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5 ancient housekeeping tips
Katie Adema, February
2016
While everyone obviously has a different grandma, there is a trait that seems to be universal to them all – they have secret tricks for every job around the house, from baking a mouth-watering apple pie or making washing, ironing and sorting easier and quicker, to cleaning the house from top to bottom without touching modern commercial products.
So how do they do it? Apart from using their grandma magic, the trick is keeping things old fashioned and simple.
Get your vinegar, baking soda and borax at the ready!
Streak free glass cleaner
This one is particularly useful for anyone with small children – those little sticky fingers leave marks everywhere! For a quick and easy solution that doesn’t have the smell or chemical residue of a commercial spray, simply mix together ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of corn-starch and 2 cups of warm water. Shake well to dissolve corn-starch, spray on windows and wipe dry with a cloth or paper towel. Keep this solution handy and even already in a spray bottle to quickly remove marks whenever they appear.Simple silver polish
This one is so easy you will never forgive yourself for purchasing and using commercial silver polishes. If your cutlery is looking a little smudgy, old, or tarnished, whip out some white toothpaste (not a gel), apply to the surface of the silverware and scrub gently with an old soft bristled toothbrush. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly and dry with a clean, soft cloth – no one needs to taste toothpaste with their dinner! This trick will have your cutlery looking as good as new.