There are many different ways to loosen the lid of a jar that refuses to open. My favourite (and works every time) is to knock the edge of the lid in a couple of places against a hard surface. Hey presto – you can open it easily now!

If you ever get limescale deposit around the rim and spout of your kettle, a quick rub with an emery board will see to it.

If a black item has faded in colour over a number of washes, chances are it’s due to a build-up of detergent residue rather than actual loss of dye. To sort this, soak the item for a few hours in warm water with a little clear vinegar added, rinse and wash in the machine as normal.

Moving kitchen appliances to clean underneath can be tricky. Far easier to use the Flatmate from Lakeland. It’s £9.99 and takes the slog out of getting into those awkward corners.

If you have any rust marks on your enamel bath, rub with salt and lemon juice, then rinse.

Bicarbonate of soda is a superb cleaner, and now available in a thick liquid form. It’s perfume-free and mildly abrasive for deep cleaning, but won’t scratch any surface. DP Liquid Bicarb, £1.99, from good independent shops.

If you’re in the mood to bake but discover you don’t have any self-raising flour, just add 1 tsp baking powder to 110g (4oz) plain flour and you’re good to go!

If you’re venturing on a holiday this year, roll up clothes and get far more in the suitcase. If you unpack straight away, the wrinkles are usually minimal. Any that appear can be dealt with by hanging garments in the bathroom – steam soon smoothes everything out!

If your freezer is kept in the shed or garage, coat the outside with a layer of wax polish. This’ll help stop it being affected by damp, mould or rust marks.

Ryan Christodoulou

Pour a little warm water into the dip and gently tease up with pile with the tines of a fork.

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