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Ingenious ideas from the internet

This should really say “copied by Rick Deines” since it is taken from an email a friend sent to me.

Sharpen a pair of scissors by cutting a sheet of sandpaper.

Keep brown sugar soft by putting a couple of marshmallows in the plastic sack.

To keep shoes off the floor, hang a coat rack low on the wall.

Create a cheap watering can by punching holes in the top of a plastic milk container. And, to make an inexpensive set of leg weights for sitting-down exercises, fill two half-gallon milk containers and tie them together. As your legs get stronger, just add more water to each jug.

You can remove pet hair from furniture and carpets with a squeegee. Or, try a dry sponge.

Flip a toaster on its side to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Put a slice of bread in two openings WITH THE CHEESE SIDE UP (I don’t know about this one).

Since ice cubes made with tap water will be cloudy, try boiling a kettle of water and allowing it to cool a little before pouring it into the ice cube tray. The cubes will be crystal clear.

To keep stuffed peppers from tipping over when cooking, just put them in a large muffin pan and they will stay upright.

To keep potatoes from budding, add an apple to the bag.

To make hard-boiled eggs very easy to peel, add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water.

To check the freshness of eggs, put them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom while stale eggs will rise to the top.

To clean a wooden chopping board, sprinkle a little Kosher salt and rub with half a lemon.

To prevent soil from escaping from the bottom of flower pots, put a large coffee filter in the bottom.

Use rubber bands to help in opening a jar. Put one around the lid and one around the middle to prevent your hands from slipping.

You can also use rubber bands to keep clothes from slipping off coat hangers. Just wrap a rubber band around each end of the hanger.

Store sheet sets inside one of the pillow cases to keep everything together. (First, though, you have to know how to fold a fitted sheet. There was no tip for doing that)

Use a can opener to open one of those annoying blister packs.

Toss a couple of denture cleansers into the toilet at night to clear up stains.

Use cupcake cups to cover drink glasses in the summer to help prevent spilling and keep flies out.

Use a cut potato to easily remove a broken light bulb.

Use frozen grapes to chill white wine without watering it down.

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Rick Deines resides in Marshalltown.

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