When bed sheets wear out, they can be folded in half and pillow cases sewn. Cut them to desired width, stitch two sides together (better to 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 produce car wash cloths.

Best to 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 fully applying it.

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

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

Papering or painting a room? Do it right & 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 a lot of extra work when the space is being painted again.

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

When cleaning windows fill small spray bottles with water, add one teaspoon vinegar, one teaspoon ammonia and spray glass. Newspapers to wipe down glass! 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, 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 salvaged 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 fanciness 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 do twice to conceal it behind the part that shows. Then fold the extra length under. Again it may be necessary to do 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 note the length of my index finger (3 inches), hand (7 inches), and elbow to middle fingertip (16 inches).

Also helpful is the measurement of one's shoe and outstretched arms, fingertip to fingertip.

The Judge kept a belt having every 2 inches marked off on the inside. (Still my favorite method.)

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