BEST ADVICE EVER

Enjoy two months of spring blooms. (See tip #22.)

1 Planning to rearrange your living room furniture? Use your tape measure before your muscles to make sure the new floor plan fits. — 1977

2 Houseplants that never go outdoors need to have their foliage cleaned often. Regularly wipe leaves with a damp cloth. — 1977

3 Before you sink your teeth into a chocolate bunny or a cream-filled Easter egg, check the label. If the package says “chocolate- flavoured” or “chocolaty,” it isn’t chocolate. — 1980

4 Never clean the skirt or pants of a two-piece suit without the jacket. Always do both pieces at the same time because dry cleaning may affect the colour. — 1981

5 Get children involved in cooking as early as possible. Let even the youngest have a job, such as listening for the rice to boil or the timer to buzz. — 1982

CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS th

ofCANADIAN LIVING BEST ADVICE EVER!

40 timeless tips from the archives of Canadian Living

Throughout our anniversary year, we’ll be dipping into past issues to share inspired ideas that are as fresh today as when they first hit the page. Here are four decades’ worth of wisdom from the April issues of Canadian Living.

6 Don’t allow frozen fruit and vegetables to stand at room temperature after thawing because flavour, appearance and texture start to deteriorate. — 1982

7 To open a champagne bottle safely and efficiently, remove the wire, hold the cork firmly in one hand and turn slowly to loosen. With the other hand, rotate the bottle in the opposite direction and pull down to release the cork. — 1983

8 Move your medications out of the bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and humidity from hot showers can interfere with the effectiveness of many drugs. — 1983 9 If April showers dampen your straw hat, let it dry naturally, away from direct heat and sunlight. — 1984

10 Still hungry after you’ve eaten? Wait 20 minutes before consuming more. The craving will often pass in that time. — 1984

Make brunch a total breeze in one simple step. (See tip #13.)

11 Reduce the risk of basement leaks by covering window wells with clear plastic canopies and attaching diversion pipes to the bottom of downspouts to direct water away from the house. — 1986

12 Start your strengthtraining workout with a three-minute warm-up for each body part you want to focus on. Giant arm circles, side lunges, slow trunk twists and knee hugs are all good ways to loosen up. — 1986

13 Take the burden off of brunch by preparing hollandaise sauce ahead of time and keeping it warm in a preheated vacuum bottle. — 1986

14 To make your house look as large as possible from the street, paint the exterior in light colours with little contrast. — 1986

15 Simple modern suiting demands dramatic accessories that will lend interest to the spare lines of the outfit. — 1986

16 If you run out of buttermilk in the middle of a recipe, add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a liquid measure and top with milk until you have half a cup. Let stand for five minutes. — 1990

Goldfinches love thistle seeds. (See tip #38.)

17 Keep track of your headaches. Some are brought on by hormones and may correlate with your menstrual cycle. — 1990 18 Have fun when renovating your home. Make a family time capsule from a watertight container and bury it in the yard or place it inside concrete blocks or walls. — 1991 19 Before applying eye makeup, dot concealer on your lid and brow bone. This step can be done instead of primer to help eyeshadow and liner stay put. — 1995 20 Eat protein—such as a poached egg or peanut butter with fruit—for breakfast to reduce hunger and avoid overeating at lunch. — 1995 21 Supplement your cardio routine with weight training on alternate days. The more muscle you have, the faster you can convert stored calories into energy. — 1996 22 Plant a mix of early-, middle- and late-blooming tulips. This could give you nearly two months of spring blooms. — 1997 23 If your deck has limited sunlight, use mature shadeloving plants and rotate containers every few days to maximize growth. — 1998 24 To see if pasta is cooked, remove a noodle and let it cool slightly before tasting. It’s ready if it is tender but slightly firm and still holds its shape. — 1998

25 Don’t choose countertops that are porous (they attract stains) or textured (they trap dirt). — 1999

26 Never carpet a bathroom.

— 1999

Go for the bold. (See tip #15.)

27 File your nails in one direction. Sawing back and forth can cause nails to weaken and split. — 2000

28 Schedule a Pap test and an appointment to talk to your doctor before trying to conceive. If anything abnormal shows up, you and your physician can make a plan to deal with it before you become pregnant. — 2001

29 When measuring liquid ingredients, crouch down so your eye is level with the measuring cup for more precision. — 2004

30 Shake a generous amount of baking soda into a pot with baked-on food. Add hot water and dish detergent, then let stand for 15 minutes before washing. — 2005 31 Be gentle on your scalp when shampooing. Scrubbing overstimulates the oil glands, as does overwashing. — 2005

32 The trick to eating an artichoke is to pull off each leaf, dip the bottom in butter and pull between your teeth to release the tender part. Discard the remainder of the tough leaf. — 2006

33 Storing away winterwear? It’s always best to fold lightweight knits and wool sweaters; they stretch out on hangers. — 2007

34 Ditch toxic mothballs in favour of dried lavender–filled sachets. They’ll discourage fabric-eating pests and keep your clothes smelling fresh, too. — 2007

35 Select plants for your garden that are native to your area. They’ll be naturally resistant to pests and disease and won’t hog nutrients. — 2008

36 Dig coffee grounds into garden beds to add nitrogen to the soil. — 2008 37 Clean or replace your furnace filter every two to three months. You’ll help the environment and save as much as 10 percent on your heating bill. — 2009

38 Fill a bird feeder with sunflower seeds to draw finches and cardinals, thistle seeds for goldfinches and purple finches, and millet for juncos and doves. — 2011

39 Instead of installing a new low-flow toilet, reduce your toilet’s tank capacity. It’s as easy as placing a plastic jug of water or gravel in the tank. — 2011

40 Looking for health information? Steer clear of blogs and chat rooms, where there’s no telling fact from fiction. — 2014

Smooth nonporous countertops are the easiest to keep clean. (See tip #25.)

IS THERE A PARTICULAR TIP FROM A PAST ISSUE OF CANADIAN

LIVING THAT YOU’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT CL40th@canadianliving.com.