Pull bananas apart before displaying them in your fruit bowl. If you leave them connected at the stem, they will ripen faster and go brown quicker.
Separating Bananas, Reheating Pizza, and a Freezer Trick for Envelopes
Did you know that separating bananas from the bunch makes them last longer? Or that the best way to reheat a pizza, so it retains its crispy base, is to warm it in a fry pan? These must-know household hints will change your routine.
Separate Your Bananas
Reheat Pizza in a Fry Pan
To reheat a pizza so the base comes out oven-crisp, heat your leftover slices in a fry pan on low-medium heat on the stove until warm, and wave goodbye to the days of soggy microwave pizza.
Unseal an Envelope With the Freezer
If you seal an envelope and realize you've forgotten to include something inside, just place it in the freezer for an hour or two. The envelope will unseal without a trace.
A Paper Towel Roll as a Vacuum Attachment
Missing a narrow attachment for your vacuum cleaner? To suck up hard-to-reach gunk under your fridge or behind a bookshelf, insert an empty paper towel roll into the end of your vacuum cleaner and bend or flatten it to squeeze into tight spots.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive — 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →