If the curd to be used for raita has turned too sour,just hang it in a muslin cloth till all the water drains out.  Now mix in enough milk till the required required consistency is reached.  The sour curd will taste as good as fresh.

Prevent curd-rice from turning sour during summer by adding fresh curd to the cooked rice along with salt.  Cook the curd-rice in a pressure cooker for one whistle>  Add seasoning.  This curd-rice will not turn sour for two days even if kept without refrigeration.

Always store small scissors with a cork pressed over the tips toprevent injury to your hands and damage to other items. 

Soiled shirt collars will be shining white if you soak them in cold water for a while and apply sugar on the area before washing as usual.

Pressure cooker gaskets will last longer if stored in the deep freezer for an hour once a fortnight.

Improve the flavour of boiled cabbage by adding ginger.

To convert an ordinary ‘tawa’ into a little salt and mustard powder witha a slice of onion or potato dipped in a little hot oil.

Oily utensils will be sparkling clean if you first clean them with a little curd to remove the greasy layer of oil – then wash them with any ordinary, washing powder.  This way, there is no need to mix any detergent with the washing powder.

To boil a cracked egg, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water.

Leather suitcases get a beautiful shine if rubbed with a soft rag dipped in lemon juice.

Keep termites away from your cupboard by fitting a 40 or 60-w3att bulb inside the damp cupboard and leaving it on through the night every day for 15 days.

To avoid garlic skin from sticking to your hands while peeling it, soak the gasrlic flakes in a cupful of water for five minutes before peeling.

A manure of neem leaves will keep pests from damaging your plants.

For making soft puris and chapatis, add a mashed boiled potato while mixing the dough.

Grind a lemon alongwith seeds and rind to a paste.  Add a little salt.  This makes an effective cure for diarrhoea.

Give your faded black clothes that new look by soaking them in a solution of one teaspoon of ‘shikakai’ powder and one teaspoon of ‘reetha’ powder for atleast two hours.

Collect warm soapy water from the washing machine to wash dusters, kitchen napkins and other items which you would not have otherwise placed in the machine with your clothes.  The subsequent flowing water can be used for rinsing.  This way you can save on water, soap and electricity.

Your jeans will not fade if you wash them with half a bucket of water to which four tablespoons of vinegar has been added.

Make slip covers for your sais from plastic bags.  Make a hole in the centre at the bottom of the bag.  Slip your hanger with the sari through this hole and hang.

To sharpen a blunt knife, rub the tip with salt cautiously.

If you wish to use the leftover rice of the previous day and want the rice

to taste as fresh as ever, then add the leftover rice to the new rice, when the new rice is semi-cooked.  Boil for sometime and then strain off the excess water.

The easiest and fastest way to slice an icecream brick is to cut it into slices with a bread knife without removing the paper cover.  The paper comes off easily and it avoids wastage.

Buy fruit in season and jar or can for use in winter.  Buy it before it is ripe and ripen at home in a bowl or bag.

Store popcorn in the freezer.  It eliminates excess unpopped kernels and stays fresh.

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