What hints or tips from years ago have stayed with you?

[clary]

Was making an omelette and got eggshell shards in the mix. I automatically used the broken shell to retrieve them, as they are drawn to the shell (but retreat from a teaspoon). This excellent tip, which I use probably once a week, comes from an old uni friend (whom it pleasantly brings to mind) and must date back to the 1980s. So many thanks to my dentist student flatmate, whom I've not seen for some years!

Anyone else got any trusted (cooking or other) tips that have stood the test of time?

Don't eat yellow snow

Use the back of a spoon to spread butter on bread and it won’t rip the bread.

When you open a tin of paint put an elastic band around it and then wipe excess paint off on the band rather than the edge of the tin. Means you don't get dried paint caking up the edges of your tin.

Hang towels on rails bringing them up from behind instead of stuffing them in from the front. It also works for clothes airers.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
From a Sunday Times colour supplement yeeeeears ago.

If you touch something very hot and fear a burn, quickly put your sore finger on your earlobe to relieve the pain and reduce the burning.

www.tipking.co.uk/tip/6016.html

Brown owl told me that if you make your bed, that one thing makes a messy room look much tidier. She was right!

Rub your hands on something made of steel, like a kitchen sink, after cutting garlic to get rid of the smell from your fingers.

Put stained clothing in direct sunlight for a few hours - better than any stain remover/laundry detergent (not so useful in this grim weather though!)

Cast ne'er a clout til May is out.

As in, keep your vest on until May.

Cutting onions, put a metal teaspoon in your mouth and your eyes don't water.

Have tried this once and it did seem to work. Can't remember where I got the tip from though.

If you can't open a screw jar lid, tap it gently on the edge with a knife, releases the pressure maybe?
My Grandad told me this years ago

I used this saying for gardening, so I never plant anything out before the end of May

I don’t understand what bringing a towel up from behind the rail does?

if you can’t open a jar, use a tin opener to gently lift under one of the higher parts of the lid - the lids tend to have wavy edges with one part higher than the next. You only need to raise this part enough to release the pressure - you will hear a pop.

If you can't unscrew a bottle top try tightening it slightly and try again to unscrew it , works every time .

Fold all the bedding needed for one bed into one of the pillowcases. I first heard about that tip over a decade ago and it still pleases me everytime I change my bed!
Also, when doing a job like cleaning the bathroom, do the job you hate the most first.

I don’t understand what bringing a towel up from behind the rail does?
It comes up more smoothly and doesn’t bunch up.
On an airer or pulley maid you can see the clothes are smooth and they’ll dry better before you lay the front down.
This method is good if you have “stunt towels” folded into thirds to show the fancy bit, not the hems.
Like I say, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

Great tips, thanks all! The sunshine one to clean marks on clothes is excellent. Works well on tomato I find.

I’ve put this one on here before - pinch someone’s middle fingers for ten seconds to stop them hiccuping. But don’t tell them what you’re going to do.

Shown to me by a fellow passenger on the 98 bus from Holborn late one evening after a long post-work drinking session.

They were just trying to steal your purse.

I don't understand this.

You need to look at a lid. Closely!

If you have a headache, spread your fingers wide apart and squeeze the skin between your thumb and index finger tightly (the webbed part) The pain disappears

Egg white applied to nappy rash

Add a sprinkle of sugar to peas once cooked

Add a touch of sugar to cabbage when cooking to avoid smells

Butter bread with a spoon

Cold hands = Warm heart and the best pastry makers

A bucket of Milton with a lid in the laundry room to presoak whites before washing

When making egg mayo sandwiches mash with a masher

Idle hands makes the Devil work (or something like that)

If you get a thorn or splinter soak your finger in oil and it comes right out. If it's in you foot put oil on a bandaid and leave it on over night. Has never not worked and it's brilliant for kids.

Steradent down the toilet to clean, ditto sinks.

Sliced lemon in a bowl of water heated up in the microwave softens the debris and is then wipe clean.

Hard butter, fill a mug with boiling water, pour the water away, use mug as a cloche, hey presto.

Also do the pillow case one, bloody brilliant tip that is.