The 7 Best Pieces of Homemaking Advice From Martha Stewart

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Martha Stewart's name is synonymous with clever tips and tricks. Even as time has advanced, her tips remain the gold standard of anything homemaking. Here's a collection of some of her most useful advice on anything from flavoring foods to cleaning your grungy down comforters. (See also: 7 Old Fashioned Skills That Save You Money)

1. Hard Boiling Eggs

Eggs are inexpensive, portable protein bites that are nutritious and delicious to boot. I've used Martha's instructions on how to hard boil eggs many times with perfect results. Place a dozen eggs in a large saucepan and cover with an inch of cold water. Bring water to boil over medium heat, then cover and remove from the burner. After 12 minutes, transfer to a colander and soak in cool water to stop the cooking process. Eggs (in shells) stay good for three days, sometimes longer.

2. Preserving Herbs

Martha helps us save money by offering some tips on how to preserve summer herbs for fall and winter enjoyment. There are several methods you can try, including wrapping herbs loosely in tulle fabric inside the fridge. In a couple of weeks, the herbs will dry out and can be packaged in a tin. Blanching and freezing is another great way to preserve and will also keep colors vibrant. Or you can blend a pint of olive oil with a bunch of blanched herbs before freezing into an ice tray for flavorful oil cubes. (See also: Preserving In-Season Foods for Off-Season Feasts)

3. Creating a Cleaning Bucket

Save time on your chores by creating a cleaning bucket with all your supplies in one place. Martha suggests adding a glass cleaner, all-purpose spray, an assortment of scrub brushes, rubber gloves, and a few towels to your collection. My tip? Make your own DIY cleaning supplies and pick up the rest at your local dollar store.

4. Folding Fitted Sheets

Are your fitted sheets crumpled in the linen closet like mine? Martha shows us the right way to fold these fitted sheets to eliminate wrinkles. To start, hold the top two corners in each hand. Flip the right side over onto the left and shake the sheet to get everything lined up correctly on the bottom. Feel your way down the elastic to the next corner and flip it over the others. When you get the final corner squared away, you should be able to fold everything into a neat, flat package.

5. Cleaning Stainless Steel

I have a good collection of stainless steel pots and pans I love to use for the bulk of my cooking. Unfortunately, they're marked up from heat and hard water. Martha explains that the best way to get your stainless gleaming again is to rub them with a cloth soaked in white vinegar. Wash after each use to prevent a film from forming. And never soak, as it will result in a pitted surface.

6. Laundering Down

With the cold weather season ahead of us, I'm getting ready to pull out our down comforters again. The thing is, I've never washed them — and they're getting funky. Martha shares that I don't need to take these things to a professional. Instead, I can launder my down by using a mild, low-sudsing detergent in a front-load washer (I'll need a few quarters for the laundromat). To dry, just go through the spin cycle and then tumble on low.

7. Storing Fresh Greens

Fresh kale is one of my go-to snacks, but I feel like it goes bad the minute I stick it in the fridge. Martha offers a simple wash and dry method that will keep greens kicking longer. Just dunk them in cold water to loosen dirt and debris, dry in a salad spinner, wrap loosely in paper towels, and store in a plastic bag. It's as easy as that! (Related: 10 Fruits and Veggies that Stay Fresh a Month or Longer)

What's your favorite bit of homemaking advice from Martha Stewart?

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