photo by ilovebutter
I haven’t noticed my eyes tearing up when cutting onions in a while. I attribute that to using fresh onions, working quickly, cutting the stem end before the root end and using a sharp knife. I’ve heard tips such as using chilled onions or applying vinegar to your cutting board. The first tip offers a solution that works for one reader.

NO-TEAR ONIONS: If you’re going to cut onions, then make sure that you a) have good ventilation; b) soak them in water; and c) use a sharp knife. I’ve tried the candle-burning trick, the wearing-goggles trick, etc., but I found this simple method to cut onions without crying. I peel off the brown outside (the part that’s attached to the stem of the onion) to where all you have is the yellow/white/red outer layer. I then cut the onion in half, toss it into some water, and let it soak for about 30 minutes. After that, I put the onion on the cutting board and make sure that I use a sharp knife. If you use a dull knife, it’ll tear the skin that holds the odor cells that make the onions stink and spray juice everywhere. — Tisha D., Canada

DISCOUNT CHOCOLATES: Check your local candy factory to see whether they sell factory seconds (slightly imperfect) of their chocolate. — Cherie, Pennsylvania

MAKE BOOKMARKS: Use the back of the calender, where they have mini pictures of what’s inside. I cut out two equal-sized strips of mini pictures and glue them together. After gluing but before hole punching, I make sure to lay the bookmark between two heavy objects while it’s drying to keep it straight. I then use a hole punch to make a hole 1/2 inch from the top and tie on some pretty ribbon or a tassel (I have a collection of saved bits of ribbon from gift boxes/chocolates, etc.). Voila! A beautiful bookmark. — K.K., Canada

REUSE SHIRTS: I just made napkins out of my husband’s old shirts. He wears a lot of polos, and they get stained or otherwise ruined. I pile them up and then cut the shirt into two large squares and sew up the unfinished edges. He thinks it’s funny that he really is wiping his face on his shirt. — Heather, Massachusetts

ORGANIZE FREEZER: I have a traditional fridge with a freezer on top. I put the shelf up as high as it can go, and I keep ice trays, bread, etc., there. On the bottom, I keep two wide plastic dollar-store baskets. In one, I keep meat standing up to save space and nonmeat items in the other. It keeps everything from falling all over the place. I take the whole basket out when I come from grocery shopping and move the older stuff to the front. — Reba, Maryland

SEWING/MENDING TIP: I always keep two sewing needles threaded and ready to go: one with black thread and one with white. That way, when I need to do a quick repair and I’m in a hurry, I can do it quickly. It has come in handy for me many times when I am trying to get out the door and found a pocket ripped or a button loose. — C.G., Maine

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