EXTRAORDINARY USES FOR ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Everyday objects like elastics, straws and lemons can save you money and storage space
What if you could keep fewer products in your house by choosing items with multiple uses? I wanted to know which household products have the most uses and most useful alternative uses.
I searched for articles and blogs about amazing alternative uses for common household items. Then I searched further to see which of those items was the subject of the most articles or the longest lists.
I decided every tip I shared should be unisex. And I instituted a “get real” rule: The uses had to be tasteful and not too taxing.
Here, in alphabetical order, are the 14 most useful household products in our homes, according to the internet and me:
BABY POWDER
Sprinkle it on tangled jewelry to get knots out.
Put talc on your hairbrush and brush into roots as a dry shampoo.
Dust into stale -smelling books to freshen their scent.
Leave around doors or windows to repel ants.
BAKING SODA
We know to stick a box in the fridge, but sprinkling baking soda in a stinky hamper also helps with odours there.
Use it to scrub the grate of your barbecue grill.
Baking soda and water solution is the most effective method of washing pesticides from produce.
CLEAR NAIL POLISH
You can use it to stop runs in stockings, but it also works to keep buttons from unravelling. Just dab a tiny drop onto the loose thread at the centre of the button.
Paint over inexpensive jewelry so it won’t turn your skin green.
Give handwritten labels a coating to make them smudge proof.
COCONUT OIL
Remove price tag residue by rubbing a 50 -50 mixture of coconut oil and baking soda on the spot. Season cast iron pans.
Try it as a cheap, natural moisturizer.
EMERY BOARD
Sharpen utility knives, tweezers and sewing machine needles.
Remove stains on suede shoes and clothing by gently buffing.
If your sweaters are pilling, try running an emery board over the little bumps to remove them.
LEMONS
Running a lemon rind through your garbage disposal will freshen the smell; lemons can also deodorize a microwave. Zap a bowl of water and half a lemon for five minutes.
The acid in lemon juice cuts through soap scum on shower doors and other bathroom spots.
Remove coffee and tea stains from mugs by soaking them with lemon peel and warm water.
MAYONNAISE
Water rings can be removed by dabbing on mayonnaise, letting it sit for an hour, then wiping with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary. Remove gum from your hair. Others swear by mayonnaise for healing hangnails.
NEWSPAPER
You can shine dark shoes by balling up newspaper and briskly rubbing them
Make newspaper balls, spray them with water and stuff them in your refrigerator to soak up smells.
Wrapping green tomatoes in newspaper helps them ripen faster. Wash before eating!
PENNIES
Dropping a pre- 1996 penny and a pinch of sugar into a vase helps cut flowers last longer because the copper acts as a fungicide.
Check your tire tread depth by sticking The Queen headfirst into the tread. If her entire head is still showing, you need new tires.
Pennies can stabilize tippy tables and other furniture, too.
RUBBER BANDS
If a screw gets stripped as you’re trying to remove it, stick a section of rubber band into the stripped area and it’ll give you enough grip.
Stick rubber bands over the ends of hangers to keep slinky sweaters from slipping off.
Stretch a rubber band from the bottom of a paint can over the open top and use it to wipe your brush to remove paint and prevent drips.
RUBBER GLOVES
Use them to get a better grip on tough -to- open jars.
Wear rubber gloves to pull poison oak or ivy and emerge unscathed.
Don the gloves, dampen them, and run your hands over furniture to remove pet hair.
STRAWS
String chain necklaces through straws to prevent tangling.
Use straws to support delicate flower stems in a bouquet.
Use a straw to suck the air from a zipper bag before closing it back up, to prevent freezer burn.
TOOTHBRUSHES
Toothbrushes are great for cleaning around faucets or scrubbing grout.
Use an extra toothbrush to clean your cheese grater.
Try using a toothbrush to remove silk from corn.
VINEGAR
The acetic acid in vinegar can kill weeds, although it can also kill your plants.
Apple cider vinegar removes product buildup from your hair.
Spray a vinegar and water solution on your car windows to prevent frost.