Ten genius tips to get more out of household items

Try these genius tricks to get more out of a few everyday items found in most homes.

From separating eggs easily to adding a new key to a key ring, here are a few of our favourite clever uses for a range of household items:

Separate eggs with a plastic bottle

Separate eggs — without the mess! Crack them into a bowl, then squeeze a clean water bottle, hold it over a yolk, and loosen your grip to vacuum it up. Compress and release to drop it into another bowl.

Fasten a bracelet with a jumbo paper clip

For a tough-to-fasten bracelet, try this handy trick with a paper clip. Unfold the clip into an S shape and then hook one end through the ring and hold the other end. Then bring the clasp around to latch.

Add a key ring with a staple remover

No more broken nails – to add to your key ring, wedge a staple remover’s teeth between the coils, then clamp down to separate them — a new key will slide on easily.

Organise earrings with spare buttons

If you’re always misplacing one earring or its back, take a moment to pair them through the holes of an old button. Plus, they’ll look attractive and be easier to find in your jewellery box.

Quiet a squeaky door with cooking spray

Spritz a little cooking spray on a squeaky door hinge, then swing the door back and forth to work it in and quiet the creaking. Wipe away any drips with a paper towel.

Pack cleaner with shower caps

Start collecting those hotel-freebie shower caps – they are ideal to cover shoes before packing them in a suitcase. The plastic keeps dirty soles from contaminating your clothes.

Remove kitchen odours with a spoon

After slicing onions or crushing garlic, neutralise smelly hands by rubbing fingers on a stainless steel spoon under running water.

Pick up pet hair with rubber gloves

Get pet fur off the sofa faster – pop on a pair of slightly dampened rubber gloves and run them over upholstery to quickly collect pet hair.

Scrape surplus paint with a rubber band

Stretch one over the top of a paint can and use it to wipe excess paint from the brush. With its edges kept clean, the can will be a breeze to seal back up.

Buff away stains with an emery board

Use this manicure staple for more than just shaping your nails — it can gently buff away stains on suede bags and shoes.