A soap-based cleaner can leave a tiled floor cloudy. Instead use a solution of mainly warm water with a good slug of clear vinegar added.

Do you have clothes that smell musty? Or soft furnishings that reek of cigarette smoke? Get them fresh again by pouring some neat vodka into a spray bottle, spritz your item lightly and leave to dry. Any odours should be neutralized, and it’s cheaper than a trip to the dry cleaner!

I love making jam and now it’s chutney time, the preserving continues. The best way of reducing time/faff/question marks over setting is with a Thermapen (jam is set at 105C). They’re not cheap – from £36; thermapen.co.uk – but are professional quality, super-quick and dead accurate. A great present for a jam-maker.

Take care not to clean your glasses or computer screen with kitchen towel – most of them contain wood pulp products that will damage those surfaces. Use specialist microfibre cloths instead (like the ones you get in a spectacles case).

I’d never come across Gorilla Glue before – a handyman friend told me about it. He’s never without a bottle as it’s super-strong and works on virtually anything. As the label says, put it to the test (always using much less than you think; it expands a lot) and you’ll stick with it for life! From Homebase and B&Q.

Chewing gum on pavements is bad enough, but if it’s landed on your carpet, scrape away the worst, then put ice cubes over the residue until it’s brittle and chip away with a blunt knife.

Has your front door lock become sticky and difficult to operate? If you squirt a little WD40 into both keyhole and bolt holes, you’ll find things will be much easier.

Did you know that the best way to look after pearls is to wear them? The oils in your skin add a gentle lustre to the gems. Clean them by washing in warm water with a tiny amount of mild soap, then gently buff dry with a soft cotton cloth.