BOLTS – To loosen a rusted bolt, apply a few drops of household ammonia.
BOTTLE TOPS – If a bottle top is firmly stuck and you can` t unscrew it by holding it with a cloth; try gripping it with sandpaper.
CORKS – If a cork swells and is too big for its bottle, soak it for a few minutes in boiling water. It will then be soft enough to squeeze to the required size.
CURTAIN RODS – Rub silicon polish on metal curtain rods to make the runners move more freely.
DOORS – If a door sticks, rub some chalk down the edge where it meets the frame. Close it, and the chalk will leave the mark on the frame showing where the door is sticking. It can then be sanded or planed.
SASH WINDOWS – Rub sashes and runners occasionally with soap or a white wax candle; the window will move more easily and the sashes will last twice as long.
LIDS – When a metal lid is hard to remove from a glass jar, hold it under a hot tap. The metal lid will expand faster than the glass, and be easy to take off. Or release the vacuum by inserting a tough spoon handle or similar object under the rim and pulling away from the jar. Or try nut crackers.
GLASSES – If glasses get stuck together, pour cold water into the top one and stand the bottom one – in hot water. After a minute or two they should come apart easily.
KETCHUP – If hand cream, scouring cream, ketchup, etc refuses to flow out of the bottle when it is first opened, insert a drinking straw to insert air.
RINGS – If a ring gets stuck on your finger, thread one end of a piece of strong fine thread between the ring and your finger and wind it several times round the finger as far as the first joint. Take the ring end and unwind it slowly upwards, using it as a lever to move the ring. Dental floss, hair oil or soap can also be used to pull it off or otherwise to cut it off is last choice. DRAWERS – Rub a candle along the runners to ease awkward drawers. Petroleum jelly is also effective for this purpose.
STOPPERS – If a glass stopper is stuck, pour a little vegetable oil on it, hold the bottle near heat and tap lightly all round the stopper.
IRON – If your iron is not running smoothly, pour some salt on a newspaper and press iron hot on it for few seconds. Or wrap a piece of soap in some cotton material and rub the iron several times over this while hot.