I am really clumsy with nail polish, but this may help me with a French manicure
Men’s products are often much cheaper than women’s, even though they are often the same thing but pink. I used to always use men’s razors and deodorant. I found male deodorant to have a cleaner, fresher smell. Men’s t-shirts and jeans are often cheaper than women’s too. For a long time I lived in men’s Levi and Lee jeans because they fitted my hipless shape much better. Nowadays I wear higher waists and slimmer legs so I head for the women’s section
Get the smell of onion and fish off by rubbing your hands on stainless steel. You can find special ‘stones’ made of stainless steel to keep in the kitchen but I guess a sink would work just as well?
Put mascara that is getting a bit dry and clumpy in hot water for a couple of minutes to turn it smooth again. You can extend the life of your mascara this way. I used to do this all the time, but now I tend to just start a new one. I replace my mascara quite often.
I have never used this trick on a hard-to-fasten bracelet, but I do hold my wrist against the door jamb, trapping half the bracelet and keeping it still so I can clasp it.
The only time I have ever put clear nail varnish on jewellery was when a ring turned my finger green or made it itch. I painted the inside of the ring and it worked well. I did not wear the ring after that though, so I don’t know if the varnish would flake. I have heard that you can also stop discolouration this way, but I tend to only wear real silver and gold so I don’t have a problem. I do, however, use clear nail varnish to stop ladders in stockings from running further during the day.
I believe that soap or lip balm can loosen a stuck zipper. I use lead from a pencil instead and it works like a charm. I don’t carry pencils with me every day anymore though so if I have an emergency, I could use some Chapstick.
This stops rust rings from forming on bathroom and kitchen products. I have used this and it works well. I don’t use it often but it takes me years to use a can of shaving cream so I put a bit on that.
I don’t use cash but this may be an idea. I used to have a tiny canister on my keyring that held a some paper money. I did need it at a flea market.
Ice gets gum out of hair. Putting clothes with gum on them in the freezer also works. The gum hardens and comes off pretty easily. A kid threw gum at me in a dark movie theatre once and it stuck to my t shirt.
I have one of these in my wallet and we have a sign on our door that says ‘3 cats live here. Save us in an emergency’. It is very important to NOT advertise that there is no one in your home if you also have address details on your person. My emergency card says ‘in an emergency I am unable to communicate, please contact xxx and xxx to take care of my pets’
They say that doing this stretches shoes and boots. I have tried this – both putting the nozzle in the shoes/boots and doing it while I am wearing them with extra socks – and it DOES work, but the leather seems to go back to the previous size when it cools down. Maybe I am not patient enough.
I have done this in an emergency and it worked, but I usually use one of the little battery-operated fuzz shavers.
This tip is one I have used many times over the years. I hate when chains knot themselves if you just put them down. Some chain styles are more prone to this than others but if you pile them in a heap it tends to be inevitable. I love untangling friends’ chains but it is a pain when you need to wear something and don’t have time to untangle it. I tend to do this when I travel. The straw can be folded or cut to size as well.
I use gold/silver dip and a polishing cloth to shine up tarnished jewellery and dull stones. Hoewever, if my pieces are a bit grimy from hand cream, soap, oils etc, I put dishwashing liquid in a small bowl with hot water and let my jewellery soak in it until the water cools. I then GENTLY brush the stones with a soft toothbrush, and rinse. I like using sonic cleaners but they are not good for tiny stones, so I tend to use the dish soap method the most often.
I wrote down all my measurements in my old Hobonichi Weeks, which had a dedicated page for it, and I was surprised at how often I needed it. Since I finished that planner, I have kind of missed the measurements. I know my ring size in US and EU measurements, but not UK. I know my clothing size in UK and EU measurements, but not US. I have also needed waist and bust measurements sometimes. I could look them up online but it is more convenient in a store to have them easily at hand. I can also never remember how many litres our garbage bags need to be so I should write that down as well. PS: people say if a trouser waistband fits around your neck it will fit your waist but I have never fully trusted that. What happens if you have a weird neck?
I don’t use keys much anymore but when I do, I have rubber caps that I put over them. This would also work though.
