11 Secret Uses for Common Household Items

This post may contain affiliate links.

Have you ever considered secret uses for all the household items you have in your home? Most people have no idea about the potential of the products they use everyday.

Many ordinary things around your house have hidden features just waiting to make your life a little easier. Studying these household items deeper can help you find effective solutions for everyday problems. Let us take a look at some of these common household items.

Baking Soda for Cleaning

Photo Credit: Pexels

Baking soda is mildly abrasive, enabling it to clean and neutralize smells. It can be used to wash clothes, scrub surfaces, get rid of bad odors in carpets, and even freshen up shoes. It is nontoxic, biodegradable, and a very effective cleaner, much more efficient than commercial brands, yet relatively cheap.

Vinegar as a Fabric Softener

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Some use white vinegar because it is environmentally friendly costs less, and can be used as a fabric softener. You can add half cup to the rinse cycle to soften the clothes naturally while not affecting skin with chemicals. Furthermore, it effectively removes grease and detergent deposits from the garment and has a demulcent effect on your washing machine.

Toothpaste for Removing Scratches

"Life Hacks" I Learned That Are Actual Hacks
Photo by Stef

It applies not only to oral hygiene but also helps to remove minor scratching on something such as CDs, phone screens or car paint. Dip a soft cloth in some non gel toothpaste and gently massage it as it is applied to the scratch and then wiped clean. Removing scratches from DVDs, compact discs, CDs or any other materials is made easy by this technique which proves that toothpaste is not just beneficial for cleaning, but also for polishing.

Lemons for Disinfecting

15 Things You Should Never, Ever Eat at a Buffet
Image credit: Stevepb via Pixabay

According to Sciencedirect, Lemons are known to have antibacterial and antiseptic compounds which makes them a good disinfectant. A slice of lemon helps eliminate stains on metals, eliminate bacteria on the cutting board, or remove odors in the microwave, if you put a bowl of water and slices of lemon and heat them in a microwave oven. But not only do lemons clean well, but after wiping up, there is also the pleasant smell of citrus fruits.

Coffee Grounds to Remove Odors

Creative Ways to Reuse Old Coffee Grounds
Image by Oregon State University via Flickr

According to Bond Cleaning in Perth, Coffee grounds can be used to get rid of bad smells in your house. You can put a small bowl of dry coffee powder in your refrigerator or freezer so that it can counter the smell that you do not like. They should also be thrown into the garbage disposal or placed in the kitchen sink.

Rubber Bands to Tighten when Gripping Jars

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Grab a rubber band and put it around the lid and the result will be a firmer grip that will open easily. This simple trick works because the rubber band offers you more control and does not let your hand slide over the lid. With this device you will no longer have the problem of twisting and turning a jar lid only to ruin your fingers.

Shine Stainless Steel Using Olive Oil

Image credit: Ron Lach/Pexels

Rubbing a few drops of olive oil on a piece of clean cotton can help polish dull stainless steel domestic equipment appliances, faucets or cutlery. Not only does it wipe the fingerprints and smudges but it leaves a very shining surface behind. Moreover, the use of natural products such as olive oil doesn’t depreciate one’s health since they don’t contain synthetic chemicals that are used in common cleaning products.

Dryer Sheets Beyond Laundry

Photo Credit: Pexels

There are many more uses of Dryer sheets other than the standard and expected role of preventing static cling in the dryer. They can be employed to clean fur off furniture, deodorize shoes or even as insect repellent. The anti-static characteristics of microfiber cloth allows it to be utilized in a number of maintenance chores within the home.

Salt for Cleaning Cast Iron Pans

13 Items Astronauts Are Banned From Taking to Space
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Salt is an excellent agent for cleaning cast iron pans without damaging them. After cooking, sprinkle coarse salt onto your skillet while it’s still warm, and scrub it with a paper towel or cloth. The abrasive nature of salt effectively removes stuck-on food bits, leaving your pan clean and ready for its next use. This technique preserves the pots and ensures that your cast iron remains non-stick.

Duct Tape for Furniture Mending

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Most people are aware of the versatility of duct tape but few know that it can be used to fix furniture. Whether there are small rips in the fabric to actual sag of chairs, duct tape can be handy in repairing furniture on the run. This is perfect for the time being especially if you do not want a permanent fix and just want a temporary fix.

Aluminum Foil for Honing Knives

Everyday Items You're Using Totally Wrong
image credit: pixabay

Dull scissors? No problem! Take a single sheet of aluminum foil and crumble it and then take the edge of it and saw it several times. When using the foil, you’ll notice that it has a rough texture, and it’ll be perfect for sharpening your scissors for any use. This little tip helps you avoid the need of buying new equipment such as sharpener or drop your scissors for sharpening.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

Affordable Home Entertainment: 11 Must-Have Finds For Enhancing Your Family Movie Nights

Affordable Home Entertainment: 11 Must-Have Finds For Enhancing Your Family Movie Nights

How to Clean Your Smoker Grill Combo Like a Pro

Image Credit: Shutterstock

How to Clean Your Smoker Grill Combo Like a Pro

15 Common Mistakes That Unknowingly Make

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

15 Common Mistakes That Unknowingly Make Your Home Look Bad

Bring Nature Indoors with These DIY Terrarium Ideas

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Bring Nature Indoors with These DIY Terrarium Ideas

Similar Posts