12 hacks of Christmas: A dozen seasonal shortcuts
If your turkey comes out of the oven and it’s very dry, there’s a simple way to salvage it.
One of the most stressful parts of any family Christmas is the dinner, so don’t let a grimy oven get the in-laws whispering. There are plenty of shortcuts to clean an oven in a pinch, including my own go-to: A dishwasher tablet.
If the glass on your oven door is caked in dirt and grime, dip a solid dishwasher tablet in warm water and use it to scrub the door, which will tackle even the most burnt-in stains.
To deep-clean the entire oven without spending the day scrubbing, make a paste of equal parts bicarbonate of soda and dish soap. Slather this on the surface and let the mixture sit overnight to break down any tough grime.
The following day, spray the mixture with vinegar so it fizzes and bubbles. Wipe away the mixture with a damp cloth to reveal a shiny oven.
To prevent festive cooking disasters, make a timetable for the day so your potatoes are not sitting mashed and ready on the table 20 minutes before the turkey comes out of the oven.
Calculate how long each will take to cook: If the turkey will take two hours to cook, make sure you note what time you should start the potatoes, vegetables, and other trimmings to ensure they are all ready at the same time.
If your cooking times are miscalculated, there are ways to salvage your meal without anyone noticing.
If you own a slow cooker, this is a lifesaver when your mashed potatoes are ready too early.
Simply pop it into the pot and keep the setting on low or warm to stop the spuds from going cold.
This approach also works for other dishes that might be ready early or need to be cooked first if you’re short on oven space.
And if someone makes the gravy too early, don’t worry: Just pour it into an insulated travel mug or flask to keep it hot and fresh until needed.
This is the ultimate cooking backup plan.
If your turkey comes out of the oven and it’s very dry, there’s a simple way to salvage it.
Soak the bird in hot stock for 15 minutes to moisten the meat, and your guests won’t notice anything has gone wrong.
To be extra sure nothing goes wrong, though, make sure you own a meat thermometer so you can monitor the turkey’s temperature properly while it roasts.
If things get a little too merry and wine spills, don’t reach for the white wine — it’s a myth that white wine can help lift a red wine stain.
Instead, act quickly and spread a generous helping of a dry powder, such as table salt — the best option — baking soda, talcum powder, or even cat litter, on the stain, and allow it to sit for a few minutes to pull the liquid up from the fabric.
Next, blot the stain — never rub it. Rubbing can embed it further into the fabric.
If a slight stain remains, apply hot water and blot some more.
The water dilutes the wine while the heat loosens its grip on the fabric.
Many of us light candles at this time of year, from festive scents to atmospheric table candles.
However, discovering candle wax has dripped onto fabrics, such as tablecloths, can dampen spirits.
Wax is tricky to remove through traditional laundry methods, but there is a way to make your tablecloth as good as new.
All you need to do is place a paper towel over the stain and gently press it with a warm — but not hot — iron.
The heat will loosen the wax, which then gets absorbed into the tissue paper.
If you have a go-to set of silverware that only gets used at Christmas, knowing how to get it super shiny before the big day is a great skill.
Line your sink with tin foil and fill it with warm water. Soak your dulled silverware in this, adding a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda.
Let it sit in the mixture for 15 minutes before rinsing and buffing dry your cutlery, giving it a dazzling shine in very little time.
Drinking glasses for wine and bubbly are another often-neglected item for 11 months of the year, sitting forgotten in cabinets and presses.
To freshen these up and add a sparkling shine, mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a bowl.
Dip a soft cloth, such as a microfibre cloth, into this and use it to polish your glasses for a streak-free shine.
Dry them with a lint-free cloth, and they are ready to be used.
Do you struggle to turn wrapping paper and tape into a prettily wrapped present? Don’t panic — fake it. Instead of wrapping the items, use a box to conceal your gifts.
You can buy beautiful gift boxes in many stores, so you can simply place your gifts inside for minimal effort.
Alternatively, use boxes you already have from online orders you’ve had delivered. This option is more eco-friendly, and you could decorate the plain box with a stick-on bow.
It’s the thought behind the gift that counts, after all, not the packaging.
Speaking of eco-friendly wrapping, why not make your own gift tags instead of buying more?
You can cut up the fronts of old Christmas cards so a festive design appears on one side, with a blank space on the other for writing the name and a message.
Alternatively, if you own a photo printer, why not print off a small photo of you with the person getting the gift and write a message on the other side?
It’s practical, thoughtful, and they get a cherished photo and note to keep forever.
If you want to pop a wreath on your front door, but either cannot or do not want to drill a hole to hang it from a nail, you have other options.
I use a stick-on hook. These are available in a variety of sizes to suit different weights and can usually be easily removed after Christmas.
I start by hanging my hook inside the door, then I turn it upside down, and tie one end of a long string to it.
The other end of the string goes over the top of the door and holds the wreath outside.
After Christmas, I just flip it upside down and use it to hold items like woolly hats or the dog’s lead.
If you live in an apartment or in a home that doesn’t have a chimney breast, little ones might worry about Santa finding his way to their tree on Christmas Eve.
Even though we all know Santa’s magic finds a way, a simple alternative is to gather some cardboard boxes and tape them together into the shape of a fireplace.
Find some wrapping paper that looks like bricks (or splash out on a brick-look wallpaper) and cover the boxes.
Now you have a festive fireplace to decorate, and your child won’t worry about Santa getting inside the house.
It’s also light enough to move around and can be dismantled and reused next year.
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