smart HOME solutions

Quick tips that save time and money

SOS for missing corkscrew

You can’t wait to open a bottle of wine for the holiday, but your corkscrew is MIA. The in-a-pinch save: Grab a spare key and insert it into the cork at a 45-degree angle. Then begin twisting the cork up as you push down with the key. (Note: Be careful, as a weak key could break.) This should give you enough leverage to pop the cork out so you can enjoy your vino in no time!

How do you salvage a scorched pot?

Accidentally leave a pot on the stove too long? Follow these reader tips to remove the burnt layer of food

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Fill your pot with equal parts vinegar and water and 2 Tbs. of baking soda, says Rose Hanson. The mix’s fizzy reaction will lift the stuck-on mess.

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Use a dish towel to rub crushed eggshells against the burned area, says Tina Hayes. The shells act as an abrasive, while the egg-white remnants absorb loose food particles.

No more rotten food

“After Thanksgiving, my fridge becomes packed with leftovers. But with the appliance being so deep, items in back easily get forgotten about and end up going bad. That’s why I now put a lazy Susan on the shelf before adding leftovers. With just a quick spin, I can easily see what we have so nothing goes uneaten!” —Stella May, Barton, VT

Stop sweaters from shedding fibers