Pile up the largest fruit bowl you have with apples, satsumas and clementines and nuts for cracking. Christmas is a time for feasting, but sometime people over-indulge, so it’s good to offer everyone some fruit and nuts to cut through the richness. It makes a great display, too, especially if the citrus fruit has leaves on.

To remove stubborn stains from your trusty pots and pans, boil 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1/2 cup vinegar and a cup of water in each pan for ten minutes. Before using the pan again, season it with a small amount of light oil.

To take the sweat out of cleaning tough stains off the inside of a microwave oven, microwave a lemon for one minute. I know it sounds odd, but this method is known to shift stains. And if you find that a stain still won't budge, give the lemon another minute until it does.

Are your kitchen knives blunt after years of use? Sharp knives are much safer to use because they don't slip, and they take a lot less time and effort to use. Sharpening stones are available for under £10 and they could save you a finger or two.