Any handy tips on how to remove ingrained musty smell from small items of clothing, e.g. socks, etc.
For some reason, I left these in a bag in my shed and they got wet and now they smell. Likely I may have been dieting and they seemed a bit big (chance would be a fine thing!) but, in this current lockdown period, I could likely still use them.
After 2 repeat wash cycles, they still contain the smell.
Any tips if I can rescue them by restoring to a decent condition?

Does anyone have any idea on how I can do this quickly, easily and cheaply.

I have hundreds of plastic bottles to clean, so looking for speed, simplicity and savings of course.

Alcohol based hand gel works well for glass bottles but unfortunately not for plastic ones though, in this current climate, of course, hand gel should not be wasted for this purpose.

A warm welcome to you Miranda.

We once talked about different ways to tackle a Swede, I personally gave up on them BUT here is another tip for this 'difficult to prepare' Vegetable......

Peel it, prick it well with a fork then microwave it for 4 to 5 minutes. It will come out soft and ready to either mash, chop or put in a stew. Let it rest for a bit once taken out of the microwave.

Good morning Anjie, welcome to our group.

Hi Gabby, welcome to our band of friends on sharing tips group

Everyone seems to be in a panic about the lack of toilet rolls in supermarkets, and yet there are normally loads of kitchen rolls for sale. Why don't people use them instead?

A while ago, somewhere on this site but not this group there was a thing about keeping food fresher for longer.
I said that contrary to the website advise of keeping salad/veg in the fridge in water i always keep mine dry by wrapping in kitchen roll and in paper bags.
Update is - my iceberg lettuce is now on it's 4th week and still entirely edible and crisp [just had some with lunch]

Just done battle with about 50 [only wanted 2 but they all came out tangled up together]
Anybody know how to control the little blighters ?

Enjoy and I'm rubbish at them so any advice would be very welcome!

This little recipe was given to me by a lady on Kahuti and I consider it to be a great and easy tip........It's called Gloucester Pie, simple, delicious and warming.........

Make 2 cheese and tomato sandwiches, cut off crusts and cut into 4.
Beat 2 eggs with a little milk.
butter an oven proof dish, place the sandwiches in evenly and then pour over the egg mixture, making sure they are covered.
Pop in a l80c oven for 30 minutes and tuck in.

Never heard of it, what do you think.
Plan extra snoozes. Sleep deprivation makes you hungrier.

How to peel and chop up without having to hire a chainsaw ??
Anyone any ideas ?

I accidentally splashed a little spray cleaner that contained bleach onto the bottom of my favourite pair of black trousers. Only discovered it whilst ironing them! Used a waterproof marker pen on the stain and it worked a treat.!

First apologies if I read this tip here previously!! If, like me, you struggle to recycle clothes (might wear it one day) so your wardrobe is bulging, then this is worth a try. Note the date. Turn all the hangers hooks one way. Whenever you wear an item turn hanger the other way. After one year, ie 4 seasons, recycle anything with hanger still facing the initial way. I wonder if it will work?!

Hi Lynne, welcome aboard, enjoy!

Hi Sam, welcome to our friendly handy tips group.

It's a job to get the last bit out of a jar of honey, you can place the jar into a Microwave for 30 seconds so it melts to enable you to pour the last out......or if you don't own a Microwave, stand the jar in a bowl and pour hot water around the jar, take care when lifting it out, I use my rubber gloves that I use for washing up.

Welcome Gigi

https://youtu.be/15PWtE2Yrqs

We are hoping to move house in late January. Any tips for making things go smoothly- any pitfalls to look out for?

When writing a date on any document in this new year, 2020. We should write it in it's full format, e.g. 31/01/2020 and not as 31/01/20 because anyone can change it to 31/01/2000 or 31/01/2019 or in between any year to suit his or her convenience, which could render the document invalid, so be cautious about this. Don't write and also don't accept it in any documents.
This problem will persist only during this year of 2020.

Well yes but do not despair ---here is the solution.

Vinegar is an easy and effective way to disinfect and clean-- dentures naturally. The acid in the vinegar dissolves tartar that has built up on dentures over time. To make this natural cleaning solution at home, combine equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Let your dentures soak in the solution for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best results. Be sure to rinse the dentures completely before re-inserting them into your mouth.
For partial dentures soak them in the vinegar solution for only 15 minutes once a day. This short amount of time will still soften build up on the dentures without damaging the metal clasps on the partial dentures.

Soak your denture brush in a bleach/water solution. You should soak your denture brush in a half bleach/half water solution once a week to prevent the growth of bacteria. Rinse the brush thoroughly before using it on your dentures.

Do not re-use the vinegar solution as it now contains debris from stains, tartar, bacteria, and whatever else was on your dentures.

You also can use bleach, purchase bleach especially designed for cleaning dentures. Then take about a teaspoon of the bleach dissolved into one cup of water and soak your dentures about 15 minutes in this solution. It should do the same thing as the vinegar solution, although the bleach might dissolve the tartar a little better than the vinegar would. Rub the dentures with a denture brush to clean away the tartar.

And A happy Christmas to you all.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and the best New Year.

250g icing sugar

1 egg white, beaten

few drops of peppermint essence

15 chocolate sweets (we used Waitrose blue and green chocolate beans)

Method

Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. Mix in the egg white, a little at a time – stop adding it when you have a soft dough that feels like plasticine.

Add 3 drops of the peppermint essence, mix well and taste. Add another drop if it isn’t minty enough.

Roll half the mixture into 15 balls, about the size of cherry tomatoes, then flatten them with your hand to make the bear heads.

Place on sheets of baking parchment on a large board or tray. Using half the remaining mixture, make blueberry-sized balls and flatten them out onto the heads to make snouts. Add chocolate sweets for the noses.

Use the rest of the mixture to make the ears. Shape them into tiny balls and press them gently into the top of the heads with your fingertips. Use a cocktail stick to shape the eyes.

Leave the polar bears to dry for 3-4 hrs, or overnight. Eat within 1 month.

I find using WD40 and a soft cloth, quicker than these expensive silver cleaning products. It's also great for clearing frost off car windows, just a little is needed.

Happy Christmas to all my Members and a good 2020.

Welcome Rosalind!

I was very sad to hear of the death of Gary Rhodes today and will always remember his tip of applying mash to the top of a Shepherd's pie....using a spatula apply mash all around the edges of the pie before adding the centre mash, stops the mince from leaking from the pie. R.I.P Gary.

Welcome to Begum and Shiraz, nice to have you onboard.

Reminding you of my tip of wrapping gifts on an ironing board. A massive help especially if you have back problems.

Such a chore if you send a lot like myself. I write all the addresses on the envelopes when I have spare time, then nearer Christmas I have the pleasurable bit of writing in the card. Pop in envelope, lick and stick, job done!!

Boil your potatoes with their skin on, and peel them once they’re cooked. This means they’ll absorb less water, giving you a fluffier mash with an earthier flavour. It’s less effort this way since the skins will just rub off.

Over time they fade or one has to search on container.
Now I write with a Permanent Marker Pen the date on top of tins/jars and with one glance I can see what has to be used up first.

Read this in the paper this morning, thought I would pass it on as I thought it was a good tip?

If a timber door is sticking at the bottom, slip a piece of sandpaper under it with the paper facing you. Then move the door back and forth and you will sand a bit off the bottom without having to take the door off !

I shall probably get ribbed for this tip, but I think it makes a fun centre piece for your table and kiddies can have a go because it's easier!

Instead of a big hard pumpkin use Peppers to carve the familiar face, they come in colours too.....and if you slice off the tops with the green stalk intact, that makes a jaunty hat. lol

Quick clean......

When you're faced with stubborn, baked-on food in a casserole dish, add boiling water and 3 tablespoons salt to the dish. Let the dish stand until the water cools, then wash it as usual.

Just heard from a few people they can not wait to collect conkers and spread around the house/garage to deter spiders.
Google told me it is an old wives tale but the people I spoke to say it works.

Will try and report back. No harm done just having a few around as I have a lot of spiders.

One person reported having false widow spiders .and is hunting them down as she has a lovely dog.

Turn a metal rake upside down and gently drag over the grass.....the dew will drop into the lawn and should be dry in an hour !!

If your glasses keep slipping down and you are constantly pushing them back up........heat the ends of the 'arms' with a hairdryer and gently bend them inwards!

One for our Handy Tips group..... click on picture to enlarge

If you polish your furniture, as I do.....one of my favourite tips is use a pair of cotton gloves (you can get them in Boots) then spray both palms with polish when they are on, I usually do it over the sink. So easy to tackle the job, picking up ornaments and such which dusts them too! Does the job quicker with no need to buff furniture after applying polish, great for doing legs of dining room furniture as you are just using your hands!!

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Toothpaste, handcream etc.
When you've squeezed and squeezed and no more will come out don't chuck them - cut them open near the top [opening] end and there will be lots still there.
Cover with silver foil to stop it drying out.

My Hostas in pots suffered attack from slugs'n'snails...until I was advised to spray WD40 round the pots' sides.

To make boiled eggs very easy to peel, add a wedge of lemon to the water, the shell will come away very easily!

Lining a roasting tin with kitchen foil helps with cleaning the tin after. This is a really good tip, turn the tin over, using your hands press the foil around the shape of the tin. Carefully remove, flip tin over and you have the right shaped foil to pop into your tin! any excess foil can be tucked around the edges, job done!!

Use one on the end of a roll of sticky tape then you'll never struggle when the pesky tape has stuck to the roll when next you use it!!

Hi Steve, welcome.

Welcome George.

tt and SmolanH, welcome to you both