1. If you have trouble opening jars try using latex gloves. They give a nonskid grip.

2. Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job of cleaning and also leaves a lovely smell to the shine!

3. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off.

4. To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil on the stovetop. (Be mindful of the very hot water!)

5. To clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Wait 20 minutes, then brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action cleans vitreous china. (I purchased a generic brand of these tablets at the drug store. Same effect but easier on your pocketbook!)

6. To keep buttons from falling off, put a dab of Super Glue in the middle of the button, over the thread.

7. To keep from having to search for the TV remote control, put one strip of Velcro on the remote control and one on the arm of your TV chair.

8. Put a Velcro dot on a pencil or pen and another on the telephone.

9. Use Velcro dots in place of buttons or other fasteners. Velcro fasteners are especially helpful if finger joints are stiff and range of motion is limited.

10. To avoid having to iron out hanger marks from your clothing use sponge-padded hangers.

11. When purchasing items that you will need to eventually replace, record the product on a 3 x 5 card, noting the name of the item, ID number, color, size, etc.

12. Save steps by keeping a tray handy to move smaller objects throughout the house or carrying food and/or drinks to the patio. It can be used to carry supplies outdoors, tote foods and medicines to sick rooms and keep a jigsaw puzzle in progress. The best tray is one that is lightweight and has a lip around the edge and has handles.

13. Kitchen shears are a great time saver tool. They can be used to trim fat off of meat, cut up a chicken, cut pizza slices, trim celery leaves as well as flowers.

14. Use a beer can opener to open boxes that say "Press Here" and when you press, nothing happens.

15. Use a pancake turner to stir a pot. The flat bottom edge covers a wider surface.

16. Even if you have a timer on your stove a small kitchen timer is handy as a reminder to turn off the water in your garden, to keep track of the amount of time your are exercising, or that the laundry is due to come out of the dryer, etc.

17. By the way, a great time saver is to get your laundry out of the dryer as soon as it is dry....usually means you don't have to iron so the investment in a timer is a time saver!

18. If you are using a bowl that slides all over the place, put a damp cloth under it.

19. Buy a broom with a dust pan that fits on the broom pole. Hang the broom on a nail. If you are in a two story house have one broom set upstairs and the other downstairs (or in the garage). Saves you a lot of steps...

20. Speaking of saving steps, keep a set of cleaning products under every sink (But not if you have small children around...safety first!)

21. Let cleaning products to their thing...many times if a cleaning product is allowed to stand or soak for awhile, the item will be much easier to clean. So while you are waiting, go clean something else...or take a break and have a cup of tea and read the paper.

22. Use a vacuum to pick up dust from furniture. You already have it out to clean the carpets and it is more efficient at getting out ground in dirt. Use it for non carpeted floors. Easier than sweeping and having to bend over to sweep the dirt into a dust pan. A vacuum works especially well in the kitchen and is more efficient in getting the stuff that accumulates in the corners.

23. Don't wash things that are not dirty. Certain articles of clothing can be worn a few times before becoming dirty (and besides, your clothes wear out quicker!)

24. If you really want to save more time, you can purchase an ear piece for your portable phone so you are now talking-hands free to continue a task. (My physical therapy friends strongly discourage the use of cradling the phone between your shoulder and chin!)

25. Clean it now! If you spill something you can usually wipe it up with little effort...wait until later and you may have a major scrub job to perform.

26. Use the crock pot. Your can throw in a tough piece of meat, slow cook all day, and have left overs to use for another meal. It is also a $ saver as it does not use a lot of electricity and is great in the summer heat because it doesn't give off much heat.

27. When measuring sticky ingredients such as honey or molasses, first coat the measuring spoon or cup with a cooking spray.

28. Instead of waiting for butter or margarine to soften, grate it. Softens in a snap.

29. Label everything in the freezer with dates and descriptions.

30. Keep a bag of frozen grated cheddar cheese in the freezer. You can use any amount you need and it lasts quite a while.

31. When you are preparing food that is messy...make enough for a couple of meals and freeze the rest. Bacon can be cooked, drained and cooled and then be placed in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Just reheat.

32. It takes just a little more time to prepare twice the food and freeze the extra for another meal.

33. To prolong the life of flowers in a vase, add 1/4 teaspoon of Clorox to each quart of water or use a clear carbonated soft drink in place of water.

34. To get tarnish off of the bottom of a copper pan or pot cover the copper with ketchup. Let it sit for ten minutes and rinse.

35. Liquid soap in a dispenser is easier to use than a bar of soap and there is no messy soap scum to clean up.

36. Keep a shower caddy stocked with the supplies needed to bathe your carereceiver. Check it before you begin the bathing process.

37. Replace difficult twist tips on shampoo or lotions with pump tops. Toothpaste also comes in pump containers.

38. Electric toothbrushes and water pics are quicker and easier to use than manual products.

39. When shopping for clothes, take a tape measure with you that is already marked with your or your carereceiver's measurements. May avoid having to try on the garment.

40. When shopping for clothes look for easy-to-reach fasteners, front openings, and elastic waistbands.

41. Look for clothing that is made of fabric that require NO ironing. What a time saver!

42. Use long handled sponges to clean behind objects. Quicker than having to move the objects.

43. Wash small items such as socks or underwear in a laundry bag to avoid having to search and pair.

44. Use pans with non-stick surfaces. Sure beats scrubbing the stuck-on food. Also consider a quick spray of oil to coat the pan before heating.

45. Use disposable foil pie tins, loaf pans, etc.

46. Line pans with aluminum foil for easier, faster clean-up.

47. Purchase attractive cooking pots that double as serving pieces (make sure you have a surface that can take the heat or use a trivet).

48. Microwave is a quicker way to cook food. Save time and energy! (There are a lot more prepared foods that can now be microwaved).

49. Replace the twist-ties on bread and other foods with clothespins, large paper clips or clips that are designed to close bags of food.