Every now and then, I discover hints on the internet for how to do this and that. I have some gems here for you, I hope.

Lint rollers. I didn’t have one. I used to own one, and it disappeared a long time ago. Now I own four because when I read these tips, I ran out to the Dollar Store to find them. I couldn’t wait. I bought two little ones and two large rollers.

It all started when I was cleaning out my kitchen utility drawers last week. The silverware drawer had crumbs in the corners. I was busy wiping them out of the dividers and knew I should use the little hand vacuum. However, I was too lazy to go find it. So, I washed and wiped.

I read on one of the Readers’ Digest on-line pages that the little lint rollers were great for cleaning crumbs out of kitchen drawers. Hallelujah! Lint rollers can also pick up crafting debris, like glitter. A roller can remove dust from a lampshade. Running the roller inside a purse, diaper bag, gym bag or backpack can clean up the gritty debris that collects there. That little sticky thing can clean out car crevices, little pieces of broken glass, and can pick up crumbs under sofa cushions, and even under sofas. Finding little messes and cleaning them up is satisfying! Sort of like squeezing a fat pimple! 

I immediately called my sister-in-law, the Heloise of housekeeping, to share my new discovery. Of course, she already knew about lint rollers! She owns a cat and I never see a cat hair on anything. She keeps one in most areas of the house. Boy, I feel silly thinking I could show her something about housekeeping. 

Dishwasher tablets: I couldn’t wait to try this one. If you are not using dishwasher tablets to clean your oven window, this will convince you to start. Really? I hadn’t worried about my oven window, but maybe there’s something here to try?

The tip recommends Finish-brand deep-clean tablets. Whichever brand you use, buy the pressed powder tablets and not the gel pods 1. Dip the pod in warm water.

2. Hold it in the water long enough to soak up a bit, but not so long that it starts to crumble.

3. Use the tablet to scrub, no sponge needed.

4. Laying the tablet flat, use your palm to move the tablet in a circular motion to scrub away the stains. If the tablet starts to dry out, dip it in warm water again. This action is also effective on the surrounding metal part of the oven door. Finished, wipe away any residue with a damp cloth.

Now I can invite friends in and show them my clean oven window!

Aluminum ball: Squeeze a sheet of aluminum foil into a ball and place it in your silverware baskets in the dishwasher. Run the dishwasher with the aluminum foil inside the basket. After the cycle, you will notice that your silverware is shinier than normal. I found that the foil lasted for two washes. 

This is another opportunity to invite guests and serve them a piece of pie to watch them notice my shiny fork. 

This is what one does to amuse oneself when one is desperate to get outside, and the weather continues to be cold and windy.

And now for my last “biggy.” Ready?

Twist ties on bread: learn what the twist ties on bread bags stand for. You can tell how fresh the bread is if you know the signs. Bakers have Wednesdays and Sundays off, so if you want fresh bread, you might avoid buying on those days. Monday is blue, Tuesday, green, Thursday, red, Friday, white, and Saturday, yellow. The colors are in alphabetical order by day of the week.

As for me, I buy cheap. If the bread is a day old and marked down, I buy it. I am also making my own Sourdough bread, so I am buying very little. But on my next visit to the grocery store, I am going to rummage through the bread when no one is looking. 

Those are my hot tips. Hope you got something out of this.  

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com.