Life in business is busy enough without stressing about housework. Even in this era of supposed equality, the truth is that many of us feel we still manage the bigger share of household duties – successful business women and all.

To help things run more smoothly, try these helpful housework hacks (or get someone else to do them instead!).

1. Broken glass? Pick up the bigger pieces and sweep for any obvious shards but then hunt down those impossible-to-see shards with a piece of humble white bread. Pressing a squishy slice of sandwich bread onto the area the glass fell is a good way to collect dangerous glass splinters. For extra care, wipe the area over with a damp paper towel.
2. Restore dented carpets. If heavy furniture has left impression in your carpet, you can remove the evidence by simply placing an ice-cube on the affected area. Leave it overnight and, in the morning, use a fork to gently pry the fibres upwards.
3. Fog-free mirrors. Scrawl lightly over your bathroom mirror with a cake of dry soap, then rub the residue away with a soft cloth. Your mirror should be fog-free.
4. Unwanted odours – be gone! A light sprinkle of baking soda is a cheap way to deal with nasty lingering smells. Just apply it to the couch or carpet, leave for a few minutes, then vacuum away.
5. No more ants in the kitchen. Double-sided tape as a barrier to your windows and doorways can keep unwanted creepy crawlies away.
6. Sparkly windows in time for spring. Adding a tablespoon of corn starch to one litre of lukewarm water is all you need. Simply spray on, then wipe off with newspaper, a clean cloth or a glass squeegee.
7. Remove mattress stains. ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide mixed with one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and a generous sprinkle of table salt can be all you need to remove yucky stains. Rub the paste in, then scrape away.
8. Rust removal made easy. Rust stains in your hand-basin or bathtub can be removed by applying a paste made of cream of tartar and distilled white vinegar. Let it sit on the affected area for at least 10 minutes, then rub with a rag and rinse with soapy water.
9. Fragrant fridge. To soak up those nasty fridge smells, place a cup of either white vinegar, baking soda, or dried coffee grounds, on one of the shelves of your fridge. Change it every couple of weeks for a fresh-smelling fridge.