Do you have a secret trick?

Brie

speaking of rice.....I was at the food bank the other day and someone was wondering what to do with a packet of sushi rice and wondering why on earth someone would have donated it.  I looked at it and noticed that the rice looked like very small risotto rice - more rounded than basmati and half the size of normal risotto.  And then I saw that the instructions say it only needs to be cooked for 10 minutes - as opposed to 20+ minutes for other rice.  So if you see sushi rice going cheap it might be worth trying if only to save on cooking time!   

daisy_1571

I don't use salt when cooking potatoes to have as boiled or mashed, I cut up a bit of white onion.   Gives flavour without the salt issue.

-taff

Brie said:

speaking of rice.....I was at the food bank the other day and someone was wondering what to do with a packet of sushi rice and wondering why on earth someone would have donated it.  I looked at it and noticed that the rice looked like very small risotto rice - more rounded than basmati and half the size of normal risotto.  And then I saw that the instructions say it only needs to be cooked for 10 minutes - as opposed to 20+ minutes for other rice.  So if you see sushi rice going cheap it might be worth trying if only to save on cooking time!   

It's also short grain rice so you can make rice pudding with it..

MrsCD

If you've planned ahead to have rice later in the day, you can 'cook' it in a small wide necked food flask. Just rinse the flask with boiling water,  measure your rice into the flask and cover with boiling water, and then fasten the lid on. Leave a couple of hours or so and you have perfectly cooked rice. You can add a little bouillon powder for extra flavour.

Green_hopeful

Not a trick, but I am currently cleaning a house for marketing and found a bottle of astonish upvc cleaner. Works nicely on upvc but also a wonder cleaner for old plastic eg sockets and light switches. Also cleaned the gloss paintwork on the skirting behind the loo. Not sure quite what caused the drips but the upvc cleaner worked wonders. I suspect it contains soap, citric acid and bicarbonate of soda but the writing is very small. It’s like magic on upvc almost with no scrubbing it draws out any dirt. 

thara1996

These are my top five tricks

I use a hand towel in order to clean the entire table after meals. I use a cheap disinfectant spray too. It works. 

I use a spoon not a knife to cut up my food. I have found that you can use massage or lavender oil to help you rest at night. I buy a bottle of carpet cleaner to clean my tiles as well. 

YoungBlueEyes

Here's one. When you discover a hair in your umm eyebrows that was not there when you went to bed last night - have another go at it when you've moisturised your face. It must absorb the moisturiser which makes it a teeny bit bigger and easier to grab. 

luvchocolate

Zoflora in  a small spray bottle diluted with water. 
Quick spay on worktops etc. 
The lenor little balls for laundry..I know they are expensive but I love the smell....in little cotton bags in wardrobe or drawers. 

flamingo747

Pink Paste for ovens 

Iron shirts fresh out of the machine, then put on a hanger to fully dry outside or in a warm room. The creases come out so much easier, and no wasting ironing water

Use a cereal tub with a lid in the car to put rubbish in. It's slim enough to fit in small gaps, and easier to empty

Write on one corner of your duvet so you know which way round it goes. Mine says Bottom Left Face

Chip out the wax left over in fragranced candles to use in a wax melter. Similarly,  when the fragrance is faded, tip the spent wax from your melter into a silicone bun case, let it harden, then peel the case and chuck (or use to wax the inside of boots, or put in drawers for a light fragrance to clothes) 

When you get Xmas cards (sorry!) Save the fronts and redistribute next year as Xmas postcards. Works great for the ones brought home from school rather than buying 30 more!

otb666

i tip all my water used for cleaning over patio after use and means i have clean patio (i tend to use vinegar baking powder or sugar soap for cleaning)