Unexpected Uses for Common Household Products
Unexpected uses for products you have around your house can really make your life easier. Here is a list of our favorite common household products that you can use to shine, sharpen, and freshen your home this fall. We hope they put an unexpected smile on your face!
WAX PAPER USES (WP)
If you have interior doors that catch, rub the edges with WP to keep them from sticking.
Swipe non-stick pots and pans for an extra measure of non-stickiness.
Do you get water spots on bathroom and kitchen faucets? Buff the metal with WP, which helps them repel mineral-laced H20.
Champagne cork too big to get back in the bottle? Wad up some WP to make an impromptu cork.
As you apply paint, wrap paint brushes in WP and they won’t dry out between coats!
Wrap up delicate fabrics when you store them away for future use. The wax keeps the light out and the colors from fading or yellowing.
STEEL WOOL USES (SW)
Sharpen your scissors by cutting through a few pieces of steel wool!
Use SW to get the rust off of chrome furniture legs.
Rub SW over water-stained table tops and oil. VOILA!
KETCHUP
Apply some to tarnished copper or silver pieces and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it off for an unexpected, great shine!
TOOTHPICKS
Attach a toothpick to the end of a tape roll so you can find it the next time.
SALT
Sprinkle salt on a lemon peel, then rub it on a tea-stained cup or glass.
Make a paste of a few tablespoons of white vinegar and equal parts salt and flour to polish brass.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE USES (HP)
Yellow underarm stains on your white t-shirts? Spray them with HP (let ‘em soak) before you wash.
Ward off plant fungus by adding a little HP to your plant’s water.
Whiten bathtub grout by spraying HP on dry tub grout. Let it bubble and sit for a while then scrub it away with an old toothbrush.
Using HP in your aquarium will help control the algae and won’t hurt the fish (but only use it periodically).
VINEGAR USES
Make a shrub! No, not the kind that grows in your yard – this one is for drinking, and it’s a great way to use up fruit. Simply combine fresh fruit, sugar, and vinegar (must be at least five percent acidity). Keep the syrup to use in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for an unexpected pleasure!
Get the grime off your blinds by dipping an old sock in vinegar (slip your hand in it first) and wiping the blinds.
Absorb cooking odors by placing a little white vinegar in a bowl overnight.
Make glasses shine by soaking them in a solution of one part vinegar and three parts warm water with a couple drops of dishwashing liquid.
A one-part vinegar/three-parts water solution also removes bacteria from produce. Just rinse well before eating.
Check out more great life hacks and unexpected uses for lemons, ice, and baking soda.
LIFE’S UNEXPECTED (IN A GOOD WAY!) IN CRYSTAL VALLEY
It’s a great life in Crystal Valley with its proximity to Castle Rock and a million recreational opportunities. Check out the stunning new collections from Richmond American Homes the next chance you get. Priced from the $300s.
