Recently while shopping browsing looking (with money and cards buried deep in my pocket) around a rather elegant ladies clothing shop, a blast from the past accosted my nostrils. Something I associated with the next door neighbour from my childhood days. It was the smell of mothballs. A lady of a certain age had passed close by me. Her outfit was elegant, expensive and very high fashion. Alas the mothballs had killed the whole effect. PERMANENTLY!

Moths are beginning to make an appearance once more, so what can we do?

The best method to keep the moths away is to keep worn clothes and freshly laundered clothes in separate wardrobes/closets. Save and dry slivers of used soap bars & tie them in tiny net drawstring bags and hang them alongside your clothes. Now, not only will the moths stay away but your clothes will also smell nice.

For those without a garden who need to buy fresh herbs, wrap any leftovers in a slightly damp kitchen towel and place them in a plastic zip lock bag or cover with food wrap and store in the refrigerator to keep them for a few days.

Another tip from Judy that I tested over the last week.

Put any musty smelling old books into a brown paper bag with baking soda in it, close tightly, and let sit for approximately one week.

The next time your mascara runs dry, don’t toss it out. The brush is the perfect size for cleaning small nooks and crannies. Shampoo the bristles and allow them to dry – and get to work!

With all this talk of flu

If you have a sore throat you can soothe a throat by using a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle the solution, and then swallow. You can also add a touch of honey if you don’t like the taste.