Mary Ellen's Giant Book of Helpful Hints: Three Books in One

Shows readers how to save time, trouble, and money on hundreds of household problems, including removing coffee stains, hanging pictures, and removing gum from hair.

Homemakers everywhere are singing out their praises for Mary Ellen Pinkham, the queen of all things domestic. Her innovative and cost-cutting ideas on cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and much, much more are making those pesky household chores a little easier to handle. Pinkham has contributed tips and timesaving ideas to innumerable women's magazines, and has written several books filled with useful suggestions. Mary Ellen's Giant Book of Helpful Hints combines three of these books: Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Hints, Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Hints Book II, and Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Kitchen Hints into one fat collection. The book is clearly indexed for quick reference, as speed is often the key in solving household disasters such as spilling wine on clothing. "When the red wine spills sprinkle the spill immediately with lots of salt. Dunk into cold water and rub the stain out before washing."

Mary Ellen eliminates the need for many expensive household cleaners, substituting products you may already have--she suggests shaving cream and toothpaste for carpet stains, kerosene for adding shine to bathroom fixtures, and cut lemon for removing stains from a bathtub. Some of the beauty tips are inventive but strange. Need a cheap shampoo? Try mixing salt and cornmeal together. There's even a concoction for homemade deodorant that combines baking soda, petroleum jelly, and talcum powder--which must then be heated over a double boiler. This one may not be worth the effort. Yet ultimately Mary Ellen's Giant Book of Helpful Hints is a great time and money saver. --Naomi Gesinger