8 great tips to solve big and small, everyday problems
In everyday life there are situations and small problems that you often get used to and learn to live with, but sometimes you just need to know the right solution to eliminate them. Whether it's making sure of the quality of something or finding ways to thoroughly clean various types of dirt that might seem invincible, chances are there is some DIY tip you haven't tried yet or didn't know about at all.
Here are some that can be useful to avoid being surprised by small daily inconveniences:
To check if honey is of a good quality (and has not been mixed with glucose solutions or corn syrup or anything else), just drop a little of it in a glass of water. Non-pure honey dissolves, while pure honey remains at the bottom in a lump. Even when a little honey is placed on absorbent paper, and it is not absorbed, then it can be assumed that it is of a high quality.
Do you want to make your bathtub, bidet or sink shine? You can use two simple ingredients, being a citrus fruit (lemon, bergamot, or lime in particular) and cooking salt. Cut the fruit in half, sprinkle it with salt and rub it on the area to clean like a sponge. Do not use this method too often as you could erode the ceramic finish too much - but do use it when there is dirt that will not come off with more delicate methods.
You can use tea to deodorize a carpet as you would with baking soda. We use dry, shredded tea leaves (like those in tea bags). You can also use those leaves from tea that you have already prepared, but only after the leaves have dried out again. Sprinkle them on the carpet (you will probably need a large quantity) and let them sit for 30-60 minutes, then vacuum them up. It is best to try this with teas that have an intense mint or citrus aroma.
If you want to make potted, cut flowers last a little longer, you can add a capful of mouthwash to the water: the antibacterial properties kill bacteria on the flower stems just like the ones in our mouth.
To clean the inside of the glass bottles you can fill them halfway with water, then add white vinegar until the level reaches almost to three quarters of the bottle, and finally add 3 tablespoons of coarse salt. Screw closed the cap (or hold your palm firmly pressed down on the open neck) and shake well, so that the salt and vinegar act on the dirt and degrease the bottle from the inside.
If there is any rust on a knife blade, slice an onion in it or rub an onion cut in half on the blade itself, and it should be as good as new in no time at all!
To remove an ink stain from a clothing item, create a cream by mixing cream of tartar and lemon juice in equal parts. Cover the stain and let it sit for 3 or more hours to act, and then wash the garment as usual.
If you have burned a sauce or other food in a pot and you need to remove the residue, cut two or three lemons into pieces and put them in the pot; then cover them with water and simmer with the lid on for about ten minutes. Let everything cool down and then empty the pot: the residual dirt will come off by washing it normally.
Do you know any other cleaning tips like this?
