Household tips and tricks! - Are you having trouble getting the wine stains out of your carpet? Do you clean your cookware with something extraordinary? Come share!

[Aunt Carol]

Take a permanent marker and when you put groceries away, write the expiration best-by dates right on the flat ends of the cans. You don't have to go nuts labeling if you're going through something heavily, but let's say you go to the discount store, you overbuy, you go on a soup kick and stock up and then you go on an anti-soup kick.

This works for boxes, too. The best-by date is never in a great place, so just write it big on the side that shows in your cupboard, however you have them stacked. It takes a couple of seconds and it's great.

Just keep a permanent marker handy in the kitchen; it's handy even if you're not pathological enough to write the "opened" dates on food.

 

[Lichen Bark]

Does anyone know why toaster oven interiors and pans are made of aluminum?

In regards to your aluminum tray "looking dirty" I wouldn't worry to much about it.

If you've ever used a cast iron pan you know that "seasoning" (polymerized oil) makes it non-stick. I often see people putting tinfoil on their toaster oven trays and I wonder why. The brown/black coating that builds up over time is actually seasoning. I soak my tray to get the actual food loose, but that discoloration is just seasoning, and that makes your tray nonstick naturally. Nothing sticks to my toaster oven tray anymore. If I grill toast with cheese, and some seeps off onto the tray the seasoning makes it so I can lift the cheese right off.

You don't see it on a cast iron pan, because the pan usually starts off black when you buy it. You do see it on newer less seasoned woks though:

I guess what I am saying is don't sweat your tray looking discolored, it's actually a benefit. I don't know how I would easily clean the walls though.

 

[TrainWreckSpotter]

In regards to your aluminum tray "looking dirty" I wouldn't worry to much about it.

If you've ever used a cast iron pan you know that "seasoning" (polymerized oil) makes it non-stick. I often see people putting tinfoil on their toaster oven trays and I wonder why. The brown/black coating that builds up over time is actually seasoning. I soak my tray to get the actual food loose, but that discoloration is just seasoning, and that makes your tray nonstick naturally. Nothing sticks to my toaster oven tray anymore. If I grill toast with cheese, and some seeps off onto the tray the seasoning makes it so I can lift the cheese right off.

You don't see it on a cast iron pan, because the pan usually starts off black when you buy it. You do see it on newer less seasoned woks though:
View attachment 5539311
I guess what I am saying is don't sweat your tray looking discolored, it's actually a benefit. I don't know how I would easily clean the walls though.

It's just one of the things I'm a stickler about. The tray isn't the problem, it can be easily replaced, it's the inside of the oven itself. But I see your point.

I guess my biggest question is why MUST them make them out of aluminum...even the high end ones?

 

[Lichen Bark]

It's just one of the things I'm a stickler about. The tray isn't the problem, it can be easily replaced, it's the inside of the oven itself. But I see your point.

I guess my biggest question is why MUST them make them out of aluminum...even the high end ones?

Are you sure the walls are aluminum? When I look into my toaster oven I see it's actually galvanized steel. You can tell because it has a almost crystal-like pattern on it, sort of like this railing:

This happens when they dip the steel into the molten zinc. The zinc prevents the steel from rusting. The galvanized coating also scratches really easily, so it definitely won't hold up well to abrasives.

I think the reason they don't do the same thing as they do in the oven's is mainly cost. If I think about it more, another reason might be that the enamel coatings in ovens need a stronger base metal to actually be durable. If the base metal is a thin sheet (like in your toaster oven), the coatings are probably prone to flaking/cracking. Also, if you thicken the walls of your toaster oven to accommodate the enamel coating it will take longer for the interior to heat up. More metal = more thermal mass that needs heating. The oven might waste more heat on heating it's own interior walls, reducing how fast it come's up to temperature, and thereby reducing how well it "toasts" your food. This isn't a problem in a normal oven, because we always have to wait for it to preheat, but in the case of a toaster oven, the thicker enamel walls might make it a worse toaster. They sacrifice ease of cleaning for speed of heating the food.

 

[often puzzled]

Take a permanent marker and when you put groceries away, write the expiration best-by dates right on the flat ends of the cans. You don't have to go nuts labeling if you're going through something heavily, but let's say you go to the discount store, you overbuy, you go on a soup kick and stock up and then you go on an anti-soup kick.

This works for boxes, too. The best-by date is never in a great place, so just write it big on the side that shows in your cupboard, however you have them stacked. It takes a couple of seconds and it's great.

Just keep a permanent marker handy in the kitchen; it's handy even if you're not pathological enough to write the "opened" dates on food.

I just keep a Sharpie in every room of the house and one in whatever bag I'm carrying. You really never know when it'll come in handy. I use them for kitchen stuff and also to label the dates I opened things like makeup and lotions. If you're tempted not to throw away a mascara (or whatever), having the date staring you in the face can be a good motivator.

For the oven discussion: this is for regular ovens rather than for toaster ovens, but I just keep an old, banged-up cookie sheet on the lowest rack of my oven. It catches crumbs, drippings, and anything I manage to drop-- the bottom of the oven stays clean, and scrubbing it clean becomes a non-issue.

In a slight segue, I don't have a toaster oven because of lack of countertop space. I sometimes look at purchasing some kind of rack or stand to give myself a little more room, but the price tag always stops me cold. I haven't yet managed to snag one from a curb alert (hope springs eternal), but does anyone have any suggestions for an economical way to create more countertop space? It would almost have to be something that could be placed along a wall (not in the middle of the room).

 

[Aunt Carol]

also to label the dates I opened things like makeup and lotions. If you're tempted not to throw away a mascara (or whatever), having the date staring you in the face can be a good motivator.

I label makeup, too, but I have a hard time keeping Sharpie from rubbing off.

The inside of a compact is easy, but when I write the date on the side of an eyeliner, it's gone in a week or two.

I ended up using Sharpie on a tiny piece of cloth tape, and then putting that on the eyeliner.

Another Sharpie use: I felt like I was changing light bulbs a lot in one fixture, so I started dating them. I also write the date somewhere inconspicuous on appliances and some durable goods, but not for any specific reason. When my electronic scale craps out, it's nice to be able to assess if it died early and I should avoid that brand, or if I got my money's worth.

Labeling stuff rules.

does anyone have any suggestions for an economical way to create more countertop space?

I don't know how autistic you want to go here, but I was looking for a pull-out drawer to go under the kitchen cabinets, and kept striking out until I got into boat/RV storage. The "Anything Keeper" is what I ended up with: installs easily with just screws, and it swings up to be almost invisible.

It doesn't give you a lot of storage, but it's good for getting frequently-used miscellany off of the counter. The manufacturers suggest books and phones; my mom has her hoard of herbal tea in hers, mine is full of toaster oven bakeware.

Otherwise it sounds like you're going to need a kitchen island, and to keep an eye out for a sale or frequently check your used furniture site of choice. The nice thing about a kitchen island is its mobility, so you can pull it wherever and use it as a standing surface for crafts and handiwork, more sturdy and (probably) a better height than a folding table.

 

[glass_houses]

I just keep a Sharpie in every room of the house and one in whatever bag I'm carrying. You really never know when it'll come in handy. I use them for kitchen stuff and also to label the dates I opened things like makeup and lotions. If you're tempted not to throw away a mascara (or whatever), having the date staring you in the face can be a good motivator.

For the oven discussion: this is for regular ovens rather than for toaster ovens, but I just keep an old, banged-up cookie sheet on the lowest rack of my oven. It catches crumbs, drippings, and anything I manage to drop-- the bottom of the oven stays clean, and scrubbing it clean becomes a non-issue.

In a slight segue, I don't have a toaster oven because of lack of countertop space. I sometimes look at purchasing some kind of rack or stand to give myself a little more room, but the price tag always stops me cold. I haven't yet managed to snag one from a curb alert (hope springs eternal), but does anyone have any suggestions for an economical way to create more countertop space? It would almost have to be something that could be placed along a wall (not in the middle of the room).

Old desk would be cheapest, people give them away all the time. The issue would be transporting the thing though, that's why people give them away in the first place, same with two metre solid timber bookcases, you need a mate and a ute or trailer to get them back to your place.

One option though is a gateleg table or a drop leaf table.

This is a modern gateleg from Ikea:



Gatelegs are a very old design, and they come up very frequently in my local vintage market.



Drop leaf is another old design:



That's a modern table, but my own drop leaf desk is an old repo of a 1800s design, so those have been around a while too.

 

[Aunt Carol]

I don't have a toaster oven because of lack of countertop space.

HOUSEWARE M-M-MULTIPOST

I picked the toaster oven I have because it flips up on its side for storage (and also it's a convection oven/"air fryer.") It makes a little beep when it's cool enough to flip, and the display says "FLIP."

 

[often puzzled]

Old desk would be cheapest, people give them away all the time. The issue would be transporting the thing though, that's why people give them away in the first place, same with two metre solid timber bookcases, you need a mate and a ute or trailer to get them back to your place.

One option though is a gateleg table or a drop leaf table.

Drop leaf tables are brilliant in general and should be way more popular than they are. If you have a small space, you get to expand your table when you've got more people around or are trying to do a big project, then it just collapses and can be shoved back against the wall.

Desk is a great idea, and I have no idea why that never occurred to me-- thank you!

I picked the toaster oven I have because it flips up on its side for storage (and also it's a convection oven/"air fryer.") It makes a little beep when it's cool enough to flip, and the display says "FLIP."

I want a oven that says FLIP. This would bring me an indescribable amount of joy, though probably not as much joy as I derive from labeling all the things.

 

[Aunt Carol]

I want a oven that says FLIP.

It's the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven (SP101) but that is the MSRP; open box you can find them around $80.

 

[TrainWreckSpotter]

Are you sure the walls are aluminum? When I look into my toaster oven I see it's actually galvanized steel. You can tell because it has a almost crystal-like pattern on it, sort of like this railing:
View attachment 5540383
This happens when they dip the steel into the molten zinc. The zinc prevents the steel from rusting. The galvanized coating also scratches really easily, so it definitely won't hold up well to abrasives.

I think the reason they don't do the same thing as they do in the oven's is mainly cost. If I think about it more, another reason might be that the enamel coatings in ovens need a stronger base metal to actually be durable. If the base metal is a thin sheet (like in your toaster oven), the coatings are probably prone to flaking/cracking. Also, if you thicken the walls of your toaster oven to accommodate the enamel coating it will take longer for the interior to heat up. More metal = more thermal mass that needs heating. The oven might waste more heat on heating it's own interior walls, reducing how fast it come's up to temperature, and thereby reducing how well it "toasts" your food. This isn't a problem in a normal oven, because we always have to wait for it to preheat, but in the case of a toaster oven, the thicker enamel walls might make it a worse toaster. They sacrifice ease of cleaning for speed of heating the food.

What brand is that? (Mine is definitely aluminum. I know my metals. )

 

[Lichen Bark]

What brand is that? (Mine is definitely aluminum. I know my metals. )

It's a small Panasonic unit. I use it mainly for toast, since it does a much nicer, more even job than my regular toaster. Also for toast and cheese, warming up the odd pizza slice, or heating up breaded chicken drumsticks, and reheating roast potatoes. A lot of times I use it to finish off warming food, so I'll microwave something to warm it up, then use this to brown the outside, and return it to crispyness. I put my plate on top of the unit while it's cooking the food, and then when it's done my plate is nice and warm and ready for food. Yes, I realize I'm sperging about how I use my toaster oven, and you never asked. It's bright when it's on and I like to stare at the things cooking inside it.

 

[giacraw]

Greaseproof paper and an iron to remove candle wax stains from cloth. There's a bit more to it: scrape off as much wax as possible, don't put the iron directly on the paper instead use a towel in between the paper and the iron, you'll figure out the rest.

Hand sanitizer is great for removing paint and tough stains from your hands.

Thank you very much, I have candle wax stains on sofa and I am very anxious to try your method now.

 

[𝕺𝖑' 𝕯𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞 𝕱𝖆𝖙𝖘𝖔]

If you do a few 5 minute tasks throughout the day instead of thinking of cleaning as its own activity, your place will stay much tidier. Especially if you're waiting on something else. You're already wasting those minutes so why not use them for something positive?

Examples:

• Wipe down the bathroom sink, mirror and counters while you wait for your shower to heat up
• Swiffer the kitchen floor while waiting for kettle to boil or tendies to microwave
• Etc. Basically any quick task you can fit into these little gaps of time helps enormously. Keep cleaning supplies close to where you need them instead of a closet. I keep spray cleaner, gloves and a roll of paper towels under my bathroom sink, for instance.

It's a small Panasonic unit. I use it mainly for toast, since it does a much nicer, more even job than my regular toaster. Also for toast and cheese, warming up the odd pizza slice, or heating up breaded chicken drumsticks, and reheating roast potatoes. A lot of times I use it to finish off warming food, so I'll microwave something to warm it up, then use this to brown the outside, and return it to crispyness. I put my plate on top of the unit while it's cooking the food, and then when it's done my plate is nice and warm and ready for food. Yes, I realize I'm sperging about how I use my toaster oven, and you never asked. It's bright when it's on and I like to stare at the things cooking inside it.

I have a toaster oven with an airfry setting, that shit is top notch for heating up leftovers. Even things I used to resign myself to eating cold because I could never find a good way to reheat them come out fantastic. I'm never eating leftover general tsos cold again.

 

[glass_houses]

So the house I lived in for seven years was old and didn't have fly screens, so when we moved early this year I was delighted that the new place was properly screened in. However, the first storm of the season just hit and I've discovered the hard way that these screens have probably never been cleaned. The rain came in through the bathroom window, and the sink I cleaned this morning is now absolutely filthy with the dust that had been clinging to the screen.

The window is too high to reach from the outside, so I have to come up with a way to clean the fly screen from the inside without accidentally pushing it out of its frame. Suggestions?

 

[Freshly Baked Socks]

Suggestions?

Can you reach the window from the inside? All my window-screens have retaining pegs and handles which are accessed from inside the house - so the house-wife never has to climb a ladder.

If they're installed with access-only from the outside, that is backwards, because it allows burglars to remove screens without damaging them (when you leave your windows open).

 

[glass_houses]

Can you reach the window from the inside? All my window-screens have retaining pegs and handles which are accessed from inside the house - so the house-wife never has to climb a ladder.

I can reach the window with a step ladder. The window is a glass louvre though, which adds an additional layer of complexity. I don't want to remove any of the louvres unless absolutely necessary in case I break them. They're ridiculously expensive to replace because there's no standard louvre design, so the glass has to be cut to spec every time.

 

[Chub Rub]

Can you take the screens out from the frame from the inside, hose them off outside, and put them back in the frames once they're clean and dry? Shouldn't need to involve the louvres at all.

 

[glass_houses]

Can you take the screens out from the frame from the inside, hose them off outside, and put them back in the frames once they're clean and dry? Shouldn't need to involve the louvres at all.

The flyscreen is set behind the louvres. There's no way I can take it off from the inside. None of the screens can be removed from the inside, the frames are larger than the window opening.

 

[Fenno McLeod]

I had a similar problem, moved into an upper floor apartment where I can't access the windows from outside, and from the inside, my ability to get to the screens and windows is somewhat hindered by burglar bars.

What I do is get a bucket with soapy water, and use a rag or a piece of an old t-shirt, and just wipe the screen down as best as I can. You can go over them a second time with plain water.

If the screens were removable, I would suggest that you scrub them with scrubbing brushes dipped in soapy water.

It's not a perfect solution, but it does get a good amount of the dirt off.