Tip of the week: How to get more use out of your microwave

Clean your socks. “Washing machine broken?” You can clean dirty socks by placing them in a bowl of soapy water and running the microwave on high for 10 minutes.

Sterilize a kitchen sponge. To “de-bug” a sponge, dampen it with water, set your microwave on high, and blast the germs for two minutes.

Remove chewing gum from clothes. Warm a small amount of vinegar in the microwave, then dab the vinegar on the gum with a clean cloth. “The gum should simply peel off.”

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Dry out fresh herbs. Place thyme, oregano, or other herbs on a paper towel. Zap them on high in 30-second bursts until they’re completely dry.

Re-crisp your chips. Renew soggy cereal, potato chips, or crackers by microwaving them on high for 30 seconds.

Source: Daily Mail (U.K.)