Useful Household tips you would never think about using

14 (other) uses for shampoo ... Thought Shampoo was just for  washing your hair? Then prepare yourself to be amazed - it’s very handy for a host of other tasks  too ...

1) PERFECT POLISHER - Adding shampoo to baking soda works wonders when it comes to cleaning chrome really well.

2) BATHROOM BRIGHTENER - To remove stubborn rings from the bath and on the shower tiles, wipe with a mixture of left over shampoo and a touch of baking soda.

3) SOAP SUBSTITUTE - Run out of ordinary hand soap? Shampoo (especially if it includes a conditioner), makes a great alternative and will help to soften skin.

4) STOCKING SOAKER - If you need a gentle soap for hand washing your  delicates, a little shampoo dissolved in water will do the job.

5) JERSEY SOFTENER - Worried about a jersey shrinking? Soak it in lukewarm water and shampoo to soften the woolen fibres, making it easier to reshape. Pull and stretch the sweater as it soaks, then rinse and place flat on a towel to dry.

6) PLASTER PEELER - For painless plaster removal, rub conditioner into the wing areas, wait for several minutes and peel off.

7) PIPE PRIMER - When connecting pipes together, apply a thin layer of conditioner and it will help them slip in much easier.

8) RUST RESISTOR - Prevent nuts and bolts from rusting by applying hair conditioner before screwing them together.

9) BRUSH BLITZER - Artists swear by shampoo for cleaning their paintbrushes. Simply put a drop of shampoo in your hand , apply to the brushes and scrub them vigorously. Rinse and repeat until all paintbrushes are done.

10) COMB CLEANER - Clean dirt and grime out of hairbrushes and combs by soaking them for at least 20 minutes in a basin of warm water with one capful of shampoo added.

11) SEED SAVER - Add a teaspoon of baby shampoo to a litre of water when watering seeds: this softens the soil so that the seeds can push through easily.

11) MUCK MELTER - If your hands are covered in mud or oil after a grimy job, normal soap won’t remove the dirt. By rubbing your hands with shampoo before rinsing with water should remove the dirt ordinary soaps can’t reach!

12) SHAVING SAVIOUR - Run out of shaving foam? Shampoo is  a really great alternative.

13) BATHING BEAUTY - There’s nothing more relaxing than a bubble bath - but if you don’t have any, add a capful of shampoo to your bath.

14) MAKE-UP REMOVER - If you’re out of make-up remover, as a temporary measure improvise with some shampoo: rub it on and remove with a cloth.

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Fertilizing Tips

Organic gardeners work to build nutrient-rich soil by continually adding organic matter (particularly compost) to the soil rather than feeding plants directly.

Mixing well-rotted farm animal manure (especially cow, horse and chicken manure) into the soil provides an abundant supply of nitrogen to your plants.

Nitrogen is the key nutrient plants use for growing leaves. If you can add an inch or so of compost to your garden each year, you probably don't need any additional fertilizers.

You'll see a lot of different packaged organic fertilizers in garden centers and mail-order catalogues. Many derive their nitrogen boost from fish or feather meal. The ingredients are typically food processing waste. The best of these fertilizers are "slow-release" foods that nourish plants incrementally as they decompose in the soil.

Though fertilizer made from municipal sludge (sometimes called "biosolids") is often sold as "organic," we discourage gardeners from using it because research has found that this sludge contains heavy metals that can build up in your soil.

To give your plants a more immediate boost or for feeding those growing in soil that is more difficult to amend (like plants in containers), you can use liquid fertilizers that are commonly made from fish processing waste combined with mineral-rich seaweed (often kelp).

You'll find these liquid fertilizers as concentrates that you mix with water and apply directly to plants' leaves.

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