19. Landscaper’s companion ($5.2)
Offers essential information
on more than 8,500 plants, accompanied by 9,000 images. A tap on your chosen
plant shows how to cultivate it, plus troubleshooting tips.
20. Say adios to plastic bags for good
Keeping a reusable bag in your
handbag for impromptu shopping trips really cuts down on the plastic in your
life. Envirosax is a range of reusable bags that fold up small, weigh nothing,
are super sturdy – and look nice! $8.50, sujiivana.co.uk
21. Keep silver sparkling
If you can’t be bothered to
polish tarnished silver cutlery, boil it for ten minutes in a saucepan of
water, lined with aluminium foil.
22. Baking-blind boots
When you’re baking something
blind, use foil rather than baking parchment, as it fits snugly into the
corners, doesn’t curl up and gives a neater finish.
23. Banish soggy biscuits
Put sugar cubes in your biscuit
tin to keep them fresher. The cubes will absorb any moisture, which makes your
biscuit last longer.
24. Seeking
Easter inspiration?
Easter Party Inspiration
These easy makes from homes
editor Alison Davidson will infuse your home with the Easter spirit.
Beautiful Bottles Transform old
glass bottles into gorgeous vases by pouring a water-based paint in through a
funnel, a little bit at a time, adding water if needed. Replace the lid, swirl
the paint around until all surfaces are covered and pour out any excess. Allow to
dry.
Decorative NEST Display eggs in
a nest – try it yourself or ask your local florist – it makes a great gift.
Shape twigs around a mixing bowl to make the base, using thin wire or dark
thread to secure.
Sandpaper tricks
Five new uses for sandpaper
25. Jam jar unjammer
Can’t get the marmalade lid to
budge? Place sandpaper over the top and twist. You’ll be out of a jam in a
jiffy.
26. Grotty grout cleaner
Fold a piece of medium-grit
sandpaper in half, rough-side out, and use the creased edge to scrub out the
stains in the bathroom tile grout.
27. Suede saver
Spruce up a suede bag by
linghtly buffing dried water spots with fine-grain sandpaper.
28. Bobble banisher
Wipe fine-grain sandpaper over
a sweater in one direction – gently! – to lift pesky pills.
29. Sole scuffer
Slippery soles can cause
slapstick falls, if you’re not careful. Guard against this by rubbing
medium-grain sandpaper over the bottoms of new shoes to give some traction.
Golden rules of spring cleaning
From Rachel Simhon, author of
The Home Handbook, out 15 March (Bloomsbury)
30. The only way is down
Start at the top of the house
and work down. As you finish each room, shut the door to keep the dust out.
Clean downstairs in the same way, ending with the hallway. By working
methodically, you’ll know the whole house is clean.
31. Clean like a pro
This is how chambermaids were
taught to clean at The Savoy. First, stand at the door to see what needs doing
– whether dusting, mopping or vacuuming, the rules are left to right, top to
bottom and back to font.
32. Step away from the wall
Thinking about washing that
grimy wall? Don’t bother. It’s much quicker and easier just to repaint. And as
for washing ceilings… are you mad? Remember, spring cleaning doesn’t have to be
done all in one go or even in spring.
33. If you only do one thing…
Make sure you clean the
windows. Use warm water with a drop of vinegar and a drop of washing-up liquid.
Wash the windows, then use a rubber-bladed squeegee to remove the water. Wipe
any small streaks with a dry cloth.
