Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg
Do you ever feel as though you are running out of time—that you wish you could hold back the hands of your clocks to give yourself an extra eight hours in your day? Do you sometimes feel that you are overusing your hands, thinking there has to be a better way to do one thing or another in your home? Well, you are in good company, as Henry David Thoreau is quoted as saying, “I do not wish to be any more busy with my hands than is necessary.”
The poor English notwithstanding, many of us are looking for alternate ways to do things around the house, frankly, so that we can find more time for R & R. This is especially true during this time of the year.
Here are some ideas to help you not to be any more busy with your hands:
Cauliflower Caper
The unruly cauliflower is a “bear” to cut up without getting those little cauliflower pieces all over the kitchen counter. And trying to wipe the pieces away is difficult, because, for some reason, these pieces have turned into little pieces of glue that will not budge! But here is an answer to this little dilemma:
Place the cauliflower on a cutting board next to your kitchen sink. Line the kitchen sink with a large plastic bag. Cut the cauliflower into large pieces, all the while pushing the little pieces into the plastic liner. When complete, just fold up the plastic liner, and voilà!
Not a Shred of Doubt
When shredding a chunk of wrapped cheese, cut the cheese while it is still in its plastic bag. Keep the cheese wrapped and shred the cheese while using the plastic to hold onto the cheese, thereby protecting your fingers and not getting the cheese soiled, which encourages mold to grow on the cheese.
A Fly Really in the Solution
Make a concoction of apple cider vinegar and honey (or sugar) and also add a few drops of dish soap. Ready the lid of a mason jar by poking a few holes into the flat part of the lid. Pour the liquid into a mason jar and let it sit.
Everything Will Pan Out
To release grease in soiled pots and pans, drop used tea bags with some water into the receptacles. The tannic acid will make scrubbing easier.
Less Dilution Is the Solution
To reduce the watering down of drinks, use frozen grapes in place of ice cubes.
Now This Is Key!
Use colored nail polish to identify your house keys.
Root Out Root Rot
To prevent plant root rot, cut up sponges and place them into the bottom of the plant pot. This will create air space and will help retain moisture.
Out Weed Out!
Use boiling water with some salt to get rid of unwanted weeds. (Actually, are any weeds really wanted?)
A Debriefing for Debris
Combine seltzer (without lemon) and some dish soap and soak gold jewelry in the liquid. The debris will be gone in five minutes.
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” —William Penn