Marian’s Tips
One for the kids at Christmas
Before you blow up your balloons, write a small sum of money e.g. 10p, 20p and 50p, on bits of paper and put inside the balloons. When the kids get fedup with playing with them, they can burst them and see what prize they have won!

Keep a bottle of soda water handy for carpet spillages. Pour directly onto the spillage and this will lift it to the surface and make it easier to mop up and less likely to leave a stain.
To eliminate odour from the microwave, place a slice of lemon in a dish of water and cook on high for one minute.

To remove white rings from woodwork. Make up a paste of salt and olive oil, apply to the stain. Leave overnight before removing and polish the wood in the usual way.

To eliminate strong odours like burnt fat, add a few cloves to a dish of boiling water and leave to stand. The odour will soon be gone.