Clean dust particles and dirt from your steel or iron sieve by holding it over the fire for some time. After the grime burns to soot and falls off, wash with soap and water. Your sieve will look better and shine like a new.

Instead of scratching off candle wax from an object, hold the object close to a flame or some source of heat for a few seconds till the wax melts away.

Soften hardened shoe polish with a few drops of white spirit.

Rub toothpaste over the fine scratches on glassware. It acts as a slight abrasive and smoothens out the area.

Keep the water in your flower vase odourless for along time put a piece of charcoal in it.

To sharpen a sewing machine needle, stitch through a piece of sand paper.

To remove lipstick stain, apply Vaseline on that portion and wash it with soap after some time.

To remove the tea stains from the vessels, take some water and add 2 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate and boil it. After some time, wash the vessel with detergent.

To remove mud and mud strains from clothes, rub the affected area with potato stock and wash it with water.

Soak your silver articles in tamarind water for 30 minutes and wash off with fresh water, if you want them to shine like new.

To prevent silver fish from attacking your clothes, keep a few 'kalonji' seeds tied in a muslin cloth in your cupboard.

Vinegar is an excellent cleanser for glassware.