Clear nail polish to the rescue
The next time you're in a quick-fix bind, bring out the clear nail polish and try these tips found on Pinterest:
Use a tiny bit to touch up small dents and scratches on hardwood floors; it can help prevent further damage to the area.
To prevent rust rings, apply clear polish to the bottom of the shaving cream can.
Keep ribbons (or even shoelaces) from fraying by painting the ends with clear polish.
Scratch the paint on your car? A coat of clear polish brushed over the scratch will prevent rust until you are able to get it repaired.
Reset loose stones in inexpensive costume jewelry with a coat or two of clear polish.
Keep brown sugar soft
Stow a few marshmallows in a container of brown sugar to keep it from hardening or clumping.
Simplify your cleaning
Real Simple says you can remove red lipstick from machine washable fabrics by saturating the spot with hairspray and letting it sit for 10 minutes. Dab with a damp cloth or sponge to remove. Launder as usual to wash out an residual stain.
To remove baked-on food from a glass pan or oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil instead of a steel-wool pad. It's a great way to recycle used pieces of foil that you'd otherwise throw out.
Prevent tarnished silver by tying a few moisture-absorbing pieces of chalk in cheesecloth and storing them with your cutlery.
For leak-resistant gloves, push a cotton ball into the end of each finger of a dishwashing glove. It'll keep sharp nails from splitting the rubber.
Clean your keyboard
Here's an easy way to clean your keyboard. With your computer turned off, disconnect the keyboard and trace between the keys with a cotton swab lightly dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
You can also remove dust and crumbs from a keyboard by sliding a short strip of tape between the letters.
iPad app for window decor
Hunter Douglas has developed a lifestyle app for iPad that allows you to take a photo of a room, upload it and test different window fashions. The app allows you to see how hundreds of styles, colors and textures will look in the room by browsing Hunter Douglas designs. The app is free and can be found in the "Lifestyle" category in the iTunes store or through a link at HunterDouglas.com.
Floral design 101
Learn the basics of floral design during a series of classes at the Doris Duke center at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. over the course of six Saturdays, you'll learn to use fresh, silk and dried flowers to fit and suit containers.
Each week students will be asked to bring a particular style of container and flowers with which to work. All other supplies are provided. During classes, you'll create various arrangements to take home and enjoy.
The classes run Saturdays from Feb. 25 to March 31. Class size is limited to 15 and the program costs $105; $85 for Garden Friends.
The Gardens are at 420 Anderson St.. Call 668-1707or visit http://gardens .duke.edu to register.
Send news and photos to The News & Observer, P.O. Box 191, Raleigh, N.C. 27602; email forhomeandgarden@newsobserver.com
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