Got a bottle of cheap shampoo hanging around the shower? Put it to good use … not on your hair but on those grungy walls and the floor, too. No kidding. Our first great reader tip today reveals the other part of the recipe.

SHAMPOO THE SHOWER. A great solution for cleaning the shower is shampoo and baking soda. Dampen a cloth. Add about two tablespoons (or a palmful) of shampoo and a sprinkle of baking soda to the cloth. Lather to mix well, then wipe down the shower and tub with the soapy cloth. Rinse the cloth again. Wipe off shampoo. This gives your shower a streakless, clean shine. -- Rachel, Ohio

SOFT COOKIES. Tired of making cookies that get hard overnight? Put a piece of bread in the airtight container full of cookies, and they will remain soft until they're gone. When the bread gets hard, replace it with a new piece. Works every time. -- Charlene S., Florida

SHOE SCUFFS. Recently at an airport, I saw a custodian cleaning shoe scuffs off the floor with a tennis ball attached to a broomstick. It took them right off. You don't even need to use the broomstick -- just a quick rub with a tennis ball does the trick.

-- B.F., New York

OIL-SPOT REMOVER. If you are in a restaurant and get oil or grease on your clothing, ask the waiter for a tablespoon of flour from the kitchen. If you rub it into the spot, allow it to dry and then brush off the spot, you likely will be able to finish your day without a noticeable spot. Be sure to pre-treat the stain before laundering. -- Beth S., e-mail

CUPCAKE CAKE. I love what our local grocery does with cupcakes for special occasions. They place all of the cupcakes tightly together before frosting and then cover the whole batch so that it looks like a cake. Then they decorate the "cake" with "Happy Birthday" or another special message. When you are ready to serve, the cupcakes come apart as individual servings with icing! -- Toni A., Florida

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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