AUGUST 2017 AWW.COM.AU 171
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[ D-I-Y tips ]
ASK THE WEEKLY
Q
I am plagued by daddy-long-
legs. I don’t want to kill them,
but as soon as I take them
outside, they’re back. What can I do?
G. Chambers, NSW.
Spiders hate peppermint (and so
do mice, for that matter). Spray a
solution of 450ml water and 15 drops
of peppermint essential oil in the
area where the spiders congregate.
Alternatively, add a couple of drops
of peppermint oil to a cotton wool
ball and place in these same areas,
or wipe into corners.On thin ice
In extra cold areas, instead of
scraping away at the ice on your
windscreen, spray it with a 2:1
solution of vinegar and water, and
it will be much easier to remove.Shelling out
If you hate peeling hardboiled eggs, simply
slice the unpeeled egg in half lengthwise with
a knife and slip the egg out with a spoon.Dry clothes faster
To save time and money when using your
clothes dryer this winter, always toss a clean
dry towel in with your wet clothes.Moving mattresses
When moving house, put a fitted sheet onto each
side of your mattress – it’s a lot easier to wash two
fitted sheets than it is to clean a mattress!Use your noodle
Make a quick draught excluder: cut a pool noodle
in half lengthwise, slide a piece of fabric, or even aReader’s prize hint
Over time, sheepskin boots can get a little flat in the pressure points under the feet. You can get
an extra season or seasons from them by inserting sheepskin insoles (available at pharmacies)
in the base of the boots. They’ll instantly feel snug again! A. Briggs, Qld.Georgina Bitcon shares tips on de-icing windscreens, keeping mattresses clean
when you move, stopping draughts and more, plus there’s a reader’s prize hint.
Home hints
Instead of
storing lemons
in the fruit bowl,
seal them into
ziplock bags
with as little air
as possible and
keep them in
the fridge. They
will stay soft-
skinned and
juicy for a
month or more.thin towel, under the door and wrap
the extending edges around a noodle
segment on each side, until they fit
snugly against the door.Marmalade magic
When making marmalade, instead of
skimming the foam from the top, stir a
tiny knob (about 10g) of butter into the
jam before ladling it into jars – the scum
will disappear without any wastage
and you can’t taste the butter.Plant humidifier
If your indoor plants are getting
over-dry due to winter heating, fill
a shallow bowl with pebbles, add
water and stand the pots on the
pebbles, clear of the water, for a
little extra humidity.Knitting lifeline
If you have to rip back your knitting, use a
darning needle and scrap wool to thread a
“lifeline” through the row of stitches below
your mistake – it will stop you ripping too far
and it’s easy to pick up the stitches again.Keyboard cleaning
To clean a dirty computer keyboard, disconnect
the power and use a magic eraser with only one
to two drops of water.SHARE YOUR DOMESTIC SECRETS
Send your handy hints or questions to: Home
Hints, The Australian Women’s Weekly, GPO Box
4178, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email openline@
bauer-media.com.au. We pay $75 for the reader’s
prize hint each month. While every effort is made
to ensure the efficacy of each hint, we cannot
take responsibility for individual results.