Get ready to fight stinky humidifiers, streaks in your tights, tough meat and other daily home battles. Reader’s Digest’s editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello stopped by Studio 1A to show off 6 game-changing DIYs from the book "Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things" that can be done with what you already have around the house.
Freeze fresh herbs in ice cube trays.
Winter is quickly approaching and that means fewer fresh herbs will be in season. Take any fresh herbs you would like to keep around and chop it up, then place it in ice cube trays with a little bit of water and freeze. When you're ready to use the herbs, simply defrost the cube and you're ready to go.
Keep your boots in shape.
Keep your boots from flopping over in the closet and getting wrinkled by placing a clean, empty 1-liter bottle in each boot. For extra tautness, add a few old socks into the bottles and wrap them in towels.
Reduce runs in tights.
It’s just about time to pull out the tights for those cooler temperatures, and that means the battle to keep pantyhose runs at bay is about to begin. Steer clear of those streaks in your hose by spraying hairspray on the toes of a new pair before putting them on. The hairspray will strengthen the threads, making them last longer.
Deodorize a humidifier.
Winter brings with it dry air, which means it’s time to pull that modifier down from the attic. If it smells a little funky after being in storage, go ahead and pour 3-4 teaspoons of lemon juice into the water. It will not only remove the odor, but will replace it with a fresh lemon smell. Repeat every couple of weeks to keep the odor from returning.
Preserve your kids’ art and school work.
Is your refrigerator becoming overrun with those sweet — yet clutter some — pieces of your kid’s artwork from school? No need to toss those masterpieces. Simple roll up each one and place it inside a used paper towel tube. Label the outside with your child’s name for easy storage and safeguarding.
Tenderize tough meat with beer.
One easy way to make tough cuts of meat usable for roasts or stews is by using beer. Simply pour a can over the meat and let it soak for an hour before cooking. The enzymes in the beer tenderizes the meat, so you'll have it ready to go for whatever dish you're whipping up.