

Prevent Pottery Scratches..

As beautiful as they are, your pottery can make ugly scratches on furniture. To prevent this, cut thin slices of cork and glue them to the bottom of your ceramic objects.

Easy Dehumidifier..

Try this easy-to-make dehumidifier. Fill an empty coffee tin with salt and leave it in a corner where it will sit undisturbed. Replace the salt at monthly intervals or as needed. Try placing the dehumidifier at an excessively damp room.

Castor Conditioner..

Try this tip for shiny and healthy hair. Mix 2 teaspoons of castor oil with 1 teaspoon of glycerine and 1 egg white. Massage it into wet hair, wait for a few minutes, then wash it out.

Smelly Vege..

As much as you love cooking cabbage or broccoli, the smell while it is cooking can be unpleasant. To counter this, try putting a piece of white bread on top of the pot when cooking up a batch of 'smelly' vegetables. It will absorb most of the unpleasant odours.

Soothe A Bee Sting..

Bee Stings sure are painful, but there are ways to soothe the pain. One of them is to place an onion slice on the affected area. It will ease the soreness. Don't forget to take out the stingers first! (Incase you are allergic to bee or insect stings, immediately seek medical attention)

Eww, Dog Poo!

Cleaning dog poo from the bottom of a shoe is really an unpleasant task, but it will be a lot easier if you have a can of WD-40 with you. Spray some on the sole of the affected shoe, and use an old toothbrush to clean the crevices, if there are any. Rinse with cold water and the shoes will be ready to take on the road again, just don't forget to watch your step next time =) .

Freshen Up Your Fridge..

If you're having trouble getting rid of a bad odour in your refrigerator, even after scrubbing it out, try wiping down the inside of the fridge with vanilla extract. To prolong the fresh vanilla scent, soak a cotton ball or a piece of sponge with vanilla extract and leave it in one of the back shelves. Caution! This may cause you to go to your fridge more often =) .

Twinkle Your Crystal..

Your good crystal ran out of its sparkle? Bring back its lost lustre by mixing several drops of ammonia in 2 cups of water and applying with a soft cloth or brush. Rinse it off with clean water, then dry with a soft, dry cloth.

Chewing Gum = Crab Lure ?

Briefly chew a piece of gum so that it is soft but still hasn't lost its flavour, then attach it to a crab line. Lower the line and wait for the crabs to go for the gum. You'll be eating plenty of crab cakes if you try this trick =)

Cut Vacuuming Time..

An amazing, time-saving way to vacuum the contents of a drawer filled with small objects without having to remove the contents. What you need to do is cover the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner with cheesecloth, secured with a rubber band, and the vacuum will pick up only the dust.

Furniture Stains..

If the stain on your furniture is so tough that regular furniture polish doesn't work, try using a dab of car wax. Trace the stain with your finger to apply the wax and allow it to dry, then buff with a soft cloth.

Cutting Sticky Foods..

Rub butter onto your knife or scissor blades before cutting sticky foods like dates, figs or marshmallows. The butter will act as a lubricant and help to prevent the food from sticking to the blades as you cut.

Yellowed Clothing?

To restore yellowed clothing, simply soak the garments overnight in a solution of 12 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar, then wash them the following morning.

Deodorise Baby Bottles..

It is inevitable that a baby bottle will pick up a sour-milk smell. However, toothpaste can remove the odour in a flash. Just put some on your bottlebrush and scrub away. Make sure you rinse off the toothpaste thoroughly.

Potato Polish?

No matter how much you try, your old shoes just won't shine anymore. You hate to throw them away since they're still nice and comfy. Before throwing them away, cut a potato in half and rub those old shoes with the raw potato. After that, polish them; they should come out nice and shiny =) .

Keep em Bright!

Your new bright coloured shirt is fantastic, but just think how faded the colour will look after the shirt has been washed a few times. Add a teaspoon of pepper to the wash. Pepper keeps bright colours bright and prevents them from running, too.

Fresh Breath The Old Fashioned Way..

Expensive shop bought mouthwash can contain colouring, alcohol, and sweeteners. For those who need an alternative for it, use this recipe. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into 1/2 cup of water. Rinse and gargle. Now your friends won't have to wear gas masks whenever you are talking to them. (^_^)

Keep Ants Away..

For an effective ant repellent, scatter talcum powder liberally around house foundations and known points of entry, such as doors and windows. Other effective organic repellents include cream of tartar, borax, powdered sulphur and oil of cloves. You can also try planting mint around the house foundations. Also, don't forget to say bye² to the ants =) .

Sugar + Olive Oil = Grease Remover?

Sweetening cakes and muffins is only part of sugar's repertoire. Sugar can also be used to remove grease. To clean filthy hands of grease, grime or paint easily and throughly, pour equal amounts of olive oil and sugar into the cupped palm of one hand and then gently rub your hands together for several minutes. Rinse thoroughly and dry. The grit of the sugar acts as an abrasive to help the oil remove grease, paint, and grime. Your hands will look and feel clean, soft and moisturised.

Soap..

Soaps need not only be used during showers. It can also be used to loosen stuck zippers, for instance. Whenever a zipper gets stuck, rub it loose with a bar of soap along the zipper's teeth. The lubrication will get it moving. Also, if your chest of drawers or dresser drawers are sticking, rub the bottom of the drawer and the supports they rest on with a bar of soap to make them glide again.

Clear out Cobwebs..

Using a broom to clear out the cobwebs may be a good idea but the broom will leave a dirty mark or scratch the wall paint of your room. Instead, cover the broom first with a pillowcase. Now you can wipe away the cobwebs with ease and without damaging your room. It is also easier to remove the cobwebs from the pillowcase than to pull it out of broom bristles.

Petroleum Jelly..

Petroleum Jelly can be extremely useful for you. If you are short on money to buy the expensive lip balm, make-up remover, or even a facial moisturiser, then your answer is a pot of petroleum jelly. It can soothe lips, take off foundation, eye shadow, mascara and more. It will even act as a light moisturiser on your face. Be sure to get one!

Moths Away!

If you're tired of finding your woolen jumpers filled with moth holes after you've stored them for the season, this tip may help. Empty the wood shavings from a pencil sharpener into little cloth sacks to use as sachets in your wardrobe. The wood shavings will encourage the moths to skedaddle.

Hairy Situation..

Chewing gum making a wadded mess out of your hair? No problem, all you need is a peanut butter. Apply some peanut butter to the wad and rub the gum until it comes out. This may cause your hair to smell like peanut butter but the smell lasts only until you shampoo your hair later. Better than having to cut your hair to get the gum off (^-^)

Fishy Smell..

Get rid of that horrid smell from your fish shop-bought fish fillets and fish steaks by soaking the raw fish for about an hour (inside your refrigerator) in 1 litre of water with 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda. Rinse the fish well and pat dry before cooking. Or you could try rubbing the fish with lemon if the smell is too tough to handle.

Banana Botox?

Bye² Botox, Hello Bananas! Who needs Botox when you have bananas? You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturises your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Make a smooth paste out of a medium-sized ripe banana, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular face mask recipe includes 1/4 cup of plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 medium banana, all mixed up together. Do it consistently for a few months and you'll be sure to feel the difference. [Refer to your doctors incase of allergy problems =) ]

Remove Make-up..

One of the fashion industry's worst-kept secrets is that many models consider a baby wipe to be their best friend when it is time to remove that stubborn make-up from their faces, particularly black eyeliner. Give it a try and see for yourself.