A collector of practical information, Jean MacLeod had useful tips scattered around her home: in the back of recipe files, in her personal notes, in the front of books. Finally she decided she had to find a better system to organize this goldmine of information, so she arranged the tips into book form: If I'd Only Listened to Mom. This encyclopedic yet accessible volume is the result. Arranged alphabetically by topic in an easy-to-find, easy-to-read format, it offers a potpourri of options--countless simple yet effective solutions to everyday household problems that can save you time as well as money. Hints such as:

To clean car windows rub them with cola which removes grease and film
To silence a dripping faucet, tie a piece of string to the faucet until you can fix it. The water will roll down the string, eliminating the dripping noise.
To prolong the life of batteries, scrape both ends with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board
To remove stains from carpet, spray foamy shaving cream on the stain, allow to sit for a few seconds, then rinse with a damp sponge.

And many, many more.