Clever Clarissa’s Household Tips & Advice

Three ways to get more juice out of a lemon (almost twice the amount!)
1) Store it in the refrigerator in a tightly-sealed jar of water
2) Submerge it in hot water for 15 minutes before squeezing it
3) Warm it in the oven for a few minutes before squeezing.

Two foolproof remedies for ‘old maids’
Storing your popcorn in the freezer will keep it fresh while ensuring a maximum number of kernels pop. Running ice-cold water over the kernels before throwing them into the popper can also eliminate ‘old maids’.

Maximizing use
Lemons – After squeezing the juice out of a lemon, wrap and freeze the rind for another use: martinis, osso bucco, chutney, marmalade, candy, etc.
Eggs – If the recipe calls for egg yolks, keep the whites in the freezer to make meringue.
If the recipe calls for egg whites, keep the yolks in the freezer to thicken a sauce. Freeze the shells and use them to clarify stock.
French bread – Thinly slice the remainder of a baguette and toast in the oven, on both sides. Use later with appetizers such as guacamole, antipasto, salsa, hummus.
Bananas – Freeze overripe bananas (the browner the better) and use them to make banana bread or muffins.

Restoring a shrunken wool or cashmere sweater to its original size
Dissolve ¼ cup of hair conditioner in 1 gallon of cool water. Immerse your sweater and carefully work the mixture through, without stretching. Roll the sweater in a thick towel, without twisting or wringing, to absorb most the liquid. Lay the sweater flat on a fresh towel and gently pull it back to its original size.

Getting rid of ‘ring-around-the-collar’
Apply shampoo on the inside of the collar and cuffs and gently rub it in (the shampoo will dissolve the grease); wash as normal. Fresh stains will disappear the first time; if not, repeated applications may be necessary.

Saving on household products
Do you know that a variety of products found in your kitchen and bathroom can replace commercial household at a fraction of the cost? They include: vinegar, lemon, salt, baking soda, cornstarch, cream of tartar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, nail-polish remover, white toothpaste and denture cleaning tablets.

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1. How to Make Laundry Soap at Home

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