RasoiCotton cloth as a tea strainer
Strainer missing or clogged? A clean thin cotton cloth stretched over the cup and held with one hand does the job, and it catches the fine adrak bits that a steel strainer lets through.
Jugaads for “tea”
18 resultsRasoiRasoi
Tea strainer as a tiny sieve
For sifting a small quantity of maida, cocoa or icing sugar, the tea chalni is the right size and already in the drawer. Tap the rim rather than pressing the powder through.
Rasoi
Curd instead of a marinade you do not have
Plain dahi with salt, haldi and whatever masala is in the house tenderises paneer, soya and vegetables as well as anything sold as a marinade. Half an hour is enough; overnight makes it mushy.
Rasoi
Revive stale bread over steam
Hold day-old pav or bread over the steam of boiling water for ten seconds a side. The crumb softens and it tastes fresh again. Eat it the same hour — steamed bread goes hard faster than it did before.
Rasoi
Masala jaldi khatam ho to steel katori se napo
Har ghar ki chhoti steel katori lagbhag aadha cup hoti hai aur chai ka chammach lagbhag ek teaspoon. Measuring cup kharidne ki zaroorat kabhi padi hi nahi.
Paani
Hear the tank overflow before it starts
Tie the overflow pipe so it discharges onto a steel sheet or an upturned bucket instead of straight down the wall. The clatter tells the whole house the motor needs switching off, and it costs nothing.
Bijli
Photograph the meter reading every month
One photo a month on the same date. When a bill arrives that looks wrong you have proof instead of an argument, and you can see for yourself which month the usage jumped.
Bijli
Label the MCBs once, thank yourself for years
Spend twenty minutes switching each MCB off and noting what dies, then write it on the box in marker. When something trips at 11pm you will know exactly which one to flip instead of guessing in the dark.
Ghar
Old sock over the broom for the fan
Pull a long sock over a broom handle, slide it along each fan blade and pull back. The dust comes off inside the sock instead of onto the bed. Turn the sock inside out over the bin.
Ghar
Rubber band around the paint tin
Stretch a wide rubber band across the mouth of the paint tin and wipe the brush on the band instead of the rim. The rim stays clean, the lid seals properly, and the tin does not glue itself shut.
Rasoi
Cool rice fast on a thali
Spread hot rice thin on a steel thali before packing a tiffin. It cools in minutes instead of steaming inside the box, which is what makes packed rice smell off by lunch.
Rasoi
Butter paper from the milk packet
The inner sheet from a butter or ghee wrapper greases a tawa or cake tin perfectly. Keep two folded in the drawer instead of buying butter paper.
RasoiSteel plate on the pressure cooker
Put a heavy steel plate on top of the cooker lid while the dal cooks. Pressure holds steadier, the whistle stops spitting starch over the whole platform, and the dal is done faster.
BijliRouter on top of the almirah
Wi-Fi weak in the back room? Move the router high and central instead of behind the TV. Height beats everything — no new hardware, no plan upgrade. Keep it away from the microwave and the fish tank.
BijliPhone torch + water bottle = room lantern
Stand your phone torch-up under a transparent bottle full of water. The water scatters the beam into soft light that fills the whole room instead of one harsh spot. The classic power-cut move, and it still works better than most emergency lights.
Mausam
Cross-ventilation beats one big fan
Open a window on the shaded side and one on the opposite wall, and put the fan facing out of the hot-side window rather than into the room. You are pushing hot air out instead of stirring it around.
Rasoi
Keep coriander alive in a glass of water
Stand the dhaniya stems in a glass with an inch of water, like flowers, and put a loose cover over the leaves in the fridge. Ten days instead of three. Change the water when it clouds.
Rasoi
Salt on a fresh oil stain
Cover a fresh oil spill on the kitchen platform with a thick layer of salt and leave it ten minutes. The salt drinks the oil and sweeps off dry, instead of you smearing it around with a wet cloth.
That is all 18 of them. बस, इतना ही।