Some eyesores at home can be camouflaged.  These include stained areas, unsightly surfaces, stained old areas and the like.  Beat these sore spots by covering them up.  Here are some suggestions from the expert:

• To disguise a stained carpet, you can put a small rug on top of the stained part.  Or you can install a piece of furniture over the stain.
• Line the interior of drawers with gift wrappers or scraps of wallpaper.  Use glue of cellophane tape to keep the lining in place.
• Brighten the clutter under the sink by sewing a sink skirt around the sink.

• Cover hole on the wall with a cute poster or an arrangement of framed photos.
• Potted plants can cover chipped floor tiles.  Assemble a cluster of pots over the ugly area for an instant "outdoor" effect.

• Hide piles of magazines, boxes and other stuff under the stairs with an instant divider.  You can buy rattan or bamboo items for this purpose. 

 Best Way to Clean Items

Do you sometimes wonder what's the best way to clean certain items?  Take these for instance from the experts:

• Long-necked vases: Aside from bottle brushes, you can clean this type of a vase by filling it halfway with soapy water and a handful of rice.  Cover the mouth of the vase with your palm and shake vigorously.  The soapy water and rice solution will shake the dirt inside the vase.

• Silverware.  If your silverware has intricate designs on the handle, simply washing with a sponge may not be enough.  A used toothbrush will do the trick.  Soak the silverware in warm water mixed with some baking soda.  Brush the crevices before soaping then rinse off.
• To remove coffee or tea stains from chinaware, sprinkle some baking soda with warm water.  Apply the solution using a sponge. Dry with cloth to make it shiny and clean.
• Remove stains from painted walls by mixing four tablespoons baking soda with warm water.  Apply the solution using a sponge.  Dry with cloth for a shiny clean.

• Keep vegetables and fruits in separate bin.  Fruits give off ethylene gas, which causes fast spoilage on vegetables nearby.
• Wrap all foods tightly in the freezer fresh-food sections-air circulates throughout the whole unit.  By wrapping the foods, the ice cubes become odor free.
• Do not stack or crowd foods on shelves, because foods, stay colder and longer if air can circulate around them.  Give enough space in between the packs of foods.

Outsmart the fat

• Outsmart the fat by knowing the source of saturated fats which clog up arteries even more than the dietary cholesterol.  Saturated fats are found in whole- milk dairy products, meat, coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm oil and butter.
• Cook more fish and shellfish.  Shrimp and lobster contains bit more cholesterol than leaned meat, fish and poultry.
•  When cooking, use two egg whites in place of one whole egg.  Eliminating the yolk, will cut back considerably on cholesterol.
• Most cheeses are high in fat, so use low-fat varieties that contain no more than six grams of fat per serving.

Resource:  CHIC Magazine

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