Tipnut's General Household Reference: Advice / Tips / Help
The art of homemaking has been one interest held in common by women past and present. We all want clean, efficiently run homes to shelter and nurture our families in.
Though most of us no longer steps out in the morning to sweep the front stoop and sidewalk, or pulls out the flour bin once the children are off to school to get the bread dough started, something within each of us desires to keep our homes and surroundings running smoothly.
Some of us live in magnificent surroundings, others more humble. Regardless of the property and value of contents, it's actually cleanliness and order that sweetens the environs. At one time a home in disarray and packed with too much stuff was considered a reflection of a disordered soul.
This website as a whole has catalogued a huge assortment of helpful information and notes of interest to today's homemaker. This particular category archives those that pertain to general housekeeping issues and neat-to-know information. There are some interesting takes from the past century, but most apply to contemporary times and issues...many quite creative and useful.
Topics
In This Archive
- Frugal Living
- General
- Kitchen Tips
- Organization
My top pick for wireless headphones, I use these to listen to music & catch up on podcasts while cleaning the house...they are comfy & so very affordable too!
It took me a long while, but I finally found it! This is the cookbook holder that beats all the rest. Protects pages, easy to wipe clean and folds down for tight storage.
Household Notes
Traditional Housewarming Gifts (& What They Symbolize)
Here are a handful of items that are traditionally given to new homeowners with each holding their own special meaning. I’ve done some research and some say they are rooted in Jewish custom, others say Italian, German, Russian. I think…Old Wives’ Tales For Homemakers
This collection is a little different than my regular lists of vintage tips as some are superstitious (though there are practical nuggets here too). It’s hard to say how old any of them are, how they came about or why…Conquering Silverfish: Pest Maintenance You Can Do
Silverfish are a common pest that feast on things like wallpaper glue, bookbinding, plaster, paper, drywall, carpet and other materials so although your home is unlikely to suffer extensive structural damage, common household items can be destroyed if these critters…Mice Begone! Homemade Repellents & Baits
If you’ve spotted mice or their droppings inside and around your home, you’ll need to get rid of them asap before they multiply and do damage to the structure.
They can also carry disease or be infested with fleas and…Fighting & Controlling Those Pesky Flies
From the first warm weather, every homeowner takes up arms against this most persistent form of pest life. Since houseflies do not bite, many people merely worry about them from the point of view of annoyance. However, it’s important to…50 Practical Uses For Baking Soda
You’ll often find baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda or bicarb) a frequent ingredient required in many recipes, but here are 50 ways you can use it to make the job easier and save time when cleaning and…12 Quick Tips For The Home: Tipnut’s Mailbag
Here is the latest batch of helpful quick tips sent in by Tipnut readers:
Keep bread fresh by sticking a piece of celery in the bread bag before closing. (Tracey)
Use wooden pants hangers to hang rugs on the clothesline,…Homemade Ant Killers: Recipes & Tips
When trying to get rid of ants, it’s helpful to first have a basic understanding how they live and thrive:
They live in colonies and one class within the colony is the worker/gatherer/forager. Workers make up approximately 10% of the…Get Rid Of Wasps: Traps & Tips
If you’ve ever been stung by a wasp, you know they live up to their reputation of being aggressive and having painful stings. When you regularly spot them in your yard, chances are there’s a nest on your property or…A Nice Mix Of Handy Hints From Nearly A Century Ago
These tips come from an old booklet published sometime in the 1930’s and provide general advice and tips for running the home.
The Timeless Wisdom collection is a regular feature on Tipnut where we take a look back at the…Oldies But Goodies: 25 Vintage Household Tips
These notes are a collection I’ve gathered from a variety of vintage books and magazines from the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The Timeless Wisdom collection is a regular feature on Tipnut and I like to include tips that are still useful…ABC’s Of Decorating: Fundamentals & Rules
The best way to begin home planning is to forget all the talk about changes in architecture, equipment, materials, and design. No matter what improvements come about in structure, design, or utility, a lounge chair will still be a lounge…Brighten Rugs With Ammonia & More Tips From The Past
Tipnut’s collection of timeless wisdom is back! These are household tips I have collected from vintage magazines and articles dating back to the 1940’s and 1950’s, it’s an occasional feature I do here on Tipnut. Each of the tips are…Dozens Of Helpful Notes & Advice From The 1950’s
I’ve collected these from vintage magazines and articles from the 1940s and 1950s, some are old stand-bys but there are a bunch of interesting & new (to me) tips too. Enjoy!
A button sewn to the corner of the dish…
Freshen Up Wicker Baskets: Have a bunch of wicker baskets that are old and tired looking? Lightly wash them then dry thoroughly. Once dried, give them a fresh new look with a coat or two of spray paint. Perfect use…Hiding Valuables – Sneakier Uses For Everyday Things
When you think of sneaky you usually think of something that is secret or hidden from you. Actually, the most common sneaky-use application is hiding your valuable belongings from others.
Hollowed-out candle
Figurine
Tissue container
Trash container base
Video or…How To Train A Dog To Potty In One Spot
Choosing one area in the yard for your dog to use for potty breaks helps keep the rest of the yard nice and green, clean for kiddos to run and play in and your garden area urine free.
Here are…How To Get Rid of Moths: Bugs-Be-Gone
Mothballs are made from paradichlorobenzene and can cause all kinds of health problems including damage to liver and kidneys. They’re especially hazardous to children if swallowed–and they don’t smell all that good either.
Here are a few items you can…Kitchen Tips
25 KitchenAid Stand Mixer Troubleshooting Helpers
I love my KitchenAid and although I haven’t had any problems with it yet (knock on wood), I decided to put together a page full of handy hints and tricks that I’ve bookmarked from around the web so I have…The Nifty Wooden Spoon & A Little TLC
This handy gadget can be found in nearly every kitchen but did you know it can thrive for years with a little TLC? My utensil crock is always stuffed with a few and I couldn’t do without them, they are…Ready At A Moment’s Notice: Double Boiler In A Pinch
Are you trying a new recipe, got halfway through it and realize that it requires the use of a double boiler…but don’t have one tucked away in your cupboards?
Here’s a simple substitute that you can whip together at a…7 Ways To Loosen A Jar Lid That’s Stuck Tight
Most times we can open jars of food with little to no problem, a bit of pressure is applied as we’re twisting and then “pop”, the seal is broken and the lid comes off with ease. Occasionally though it just…Important First Step: Safely Sterilizing Jars For Preserves
Home canning has been practiced for generations since it’s a great way to preserve the harvest from your garden or take advantage of the bounty of in-season produce from your local markets. It may be time consuming to do, but…50+ Quick Tips For The Kitchen
Strawberries: Wash freshly picked strawberries & then take a wide plastic straw and insert it at the bottom of a strawberry–then push the stem out. This was previously published as a feature on Tipnut for Ask Your Neighbor – Helpful…How To Properly Measure Food Ingredients
There’s a trick to measuring syrup, honey or molasses to make sure you get all of it out of the cup or spoon.
Grease the vessel thoroughly with butter, using a pastry brush. Pour off excess butter and measure the…Common Kitchen Questions & Their Answers
Here’s a list of random questions and their answers pertaining to the kitchen (cooking, baking, ingredients, etc.).
A few already have full articles of tips on the subject here on Tipnut but it’s a nice way to review these little…
An egg slicer will make uniform slices of more than just hard boiled eggs: You can slice mushrooms, soft fruits (such as strawberries, kiwis, bananas), olives, deli cheeses and more. Great for garnishes too!
A pizza cutter will slice everything…Cool Hack: Crush Garlic With A Rock & More
Here’s something neat sent in by Janet that is totally new to me and I think it’s fantastic:
Here’s a tip for crushing garlic that once you try it, you’ll never go back to the method you are now using…60+ Cookbook Notes From The 1930’s to 1960’s
Here is a collection of notes I’ve gathered from a variety of vintage books, cookbooks and magazines from the 1930’s to 1960’s. Many of them are from women who would send them in to share with each other, they were…Everything You Want To Know About Herbs & Spices
Here are a few notes to help figure out whether or not your herbs and spices are stale or still good to use. I also added some DIY spice rack projects to the page and a few recipes for making…
Save clean carrot scrapings, celery leaves, outer onion layers, vegetable peels and freeze them in a ziploc bag. When you have a soup bone or chicken carcass, throw everything in a pot to make a lovely homemade soup stock.
Although…More Kitchen Tip Quickies: {From Readers & Bloggers}
Here’s a mix of handy kitchen tips from Tipnut, other bloggers and from readers. Each of these were selected because of their usefulness and I’ve included the name of the person who submitted them beside each tip (thank you!).
Whole…18 Easy Kitchen Organizing Ideas
Stash plastic bags in empty paper towel tubes, hanging bag holders or even fold them so they take up less room yet still convenient to grab and go. Find plenty of projects on this page.
A crock can be used…Charming Vintage Kitchen Prayers, Poems & Stories
These sweet, charming prayers, simple stories and old-timer words of wisdom were frequently found in old community cookbooks and vintage homemaking magazines. They were clipped and pasted into recipe scrapbooks, done in cross stitch to be framed and hung on…Notes For Keeping Recipes Sorted & Accessible
Whether or not you’re a serious recipe collector and have hundreds of paper slips and cards to deal with, or just a few dozen, organizing them in an efficient manner can be challenging.
You have a few goals to accomplish,…Fragrant Home: 15 Simmering Pot Recipes
Simmering potpourri is a lovely way to make your home smell warm and inviting, especially during the holiday season when you use fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves.
How It Works: Just fill a pot with water, add your favorite…Top 10 In This Category
- 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes
- 16 Thrifty Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes
- Homemade Ant Killers: Recipes & Tips
- Get Rid Of Wasps: Traps & Tips
- 20 Things You Can Use Twice Before Tossing
- Making A Coupon Organizer System To Save Money
- 25 KitchenAid Stand Mixer Troubleshooting Helpers
- Fabric Softener Recipes & Reusable Dryer Sheets
- Mice Begone! Homemade Repellents & Baits
- How To Train A Dog To Potty In One Spot
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.
Frugal Living
Household Budget Worksheets & Forms Found On The ‘Net
Ready to take control of your expenses and monthly budget? Here are a few freebies that I’ve handpicked from around the net. You’ll find worksheets in both Excel and .doc format though they’re mainly pdf printables. Several of these are…20 Tips For Saving & Trimming Your Grocery Budget
Although we all need food and shop for groceries regularly, the food budget is one of the first (and easiest) places to pinch the pennies when needed.
With rising food costs, clever marketing and smaller packaging, it can get a…Making Your Own Cotton Flannel Feminine Pads
If you’re into the environment and saving money, this is a great tip–imagine never having to buy disposable menstrual pads again!
Even though I don’t faithfully use them, I did sew a large stack for myself (with a complimentary drawstring…Budget Wall Décor: Frame Lovely Pictures From Books
With a sharp razor blade or exacto knife, you can fill piles of picture frames cheaply and easily with just one picture book!
Because the collection of illustrations are from one book, they’re easy to mix and match as you…11 Ways To Reuse Newspaper Around The House
Use sheets of newspaper to wash your windows, glass table tops and mirrors. Just spray on window cleaner then wipe clean with a sheet of newspaper.
Use in messy cleanup jobs like cleaning the oven, use sheets of crumpled newspaper…Tips For Stretching & Using Those Last Bits of Food
Here are several quick tricks for stretching out and using the last little bit of a food item instead of tossing the extras/scraps out.
This is not only less wasteful–it saves cash and many times adds flavor or enhances the…20 Things You Can Use Twice Before Tossing
Here’s a previously published list of ideas that has collected lots of tips from readers over time, did we miss any? Please add yours!
Dry Cleaning Bags: Use to pack suits, dresses and fine clothing when traveling, this will help…Cashing Out Your Junk: Garage Sale Tips For Success
I’ve managed several garage sales (or yard sales) over the past 10 to 15 years, both for our own household goods as well as for family and friends. I love operating them, but they are a lot of work and…Making A Coupon Organizer System To Save Money
One of the most frugal, money-saving things you can do is to take advantage of the free coupons you have at your disposal. You’ll never redeem each and every one that comes your way, but by keeping them sorted and…Sharpen Your Frugal Senses: Keep A Wish List
Is there a book you want to buy? A DVD set? Some designer cookie cutters? Or is your kitchen stove a bit dated and you’d love to buy a new one?
Here’s a habit that helps my family keep the…Once A Month Cooking: Helpful Notes & Resources
This is something I’d LOVE to develop more in our household, and some would say I’m a failure at it since I’ve been flirting with the concept for about six years now without fully participating on a regular basis–but I…Stockpiling Household Supplies When They Are On Sale
Every time you run to the store for that one little thing you’re out of, don’t you always come out with a few more things you didn’t plan on picking up?
Here are some basic supplies to stockpile that I’ve…10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes
Here is a nice stack of different recipes for making homemade laundry detergent that I’ve collected over the years. Do they work? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them. At the time I was using them, we had a relative…Fabric Softener Recipes & Reusable Dryer Sheets
Here are several quick tips for cutting costs on fabric softeners and making your own dryer sheets, each point is a separate tip. You’ll also find a few recipes and projects to try (listed at the bottom of the page).…16 Thrifty Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes
[New! Updated with recipes shared by readers] Have you run out of dishwashing detergent and you’re in a pinch to run a load until you can get to the store and buy some more? Or are you looking to whip…Organization
DIY Holiday Storage Solutions: {Projects & Tips}
It’s a lot of fun decorating for the holidays but considering we only use the decorations, wrapping paper, Christmas lights, etc., once a year…that’s a lot of gear to pack and store away. Here are a few tips and ideas…How To Fold Towels, Sheets & More: {Handy Reference}
If you’re wondering how to fold items such as fitted sheets, t-shirts, towels and even socks, here’s a quick reference sheet I’ve put together to help you get the job done. You’ll find over a dozen items listed so far…Inspiration & Help: Ultimate Sewing & Craft Rooms
I’ve moved some previously featured projects to this page as well as added a few new goodies. Many of these ideas for organizing craft & sewing supplies (and the rooms that contain them) are quite clever and make the most…Nifty Meal Planners To Make (or Print)
Printable: A fun weekly planner (blank) that you can print and use as a meal planner. Each day of the week has its own pot or pan with enough white space to write in the day’s meal. Tip: frame this…Beware Of Junk Bunkers: For Packrats Only
I know many of you are familiar with Don Aslett’s books about sorting, decluttering & cleaning–and I’m thrilled to be able to introduce his advice to Tipnut readers who have yet to discover his common sense (and often humorous) approach…Handy Storage Gear Items To Make For The Home
Here’s a nice collection of free patterns and tutorials for making organizers and storage solutions for the home. Some have been moved here from previous features but there’s a bunch of new stuff too, enjoy!
Cereal Box Storage Bins: This…12 Simple Ways To Smooth Out Your Mornings
I think it’s true that our mornings set the tone for the day ahead, if you have a rushed and chaotic start–that seems to cling to you for at least the first few hours of the morning.
Here are a…Get Back On Track: Mastering A Messy Home
Living a clutter free and bare-bones minimized possessions lifestyle would be great and easy to manage in single or adult couple dwellings–but here are some practical tips for mess-free family sized living:
Regularly Junk Hunt: Race through the house and…Household Inbox System For Bills & Home Management
There are all kinds of tools, software and gadgets available to help remind you about your household’s pending items and bills that are due, but here’s a simple system I use that keeps things running smoothly.
Setup
Household Inbox: One…Putting Old Biscuit Tins To Good Use
It seems this time of year I’m swimming in biscuit tins, but I’m not complaining since they’re such great storage tools! Plus the crafts you can make with them are gorgeous and not that difficult to manage–you can go as…Household Notebook Inspiration, Resources & Ideas
With a binder or planner, some paper and a printer–you’ve got all you need to setup a complete household management hot spot: your Household Organizer (aka Household Notebook, Journal, or Planner).
These are a great tool to keep your routine…
This article was published in the Kitchen-Klatter Magazine, September, 1952.
IT’S TIME TO START AN ICE BOX
By Doris Harlan Jones
This morning I made a frilly, organdy apron to put in my ICE box. Does this seem to you…
from Kitchen-Klatter Magazine, January, 1952:
LET’S USE OUR MINUTES
By Mildred Cathcart
A New Year is a good time to begin doing something that you may have wanted to do for many, many months. Perhaps you have wanted to piece…
Apothecaries:
1 scruple = 20 grains
1 dram = 3 scruples
1 ounce = 8 drams
1 pound = 12 ounces
Dry Measure:
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
2 gallons = 1 peck
4 pecks = 1 bushel
Liquid Measure
4 gills = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
63 gallons = 1 hogshead
2 hogsheads = 1 pipe or butt
2 pipes = 1 tun
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
Square Measure:
1 square foot = 144 inches
1 square yard = 9 square feet
1 square rod = 30 1/4 square yards = 272 1/4 square feet
1 acre = 160 square rods = 43,560 square feet
1 square mile = 640 acres = 102,400 square rods
1 square rod = 625 square links
1 square chain = 16 square rods
1 acre = 10 square chains
Children In The Home (from 1950's source)
Always greet the members of your family when you enter and always bid them goodbye when you leave.
Always rise to a standing position when visitors enter, and greet them after your elders.
Never address a visitor until he has started the conversation unless he is a person of your own age or younger.
Never interrupt a conversation. Wait until the party talking has finished.
Always rise when your visitor or your elders stand.
Never let your mother or your father bring you a chair or get one for themselves. Wait on them instead of being waited on.
If you leave or cross the room you should say "Excuse me."
If a visitor should say, "I am glad to have seen you," you should say, "Thank you."
Never run up and down the stairs or across the room.
Talk in a low, even voice. It denotes refinement.
Always give way to the younger child. It is your duty to look after them instead of fretting them.
Never retire without bidding the members of your family good night.
Follow these suggestions and you will assist in making the members of your family happy as well as in benefiting them in many other ways.
No calendar on hand? Here's an easy way to determine which months have 31 days & which have 30:
Count the months on your knuckles & the grooves between your knuckles. Leave out your thumb knuckle.
Every month that lands on a knuckle is 31 days, every month that lands on a groove between them is 30 days (or 28 for February).
Starting with your forefinger's knuckle:
1st knuckle: Jan (31 days)
Groove: Feb (28 or 30 days)
2nd: March (31 days)
Groove: April (30 days)
3rd: May (31 days)
Groove: June (30 days)
4th: July (31 days)
Returning to first knuckle (the forefinger, remember--skip the thumb)
1st Knuckle: August (31 days)
Groove: September (30 days)
2nd: October (31 days)
Groove: November (30 days)
3rd: December (31 days)
Instead of moving right to left by starting with your forefinger, you could also start with your pinkie's knuckle and move left to right. Still works out the same.
Cheat Sheet: Grammar In Rhyme
Three little words you often see,
Are articles - a, an, and the.
A Noun's the name of any thing,
As school, or garden, hoop, or swing,
Adjectives tell the kind of Noun,
As great, small, pretty, white, or brown.
Instead of Nouns the Pronouns stand-
Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.
Verbs tell of something to be done-
To read, count, sing, laugh, jump, or run.
How things are done, the adverbs tell,
As slowly, quickly, ill, or well.
Conjunctions join the words together-
As men and women, wind or weather.
The Preposition stands before
A Noun, as in, or through a door.
The Interjection shows surprise,
As oh! how pretty-ah! how wise.
The whole are called Nine Parts of Speech,
Which reading, writing, speaking, teach.
Source: Dr. Chase's Recipes, 1863