Rub over some dried mustard powder, leave overnight then scrub under a hot tap, rinse and dry.

Dent on a wooden surface? Place a damp cloth over it, and hold a warmish iron over that for a few minutes. Moisture from the cloth swells the grain; allow to dry before polishing.

For greasy stains on wallpaper, fold a sheet of brown paper in two and hold it over the mark. Run a warm iron over; the grease will be drawn into the paper. Repeat until the stain is gone, repositioning the paper each time so a fresh part collects the grease.  Wall

For cheap drawer liners, cut lining paper (or leftover wallpaper) to fit then spray your favourite fragrance all over. Allow to dry and place paper in drawer.

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

Ever tempted to reuse vacuum cleaner bags? It’s probably not a good idea (unless the maker says it’s okay) because with repeated use they become porous and don’t trap dust properly.

Always clean your windows on a dull day as sunlight will dry them too quickly and then you’re left with those smears. If you have black mould growing in the corners, clean with an old toothbrush and diluted bleach.

If you have a zip that’s not running as smoothly as it should, rub with a bar of soap or candlewax to help get it moving more easily. And always fully do up the zip on a garment before you put it in the washing machine.

Next time you go shopping, stick an extra carton of milk in your trolley and put it in the freezer so you never run out (not whole milk, though, as it doesn’t freeze as well).

Isn’t it annoying when dark-coloured clothes start losing dye in the wash? Keep black items looking good by adding two cups of black tea to the rinse cycle. For colours such as navy or plum, add a handful of salt to the rinse cycle