ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

KITCHEN TRICKS

CHOCOLATE TIP
Prevent fresh-baked cookies from crumbling as they're lifted from the pan by loosening them first with dental floss-cut a length of the thread, pull it taut, and slide it under each cookie for a clean break.

WHO'S THE FAIREST DISHWASHER OF THEM ALL?
Do you look out at a brick wall from the kitchen sink, or have no window at all? Hang a mirror above the faucet to make the room seem larger and to reflect more light.

MEAT AND GREET
For scratched wooden surfaces, we're nuts for nuts. Gently rub the meat of a walnut or pecan over any dings, and the wood will absorb the oil in the nut, disguising unsightly blemishes.

SNIFF TEST
If your microwave still reeks of that fish taco you reheated three weeks ago, drop a few tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl of water and cook on high for three to four minutes.

HERBAL ALTERNATIVE
Got flies? Put away the swatter and drive them away with a potted basil plant. The winged creatures find the herb's aroma repulsive, which translates into fewer flies (and more homemade pesto for you).

UNDER THE WIRES
Unplug small kitchen appliances, televisions, and audio/video equipment when not in use (or plug them into a power strip that you can turn off and on). Even your coffee grinder uses electricity when it's not powered up.

GRIND HOUSE
Clean a gritty coffee or spice grinder by running ¼ cup of dry rice around the blades. The grains will whisk away bits of debris while removing musty flavors and scents.

CUTTING ROOM
Increase your kitchen-counter area by setting large, sturdy plastic boards across the span of your sink.

MAGIC WAND
The next time your mascara runs dry, don't toss it. The brush is a perfect size for cleaning small nooks and crannies. Shampoo the bristles, allow them to dry, and get to work.

LEMON STOP
Angela Gilltrap of New York, New York, keeps cobwebs at bay by dabbing her broom's bristles with lemon juice and sweeping the ceiling to ward off spiders. Turns out arachnids don't like the fresh scent.

GET FIZZY WITH IT
Clean built-up gunk out of vases, thermoses, and other hard-to-scrub vessels with denture-cleaning tablets-simply fill them with water, let a tablet dissolve in each, and watch the fizz scour.

BUTTERED UP
Whipping up a special treat that calls for small pats of butter? Instead of fumbling around with a slick stick and sharp knife, use a cheese grater or vegetable peeler on cold butter to shave off what you need.

DON'T SWEAT IT
April Kilcrease of San Francisco bypasses cardboard coffee-cup sleeves for sporty terry-cloth wristbands, which keep her from burning her fingers while sipping a steamy cup of joe.

TOUGHER TUPPER
Heather Rasmussen of Ogden, Utah, keeps her plastic food-storage containers stain-free by lightly coating the insides with nonstick cooking spray before filling them up with leftovers.

NEXT OF TIN
Rather than stacking cookie sheets and other bakeware horizontally, use bookends to hold them up on their sides in the cabinet. They'll be easier to find, access, and put away.

CLAM OPENER
After slicing his finger while attempting to open anti-theft clamshell packaging, Karthic Chidambaranathan of Austin, Texas, came up with a safer idea: Use a double-edged can opener to cleanly cut around the edges and free the contents without damaging your digits.

DIY DIRT
Compost is the result of billions of microbes (and a few friendly insects) devouring and digesting the cast-offs you feed them, thereby transforming your trash into an enriched soil that gardens and houseplants love. To start composting at home, keep an empty coffee can with a lid under your kitchen sink and fill it with compostable "greens" like fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, and egg shells (steer clear of meat, bones, or milk products). Combine them in an outdoor bin with an equal amount of compostable "browns," such as dried leaves and garden waste, wood chips, sawdust, straw, and paper products. Make your own composting bin by drilling a couple dozen ½" holes through the sides, lid, and bottom of a medium-size metal garbage can. Elevate it a few inches over the ground with a few bricks underneath the bottom rim. The holes and elevation provide the aeration and drainage necessary for the composting magic to take place. As you continue adding compostables to the bin, keep the materials moist, and give the mix a good stir once a week. Allow the microbes and Mother Nature some time to do their thing, then spread the compost over soil. Your plants (and our landfills) will be eternally grateful.