h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought that I would add this subject to run along side my "Have a Laugh" thread. We could share all our "Handy Tips" with each other, my one is, "A Paint Brush" yep! that's right!

You see I use this for several jobs around the house, it is great at cleaning the fluff from the tumble drier filter, also its good for cleaning your computer key board, as well as cleaning all the remote controls in the house.

It can also reach into awkward places to remove dust where you cant get a duster, and don't forget that messy filter thing that you always have to clean when you empty the hoover

(mind you, now that we have that new hoover which moulds all the dust into blocks, and does not allow any dust into the air when you are hoovering, which s good for asthma suffers)
Cheers, Smudger.

I cannot believe it! I was thinking of something similar in a thread!

Ok, My most recent was to use light and wiped dry- furniture polish inside your dustpan to make the dirt slide off easier , less static ,when you dump it.

I cannot believe it! I was thinking of something similar in a thread!

Ok, My most recent was to use light and wiped dry- furniture polish inside your dustpan to make the dirt slide off easier , less static ,when you dump it.

Might work inside the bagless vaccums, have not tried it.

Hey! Abbi, that's a really goodun! I never thought of that

Here is another one for you, for cleaning your car windows, or even house ones, along with mirrors, is to use a bit of damp newspaper, then polish it up with a dry peace on newspaper!

No smears or streaks will be seen, also its a lot cheaper as well
(might be a good idea to wear gloves, as the ink goes on to your hands)
Smudger.

hmmmm... let's see... tape makes a good lint brush in a pinch.. a pizza cutter is amazingly useful for cutting pastas, pie shells, etc... hairspray will stop a run in nylons for the rest of the day... a thin bit of sponge will steady taper candles in holders... a kitchen towel will steady a cutting board so it doesn't slide around... if you need to freshen the house quickly spray perfumed room spray into your AC return instead of into each room (if you don't have centralized heat/air then scenting the curtains in summer and scenting the radiator in winter works well)..

1}Using cold water instead of hot works much better when rinsing pans with milky or pasta dishes.


2}Never use towels at a gas stove, they catch fire easily when hanging down ,compared to smaller and square hot pot holder.


3}For the *weaker among us-
Sometimes heavy pans can slide over from stove to sink to empty. Fill pan after it's on the burner with a smaller vessel. You can also remove the water in a large pan the same way.

4) kitchen scissors! Especially since knives are a danger in may case They can cut chickens to so called easy to open" "packages (NOT)to cooked slices of pizza and more.

the best way to sharpen scissors and clean the blades at the same time is to fold up a big piece of alluminum foil a few times and to cut it with the scissors a few times just make sure it isn't to thin since it won't do anything then or to thick since you can't cut it then


your clothes arn't drying good in the clothes dryer? to make sure there arn't invisible clogs in the lint trap pour some warm water over the lint trap and the water will stay in the lint trap or strain very slowly if the lint is making invisible clogs to wash is just scrub some dish soap and warm water then check again and repeat this atleast every 2-3 months to keep your clothes dryer working top notch


hope those help (I'll post more as I remember or find them)

Thanks for them folks

Here is a DIY one for you,= If you are nailing down a floor board, of hammering a nail in close the end of a plank of wood, Turn the nail around and tap the point of it with the hammer to blunt it a bit, then when you nail it into place it will not split the wood!
Smudger.

oooh.. to remove dripped wax from a table cloth first let it dry and peel away the excess then use a paper towel or paper bag and a hot iron to pull the rest out of the cloth and into the paper. For oil spilled onto the cloth or clothing pour salt over it and let it sit to absorb as much of the oil as possible.

Goodun Batty,

Did you know that Cola can slacken tight bolts Also to remove chewing gum from a garment, put it the freezer, wait till its frozen, then just pick it off
Smudger.

Battys wax hint works on carpet too.
Takes a lot of time and patience on carpet but is usually worth it to save carpeting.

cola will also help you if your battery connection cable is loose on your car.. pour the cola over the loose cable and the liquid will make the connection while ths sugar holds it there.. great in a pinch.

To clean your carpet,add ammonia to some hot water,and "mop" on ,much as you would do with the kitchen floor<make sure there are plenty of windows open).It brings up the pile,and the colours !!
To remove cup rings from a polished table rub with a little brass cleaner,following the grain of the wood,then polish up with your usual polish!!!
To clean wndows use methylated spirits on newspaper,rub over then polish up!!!
To clean the grouting in between tiles,dip a toothbrush in an eggcup full of bleach,then wipe with a damp cloth!!!
Whatever you're using for cleaning make sure you follow the warnings for health and safety...some fumes are deadly!!!

Gooduns there
Another one for removing cup ring marks from wood, is milk mixed with cigarette ash! ....I know, but it does work, rub in a rotation fashion, then use normal polish
Cheers, Smudger.

here are a couple you might not use but might be good for your kids

when cleaning a disk wipe from the center to the outside never in circles or just rubing is all over a cloth

when cleaning out game cartridges(especialy the new ones) never blow in them hard since it can be just as bad for the cartridge as being full of little bits of dust