To bring out your hair’s natural shine, mix a few tablespoons of vinegar with a quart of warm water and use as a rinse.

Want to make a ceiling look higher?  Paint it a lighter shade than the walls.

Want to use dried instead of canned lentils? Rinse, then simmer 1 cup dried green lentils in about 5 cups water until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain well.

Stock up on non-perishable staples, such as pasta, rice, canned tomatoes, beans and frozen vegetables, when they’re on sale.

Stuff a glass hurricane with crunchy cellophane before inserting fresh flowers. When the glass is filled with water, the cellophane will create the appearance of crushed ice.

Frozen grapes aren’t just a healthful holiday snack; they’re also a great way to chill a glass of that room temperature white wine your guests brought for dinner. Unlike ice cubes, grapes won’t dilute the wine as they thaw.

Revive dry, brittle nails by soaking them in lukewarm water for one minute, then in warm olive oil for five minutes. Rub the excess oil into your hands for added hydration.

To catch drips when painting ceilings, poke the handle of your brush or roller through a paper plate. 

Add salt at the end of cooking to give the maximum salty flavour with a minimum of sodium.

To soften brown sugar that has hardened, put a cup of the hardened sugar and a slice of bread in a bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 30 to 60 seconds or until softened.

Buy shoes that don’t cramp your toes. The leading cause of ingrown nails is shoes with tight or inflexible toes, including high heels and steel-toed work boots.

When shopping for knives, keep in mind that high-carbon stainless-steel blades are easier to sharpen than regular stainless steel and keep a better edge. 

Apply your sunscreen and moisturizer beyond your jawline. Not only does the neck need the same sun protection as the face but it also contains fewer oil glands, making it vulnerable to dryness.

Take more photos! Snapshots of cherished moments in time, can flash instant joy.

Photo by Gian Cescon on Unsplash

For pain-free eyebrow tweezing, simply run a washcloth under hot water, squeeze out the excess and press it against your brow to open up the pores.

Photocopy everything in your wallet. If it’s stolen, you’ll know exactly what you need to replace and which cards to cancel.

Shop for footwear at the end of the day. Your feet can swell half a size throughout the day, so waiting until the evening to try on shoes will give you a more realistic and supportive fit.

Opt for a Boston fern instead of an air purifier. One Boston fern can remove 1,863 micrograms of formaldehyde from the air in one hour.

To conceal a deep scratch on a wooden tabletop, melt and drip a wax crayon (in a colour that matches the wood) over the damaged area. Let cool. Scrape off the excess with a dull knife, then wax or polish to match the rest of the surface.

Apple cider vinegar is a great substitute for lemon juice in honey-and lemon mixtures for relief of coughs, colds and sore throats.

Cut a nonslip drawer liner to size and use it to anchor your cutting board while you chop.

Get children involved in cooking as early as possible. Let even the youngest have a job, such as listening for the rice to boil or the timer to buzz.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Don’t allow frozen fruit and vegetables to stand at room temperature after thawing because flavour, appearance and texture start to deteriorate.

Move your medications out of the bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and humidity from hot showers can interfere with the effectiveness of many drugs.

Start your strength training workout with a three-minute warm-up for each body part you want to focus on. Giant arm circles, side lunges, slow trunk twists and knee hugs are all good ways to loosen up.

Reduce the risk of basement leaks by covering window wells with clear plastic canopies and attaching diversion pipes to the bottom of downspouts to direct water away from the house.

Never carpet a bathroom. Never.

Keep track of your headaches. Some are brought on by hormones and may correlate with your menstrual cycle.

Eat protein—such as a poached egg or peanut butter with fruit—for breakfast to reduce hunger and avoid overeating at lunch.

When measuring liquid ingredients, crouch down so your eye is level with the measuring cup for more precision.

Shake a generous amount of baking soda into a pot with baked-on food. Add hot water and dish detergent, then let stand for 15 minutes before washing.

Looking for health information? Steer clear of blogs and chat rooms, where there’s no telling fact from fiction.

Dig coffee grounds into garden beds to add nitrogen to the soil.

Get rid of surface mildew before painting outdoor furniture or it will reappear as brown or black stains. Scrub affected areas with a soft brush, then wash with a mixture of one-part household bleach to three parts warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and let dry before priming.

Don’t use hot water on a mystery stain: It can set protein stains such as milk, egg and blood.

Bring a list of your current medications to every doctor’s appointment. When you’re prescribed something new, ask what it’s for, whether there are any side-effects and how it will react with your existing medications.

Revive limp lettuce and celery by placing them in a bowl of cold water along with a few slices of raw potato. Let sit for a couple of hours.

Don’t cut your lawn too short; extra length encourages deep roots that retain moisture.

If you want to take up jogging, start with a time goal instead of a distance goal. At first, alternate between walking and jogging for the allotted  time, then gradually work your way up to jogging for the duration.

Got aching feet? Wiggle your toes, rotate your ankles and relax your calves by pointing and flexing your toes several times. The calves are often the source when you have pain in the arches of your feet.

Don’t leave your glasses on the dashboard of your car. The heat can warp plastic frames.

Can’t find your lipstick? Petroleum jelly over lip pencil is the next best thing.

Many backyard plants are toxic enough to cause mild stomach upset—or worse—if ingested. All parts of azalea, angel’s trumpet, bittersweet vine, autumn crocus, bleeding heart, daffodil, English ivy, hydrangea, mountain laurel, rhododendron and nicotiana are toxic.

The secret to perfectly barbecued chicken is grilling the pieces over indirect medium heat until juices run clear, then moving them over direct heat to crisp and colour.

Next time it rains, watch how water flows in your yard. Place the thirstiest plants where they’ll get natural run-off from slopes and downspouts.

Photo by Paulina K on Unsplash