Home Other uses for products commonly found around the house?

[sugarpie honeybun]

Not sure if there’s already a thread on this topic (there must be?!), but I thought it would be fun to hear some of your multi-purpose uses for certain items that are commonly found around the house. For example, the infamous “toothpaste on a zit” method for clearing a blemish, or using dryer sheets to dust furniture (works great- I never knew this until recently). What else is out there?

 

[elrohwen]

White vinegar is awesome for cleaning up pet pee accidents, even on carpet. I keep a spray bottle of 50/50 vinegar/water handy for cleaning my bunny''s litter box and it neutralizes the smell. I''m sure it would work equally well for cat litter boxes or doggy pee on carpet.

Cider vinegar in the bottom of a glass makes a decent fruit fly trap. This past summer we had fruit flies everywhere (I totally blame DH for all the bananas he buys) and we had a few glasses sitting around with apple cider vinegar to catch them. Worked pretty well. Sometimes the flies would just land inside the glass, but not in the vinegar, so I would quickly cover it with a piece of plastic wrap and then shake to get all of the sneaky flies down into the vinegar, then throw out.

 

[somethingshiny]

Vinegar is a great deodorizer. Just pour some in a shallow dish and leave it on the counter for a couple hours. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly and so do the odors.

Cinnamon sticks in a teapot of water is a great winter time humidity/fragrance.

Shaving cream used to clean a bathroom mirror keeps it from fogging up.

Coffee filters leave no lint when cleaning windows.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I use white vinegar in place of fabric softener. It removes the residue from bath towels and makes them softer and more absorbent.

 

[noelwr]

damn... can''t think of any. guess I''m a strictly follow the instructions type of girl. how boring.

guys, does the vinegar smell not hang around or is white vinegar odorless?

 

[somethingshiny]

The vinegar smell is very diluted with water and smells like "nothing" very quickly.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

The vinegar smell is gone by the time you take it out of the dryer. It dissipates as it dries so even if you hung it to dry it''d be gone by the time you wanted to wear it.

 

[Lynnie]

Talcum powder for squeaky floors and hinges.
Ketchup will clean copper.

 

[NYCsparkle]

if you put plain listerine arouind doorways it keeps the mosquitos out.

 

[Lorelei]

Old trick here, when cleaning windows, buffing with crumpled up newspaper leaves a streak/ smear free finish.

You can stuff shoes which are too tight with slightly damp newspaper, it will stretch them slightly.

Baking soda makes an excellent cleaner and is safe to use in pet's quarters when diluted with water.

Use old panty hose to buff up shoes.

 

[BeachRunner]

Date: 2/10/2010 10:26:37 AM
Author: Lorelei
Old trick here, when cleaning windows, buffing with crumpled up newspaper leaves a streak/ smear free finish.

You can stuff shoes which are too tight with slightly damp newspaper, it will stretch them slightly.

Baking soda makes an excellent cleaner and is safe to use in pet''s quarters when diluted with water.

Use old panty hose to buff up shoes.

Coffee filters also work very well. I guess old newspaper is more cost efficient

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

This is great, useful info! I had no idea that vinegar was so multi-functional. It almost reminds me of how everyone used Windex for everything in that movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Ha!

I love the idea of using talcum powder on squeaky floors and hinges. Our house is old and creaky and the noises always wake up our 4 month old. Def going to try this out today.

Shaving cream to clean bathroom mirrors and prevent fogging? Another useful trick that I will try today.

It’s great learning different ways to use everyday products. Thanks for sharing!

 

[mayachel]

HH- When/how do you add the vinegar for fabric softner?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

May, I add it to the fabric softener dispenser (front loading HE washer) and I use about a cup. You can add it to the rinse cycle for top loaders or inside a downy ball works too.

 

[Octavia]

Shower caps (unused) are perfect for covering bread dough while it rises.

Lemon is great for cleaning and deodorizing tons of stuff in the kitchen, add salt to it and it gets copper pots shining like new.

If you have a drain that runs a little slow but isn''t completely clogged, put 1/4 c baking soda down the drain and the slowly pour in 1/2 to 3/4 c vinegar -- the "volcano" will clear out the scuzz in the pipe.

 

[ksinger]

Baking soda sprinkled in the oven, and then pour vinegar on it. Bubbles the grease right off, no fumes, no lye, and as effective as oven cleaner. My mom showed me how to do that...

 

[honey22]

I know it''s slightly off topic, but I use my ultrasonic cleaner to clean the tap aerators when the clog. I just unscrew the ends of the taps, and in they go for a few cycles - good as new. Note - I don''t wash my jewellery at the same time!

 

[somethingshiny]

You can also use the US to clean eyeglasses. It will remove the gunk that builds up between the lens and frame and any thing from the screws and nosepads. You just have to tighten the screws when they''re done because they''ll usually vibrate loose.

Another eyeglass tip, when your screws are tight, coat the joint with clear fingernail polish to prevent them from loosening. You can also use clear polish on the temples if you''re having a breakout or allergic reaction to the metal.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/10/2010 10:52:58 AM
Author: sugarpie honeybun
This is great, useful info! I had no idea that vinegar was so multi-functional. It almost reminds me of how everyone used Windex for everything in that movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Ha!

I was thinking this too! Haha. I rarely cook with vinegar, but I always have it around for other things.

 

[Rachel9]

Alka-Seltzer takes care of burnt/stubborn stains off Pyrex bakeware. Fill the pan with watter, add 5-6 tabs, let soak for an hour, stains scrub away fast. Same goes for flour vases, fill half way add a tab and when fizz stops, rinse.
Baby poser takes care of sandy feet, hands, towels, bathing suits, etc,

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Also for cleaning vessles with tight spaces (bud vases, etc). A little hot water, dish soap (or windex) and rice, swish around to remove the gunk inside and then rinse.