TO KEEP CHEESE EXTRA FRESH WRAP IN GREASEPROOF PAPER.

From Tim, a carpenter, if your garden gates are shrinking badly in the summer heat and dryness, do not try to adjust them. They will return to their normal size and shape once the weather cools and becomes wetter.

When you tumble dry your washing you can cut down the drying time by putting a dry bath towel in with the wet washing.

stick 2 old face cloths together to make a towelling mits. Wear on your hand all day as a permanent duster, wiper-upper. Throw in the washing machine every day - use a clean one each day.

If you burn candles and some wax gets onto your clothes, cool off the wax first then scrape of as much as you can then get a piece of brown paper and a hot iron and iron over the wax stain, it should come out.

If, like me, spiders and moths make you shudder, pluck up your courage, get a drinking glass or mug and a piece of card , if the insect is on the wall, with one hand put the glass over it and with the other hand slide the card between the glass and the wall, carry it outside and if you're really scared put the vessel on the floor remove the card AND RUN. It's better than squashing them.

Use the 'old-fashioned' washing soda crystals to remove grease marks from clothes. Dissolve crystals in warm water and soak clothes for 30 minutes to 1 hour (making sure colours are similar so that they do not run). Wash on a cooler, shorter programme than normal as most of the grease and grime will wash away easily.

Always cook double quantity if the dish will freeze well and freeze half for another day

This works really well for bolognese sauce. To cook the spaghetti, add boiling water, a tablespoon of oil and salt to a pan. Add the spaghetti and boil until the pasta softens sufficiently to be covered by the water. Turn off the heat and leave for 20 mins by which time the spaghetti will be both warm and cooked!

Cost effective, kind to the environment and your pocket!

A cheap easy method of keeping bills in order, & paid on time; use an A4 folder, with at least 31 plastic sleeves, one for each day As the bills arrive, put them into the sleeve for the day they must be paid. This can be adapted to suit yourself - divided into weekly sections, when you get paid etc.
from Barbie

For a great degreaser for your hands after fixing the car etc, pour some fairy liquid into the palm of your hand and add a few spoonfuls of sugar this work at removing the grease and dirt and also leave your hands feeling supersoft

For a great degreaser for your hands after fixing the car etc, pour some fairy liquid into the palm of your hand and add a few spoonfuls of sugar, rub this firmly around your hands as you would any other hand wash, this works at removing the grease and dirt and also leave your hands feeling supersoft

I'm allergic to soaps, perfumes and another unpronouncible chemical and find most of the cleaners on sale just now make my skin worse. I use thick unperfumed creams to bathe myself in and they clog up the bath and plugs. My husband rigs up a hosepipe to the hot tap and washes ALL the gunk away, then puts a tablespoon of Oxiclean down the plughole, so no more bunged up drains and no more smelly baths

Add 10-20ml of eau de cologne to the fabric softener drawer of your washing machine. This will help your washing dry faster. A 400ml bottle costs about 3 pounds.

Diamond ring lost its sparkle? Place your rings in an egg cup full of gin and soak for 5 minutes to restore the shine. Dry carefully. A brilliant cleaner!

House Doctor!
I feel I should share this with the world.
I used to have smelly socks until one day I found a simple remedy.
This was to ensure I soaped between my two smallest toes and then don't dry between them.
I dry the rest of my body after my daily shower but leave the small toes. Probably walking about on a carpet helps to dry them a bit. I have never had any soreness as a result.
However, as a result of this finding, I can now go a whole day and feel confident that I can take my shoes off without the problem of everyone standing back, as the result of what used to be an offensive smell coming up from the exposed socks.
Les from Lincoln
P.S. some may say it's because Ann washes my socks on a more regular basis than I used to! I still believe in my theory nevertheless. E.

When painting using a roller tray put a double thickness layer of cling-film in the tray before pouring in your paint. If you don't use all the paint in the tray that day cover with another layer of cling-film to prevent the paint drying out. When you have finished the job just throw away the bottom layer of cling film and you won't have the horrible job of cleaning out the tray.

To remove chewing gum from carpet rub an ice cube over it and when it hardens sufficiently it will allow you to pick it off.

Natural Leather Polish.
bring 300 ml (1/2 pint) linseed oil to boil, allow to cool, then add 300 ml (1/2 pint) vinegar. apply on a cloth then buff

If you find your photographs have stuck together, gently heat with hairdryer and they will peel apart easily.

Spray cotton wool balls with your favourite perfume, and when dry place in corner of drawers for lovely smelling undies.

Use an old (not fluffy) tea towell or pillow case or similar as a fabric softener in dryer - pour one or two capfulls of fabric condition on the cloth and throw in with the clothes - a bottle of fabric conditioner will last ages and it's much cheaper than buying fabric conditioner sheets.

When using spray polish, spray the polish directly onto the duster and wipe over furniture - done in half the time.

Also use a small paintbrush to clean books in bookcase and small ornaments.

If your recipe only calls for half an onion, save the root half, as it will last twice as long.

If you would like unusual and personalised tablemats - get your child/children to draw on A4 sheets of plain paper and have them laminated.

An empty Pringle container is great for storing dried spaghetti.