Did you know you could use your LIPSTICK to start a fire? Household beauty hacks revealed

FINDING the perfect tool to help out around the house isn’t always easy, and constantly buying new things is expensive.

But you may not have to bother, as your make-up bag could contain all that you need to get jobs done at home.

For example, you can use your lipstick as an emergency fire starter, thanks to the flammable oils that they contain.

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have an open fire at home, this trick could come in handy if you go camping.

For the green fingered, a make-up sponge is a great investment.

Place a wet sponge at the bottom of a potted plant to help it retain moisture, or dip it in sugar water and hang from a tree to create a butterfly feeder.

Clear nail varnish should be in the sewing kit of every seamstress, as dipping the end of thread into clear nail varnish makes it much easier to thread a needle.

If you need to break in a new pair of shoes, bring out the hairdryer.

Wearing thick socks, put on the shoes and then blast the hairdryer over the areas that usually rub.

You can also remove embarrassing sticky labels using your hairdryer- again simply blast the label and the heat will melt the glue, making it easy to simply peel off.

Your straighteners can also be a useful tool for more than just styling your hair.

If you don’t have time to iron, use the straighteners- they are particularly good on skirt cuffs but can also work wonders on creased tops.

And if your new favourite pair of jeans are too long but you don’t have time to hem them, simply turn them up and run your straighteners over them.

The heat will set the crease and remove the need for sewing.

A simple trick to keeping fresh flowers alive for longer is to spray the underside of the cut stems with hairspray.

This will seal in moisture allowing you to enjoy the bouquet for a little longer.

A fresh scent is easily achieved without a room spray.

Spray your lampshades with perfume, switch the light on and warmth from the bulb will heat up the shade, spreading the scent throughout the room.

Your shampoo and conditioner have many uses away from the shower.

If you want to stop your mirrors fogging up, put a small amount of shampoo on a paper towel, rub onto the mirror and wipe off with a clean cloth.

And if you find yourself ready to set a fresh load of laundry but have run out of fabric softener, just use conditioner, as it will do exactly the same job.

Finally, cleaning tools are closer than you’d think.

Mascara brushes are perfect for reaching into small, delicate spaces such as ornaments or jewellery to get them sparkling.

And a make-up wipe is the best way to clean a keyboard — no more blowing on it to get out the annoying dust and dirt.

Speaking about the tips and tricks, Joanne Dodds from online beauty retailer Hairtrade, said: “Making the most out of hair and beauty products is not only cost effective, it’s a time saver too.

“Uncovering these hidden secrets gives a use for products lying around the house and has given us some seriously helpful life hacks.

“It’s also a great way to recycle items we’re finished with like mascara wands and sponges.

“Who would have guessed that our favourite products could do so much — and some.”

The life hacks with beauty products come as experts reveal how often you should really be washing your hair.