Cleaning brushed stainless steel
I have a brushed stainless steel fire, tried various things to clean it but not good results.
Just wiped it over with oil and it is very much better.
Tip - don't use cotton wool though - fluffy bits stick to the oil.
Share tips to make life easier!
Welcome all members. This Group is for UK residents only and not for Businesses.
Open Loop 89
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Help over gas mark equivalents?
Can anyone enlighten me on equivalents for gas marks and electric fan ovens? I have looked at the conversion charts but I have one recipe from the 60s (madeira cake, Philip Harben) which says gas mark 3 (my conversion chart says 170 so I have set fan oven at 160). A recent recipe for something else (chocolate and beetroot brownies) has gas mark 5, fan oven 170 in the actual instructions - I bake these regularly. Dilemma!!!!
I used to bake the madeira regularly but haven't for years and certainly not since I have had a fan oven.
Did the gas marks change at some time with North Sea Gas???? -
Unwanted Callers? (Edited)
Print this notice off for attaching to your door. Sure to deter those that are selling you something that you don't want!
CLICK ON TO ENLARGE -
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I haven't tried this but my next door neighbour cuts a tomato in half and then places them cut side down on a pot of soil and they grow more tomato plants.
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I've started using milk and squash bottle tops in flower pots for drainage and they also make little reservoirs for the water to run into so helps keep the plant moist.
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Turning pennies into pounds......
In my ladies magazine today....
Here is a popular way to save that can add up to over £650 a year!
The way it works is that you save a penny on day one, save 2p on day two, 3p on day three and keep going, adding another penny on, every day for a year. It gets tougher towards the end - on the last day you'll need to put aside £3.65 - but if you do this every day for a year, you'll have saved £667.95.
No need to wait until January, start any day you like. -
Have a banana! (Edited)
To avoid damaging another banana when removing one from a ripening bunch, separate them with a serrated knife as soon as you buy them.
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I left a saucepan of mince for a shepherd's pie unattended yesterday (very silly 0f me) and the result was a burnt bottom of the pan.
Removed the mince and poured cold water in the saucepan with a dishwasher tablet, brought it to the boil and left for 10 minutes, hey presto...easily cleaned off and my saucepan is clean as a whistle! -
This is a tip from a friend who lives in the Gambia. Most Gambians can't afford brand name cold remedies so they rely on alternatives. My friend says to clear a blocked nose put some cooking oil on a finger then rub it just inside each nostril. Then squeeze the nostril together. Your blocked nose will soon clear
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Read this tip in a Woman's magazine.....when the tube is empty collect £1 coins in it! They will contain £45 apparently! The dear lady wrote that she collects them throughout the year and they are used to buy her Grandchildren their Christmas gifts!
Good tip in my eyes!! or the money collected could go towards paying your Winter heating bill?? -
Another tip from your amazing Moderator (just kidding, lol)
If, like me, you cook a ready bought pie in a silver container on occasions when you're pushed for time! I found an easy way to release the pie from it's dreaded container after it's cooked. Using scissors cut the foil, just one snip from the top of the foil, then using both hands pull apart and hey presto your pie will slide out with ease ready to slice. -
Idea for alternative "green" Christmas wrapping:
1. I use scarves I like from charity shops to wrap presents sometimes - recipient can wear the wrapping if they like it!
2. The India Shop sells recycled newspaper bags with jute handles - different sizes. I have used these and just added a bright ribbon to tie up the top. Buying these supports a street family that makes them. Always a talking point!! -
Why not make your own Snowmen? Very easy. Kids love to help to make these.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntIeZF0ynGE -
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This programme was on Channel 4 about two weeks ago. There doesn't appear to be any following episodes. It was the usual things like buy supermarket own brands, batch cook and make your own cleaners out of white wine vinegar and lemon juice but there was one tip that I had not heard of. Instead of buying expensive products to clean your washing machine just pop in a dish washer tablet and put your washing machine on a long boil wash. I did this and it worked a treat. My washing machine smelt nice and fresh. To clean my dish washer I often put some thin bleach in the bottom and put it on on a 70 degree wash.
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I have been sorting out my many rolls of gift wrapping paper and discovered once neatly rolled up tightly, place a paper clip each end to stop it unrolling again! job done. Especially with Christmas lurking around the corner, lol
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This discussion is now closed.
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Baked beans stuck to bottom of the can?
To prevent this, turn the can upside down and leave to one side for 5 minutes before opening. The stuck beans should come unstuck.
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Is there a way to stop a wool rug from moving about on a carpet? The corners / strips advertised work on wood floors but don't appear to work on carpet on carpet.
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Re-purposing plastic containers
I am not sure whether this idea is any use to others ...I buy various cleaning liquids in bulk (washing up, washing, toilet cleaner, etc), and used to recycle the large plastic containers. However, I find them very useful for storgae of opened or small food packets which otherwise get jumbled up on a shelf. I cut off the top with the handle, and use it like that - or cut a handhold space in the side, so I can hitch it down from a high shelf. I use one, for example, for pkts of nuts and seeds, another for pastas, etc. I am now much tidier .. and spillages are contained.
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A little tip if you are using one of these now that Summer has arrived. They have a sell by date on them! We had stored ours away in the Garage and had forgotten about it until last week-end and when it refused to light we realized the sell by date was 3 years ago!! My hubby was not amused, lol
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I get rust spots on some of my cutlery after they have been in the dishwasher. Is there a reason for this and does anyone know how to stop it?
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A little tip I have discovered! When I buy mince for Shepherd's pie or Cottage pie I don't like the way the mince is 'worm like', Using disposable rubber gloves I give the mince a good squeezing to smooth the mince making a nicer texture. Very therapeutic too, lol and it makes makes a much nicer pie to eat.
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Wondering what that old book is worth? (Edited)
Look up "Bookfinder" on the net.
It's free and easy to use and let's you see what that item is selling for on Amazon, eBay, and bookshops all over the place.
A Giles Annual #2 is in good nick, and worth well over £100.
An older "Strube" annual is valued at over £60.
My beloved "Second Century of Detective Stories" and Eagle Annual #1 held pleasant surprises too. -
I have, for some years, put bits of ginger and tumeric root in the freezer - they are so much easier to grate. But I recently thought I would try freezing squeezed lemon skins, as sometimes the lemons are too flexible for zesting successfully. It works a treat - lots of easily grated lemon zest!
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Not sure if this is the right place for this:
check the expiry date on your driving licence. We did, and panicked, as both of ours had expired. We had had no reminder from the DVLA. Then, on the DVLA site, it said licences had been extended for 11 months from the date of expiry. So that's a relief, as we largely shielding and I don't fancy one of those photo booths at the moment. -
Does anyone have any suggestions please how to open difficult food jar lids? Alas the two men in my household is unable to open the jars. I've tried my way to open jars by placing the jar upside down in a bowl of hot water, usually that works. My way hasn't worked this time. :0(
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Removing names and addresses from post/delivery boxes/packets
Instead of spending time removing address labels before disposing of packing, just put them under running water and scrub with a nail brush; they disappear in no time.
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Water butts in the gardens can be invaluable but in the summer months they can attract mosquitos, Daddy Long legs, gnats or midges. Spray the lid with undiluted vinegar to reduce their numbers.
