PAINT
1. Store the tin of paint upside down to avoid a hard skin forming.
2. A new paintbrush will last longer and be easier to clean if it is soaked in a can of linseed oil for 12 hours
before it is used.
3. Before painting, run a comb through the brush to remove loose hairs.
4. Cover the top of the tin with cling film before replacing the lid lightly. This ensures a good seal.
5. To eliminate the smell of paint whilst you are painting, add a small bottle of vanilla flavouring to the tin of
paint and mix it in well.
6. To remove the smell of paint in the room, place a large cut onion in a pan of cold water to absorb the
smell.
7. To remove gloss paint from brushes and hands, use white spirit or a knob of butter. Massage the brushes
well and rinse in hot water with washing-up liquid.
8. When painting table or chair legs, stand the leg on jar lids to catch any drips.
9. When working on a painting job that takes a couple of days, save clean-up time by wrapping used brushes
in foil overnight. Try freezing them if using a water-based paint. Let the brushes defrost an hour or more
before returning to the job.
See. Steps, Stairs and Stepladders
1. Store the tin of paint upside down to avoid a hard skin forming.
2. A new paintbrush will last longer and be easier to clean if it is soaked in a can of linseed oil for 12 hours
before it is used.
3. Before painting, run a comb through the brush to remove loose hairs.
4. Cover the top of the tin with cling film before replacing the lid lightly. This ensures a good seal.
5. To eliminate the smell of paint whilst you are painting, add a small bottle of vanilla flavouring to the tin of
paint and mix it in well.
6. To remove the smell of paint in the room, place a large cut onion in a pan of cold water to absorb the
smell.
7. To remove gloss paint from brushes and hands, use white spirit or a knob of butter. Massage the brushes
well and rinse in hot water with washing-up liquid.
8. When painting table or chair legs, stand the leg on jar lids to catch any drips.
9. When working on a painting job that takes a couple of days, save clean-up time by wrapping used brushes
in foil overnight. Try freezing them if using a water-based paint. Let the brushes defrost an hour or more
before returning to the job.
See. Steps, Stairs and Stepladders
PAINT - To remove from fabric
- Dab away any excess paint, then spray the area with hairspray. Leave for 2 minutes and then gently scrub until the paint has gone. Repeat as necessary.
- Use paint thinner or turpentine for oil-based paints which are a great deal harder to remove. Dab away any excess paint then place a piece of cloth/rag/paper towel on the back of the fabric in order to collect seepage through the fabric. Place the thinner/turpentine on the area, then scrub gently with a brush/toothbrush. Continue as required, replacing the cloth/paper when saturated. Scrub with detergent, leave the soak overnight and then wash as normal.
PARSLEY
1. Wash the parsley, shake it dry and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. When frozen, just crumble off what is
required.
2. Wrap fresh parsley tightly in cling film and it will keep for about 14 days in the refrigerator.
3. East fresh parsley to eradicate garlic smelling breath.
1. Wash the parsley, shake it dry and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. When frozen, just crumble off what is
required.
2. Wrap fresh parsley tightly in cling film and it will keep for about 14 days in the refrigerator.
3. East fresh parsley to eradicate garlic smelling breath.
PASTA WATER
Leftover pasta water - obviously cooled - is good for plants. It provides beneficial nutrients as it has traces of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and potassium.
Leftover pasta water - obviously cooled - is good for plants. It provides beneficial nutrients as it has traces of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and potassium.
PEACHES
Peaches will ripen quickly if you put them in a box and cover them with newspaper (it seals in the gases).
Peaches will ripen quickly if you put them in a box and cover them with newspaper (it seals in the gases).
PEELING TOMATOES and PEACHES
Tomatoes and peaches can be peeled easily by using the microwave. Prick the skin lightly and microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute per item. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before peeling.
Tomatoes and peaches can be peeled easily by using the microwave. Prick the skin lightly and microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute per item. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before peeling.
PERMANENT MARKER MARKS
Remove by covering the marks with a whiteboard marker, then gently rub.
Remove by covering the marks with a whiteboard marker, then gently rub.
PETROLEUM JELLY
Use as a skin soother ...
Use as a skin soother ...
- Rub petroleum jelly on your feet and put on a pair of cotton socks.
- Smooth petroleum jelly on your hands and put on a pair of cotton gloves.
PIANO KEYS
Clean the keys using a soft cloth and a solution of half a cup of vinegar in warm water. Squeeze the cloth and then wipe the keys. Dry and leave the keys uncovered for a day.
Clean the keys using a soft cloth and a solution of half a cup of vinegar in warm water. Squeeze the cloth and then wipe the keys. Dry and leave the keys uncovered for a day.
PICTURE GLASS
Carefully dust the glass and then polish with spectacle-cleaning tissues. Try to avoid liquid cleaners because they could seep under the edge of the glass and spoil the picture. If you do use liquid cleaners, apply them to a cloth, never directly to the glass.
Carefully dust the glass and then polish with spectacle-cleaning tissues. Try to avoid liquid cleaners because they could seep under the edge of the glass and spoil the picture. If you do use liquid cleaners, apply them to a cloth, never directly to the glass.
PILLOWS
- If you can fold your pillow in half, it indicates that it needs to be cleaned.
- Wash in the washing machine and to dry it in the tumbler, add two tennis balls (put inside two clean socks), put them in the dryer with the pillows. The tennis balls will fluff up the pillows as they dry.
PIN CUSHIONS
1. Stuff pin cushions with used dried coffee grounds - the pins stored in them will never go rusty.
2. Put pins in a scented bar of soap to lubricate them.
1. Stuff pin cushions with used dried coffee grounds - the pins stored in them will never go rusty.
2. Put pins in a scented bar of soap to lubricate them.
PINEAPPLE
To ripen a pineapple, cut off the leaves and put it in a paper bag and store it upside-down.
To ripen a pineapple, cut off the leaves and put it in a paper bag and store it upside-down.
PLANT MARKERS
Make durable labels out of plain white plastic picnic knives. Record the plant variety and date with an indelible marker and then push the knife, handle down, into the soil.
Make durable labels out of plain white plastic picnic knives. Record the plant variety and date with an indelible marker and then push the knife, handle down, into the soil.
PLANT WATERING
Leftover pasta water - obviously cooled - is good for plants. It provides beneficial nutrients as it has traces of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and potassium.
Leftover pasta water - obviously cooled - is good for plants. It provides beneficial nutrients as it has traces of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and potassium.
PLASTIC BAGS
Use clothes pegs to reseal plastic and polythene bags containing food.
Use clothes pegs to reseal plastic and polythene bags containing food.
PLASTIC BOTTLES
Plastic bottles can be kept:
1. Cut them in half for growing seedlings in.
2. Lengthways to use as small garden cloches.
Plastic bottles can be kept:
1. Cut them in half for growing seedlings in.
2. Lengthways to use as small garden cloches.
PLASTIC WRAP
Store plastic wrap in the refrigerator. It will make it much easier to use ... and easier to find the end!
Store plastic wrap in the refrigerator. It will make it much easier to use ... and easier to find the end!
PLATES
When moving house, instead of wrapping each plate individually, pack them with foam disposable plates between each one.
When moving house, instead of wrapping each plate individually, pack them with foam disposable plates between each one.
PLUGS
Take a tennis ball with you on a trip. If your basin, sink or bath does not have a plug, the ball makes a great substitute.
Take a tennis ball with you on a trip. If your basin, sink or bath does not have a plug, the ball makes a great substitute.
POST MENSTRUAL STRESS - PMS
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
POTATOES
Chips: Prick the chips all over before cooking to make them extra crispy.
Crisps: Place crisps in a plastic bag and store in the freezer to prevent them going soggy.
Baked: To bake in the microwave by piercing them a number of times with a fork, wrap in a piece of paper
kitchen towel, then microwave on HIGH for about 5 minutes.
Chips: Prick the chips all over before cooking to make them extra crispy.
Crisps: Place crisps in a plastic bag and store in the freezer to prevent them going soggy.
Baked: To bake in the microwave by piercing them a number of times with a fork, wrap in a piece of paper
kitchen towel, then microwave on HIGH for about 5 minutes.
- To keep potatoes from budding, put an apple in with them.
- If you have over-salted a dish and it is still cooking, drop in a peeled potato to absorb the excess salt.
- Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Slice the potato, rub it over the stains and then rinse.
- Cut open a raw potato and rub it on rust. The acid in the potato will dissolve the rust. Add a little salt and soap if the job is proving to be very stubborn.
- Cut open a raw potato and rub this on old shoes to polish them up nicely.
- If you are out of silver polish, boil a few potatoes. Eat the potatoes, and put your silver into the remaining water and leave for about an hour. Remove the silver and wash.
- Slice raw potatoes and put a few slices on you shut eyes for up to 10 minutes. This will make your puffy eyes return to normal.
- Rub a cut raw potato over your goggle glass to keep them clean and misty free.
- For the children, cut a potato in half (lengthways) and carve a design into one half. Cover with paint, or use a stamp pad to stamp the design onto paper.
- After boiling potatoes, keep the water in which they were boiled, let it cool and water the house plants. The water contains nutrients that the plans enjoy.
PRICE TAGS
To erase purple price tag marks that transfer from containers onto counter topes, use surgical spirit (with care).
To erase purple price tag marks that transfer from containers onto counter topes, use surgical spirit (with care).
PUPPY CHEWING
Rub the legs of furniture with a little oil of cloves. The puppy will not like the smell of the bitter taste.
Rub the legs of furniture with a little oil of cloves. The puppy will not like the smell of the bitter taste.