* At least once every two months brush off the coils at the back of your refrigerator. The dust and dirt that collect there seriously will reduce its operating efficiently and cause machine breakdown later.
* A temporary smell in the bathroom can be banished by lighting a match stick
* If your bathroom is badly stained, you can soak it with tepid water and biological detergent for a few hours. For really bad stains, make a paste of peroxide and cream of tartar and scrub vigorously with a stiff brush. Rinse the bathroom thoroughly before using.
* A little washing soda and boiling water poured down sinks will prevent fat from collecting in the pipe.
* A dirty glass flower vase will become sparkling clear in minutes if you fill it with water and add a good clash of bleach.
* When buying a pillow, compress it firmly between your hands. A good one will return to its original shape.
* When buying linen sheets, hold them up to the light to check their authenticity. If it is genuine linen, the fabric should appear uneven and thicker in places. Non-linen yarns will be uniform.