Country Shortcuts

Now why didn’t I think of that?

Don’t dump it!

Save those coffee grounds and used tea leaves to fertilize plants in your house and garden. Steep grounds or leaves in fresh water. Then use the strained liquid to feed your plants. I’ve been told there’s no better fertilizer on the market.
—Linda Funk, Nortonville, Kansas

I bury onion skins, potato peelings and other vegetable leftovers at a shallow depth in my garden year-round. Every summer, I’m rewarded with tomatoes, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, herbs and other surprises. I’ve even found corn, watermelon and cantaloupes. I look forward to the surprises that await me each year, and I share the plants with neighbors and friends. Recycling pays!
—Dorothy Dinnean, Harrison, Arkansas

I prefer to slice my fresh strawberries before freezing them, but I dread all that chopping. Last year I came up with the idea of using my egg slicer. If the berries aren’t too large, I can slice two at once, and the job is done in a very short time.
—Verna Olson, Norwich, New York

Before you leave on a trip, put fresh linens on your bed. Nothing’s more relaxing after traveling than coming home to a bed made with fresh sheets.
—Linda Harnish, New Holland, Pennsylvania

If you have leg cramps that disrupt your sleep, put a bar of soap beneath the bottom sheet, near the source of the cramp. A friend passed on this helpful tip, and I was surprised that it worked! If cramps start bothering you again after a few weeks, just replace the bar of soap with a fresh one. I’m told a nurse discovered this simple remedy.
—Sharon Miller, Land O’ Lakes, Florida

From the Editor: We were skeptical about this tip, but we researched it a bit and found several folks who say it does work. A few asked their doctors about it; the physicians couldn’t offer explanations but said there’s no harm in using soap for leg cramps— especially if it works! One tip: Use a travel-size bar, like those found in hotels, rather than a big, bulky bar. We’re told any brand of soap except Ivory will work.

When heating food in the microwave, use a coffee filter to cover the plate or bowl.
—Shirley Kostek, Pottsville, Pennsylvania

No time to mix and bake corn bread? For two people, just mix a cup of thick batter and pour it into your waffle iron. There’s not much cleanup, you save on fuel and labor, and it’s quick and tasty.
—Lyn Tutor, Magee, Mississippi

After trying several methods to get moles out of our yard, we tried getting rid of what the moles were after. We applied a commercial grub and insect poison, which eliminated the moles’ food supply.
—Marvin Jordison, Tulsa, Oklahoma

We removed a tree that was infested with carpenter ants, and the next spring the ants were all over my house. To get rid of them, I rubbed vodka on walls and baseboards where the ants traveled. I’ve read that ants won’t cross that area again. Then I sprinkled boric acid—about $4 at the drugstore—in the basement and crawl space, around the foundation, and in the crevices of the tree stump. Boric acid dehydrates the ants and also kills the larvae. Within two weeks, they were gone.
—Terri Hanke, Jennings, Kansas

I wanted to plant cannas on a slight hill, but it was impossible to water them, as the water would just run off. So I broke the bottoms out of some clay pots and buried them, leaving the tops above the soil, with the canna bulbs planted in the centers. I just fill the pots with water, and it soaks down to the roots.
—Mavis Strand, Fletcher, Oklahoma

I use a flat iron to straighten my hair, but I’ve discovered other uses for it as well. Instead of dragging out the big iron and board, I use it to smooth collars and sleeves of shirts,  ribbons on dresses, and large satin gift bows. It’s a big time-saver! Just be careful not to burn your fabric. 
—Robyn Croix, Corona, California

Need two or three hard-boiled eggs for potato salad or egg salad sandwiches? Reach for a poaching pan! Poached eggs cook faster, cool faster and leave no small pieces of shell to pick off.     
—Doris Mason, Bellaire, Michigan