To remove ink stains from clothes, soak them in a solution of limejuice and salt for a few minutes before washing.

For a different milkshake, take three tablespoons of any fruit jam, add to a glass of milk and beat in a mixer. Chill and serve. It's delicious.

To make brinjal "bharta" tastier, add a little green masala and curd.

Burn used mosquito mats for driving mosquitoes away.

Planning to discard old salwars? Think again. You can convert them into sari petticoats by opening out the seams of the legs and converting the bottom into the waistline of your petticoat.

Place a layer of newspapers under your carpet. This will prevent it from getting damp, especially during the monsoon.

For fresh breath gargle everyday with salted lemon water.

Place small pieces of asafoetida in containers of turmeric powder or coriander powder to protect from worms.

Put soggy biscuits or papads in a box, close the lid and keep in the fridge. They will become crisp after three hours.

To preserve wheat and rice, place empty match boxes in containers.

If you are suffering from bouts of vomiting, try drinking a glass of water with a pinch of salt and sugar added to it.

When the tomato sauce is almost over, add a little limejuice to it, shake well and use it as a substitute for tomatoes in curries.

When a bottle of chilli sauce is nearly empty, add a little olive oil, some vinegar and seasoning to taste. Mix well and use it as a salad dressing.

Sprinkle leftover biscuit or cake crumbs over vanilla ice cream for a delicious taste.

To remove sticky labels on saris, shirts and socks, turn them inside out and run a hot iron over them.

To add more flavours to 'dosas' add a few fenugreek seeds to the batter. And taste the difference.

Apply a little tamarind pulp on your hands before extracting butter from buttermilk. This will prevent wastage and save time, too as the butter will not stick to your hands.

Old gold jewellery will regain its sparkle if you dip it in hot water to which a little detergent powder has been added. Wash with cold water after 15 minutes.

You can remove stickers from new vessels with nail polish remover.

Make thick syrup with jaggery and add some cut pieces of ginger to it. Dry and use as a carminative.