Save Time and Energy With These Terrific Lifestyle Hacks - #16

I stumbled upon sharing tips and hacks completely accidentally, as many of the most amusing aspects of life tend to be.

When my sweet grandmother died, the only grandparent I knew, amongst her belongings in her wee script handwriting were notes of helpful hints to enhance a housewife's daily chores. Amusingly, many related to "white vinegar," still that go-to miracle worker for much of one's kitchen or bathroom ills. 

Throughout adulthood, many of us have learned of the innumerable uses of white vinegar. Then, there's the magic of lemon juice. A few are included below that may be new for you.

Perhaps something in this collection will save you time, energy, or frustration. Many thanks to all of you who have read them!! 

✅ Clean sticky or gummy blades on your shears

Wipe them down with distilled white vinegar, then dry. Don't try water first, as it may rust your scissors. And it usually doesn't get rid of sticky residues.

✅ Remove pit stains 

None of us enjoys unsightly underarm stains on our shirts, whether from sweat or antiperspirant.

Use distilled white vinegar, rub it into the stains, and then launder as usual. Before tossing the shirt into the dryer, check to make sure the stains are gone. If not and you dry the shirt in the dryer, it will bake them in. Instead, re-treat the stains and then set the shirt in the sun. This will help bleach out the offending marks.

✅ Remove smoky odors

Have you burned the rice? Overcooked something in the oven or atop the stove? Someone was smoking indoors? A more serious fire?

Smoky odors aren't pleasant. To remove them, fill several shallow bowls with either distilled white or cider vinegar and place them around the room. The stinky smell should be gone within 24 hours…longer for more serious smells, such as soot after a fire. 

For more immediate relief, try dampening a cloth with vinegar and waving it around the room. If you're not partial to the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of lavender oil to it.

✅ Clean a microwave without lemon

Many are familiar with using lemon juice to clean a microwave. This hack uses white vinegar.

In a microwave-safe bowl or jug add 500 ml/16 oz of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Place in microwave and set on high for 5 minutes. The solution will begin to boil. After five minutes, keep the door closed for another three minutes.

Wipe down with a damp cloth or sponge any loosened grime from the inside of the oven.

✅ Eliminate odors from the garbage disposal unit

Toss in some lemon peel. Let the garbage disposal grind it up. Say goodbye to lurking scents.

✅ Clean hands after cooking

After cooking, rub your hands with a lemon wedge. Not only will it get rid of lingering grease and oil, it'll also keep your hands nice and soft. 

✅ Eliminate garbage disposal odors

Grind a lemon peel in your garbage disposal and say goodbye to lurking scents.

✅ Freshen up copper and aluminum pots and bowls

Keep copper pots, pans, and bowls spotless by scrubbing them with fresh lemon juice. The pros claim you can also mix salt and lemon to remove oxidation.

To tend to the discoloration of aluminum pots, fill with water, add fresh lemon juice or slices, and boil. You can also clean pots with a cloth dipped in lemon juice and rinse with warm water to get them back in tip-top shape.

✅ Soften cookies with a slice of bread

Placing a slice of white bread in a sealed container of brown sugar to prevent its hardening was mentioned in one of my previous articles. I used in for years; it works well. But I have never experimented with it for baked goods.

Keep cookies and other baked goods soft after baking by adding a slice of store-bought white bread to an airtight container. (It seems we need to buy the stuff for these hacks).

Cakes, cookies, and muffins will maintain their first-day softness, and your family and guests will think they're fresh!

✅ Use a spoon to peel a kiwi easily

I have attempted to peel a kiwi, however, not in this manner. Next time, though, I'll use this method because they are messy to prepare.

Cut the ends off of the kiwi, and then use a spoon to carve out the flesh of the kiwi. You can easily remove the skin. From there, cut the kiwi in whatever manner tickles your fancy.

✅ Make frozen rolls taste homemade with egg wash

Are you cutting corners by using frozen rolls for your dinner party? Give them a chef's pop with this clever gourmet trick.

Thaw the frozen rolls. Then brush the tops with egg wash and dip into your choice of seasoning blends, seeds, or cheeses. Be as generous or gentle as you choose.

Bake according to recipe or package directions.

✅ Speed up cooking time for brown rice

Brown rice can take a long time to cook. Speed up the process by soaking it overnight as you might with lentils or chickpeas. It will cook more quickly.

✅ Don't waste the citrus if you only need a small amount of juice

I love this tip!

If you only need a small squeeze of juice, rather than cut the entire fruit and risk wasting it all, try this hack. Use a skewer to pierce it, releasing a few drops without breaking open the fruit. Try with lemons, limes, or oranges!

References:

1. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/25-cooking-cheats-help-you-kitchen

2. https://thesavvymama.com/kitchen-hacks/#

3. https://www.thedailymeal.com/1378654/elevate-frozen-dinner-rolls-egg-wash-hack/

4. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-kitchen-hacks/

5. https://kitchencabinetkings.com/infographics/eco-friendly-cleaning-hacks

6. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a685361/uses-for-lemons-you-havent-thought-of/

Your time is precious. I'm honored you chose to spend some of it here!

Victoria😎🙏

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