When your bed sheets wear out, they can be folded in half and used to make pillow cases. Cut them to desired width, stitch two sides together and use the original hems.

Keep sparkle on the metal trim of handbags, metal compacts, brass buttons, silver earrings, belt buckles and any other metal objects that are difficult to spray with clear nail polish or a tarnish preventive.

Cut open old socks then sew together to make car wash cloths.

Test a stain remover first on a section under the hem of the garment to find out if it will affect the color of the fabric before using it.

Wear white cotton gloves sprayed with furniture polish to do your dusting.

Paint the steps of your stepladder and sprinkle clean sand on the paint before it dries, it will give the steps a non-skid surface.

When papering or painting a room, make a notation of the amount of material needed to do the job, and place the notation under the main light switch in that room. It won't get lost and it will save yourself a lot of extra work when the room is being painted again.

Save those slivers of toilet soap that are usually thrown away, save them until you have a handful. Soak them in water until they are soft then squeeze them together forming a large bar shaped mass. Let harden and you have an extra bar of bath soap in colors too.

When cleaning windows use one teaspoon vinegar, one teaspoon ammonia and fill small spray bottles with water, use newspapers to wipe windows, makes them shine.

For books that got damp or are musty, sprinkle baking soda on the pages and allow time to air out. If there's mildew on the paper you can rub the baking soda into the spots and lay out to bleach in the sun.

Use a clean paint brush to dust pleated lamp shades.

When wheel grease gets on children's clothes, rub lard on it to remove grease stains.

Remove stains in vases by filling with tea leaves and vinegar, shake or swoosh until stain disappears.

Coating the top of keys with different colors of nail polish will help to identify them quickly.

Make mittens from old towels and use to dust blinds.

How To Fold A Pocket Handkerchief:

Nothing is quite so essential to giving a man that well-turned-out appearance as a crisply four-folded white handkerchief tucked into his breast pocket.The same fancy fold comes in handy many times in women's dress as well, to add a touch of white or other color.

Here's how it's done:

Fold handkerchief diagonally forming a triangle with the base toward you. First corner is at left, as shown.

Bring top part of corner No. 2 down and lay it beside No. 1.

Bring corner No. 3 over and lay it beside No. 2.

Bring corner No. 2a (the one remaining) down and lay it beside No. 3.

Fold the extra part left after the last fold to the underneath. It may be necessary to fold twice to conceal it behind the part that shows. Then fold the extra length under. Again it may be necessary to fold twice.

Tuck the handkerchief with points up neatly into pocket. Source: The WorkBasket, 1955

Makeshift Measurers: It seems I find myself forever in need of a measuring stick...

I finally learned to measure the length of my index finger (3 inches), hand (7 inches), and elbow to middle fingertip (16 inches).

Also helpful is the measurement of your shoe and your outstretched arms, fingertip to fingertip.

The Judge kept a belt with every 2 inches marked off on the inside. (Still my favorite way to measure.)

A quarter is 1 inch in diameter.

A penny is 3/4 inch.

Source: Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping: Timeless Wisdom & Practical Advice / Miriam Lukken