26 simple tricks to make you look smart

Measure Anytime, Anywhere

If you're caught without a ruler, improvise with a dollar bill: It's about 6 1/8 inches long.

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Thread a Needle

Spritz thread ends with hairspray to stiffen them for easier needle-threading.

Pick Up Pins

Keep a small magnet in your sewing basket; it's handy for rounding up wayward pins and dropped needles.

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Plant a Garden

If you plant flower beds in a diamond pattern rather than straight rows, they'll look fuller faster.

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Give Directions

When sending directions to visitors, attach a picture of your house to make it easier for them to find.

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Separate Glasses

Unstick stacked glasses by pouring cold water into the inner one and then placing both glasses in warm water for a minute or two.

Pour Ketchup

To speed the flow of ketchup, insert a plastic drinking straw into the bottle, then remove it.

Measure Honey

Before pouring honey intro a cup or measuring spoon, coat the tools with a few drops of cooking oil so the honey will slide out more easily.

Soften Cookies

Did you overbake the cookies? Store them in an airtight container for a day and they'll soften.

Stop a Drip

Keep a dripping faucet by from driving you crazy by tying a string around the end of the spout (long enough to reach the drain). Until you can fix the faucet, the water will flow down the string silently.

Freshen Pillows

Toss pillows in the dryer on low for about ten minutes.

Sweep Up Crumbs

Use an automobile snow brush to get at crumbs and dust under the fridge.

Wash Windows

Wash windows horizontally on the inside and vertically on the outside. If they streak, you'll know which side to redo.

Remove Rubber Gloves

Try holding hands under cold water for a few seconds and the stubborn gloves will slide right off.

De-Fog Mirrors

Rub bathroom mirrors with shaving cream and wipe off with a soft cloth to cut down on post shower fogging.

Clean Narrow Vases

Fill narrow, stained vases and bottles with water and drop in a tablet of denture cleaner.

Freshen Drawers

Put unwrapped soap bars or fabric softener sheets in drawers, suitcases and storage boxes to get rid of musty and stale odors.

Unstick a Zipper

Try rubbing a pencil along a stuck zipper; the graphite lubricates the teeth.

Prevent Bathtub Ring

Add a few drops of baby oil to the bath water. Ta-dah! No more grime.

Polish Glassware

Rub glassware with a cloth dipped in toothpaste to remove small scratches.

Rake Leaves

Rake leaves when they're dry; wet ones can weigh twice as much.

Fix Gadgets

Before you take something apart to fix it, take a digital photo of it so you'll know how it goes back together.

Remove Stickers

To peel off stubborn stickers, warm the glue. Move a blow dryer set on low slowly over the spot.

Clean Candlesticks

To remove wax from candlesticks, freeze them for about 20 minutes. The wax will chip right off.

De-Garlic Hands

To remove the strong garlic odor from hands, rub them on a stainless steel surface, such as the kitchen faucet.