The uncommon powers of 13 common items
to finish reading this article before wrapping. Pennies
Dropping a pre-1982 penny and a pinch of sugar into a vase helps cut flowers last longer because the copper acts as a fungicide. (In 1982 the composition of pennies was changed from mostly copper to mostly zinc.)
Check your tire tread depth by sticking Lincoln headfirst into the tread. If his entire head is still showing, you need new tires.
Pennies can stabilize tippy tables and other furniture too. I have a small fountain in my yard, and the installer stuck a couple of pennies between the basin and base to level it. 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 gives you just enough grip to get the job done.
Stick rubber bands over the ends of hangers for a cheap but effective way of keeping strappy tops and slinky sweaters from slipping off.
Stretch a rubber band from the bottom of a can of paint up over the open top and use it to wipe your brush to remove excess paint and prevent drips. Rubber gloves
Use them to get a better grip on toughto-open jars.
Put them on to pull poison oak or ivy and emerge unscathed. (You should probably dispose of them afterward.)
Don the gloves, dampen them slightly and run your hands over your upholstered furniture to remove pet hair. Drinking straws
String chain necklaces through drinking straws to keep them from getting tangled while in storage.
Use straws to support delicate flower stems when you make a homemade bouquet.
When storing food in a zipper bag, close all but a quarter of an inch, then stick a straw in and suck the air out of the bag before closing all the way. This should prevent freezer burn. Toothbrushes
We’ve all probably used an old toothbrush to clean around faucets or scrub grout, but it’s also the perfect tool to clean mud out of the treads of your shoes.
You can use an extra toothbrush to clean your cheese grater without grating your fingers.
Try using a toothbrush to remove silk from corn. Vinegar
The acetic acid in vinegar can kill weeds, although expert gardeners suggest using it just on those in the cracks of your pavement because it can also kill your plants.
I can vouch for apple cider vinegar as a great clarifier that removes product buildup from your hair.
Some swear that a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar will stop the hiccups.