How do you clean spilled candle wax on a wooden floor? And what could scallions possibly have to do with a stuffy nose? Lisa Katayama, a Tokyo native living in San Francisco, answers these and other random questions in her new book, “Urawaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan.”

Each home remedy is accompanied by a scientific explanation of how it works. These “urawaza” — shortcuts that use common household objects to do unusual things—have been passed down from generation to generation, shared among friends and colleagues, and even posted on YouTube. Now you, too, can be a part of the fun.

5 Comments

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  Noripinhead at 04:29 PM JST - 31st March

  I heard that using newspapers saaked in water is good for cleaning windows. But it might only apply to Japanese newspapers. You know, all the news that's fit to wipe.

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  Altria at 04:38 PM JST - 31st March

  Providing an example or 2 might help draw the reader's interest.

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  Taka313 at 10:22 PM JST - 31st March

  Altria, Since you wanted a tip:

  There used to be a TV show that the wife liked that showed certain tips. The one that really impressed (and actually grossed me out) was using an old lint brush (not the sticky type) to clean your window screens. I was shocked at how much dirt windows screens could accumulate and how much dirt the lint brush took off.

  Taka

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  jammer at 04:57 PM JST - 1st April

  I agree with Altria - what a useless advertisement? Certainly doesnt make me want to go out and buy the book. Tickle the taint a bit and give us an example or three?

  Got rats in the attic? Get some of the sake made with snake - the kind you can find in Okinawa (or China etc). Put it in a spray bottle and spray it all over the attack and let it dry. The rats will smell the snake and they wont come round anymore. An old temple trick ;)

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  Sarge at 03:46 PM JST - 2nd April

  How do you clean spilled candle wax on a wooden floor? That's easy! You just set it on fire!

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