Nifty tips for thrifty women

We’re all feeling the pinch. Here’s how to save time and money by making everything last longer.

HANDWASH

Put liquid soap into a Foaming Soap ­Dispenser to make it go four times further. Pour in, top up with the recommended amount of water then pump for a rich, creamy foam.

CANDLES

For a longer lasting glow, think round and squat rather than tall and thin, because it has a wider wax pool.

LINGERIE

Hand wash anything with an underwire. Machine washing can shrink fabric, misshape wires and push them through the fabric — wrecking your bra and machine if they come loose. Put delicates into wash bags to prevent snagging and tearing.

CLOTHES

Ensure seasonal clothes are extremely clean before storing. The smallest speck of food or sweat will attract moths and mould. Plus, pack clothes in vacuum seal bags to ensure nothing gets on them!

FLOWERS

Double their lifespan by ­‘hardening’ them in warm water. When flowers are cut their food and water ­supply stops. Make fresh cuts in the stems, plunge into a vase of warm water containing flower feed, then allow to cool. Top up the water and food regularly and keep away from heat, draughts and fruit.’

SWIMSUIT

Shower in your swimsuit before hitting the pool, as fabrics saturated with fresh water absorb less damaging chlorinated water. Afterwards, rinse in cold water and roll briefly in a towel to absorb moisture, then air-dry out of direct sunlight.

NAIL VARNISH

To breathe new life into old nail ­polishes, add a drop of pure acetone (from chemists) or nail varnish remover. Store the polish in the fridge to keep it in good condition.

OVEN

Keep a clean oven spotless; a sheet of wipeable ‘magic oven liner’ will catch cooking drips and spills.

HAIR COLOR

Leave your hair unwashed for two days before having it coloured. Hair absorbs colour best when there is little product in the follicles. Well-conditioned hair is also more colour-absorbent. Then, avoid shampooing in the first three days as this is when ­colour is most prone to washing out.

CARPETS

Preserve your carpets by ­vacuuming slowly once a week. Zipping over carpets too quickly means dirt deep in the pile may not be dislodged. Have carpets steam-cleaned ­annually to extend their lifespan.

BLOW DRY

Sleep on a silk pillowcase to extend your blow-dry.

WALLPAPER

Use a ready-mixed paste to ­apply wallpaper. Starch in flake-based pastes can swell when warm — causing paper to peel and discolour.

SHOWER GEL

Squirt onto a shower puff, rather than your palm. One 10p-sized blob provides enough foam to cover you all over.

Found on Daily Mail