TOP HOUSEHOLD TIPS

TOP TIPS
I took to the streets last week and asked members of the public if they had any top tips for the home. The response again was very uplifting and goes to show what a wealth of information we carry about in our heads!

HOLD ONTO YOUR MOBILE
One tip that someone recommended was about getting more life out of your mobile phone battery. I recently had to buy a new phone because after four years my battery gave up in my own phone. It got to the stage where I had to keep it connected to the mains permanently if I wanted to make a call. I was told to put the batteries (not the whole phone) in the freezer overnight. In the morning get them out and defrost them slowly before charging up. I did this to my old batteries and they have improved dramatically! I would not say that they are as good as new but the charge lasts about four days without being attached to the plug socket.

This handy tip not only saves on batteries, it will also mean that you can hold on for a while before buying a new phone. Unless of course you are a techno head and simply have to go for the latest models regardless of the batteries working or not!

Update: The batteries were as useless as before after a day. They ended up being takes to the recycling centre.

COOL DOWN
On these muggy nights when you get too restless in bed, try filling a water bottle with cold water. This will cool you down a treat.

CUT ABOVE THE REST
Instead of normal sandwiches for the kids, try cutting them into fun shapes with a cookie cutter. You will be surprised what the kids will eat when the sandwiches look like their favourite animals.

SINKING CURRANTS
When mixing the ingredients for a cake, dust the dried fruit with flour before putting them into the mix. This will stop all of the fruit from sinking to the bottom whilst being cooked.

HAIR SPRAY
Make your own simple hair spray by boiling up a cup lemon in two cups of water. It works as well at the stuff you buy in the canisters.

Household.

HOUSEHOLD TIPS

We’ve been wading through the e-mails this week at Clean and Green this week. We thought that this weeks ideas could come straight from people who have great environmentally friendly cleaning tips. There were some that were totally unsuitable for publication though. Whilst I’m on the subject; No, Ms. B. from Moville, we don’t think that shaving your cat is a good long-term solution for keeping animal hairs off the settee. We would recommend brushing it once in a while instead and invest in a vacuum cleaner.

Here are a few interesting ideas from around the peninsula: (Most of these are untested at the C+ G centre, so proceed with caution!)

Burning potato peelings on the fire keeps the chimney clean.

If you have a microwave, put some rice into a cotton sock and cook for a minute or so. Use it as a hot compress for aching limbs and sinus headaches.

When cleaning vinyl upholstery, use a strong solution of cider vinegar, then rinse and dry well.


Stain removal ideas.

Ballpoint: As soon as this happens, sponge with methylated spirits, and then flush with cold water.

Blood: Soak in cold, salted water for 10 minutes and then wash with soap. For really stubborn stains, apply a mixture of cornflower or talcum powder mixed with water. Allow to dry then brush off.

Coffee: Wash out with cool water then vinegar and rinse. Or mix egg yolk with lukewarm water and rub on the stain.

Glue: Many glue stains can be removed by dabbing with eucalyptus oil.

Some ideas from days gone by.

Sheets were given a new lease of life when cut in two; the unworn sides were then sewn back together. When these wore out they were cut up and used as napkins. Then eventually they would be used for cleaning cloths.

Flour bags were sewn together to make handy sheets –not the modern paper ones!

Shoppers went to the bakery with a pillowcase in which to bring home the bread.

Dry cleaning clothes is hard on the material. Chemicals used in this process are harmful to the environment. In days gone by the clothes were washed in lukewarm water then hung up to dry without wringing.

A goose wing (detached from the goose of course!) was great for dusting- they were free from chemicals too!

Greaseproof paper was used to wrap food. This worked just as well as harmful tin foil or clingfilm.

Although we endeavour to test all the ideas in this article, we ask you to practice with caution.

Test on a small area first.

Household.

TOP TIPS

PLASTIC FLOWERS
To clean plastic flowers put them into a carrier bag and add a couple of tablespoons full of salt. Shake the bag around for a minute or two. When the flowers are removed they will be as good as new.

SOAP SAVING
Put slithers of soap into a washing tablet net. The abrasive material on the bag will act fast to get rid of the dirt on your hands.

PILLOWS
Before washing foam filled pillows, tie knots in each corner. This will hold the filling in place and when the case is removed you will have a perfectly shaped pillow instead of the foam all collecting in one corner.

TOP TIPS NOT TO DO
Most times I venture out onto the streets there are always a few tips that would be better off not mentioning. This weeks winner, who shall remain nameless came up with two of the most dangerous tips I have ever heard of. They are definitely NOT to be tried at home!

BOILING UP TROUBLE.
The first suggestion was to save money on expensive pots and pans by simply boiling up your pasta and sauce in the kettle. It uses a fraction of the electricity and cooks it to perfection. Don’t try boiling drinking water afterwards though!

FORTIFIED WITH IRON
The same person claimed that they could also cook up a full Irish breakfast on an upturned iron. Apparently the temperature is just right to get the sausages a nice golden brown and the eggs are done to a turn. What happens to the fat that drips off of the sides I wouldn’t like to guess (never mind how your clothes would smell after ironing)!

household.

FRIDGES AND COOKERS

We have been looking through our e-mails again this week. One regular reader wrote to us after reading about sunburn remedies last week to tell us that their best remedy for easing sunburn was to use lavender oil. Simply add a few drops to some tap water and apply directly onto the burn. This is apparently very soothing. One drop of the oil put onto a mosquito bite also stops the itching instantly she goes on to tell me. There are a couple of good tips for you.

We have had a few people asking us what are the best methods for cleaning ovens and fridges, so we thought we would look into some effective ideas for getting the grime off ovens and the smells out of fridges this week.

FRIDGES
If a fridge is left switched off for any length of time they can get very smelly indeed. I remember I opened one that was full of food and had been turned off for at least three months. That was twenty years ago and I can still smell it! So first thing is to empty all the contents out. The fridge should then be left with the doors open so the air can circulate. One of the problems with buying a fridge second hand is that the doors will usually have been closed for a long period.

GETTING RID OF THE SMELLS
If your fridge has a bad odour then clean the inside with 2-3 heaped teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a pint of water (500ml). Wash all the surfaces thoroughly and wipe dry. This should get the inside smelling as fresh as a summers day. Another idea for if you are leaving the fridge unopened for a few days is to put a lump of charcoal inside the fridge. This will absorb the stale smells that form when there isn’t fresh air circulating. The good thing about this idea is that you can throw the charcoal on the barbeque when you have finished with it.

TIPS
Rub glycerine on the sides of the freezer the next time you defrost it and you will find the ice drops off really easily and speeds up the defrosting process.

If you should ever need distilled water, simply collect the ice in the freezer, strain it and there you have it, perfect distilled water.

COOKERS
I can’t remember the last time I cleaned the inside of our cooker. I think it might be a self-cleaning one, but I have my doubts. A cocktail sausage and an old potato have been on the bottom of the cooker now for a few months and they haven’t been cleaned away!
If you buy a new cooker try rinsing the inside with a solution of bicarbonate of soda, the dirt comes off more easily. Re-apply every time you clean the inside of the oven.

CAUSTIC SODA
You can get specialised products to clean the cooker. These tend to be very expensive. If the oven is really filthy then try using caustic soda. I personally don’t like this product as it is a very powerful cleaning agent, but it does the job very effectively. The cost of it is a fraction of the price of the oven cleaning products.
Mix one tablespoon of the soda to a pint (500ml) of water. Swab the inside of the cooker and leave overnight. The muck and grime should just wipe off. Follow the instructions on the packet, don’t splash on the skin and wear thick rubber gloves.

A SOFTER OPTION
If caustic soda sounds too risky you could resort to the old favourite of mixing baking soda with vinegar. Leave overnight and the grime should come off. You may have to do it a few times to get it really clean.

The shelves are starting to fill up in the supermarkets with the products that say they are cleaning with the power of oxygen. That’s what you get when you mix baking powder and vinegar, again at a fraction of the cost.

A reader recommends soaking grimy oven shelving in washing crystals mixed with any household soap, for example washing powder for an hour. The grime comes off much more easily.

Household.

HOME AND OFFICE CLEANING TIPS

Your computer and keyboard are like magnets to dust in the home. There are some solvent based cleaners on the market but if you want a cheap and natural solution to the grime that collects on the machine then look no further than the kitchen cupboard. Have you guessed what it is… yes it’s that wonderful liquid again… vinegar!

Cleaning your computer mouse

Before I start though you must be very careful when using liquids near electrical devices. If you are in any doubt then leave well alone!Green Cleaning tips..

When your computer mouse gets dirty and picks up dust, it becomes hard to manipulate.

Vinegar comes to the rescue yet again.


Simply mix half vinegar and half water and use that. Remove the ball and wipe clean with the solution. Dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free towel. Dip a cotton swab into the solution, squeeze until nearly dry and wipe the inside the mouse, removing dust or dirt particles. Use a wrung out cloth to wash the outside of the mouse.

Clean home equipment
Dip a cloth into a mixture of ½ vinegar and ½ water and wring out. Wash down the outside of your computer, printer and other pieces of equipment. Never use a spray bottle for this job. Use a nearly dry cotton swab dipped in the mixture to clean the keyboard.

Clean scissors
Wipe the blades of your scissors down frequently with a cloth dipped in full strength vinegar to keep them clean and glue free.

Thin glue
Add a drop or two of vinegar to the old bottle of glue and shake. Keeping adding vinegar drop by drop until the glue returns to the proper consistency.

Discover the tips to get your office sparkling...

Household.

ANNOUNCING NEW BLOGSPOT IN THE INISH TIMES

ENVIRONMENTAL AND GARDENING BLOG SPOT (APRIL 07)

I succumbed to a cold a couple of weeks ago. I have been very lucky recently and have avoided having a bout for a year. Some wise salts say that a cold is nature’s way of clearing out the system, a bit like an oil change. Being laid up with a runny nose and not being physically motivated, I decided to sit at the computer and delve into the world of Web Logs, or blogs as they are more commonly known.

Blogs are very popular at the moment and puts a new slant on keeping a diary. I thought that putting one together for myself would be a good use of my time whilst I was laid up. I gave my Blog site the name of Inishindie, for no other reason than it wasn’t a real word and I could keep a track of it on the search engines. The next thing to do after picking a name was to start to download my ramblings. I thought it would be fitting to start off with putting on my old articles. What a job!! My gardening articles alone have been running for seven years so there is plenty of material to look through. I got completely carried away and spent the best part of two weeks trawling through old files and digging out not only a load of gardening stuff but the Clean and Green articles too. Up to yet I have put over 300 articles on and the list is growing everyday as I neglect all the other aspects of my life putting this together, but I am having a fabulous time! It makes me realise just how much the articles have relied on support and comments from readers over the years.

The Blog will rely on interactive comments and questions so I would be delighted if you checked out www.inishindie.blogspot.com and added to it in some way with a bit of gardening wisdom or any questions or problems anyone could help with. If you have an environmental issue concerning Inishowen then you could add that anonymously if you like and of course don’t forget that we still need more household tips to help us work without the use of chemicals.

TOP TIPS

Before I start I must stress that if you do test out any of the Top Tips, PLEASE don’t be too upset if things don’t work out exactly as they say they will. A lot of these tips come from the strangest of people!

Cut up old fabric conditioner bottles to use as paint pots for the kids to use.

Turn a suit inside out and hang it outside oh the washing line on a breezy, sunny day. This will freshen it up and do away with the need to take it to the dry cleaners.

Although most of the swimmers will be hibernating for the winter, next time you go for a dip take talcum powder to the beach to dust yourself down when you come out of the water. This will stop the sand from sticking to you when you come out of the sea! The powder even helps you get into your wetsuit.

Nutcrackers make very good bottle openers.

Household.

TOP TIPS

Photo's- Before and after subjecting the spud to microwaves.

Eggs

To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away. To test if the egg is soft or hard-boiled spin it around on the table. If it is hard-boiled it remains horizontal, soft boiled it will stand on its end

Splinter removal: When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. (I have tried this and it only really works on splinters that are not fully embedded in the skin)

Here are some other ideas to be friendly to the earth. I have been trawling the streets again looking for top tips to make our lives that little bit easier. The usual disclaimers apply, try tham at your peril!

Leaking vase- A leak in a vase can be repaired with a few drops of melted candle wax.

Ripening fruit- If you put bananas in the fridge their skins will darken, but the flesh will stay firm and the fruit will not ripen too quickly. If your pears, peaches or tomatoes are under ripe, put them in a brown paper bag with a ripe apple. Make a few holes in the bag and stand in a cool, dark place overnight (no, not you silly!)

Lovely lemons- To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

Soften sugar- Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.

Home made scoop- A Friend of mine used to slice a milk carton down the middle to make a container for growing seedlings in. Another great idea is to chop them up to make them into scoops for flour, sugar and water, or even for the kids to use in the sandpit.

Harvesting crops- Regularly pick crops so that they are always tender and fresh. Never leave crops for too long before picking them, especially beans and courgettes.


Potato cleaner- Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

Ice to see you- During frosty weather, mix four tablespoons of vinegar with a drop of water. Put this on your car window at night and the windows will be frost free in the mornings.

Oh crumbs- Burnt toast put into training shoes overnight rids them of any smells.

Hollow promise- When cooking jacket spuds in the microwave push in three cocktail sticks like a tripod. As the potato cooks the sticks slowly go into the potato and eventually will come out of the top. When this happens the potato is cooked and ready for serving.

Result- I do try most of the tips that are mentioned, including this one. I must say that for me this experiment was a total disaster. I stuck in the three sticks and after twenty minutes of watching the tuber gradually resort to a hollow shell, the sticks were still firmly stuck on the bottom and showed absolutely no sign of moving to the top. Maybe I didn’t use a big enough potato; still it kept me busy for a while.

Household

HAIR CARE

We got a bit carried away at the Clean and Green testing centre this week. In our attempts to create the ultimate mix of ingredients for the perfect clothes wash, we inadvertently used far too much vinegar in the final rinse. The outcome is that we all smell a bit like a fish supper. We won’t let this setback chip away at our confidence though. We will batter on regardless (groan)!

This week we’re testing a few hair care ideas.

Conditioner for greasy hair: This tried and tested method has been around since Edwardian times. Simply put a dash of cider vinegar in the final rinse.

Verdict: This works really well and isn’t smelly either. The vinegar counteracts the alkaline properties of the shampoo and keeps the right acid-alkaline balance of the hair.

Conditioner for normal hair: The herb Rosemary has been used on hair for centuries. Add 3 or 4 sprigs into a jug and pour boiling water over them. Leave for about an hour. The strained liquid can then be used as a final rinse.

Verdict: Again this method is as good, if not better than shop bought hair conditioners. The hair is also left smelling of the delightful herb.

Shine and Body for all hair types: Here’s a great way to give your hair natural bounce. Beat an egg and add a little water or cider vinegar. Rub this into your newly washed hair and leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Verdict: You can benefit by our experience with this one. The method was faultless other than the fact that in our test we washed the hair in hot water. The result was rather messy as the mixture decided to turn into scrambled egg. It took some getting rid of I can tell you!

Smooth hands: Are your hands all rough due to the household cleaning, gardening, and fixing the car or other demanding jobs? Try this simple method. Pour vegetable oil into the palm of the hand then add the same amount of granulated sugar. Rub the hands together hard for a couple of minutes. Rinse the hands and you should be left with silky smooth skin.

Verdict: On really rough hands this method will take a few applications. Don’t do as I did and rub into cuts, it’s very sore. Pumice stone is an alternative, they last a lifetime too.

Reader’s tips:

Hiccups: To get rid of hiccups take a spoonful of vinegar, it’s not very pleasant, but it does the trick!

Dirty hands: If your hands are really dirty and soap won’t clean them, just rub in Vaseline for 5 minutes. After that the dirt should just wash off with soap and hot water.

More ideas for Green Cleaning....

Household.

HOT AND COLD

COLD TIPS
Here are three helpful tips involving cold water.

When you are working with flour, use cold water to rinse the utensils and bowls. If you use hot the flour will go sticky.

Use cold water when cleaning milk pans.

Wash your hands in cold water when you are preparing fish. If you use hot, the juices cook on your skin and get very, very smelly!

HOT TIP
Here’s one warm cleaning tip to finish off with. Heat up a small amount of white vinegar and use it on a cloth to remove dried on paint that is on glass. Yet another use for one of the most versatile cleaning products ever!

Household.

COUGHS

Photo: Avoid dairy products when you have a cold

Ian
Most members of my family have coughs at the moment. Have you any ideas how to ease their hacking? Thanks. I.B By e-maiL.

Reply
I have a few suggestions; I haven’t tried all of them so be cautious. If you are in any doubt about the illness, or if it is a persistent cough then pop in to see your doctor. There are loads of ideas that I haven’t mentioned such as homeopathic and herbal remedies.

Tips
• Breathe the steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion. A few drops of the oil of eucalyptus will help this process.

•Stop smoking. Passive smoke or other irritants, such as chemicals, can be a cause. Household cleaners, new carpeting, paneling and mattresses are some of the many possible sources of chemical irritants.

•Drink at least eight glasses of water. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough.

•Try eating hot chili peppers, horseradish or other spicy foods. They will help loosen mucus.

•Cough drops or hard sweets will help stop the tickle if you have a dry cough and will moisten the throat.

•Avoid foods that increase the production of mucus, such as dairy products, meat and fried foods.

•Hot packs placed on your throat and chest are very soothing.

There is one idea that could prove to be very popular. New research has discovered an ingredient present in flavonoid rich, dark chocolate could help stop persistent coughs.

Theobromine, a derivative found in cocoa, is nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs when compared with codeine, currently considered the best over the counter cough medicine. So if you want to try this method to ease the irritation, just remember……..everything in moderation!

Household.

TOP TIPS

PAINTING PROBLEMS
Prevent paintbrushes from drying out by wrapping up in cling film.

To prevent newly painted doors from sticking when you close them, spray both surfaces with wax polish.

ONE GOOD APPLE
Put an apple in a sack of potatoes. This will keep the spuds from growing roots for longer.

When measuring treacle, dip the spoon in flour first and the treacle won’t stick.

When buttering crackers, put them on a slice of bread. They do not break as easily.

If you catch the Swilly bus on a wet day, put a pair of old gloves in your bag. You can use these to wipe the condensation from the window.

Use cod liver oil on wood scratches. Leave for twenty-four hours then rub off. The scratch will be gone. (Disclaimer….. don’t blame me if it hasn’t!)

Sooth a mouth ulcer by gargling with chamomile tea.

FABRIC SOFTENER
I was given quite a few tips about things to do with fabric softener. I found them quite scary I must say. One suggestion was to save money on plug in air fresheners by putting some softener into a pan of water and then boiling up. This made a beautiful smell throughout the house….I think it would be a more sensible idea to open a window!





Household.

TOP TIPS

I turned into one of those people that you cross the road to avoid last week. I wanted to get some ideas for cleaning tips so members of the public have been stopped in the street to see if they have any ideas that we haven’t heard. I had a list of some that were totally unsuitable for printing but I think some of them are worth mentioning, so here goes.

NEW TOP TIP IDEAS

If you don’t have a paper shredder to get rid of your private papers here is a tip. Fill a bowl with warm soapy water and soak the documents for an hour. Press the paper into a brick shape or a ball. They will not be able to pull apart and cannot be read. If you want to take it a stage further then put the bricks or balls somewhere where they can dry out. They can be used as fuel on the open fire.

Clean gold rings. Put some lipstick on a cloth and rub for a sparkling shine. Do not use on rings with crevices though or you will have difficulty getting it off.

Stale crusts of bread cut into cubes then baked make great dog biscuits.

Small burn marks on the carpet can be removed by rubbing the area with a slice of raw potato.

Keep an old toothbrush near the sink for cleaning graters, blenders and whisks etc.

COOKING TIP
Grate courgettes and carrots into your spaghetti bolognaise sauces. They add flavour and your kids will never tell the difference.

Soak smelly feet in a bowl of green tea or tomato juice for ten minutes. The pong will disappear.

Household.

TOP TIPS

I was using public transport recently and I got into a conversation with a fellow traveller about Top Tips in the home (like you do). It culminated in a group of people brainstorming and coming up with these gems (again try them at your peril!!)

String: Don’t get into a tangle with a ball of string. Simply put it in a dry teapot and pull the end out of the spout.

Eggs: If you spill an egg on the floor cover it with salt and leave for a while. The egg becomes hard and is easier to clean up.

Plants: Hang wet clothes over your plants to water them.

CD’s: Use old CD’s as drinks mats (I think they would be too slippery) Maybe a better use would be to hang them outside to scare off the birds from the veggie patch.

Cakes: When you put a cake into the cake tin, put it on the lid. This will make it far easier to get out when you want a slice.

Remote control: This is the daftest one yet. If you are worried about spilling a drink on your remote control, cover it in cling film, you can still press the buttons but it won’t get wet. (Why don’t you cover the furniture in plastic too whilst you are at it!)

Household.

HARDWOOD FLOOR CARE

Dear clean and Green.
I have recently invested in a hardwood floor. I have opted for a solid wood type as opposed to the veneer ones and have invested a lot of money in it. Could you give me some tips how to look after it as I would like it to look good for many years to come.
Thanks S. J.

REPLY-With a little care of your new investment you should get a lifetime of value. The initial investment in a good hardwood floor is daunting but you wont have to pull it up and change it after a few years like you do a carpet. Some people like to age the wood naturally and leave the floor to it’s own devices, this is all right but it is a good idea to take a few steps to keep it looking fresh.( If you are in any doubt about these tips, consult the company that fitted the floor.)

PROTECTING YOUR SOLID INVESTMENT
The wood will need to be protected from dirt, grit and sand as much as possible, which is easier said than done around here. These are the wood’s worst enemies as they act like sandpaper, causing scratches dents and dulling on the surface.

Water and other spills- Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Wipe away spills as they happen.

Hard cleaners; Avoid oil soaps. These can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a coat of varnish on the floor. Use neutral pH cleaners made for wooden floors. (I’ll think up a recipe for you to use in a week or two)

Furniture; Lift the furniture to move it. Avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches.

Dents; Vacuum with a brush attachment and don’t use vacuums with beater bars, they could make marks in the grain.

Sun; Direct sun can discolour the hardwood floor. Close the curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect the floor from the strong summer rays.

REGULAR CARE

Sweep; Brushes with fine nylon ends trap the dust and grit effectively although the natural brush is as good if you get a very soft one.

Vacuum; Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment and don’t clean in a hurry with the wrong fitting, you will scratch the finish.

Cotton mop; Use a good cotton mop with a full head. Some mops are so thin that the metal attachment that holds the cotton string can scratch the floor.

Check with the manufacturer; You didn’t tell me what wood the floor is. There will be certain treatments for different types of wood. Check with the manufacturer to see if there are any specific things you should be doing to keep the investment in tip top condition.

Household.

HOUSEHOLD TOP TIPS

FRIDGE SMELLS
To get rid of unpleasant smells in the fridge, put a saucerful of charcoal left over from the barbeque onto a shelf overnight. The small will be gone in the morning

STOCK CUBES
Store stock cubes in the fridge and they will be far easier to crumble.

Household

MAKE DO AND MEND

Reusing and recycling is not a new phenomenon. For generations people have had to make do and re-use what they have around them. Circumstances can influence what is recycled and there was a great example of people’s ingenuity in the Second World War.

Rationing was widespread and things such as packaging were more or less unheard of. If you did manage to get a few eggs and a bit of ham, you took them home, wrapped in paper in a string bag. Plastics were not used for packaging and if you bought tea it usually came in a tin, which could be used time and time again to put your biscuits in before it rusted away. Another commodity that was in scarce supply was clothing. Ready made clothes were hard to come by and when they were acquired the items were looked after and worn time and time again. The rationing of clothes came about because of the shortage of material. Partly because the textile companies turned to making other goods for the war effort but mainly because most of the merchant ships bringing cloth were sunk before they got to the English coast.


MAKE DO AND MEND

In the 1940’s, children's clothing was largely made from old items that had been cut down and restyled and women even made their own underwear. Wide legged underpants called 'scanties' could be made from discarded flour bags that had been unpicked and boiled clean. Buttons and hooks made do when elastic became hard to get.

A mans suit could be turned into a two piece skirt and blouse for a woman and socks were darned time after time when the toes started to poke through the front. Silk stockings were in short supply during the war. It was considered rude for women to go around bare legged but the government had forbidden employers to make women wear stockings. Women working in factories could overcome the problem by wearing trousers but nurses found it hard to get around a demanding matron. Many a nurse walked to work in order to save enough money to buy stockings rather than deal with the wrath of the matron. Where employers were not so concerned about dress etiquette, girls painted their legs with makeup and drew a line down the back to look like a seam. This was fine until it rained!

There were times when women wanted to get dressed up and there was a light fabric that was in big demand. This was a new product called nylon and it came from old parachutes. The material was very difficult to work with but in the hands of a skilled seamstress the cloth was made into fine tops.

HANDY TIPS FROM 1942

Here are a few handy tips from a wartime publication printed in 1942, advising people how to look after what they had got.

Outdoor clothes will wear better and last much longer if you change them as soon as you get home, and if you sponge them and iron them occasionally. Keep special clothes for the house, the garden, the city etc., and wear them alternatively. All your clothes will then be fresher."

You can reproof your raincoat by rubbing beeswax over the inside and then ironing it with a hot iron.

Never dry wet shoes before a fire. Put them on shoe trees as soon as you take them off and stuff the toes with tissue paper. Leather looks like new when treated with sour milk rubbed in with a piece of cheesecloth.

Brown shoes always look well polished if rubbed each morning with the inside skin of a banana. Leave them to dry and then polish them with a piece of dry rag.

Silk Stockings will last much longer if rinsed out in warm soapsuds before being worn; do this every night when they are taken off.


Household.

TOP (AND NOT SO TOP) TIPS

We have been building up a selection of some rather strange suggestions for cleaning and handy tips. Most of them seem so unusual that the chances are you might never ever have to use them. We thought that they needed a mention though. Some of them probably haven’t stood the test of time though, such as putting your cucumber in a glass of water with a lump of charcoal in it. If the water is changed daily it will stay fresh for ages. Thank heavens fridges were invented!

SOME USEFUL IDEAS
There are some ideas that might be useful though, like the tip about a wobbly table leg (thank you E. from Illies). If your table legs wobble then get some wood glue and sawdust. Mix them together and put it on a piece of paper. Push this under the leg that wobbles and press down until it is firm. When the mixture has dried the table won’t need the old beer mat underneath the leg any more.

BATTERIES
If you find that your batteries are fading fast ant the shop is shut then try warming them up. This will help you get the last bit of energy out. (This idea reminds me of the story I once heard about the woman who took three-foot strides to save shoe leather! But thanks anyway Mr D. from Burt).

DRIPLESS DRIPS
Put a slightly damp cloth on a tray when you are serving your friends drinks. This stops the glasses from moving around and soaks up the spills.

SOME LESS THAN USEFUL IDEAS
Where do some people get their ideas? Some of these ideas are pretty wacky, even dangerous. I haven’t printed the one about the best way to siphon petrol from a car, as I don’t think that it is a very good idea Mr. B. from Carndonagh (I don’t want to be putting suggestions into people’s minds -especially when it’s your neighbours car)!

BOILING MILK
One tip was to put a teaspoon in a pan of milk to stop it boiling over. This idea does NOT work and it took me an hour to clean the cooker top! Neither does brushing around the top of the pan with glycerine Ms R. from Clonbeg.

FLEAS
Someone stopped me in the street the other day and said that applying paraffin, or paraffin and milk to a dog’s coat got will get rid of fleas. This might be the case, but it will probably get rid of the dog too! Paraffin is poisonous to animals and should never be used on them.

BUTTER
Here’s one you will never do. It was said that if you wanted to refresh rancid butter then add sweet milk, this will make the butter sweet again…. it doesn’t, anyway, what is rancid butter? All I can say to that one Shaun from Malin is put your butter in the fridge!

AN APPLE AS A TOOTHBRUSH?
We had a suggestion that eating an apple last thing at night before bedtime cleans the teeth. We hate to contradict but it does exactly the opposite. It leaves the teeth bathing in acid all night, which eats into the enamel of the teeth. It might keep the doctor away but it will mean more work for the dentists.

WHISKEY
It has been said that the darker the whiskey, the stronger it is. After much experimenting…hic…I can tell you it isn’t true. The darker the colour just means that more caramel has been added to colour the drink.

That’s about all from the world of useless ideas. There are a lot of old ideas floating around that can be dangerous or just plain daft. If you have any more of them please let me know!

Household.

FREEZING TIPS

I was talking to a woman at the Summer Gathering who made freezing things an art form. Here are some of the things she did. (I think she also has shares in polythene manufacturing companies!)

FISHY TALE
Empty wax fruit juice cartons can be used for freezing fish in. Rinse thoroughly, add the fish, fill up with water and staple shut. Be careful that the carton is upright when it isn’t frozen ion the freezer compartment or you will get a smelly surprise.

FRUIT
Acid fruit and vegetables such as apples rhubarb and tomatoes should be wrapped in polythene for freezing and not foil. The acid in them will tarnish the foil and taint the produce.

SAUSAGES
When open freezing sausages, line the tray with a sheet of polythene to stop the sausages sticking

FREEZING SOUP
Line plastic boxes with polythene bags to freeze soups. When the soup has frozen solid, the bag can be lifted out and put directly into the freezer. To freeze stock or smaller quantities, use milk or fruit juice cartons and line those with a plastic bag.


OTHER IDEAS
The woman’s skills didn’t end with freezing either; she also was a dab hand with tins too. These are the sorts of life changing tips that you can pick up when you are sitting in a field in the summer sunshine!

TINNED FOOD
If you only use a part of a tin of food, especially something that is acidic, like tomatoes or apple puree, do not leave in the tin or it will deteriorate. Put it in a ceramic container with a lid and put it in the fridge.

TINNED MEAT
If you put your tin of meat in the fridge for a few minutes before opening it will be easier to slice.

Household.

TOP TIPS

Spilt wax: If wax is spilled on a carpet, use ice cubes to harden then gently scrape off as much wax as possible. Place brown paper over the remaining wax and use an iron on top of this. The heat will cause the wax to absorb into the paper.

Verdict: This is a very effective method but do make sure the iron isn’t too hot. We tried this a few years ago on a nylon carpet and we scorched it so much that we had to buy a rug!

Toothpaste: Use baking soda mixed with a little lemon juice to get your teeth sparkling white

Smelly shoes: To deodorise shoes and of course trainers, sprinkle baking soda inside them regularly.

Household.