I like to take my grapes off their stalks after I've washed them, a good tip is to the wrap them inside a clean drying up cloth and give them a good roll and, hey presto, unwrap them to find they are off the stalks and ready to eat.

I collected a large black sack of lavender cuttings from a freecycler. I usually bung the cuttings in a couple of old pillowcases and stick them in a wardrobe or the airing cupboard. I kept it in the car while it completely dried out (wonderful smell whenever I got in it!!!). However, there was far too much for just a couple of pillow cases, so I hit upon the idea of spreading it between about 15 old pillowcases (don't ask!!), threading them on hangers with 3 or 4 safety pins, and hanging them among the clothes. Smells lovely when you open the door and should deter moths! I couldn't face making small lavender bags - and these are thin enough to line drawers, as well.

you don't need to buy vicks or essential oils, simple cooking oil works just as well.
Put some on your finger, push the finger into the nostril and the blockage dissolves.

Use a latte spoon, and keep it inside, if it fits of course.

If you use a sewing machine...

To get straight lines when sewing just pop an elastic band in a straight line over the bottom part of the sewing machine, then sew parallel to this line. Perfect straight lines with no measuring required.

https://youtu.be/BHcyuzXRqLs?si=8SXqDU2ZUaGLjF77

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGefn9yqQ/

My council, quite understandably, will not pick up our waste paper box if there is loose shredded paper inside. Obviously a small gust of wind during the time from box lid off to entry to their machine could mean shreds of paper all over the street rather like confetti.

I save old cereal boxes. They can be collapsed whilst awaiting their final journey, which is when they are filled with shredded paper and sealed to prevent spillage. They are then placed in my collection box and two jobs are covered in one action.
The shredded paper gets taken away safely and the cereal box also goes.

Just a thought!

Toothpaste polishes silver

Please could I reiterate, no businesses to join my group.

I love you, I love you, I love you almighty, I wish my pyjamas were next to your nightie. Don't be misled, I mean on the clothes line, not in the bed!

OR

We stood kissing on the bridge and I was all aquiver, then suddenly my leg fell off and floated down the river. If my name you wish to know, count the kisses down below.

If you can't get rid of odour or stubborn marks in the microwave, slice a lemon and microwave it for 5 minutes. I've been told it really works.

Mix a couple of big table spoons of small chunk Branston pickle into your sausage meat, gives a lovely extra kick, my Husband loves them.

Don't throw away the plastic tray each chocolate is in.....fill it with water and freeze as ice cubes for drinks, or cooled chocolate or jelly to create lovely shapes to create more sweeties!

may all your wishes come true in the New year and thank you all for supporting me.

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At the moment (long moment - will probably be a year!) I need to have my printer on the floor of the dining room. It was a pain to move it to clean the floor. I have now purchased a wooden pot holder from Longacres Garden Centre- about 11.00 (there are different sizes) and placed the printer on it. Works a dream, and the wheels can be locked if necessary.

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Trying to get your make-up sponges clean? soak them in baby shampoo, tip from my lovely Granddaughter.

They're ideal for storing away bedding and clothes because they're insulated and will give protection from moths and damp, especially when stored in unheated places such as the loft, basement or garage.

They have ample of space for storing bulky duvets and pillows

Every year, M&S will produce different designs, that'll help with organise different types of items.
The latest design is a wicker pattern; currently only available in selective branches

As they're not clear storage bags, remember to attach a label luggage tag to the handle.
Add a small bag of dried lavender to keep the content smelling nice

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41XOfkXkMzL._AC_.jpg

I was so glad that I watched The One Show last night. There was a presenter from Watchdog, speaking to new Uni students about fraud emails. He showed them 2 identical emails and asked which one they thought was a fraud. He asked them to "If the email address is in blue, don't click through" It will be a fraudulent email.

I made a purchase online on the 20th Aug. I received an email thanking me for the order. I was surprised to notice that it came from a noreply email address. I then got another email telling me that my order had been delayed and it had an actual email response address. 2 weeks ago I emailed them asking for delivery info.On Monday, I got an response. I never opened it until this morning, asking me to click on a link to get more info. The link on the email was in blue & remembering the "if in blue etc" I did not click on it.

I have been in touch with my credit card company to initiate a charge back. The bank knew about the blue email address being a fraud. Please beware.

I had some orange powder stains on my carpet. A friend told me to try strips of selotape on them - whipping them off with pollen attached. Really worked. I don't like snipping the stamens off as it spoils the look of the flowers. She also told me she sprays the stamens with hairspray - I haven't tried that.

https://www.northwales.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo

They are potentially being used to see if a dwelling is occupied.

BBC News - Broughton: Homeowners warned of unexpected 'Christmas gnomes'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66716826

Every night they leave a deposit on my front patio

Apparently, if you put cinnamon in a bowl on your window sill in the kitchen it will deter flies from entering, they hate the smell.

Other than in the dishwasher lol

I was given a tip to use a slightly dampened dishwasher tablet to erase brown greasy and burnt on stains from the glass on the cooker door.

Didn’t believe it would really work but Wow 😮 my cooker looks like new.

I made hessian bags to store my supermarket bought potatoes that come in plastic bags and eventually deteriorate into a soggy mess. Always store potatoes in ‘breathable bags’.

It may have been mentioned elsewhere and I missed it, but just to reinforce the message if that's the case...

Some supermarkets, including major chains, have dispensed with putting a date on their fresh perishable items, instead they use a single letter and two numerals.
Currently the letter is H which stands for the 8th letter of the alphabet and therefore the 8th month.
Yesterday I bought lemons dated H12. Which equates to the 12th of August.

I guess as many produce suppliers now supply the international market it is more economical than deciding which goods are destined for which country and translating the month for each. They just use a universal code for everything and leave it to us to understand it.

If you hadn't sussed it I hope this helps, if you already knew, sorry for wasting your time.

Welcome Elizabeth, I hope you enjoy being in our Handy Tips group.

To slice avocados for salads or guacamole, split them in half, remove the pit by whacking it with the heel of your knife and twisting it out, then slice it directly in the skin using the tip of a paring knife or chef's knife. When you then scoop it out with a spoon, you'll have slices ready to go, with less mess than trying to fiddle with slippery peeled avocado a cutting board.

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https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJu2g18n/

And to think people drink this cleaning agent

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYGccCS3/

After years of scrubbing burnt on splashes on the inside of a glass oven door (and no, I don't wipe it over regularly, as I should), today I sorted it in five minutes. I used the paint scraper you use on windows for removing dried paint splashes, and over-painted edges. Wonderful!

Prices have risen on everything and the cheap toothpaste I mentioned in another thread is now 50p not as I said previously ‘under 50p’ it has good reviews and contains the right amount of fluoride as Martin Lewis mentioned recently.

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So simple

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMY4jeEAm/

To clean white trainers , freshen plastic containers that have held onions or similar ‘smelly food’ and if you have one , to clean your piano 🎹 keys.

Never seen it before but was watching that programme with Stacey Solomon and one of the men helping tidy the house she is working in used hairspray and a soft cloth to remove biro off of the top of a wooden sideboard.

Has anyone used this technique?

Hope you all don’t mind me using a link

https://experthometips.com/21-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-clean-in-the-dishwasher

If you are staying in a hotel where you have to use a card to power the electric you don’t really have to use the room card at all.

Any card of the same size will act the same so you can leave something in your room charging of an evening or a light on when you nip out for your evening meal, to see a show or for a stroll along the waterfront

I actually wasn't aware of this but handy to know'

Cooking vegetables - If the vegetable grows above ground always boil the water before putting in said vegetable
Underground vegetables - always put into cold water then bring to the boil.

Use The Television For Charging
If you happen to forget to take your adapter with you on holiday and cannot charge your phone, you can use a television for charging.

Nowadays, most TVs have USB ports. Just charge your phone by plugging the charging cord in the port behind your TV.

To all my lovely members, wishing you a very happy time with a promising 2023.

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https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFGxGnXv/

Last years Christmas tip!

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Thames Water just sent out this useful tip. I've been hoping like mad that the uninsulated water pipe in my unheated back lobby won't freeze this time round - the local stop tap is stuck solid - but this is worth learning, in case of later disaster.

"...how to thaw out your pipes safely:
Fill up your kettle, then find your stop tap and turn off your water
Turn on all your household taps to let the water run out
Make a hot water bottle with your kettle water, wrap in a tea towel and hold it against your frozen pipe (thawing can take a while, so please be patient)
After the pipe has thawed, wipe some kitchen roll along it to see if there are any leaks."