INSECT REPELLENT

2 oz. vegetable oil or vodka
1/4 tsp each citronella and eucalyptus essential oils
1/8 tsp each pennyroyal, cedar and rose geranium essential oil,

Combine ingredients and apply mixture directly to all exposed skin. Keep oil away from eyes and mouth – take care not to rub your eyes right after applying the repellent with you fingers

WALLPAPER

Many spots can be removed from wallpaper by rubbing gently with an art gum eraser or a piece of stale bread.

Remove blood stains from wallpaper by mixing cornflower to a paste with cold water. Spread on stain, leave to dry and brush off.

To remove old wallpaper from walls, mix vinegar with warm water and apply generously with a paint roller. Leave to soak in well before removing paper.

SNAILS

Snails won’t damage seedlings or young plants if you sprinkle sawdust around them; the snails don’t like the sawdust because it clings to them, and this method is harmless to pets and children.

SILVER CLEANER

For silver cutlery, lay a sheet of aluminum foil in a pan, cover with a few inches of water, and add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Bring to the boil, drop in the cutlery, simmer for five minutes, then remove and rinse.

For silver jewelry, shred aluminum foil until you have enough to half-fill a jar. Add a teaspoon of salt and fill with water. Drop in Jewelry, cover the jar and leave for five minutes, then remove and rinse the jewelry.

MIRRORS

To prevent them fogging up, rub the mirror all over with the edge of a completely dry cake of toilet soap (not the transparent kind). Polish off with a dry cloth. The mirrors will sparkle and not steam up.

Another anti-steaming idea; moisten a cloth with glycerin and rub over the mirror.

To revive old mirrors, clean with weak tea (no milk and sugar, the mirror doesn’t take it)

Polish mirrors with old nylon pantyhose; they give a good shine and leave no lint.

MICE

Sprinkle peppermint or clove oil in front of mouse hole and in cupboards.

If you’re not sure where the mouse hole is, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda, talcum powder or similar powdery substance around suspect cupboards, skirting boards and openings. The mice will leave tracks in the powder and you’ll be able to tell where they live.

my favorite solution… get a cat!

MATTRESSES

For a musty-smelling mattress, freshen with a few drops of tea-tree oil in a liter of water. Sponge this liquid over the mattress and leave in the fresh air to dry.

Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over the mattress and base, leave to dry. Vacuum the powder off the next day.