If you press your index finger between your eyebrows right above your nose, it will stop you from sneezing.
Kathryn Westoll told me this today at the Fringe Festival Office, because I sneeze a lot there.
The easiest way to clean jars that have a strong odor or stains is to use half a tab of denture cleaner. Leave it to sit for fifteen minutes, then wash as usual. Denture cleaner has an agitator in it.
After washing spinach (or any other leafy green vegetable), press the leaves gently but firmly between two plates to get all the water out. This helps prevent the spinach from making your cooking soggy, especially when making pies and other pastry dishes.
This tip comes courtesy of my friend Chris, who also has firm opinions on the cut angle of flowers, and who makes a mean Dark and Stormy.
To deodorize boots, follow these steps:
1. Fill two shot glasses with baking soda, and place one inside each boot.
2. Cover the tops of the boots with plastic wrap, creating a loose seal.
3. Leave to sit overnight.
In the morning, your boots should smell fresh and clean. You can reuse the baking soda until it begins to take on the same odour.
If you should suffer the misfortune of coming into contact with incorrectly disposed-of gum and it becomes stuck to your person (say the top of a brand-new Rocket Dog black felt flat, JUST FOR EXAMPLE), apply a little ice to the gum before you try to remove it. The ice will cause the gum to set and make it stiff, making it easier to remove.
When you are chewing gum, there are only two places to dispose of it properly: the trash can, or your digestive system.
If you invest in one item of clothing, make it shoes. Good shoes, with care, will last you many years instead of breaking down in a matter of months like crappy ones, and are also better for your posture and your physical health. Also, crappy shoes just look crappy.
When storing your winter boots, stick an old, rolled-up magazine in the legs. It will help your boots keep their shape.
For a first date, never wear something you wouldn’t wear on a job interview, assuming said interview is not at a strip club.
