Surprising Cleaning New Uses

More hidden tricks to get your house sparkling in record time.
And I know FOR SURE that at least one of you will try at least ONE of the following:

Kana Okada

Baby Oil as Chrome Polish

Forget keeping skin soft, baby oil also polishes chrome. Apply a dab to a cotton cloth and use it to shine everything from faucets to hubcaps. You'll end up with shiny, happy surfaces from a medicine-cabinet staple. (Who actually owns chrome cleaner, anyway?)

Quentin Bacon

Aluminum Foil as Glassware Scrubber

To get baked-on food off a glass pan or an oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of a steel-wool soap pad, says Mary Findley, president of the cleaning-products developer Mary Moppins. It's one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out.

Beatriz da Costa

Baking Soda as Silver Polish

To polish silver: Wash items, then place on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot. Add a baking-soda solution (¼ cup soda, a few teaspoons salt, 1 quart boiling water) and cover for a few seconds. The result? A chemical reaction that gets the black off the gravy boat.

Kana Okada

Broom as Long Distance Duster

To dust crown moldings, place a microfiber rag over the broom's bristles and secure with a rubber band. Then use the long handle to dust areas that your arms can't reach. No more circus acts (starring you, on a rickety, wobbly stool).

Frances Janisch

Car Wax as Sink Polish

Polish faucets, sinks, tile, even shower doors with Turtle Wax, which leaves behind a protective barrier against water and soap buildup, so your hard-earned sparkle will last past the next tooth-brushing.

Aya Brackett

Car Wax as Garden Shear Lubricant

For cleaner cuts with less elbow grease, rub a little paste on the hinge of a pair of garden shears so they don’t get jammed.

Monica Buck

Chalk as Tarnish Prevention

Slow the tarnish on your good silver by tying up a few moisture-absorbing pieces in cheesecloth and store them with your cutlery for shinier flatware that reflects well on you in no time flat.

Monica Buck

Coaster as Drip Catcher

Catch the sticky stuff from bottles and jars in cupboards. No more shelves that require a full wipe-down after every spoonful of honey, slather of jam, or glug of olive oil.

 James Baigrie

Cooking Spray as Candlestick Cleaner

Celebrating by candlelight? Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a tea light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out.

Mark Lund

Use Cooking Spray as an Ice Repellent

Before clearing snow off a driveway, liberally spray both sides of a plastic or metal shovel with cooking spray. The ice will slide right off the oily surface. It's the easiest trick for smoother snow removal.

James Baigrie

Cotton Ball as Rubber Glove Protector

For leak-resistant gloves at your fingertips, push one cotton ball into the end of each finger of a dishwashing glove to keep sharp nails from splitting the rubber.

 Sand An

Dryer Sheet as Iron Cleaner

Remove gunk from the soleplate of an iron. With the setting on low, rub the iron over the dryer sheet until the residue disappears, and you're left with a pristine press.

France Ruffenach

Dustpan as Toy Herder

Scoop up small toys―Lego blocks, jacks, Barbie shoes, plastic soldiers—with your dustpan and brush, so you can reclaim your living room for grown-ups.

Yunhee Kim

Eggshells as Bottle and Vase Cleaners

Here’s an idea for all those eggs you hard-boiled: Use their broken eggshells to clean the hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases. Drop some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can’t get to, so you can save your elbow grease for the dinner dishes.

Monica Buck

Emery Board as Stain Remover

Remove small stains from suede by gently rubbing the file (either side) across the problem area a few times to get rid of the splotch and refresh the nap.

Monica Buck

Fork as Carpet Fluffer

Use the tines to gently fluff plush carpet fibers back to their original height, removing dents left by heavy furniture. Now, that's a real fork lift.

Antonis Achilleos

Baking Soda as Linen Freshener

Place an open box of baking soda alongside your stacks of sheets and towels to stave off mustiness.

Antonis Achilleos

Baking Soda as Drain Unclogger

To get your drain running again (without resorting to chemicals worthy of a hazmat suit) pour ½ cup soda, then ½ cup vinegar, down a clogged drain. Cover it with a wet cloth, wait 5 minutes, uncover, and flush with steaming-hot water.

Antonis Achilleos

Baking Soda as Stain Remover

Clean discolored teacups and teapots by making a paste of baking soda and water. Gently rub over the stain to remove.

James Baigrie

Baking Soda as Carpet Freshener

To absorb stale odors from carpet (and to generally freshen up a room), scatter soda on it, wait a few hours, then vacuum up the powder.

Sang An

Bath Mat as Car Seat Protector

Protect your car seats from muddy paws by covering them with a bath mat or two before packing Lilly the Lab in the backseat. The rubber bottom will help the mat stay in place. Between trips, stow the mat in the trunk.

Lucas Allen

Car Wax as Stovetop Polish

Preserve a pristine stovetop by applying a thin layer of car wax, then wiping it off. Future spills will lift off easily.

Lucas Allen

Citrus Peel as Coffee Mug Cleaner

Remove coffee or tea stains from a mug by rubbing them with a lightly salted citrus peel.

James Baigrie

Citrus Peel as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer

Keep your disposal smelling fresh by dropping a few peels down the drain and flipping the switch.

James Baigrie

Clothespin as Cord Keeper

The secret to keeping a retractable cord from rewinding too soon is to clip the cord near the opening.

Kate Sears

Cornmeal as Grease Absorber

Add this to the grocery shopping list for new reasons. Cornmeal absorbs grease on light colored fabric or upholstery. Pour enough on to cover the soiled area and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Vacuum to remove the grains.

Antonis Achilleos

Cotton Swab as Computer Detailer

With the machine turned off, disconnect the keyboard and trace between the keys with a cotton swab lightly dipped in isopropyl alcohol. If your mouse is the kind that rolls on a ball, unscrew the bottom and go over the ball and the interior with a cotton swab, too.

Antonis Achilleos

Denture Tablet as Vase Cleaner

When residue clings to unreachable spots inside a vase or a decanter, fill the container with warm water and drop in one or two denture-cleaning tablets for every eight ounces of warm water. Let the fizzy solution sit for the time specified on the product's box, then rinse.

Antonis Achilleos

Dryer Sheet as Sawdust Clearer

An easy way to keep the work area clean. Saw dust at a work station sweeps up so fast with one pass of a used fabric softener sheet.

Antonis Achilleos

Dryer Sheet as Scum Buster

Remove obstinate soap buildup from glass shower doors by sprinkling a few drops of water onto a used fabric-softener sheet and scrubbing.

Antonis Achilleos

Emery Board as Eraser Saver

To revive a dried-out eraser or clean a smudged one, lightly rub it over an emery board. The board's fine grain will shave off the eraser's old top layer, leaving you with a good-as-new mistake-removing surface.

Christopher Coppola

Hair Dryer as Sticker Remover

A little hot air quickly loosens price labels—with zero fingernail-chipping frustration.

Antonis Achilleos

Lemon as Laundry Brightener

Skip the bleach—add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to brighter up those fading whites.

James Wojick

Lint Roller as Glitter Pick-Up

Clean up glitter (and tiny pieces of construction paper) after craft time.

Sang An

Magnet as Trash Bag Holder

Minimize garbage-day malaise. Hold the top of a trash bag in place with magnets so bits don’t find their way to the bottom of the bin.

James Baigrie

Mustard Powder as Jar Deodorizer

Deodorize smelly glass jars by washing them with a mixture of one teaspoon powdered mustard and one quart warm water.

Antonis Achilleos

Newspaper as Window Washer

Newspapers deposit less lint than paper towels do and don't leave any streaks. Just spray on a glass cleaner and wipe.

James Baigrie

Onion as Basement Deodorizer

Clear the air in a dank basement. Cut an onion in half, place it on a plate, and leave it out overnight. Once the initial salad-bar aroma dissipates, you'll have a fresh (non-oniony) atmosphere.

Kana Okada

Pant Hanger as Drying Rack

Use a pant hanger to air-dry a bath mat after showering. Simply hang it over the shower curtain rod.

Annie Schlechter

Panty Hose as Candle Duster

Remove dust from candles by running it through the leg of an old pair of panty hose.

Hallie Burton

Rice as Vase Scrubber

Prepare a stained vase for a new batch of blooms. If you can't reach the residue at the bottom, add a tablespoon of rice and a lot of soapy water, shake, and rinse until clean.

James Baigrie

Rubber Band as Stemware Securer

Secure wayward stemware in the dishwasher by tethering it to the machine's prongs with rubber bands.

Antonis Achilleos

Rubber Glove as Pet Hair Remover

Put on a damp rubber dishwashing glove and run your hand over hair-covered upholstery—the hair will cling to the glove, not the sofa. Rinse off the glove in the sink (with the drain catcher in place, of course).

Sang An

Rubbing Alcohol as Hairspray Remover

Lift off hair-spray residue from bathroom walls. Spray a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol, two parts water, and a dash of dishwashing liquid onto vinyl wallpaper or semigloss (not flat) paint. Wipe clean.

Antonis Achilleos

Rubbing Alcohol as Permanent Marker Remover

Remove permanent marker from countertops and walls. Pour a bit of alcohol onto a cotton ball and rub on the stain. (Spot test on a hidden area first.)

James Baigrie

Salt as Wreath Duster

Place a wreath of pinecones or faux evergreen in a paper bag with a 1/4 cup of salt. Fold the top of the bag over and gently shake.

Antonis Achilleos

Salt as Salad Wash

Clean dirt from leafy vegetables by washing them in a bath of salt water.

Antonis Achilleos

Seam Ripper as Vacuum Roller Cleaner

Restore a vacuum to maximum power by cutting the lint and hair from its roller brush.

Mark Lund

Shoe Polish as Furniture Polish

Spruce up wood furniture by filling in scratches with shoe polish in a similar shade.

Monica Buck

Shower Curtain as Picnic Blanket Liner

Do dew diligence and layer a liner underneath a picnic blanket to avoid soggy bottoms and grass or mud stains.

James Baigrie

Sugar as Hand Degreaser

Cut grease on hands by rubbing them with a mixture of sugar and water.

France Ruffenach

Electric Toothbrush as Grout Scrubber

Scour bathroom crevices with a battery-powered toothbrush.

Hallie Burton

Toothpaste as Linoleum Cleaner

Use white toothpaste to buff scuffs out of linoleum tiles.

Burcu Avsar

Tape as Keyboard Cleaner

Remove dust and crumbs from a keyboard and slide a

short strip between the letters.

James Baigrie

Vanilla as Freezer Freshener

Trade frostbite funk for a more pleasing freezer scent and wipe the inside of the icebox with an extract-dampened cotton pad.

Antonis Achilleos

Vinegar as Odor Remover

After chopping onions, scrub your hands with salt and a splash of vinegar to eliminate the smell.

Anita Calero

Vinegar as Coffeemaker Cleaner

Clean a coffeemaker or a tea kettle by making a pot using a mixture of water and vinegar. Follow with several cycles of water to rinse.

Antonis Achilleos

Vinegar as Sticker Remover

Dislodge a stubborn price sticker. Paint with several coats of vinegar, let it sit for five minutes, then wipe away.

Antonis Achilleo

Vinegar as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer

Deodorize a garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.

Alexandra Rowley

Walnut as Scratch Filler

Repair hardwood floors by rubbing shelled nuts into shallow scratches. Their natural oils help hide the flaws.

James Baigrie

Zippered Plastic Bag as Wax Remover

To freeze wax so you can remove it from a tablecloth, fill a plastic bag with ice cubes and cover the wax with it for about 20 minutes.

Mark Lund

Antacid Tablet as Vase Cleaner

Lift bouquet residue from the bottom of a vase. Fill the vase with water, add two tablets, let sit for a few minutes, wipe, and rinse.

James Wojick

Baking Soda as Pan Scrubber

Sprinkle soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.

Hallie Burton

Baking Soda as Tub Scrubber

Rub tub stains away. Create a paste mad up of equal parts baking soda and cream of tartar and a little lemon juice. Let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse.

Antonis Achilleos

Coffee Filter as Screen Cleaner

For lint-free viewing, grab a coffee filter to wipe down dusty and staticky computer monitors and TV screens regularly.

Antonis Achilleos

Baking Soda as Crayon Eraser

Sprinkle it on a damp sponge to erase crayon, pencil, and ink from painted surfaces.

Rick Lew

Olive Oil as Measuring Spoon Primer

Rub olive oil on measuring cups and spoons coated with sticky stubstances (like honey) to ease cleaning.

Rick Lew

Lemon as Cutting Board Cleaner

To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. The best part? You'll have a house that smells like a lemon grove rather than chemicals.

Monica Buck

Lemonade Kool-Aid as Dishwasher Cleaner

Clean lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher by pouring a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid (the only flavor that works) into the detergent cup and running the (empty) dishwasher. The citric acid in the mix wipes out stains; you don't have to.

Antonis Achilleos

Laundry Bag as Dishwashing Aid

Keep mini Tupperware lids, baby-bottle caps, and other small items from falling through the dishwasher rack. You'll save time by no longer diving for treasure on the floor of the dishwasher.

Frances Janisch

Lint Roller as Lamp Shade Duster

Run the roller up and down the outside of the lamp shade to get rid of small particles that shouldn't be there. Ah, the satisfaction of knowing that every surface in your living room will pass the white-glove test.

Monica Buck

Masking Tape as Scuff Preventor

Keep baseboards free of skid marks when you vacuum. Cover the edges of the vacuum head with masking tape so they won't leave dark smudges when you inevitably bump into the walls. There will be no more black marks on your cleaning record.

David Prince

Mayonnaise as Adhesive Remover

Banish stickers from mirrors, glass, and bumpers by applying a generous helping of mayo to persistent adhesives. Use a flexible putty knife to help coax them off.

Rita Maas

Nail Polish as Rust Preventer

Coat the bottom of a shaving-cream can to fend off rust rings on the ledge of the tub.

Charles Maraia

Newspaper as Food-Container Deodorizer

Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a plastic container that has developed a funk, and let it sit overnight. By morning the paper will have absorbed the offending smell.

David Prince

Cooking Oil as Adhesive Remover

Apply cooking oil to the sticker using a paper towel or a soft cloth, rub firmly, then rinse with warm soapy water. (If the adhesive is stubborn, use a dab of toothpaste along with the oil.)

Anna Williams

Pillowcase as Ceiling Fan Duster

Slide an old case over a fan's blade then pull the fabric back, keeping all the dust and dirt contained.

Kana Okada

Plastic Bag as Kitchen-Cleanup Aid

For no-fuss cleanup, instead of peeling fruits and vegetables over a cutting board or into the sink, do it over a plastic bag. When you're done, flip the peelings into the garbage and rinse the bag to reuse another day, or simply toss the whole shebang into the trash.

Kana Okada

Plastic Bags as Hand Protectors

Fact: There are some things you'd just as soon not touch with your bare hands. Use bags as gloves to handle what's messy (say, chicken carcasses) or just plain gross (like the little "presents" the dog leaves in the front yard), then turn them inside out to trap the offending matter within for easy disposal.

Kana Okada

Plastic Bag as Shoe Protector

It will never be a fashion trend, but tying bags over your shoes can keep you from tracking mud into the house when you come in, or protect slippers from dirt, snow, or rain when you run out to fetch the paper from the front lawn. (Be careful when walking on smooth surfaces, as the plastic won't give you any traction.)

Burcu Avsar

Rice as Coffee Grinder Cleaner

Mill a handful of grains in your grinder and the fine particles will absorb stale odors and clean out residual grounds and oil. Discard the rice and wipe clean.

Rick Lew

Salt as Polishing Agent

Shine brass and copper with a paste made from a few tablespoons of white vinegar and equal parts salt and flour. Apply with a soft cloth, rinse, and dry.

Tria Giovan

Salt as Egg Cleanup

Sop up a spilled egg by sprinkling salt over the mess. Wait two minutes and wipe it up.

Burcu Avsar

Toothpaste as CD Cleaner

To restore a damaged CD, apply a dot of non-gel formulat toothpaste to a cotton cloth and rub in a straight line from the center of the CD outward, covering any scratches. Rinse off the toothpaste with water.

Aya Brackett

Towel Rod as Cleaning Supply Holder

Assemble a spray-cleaner arsenal by installing a rod in the closet or underneath the sink and then hooking the bottles onto it by their triggers.

Monica Buck

Mesh Vegetable Bag as Dish Scrubber

Repurpose the bag that held your potatoes to remove caked-on food from dishes. Wad the mesh into a ball, add soap and water, and scrub away.

Rita Maas

Wax Paper as Floor Cleaner

Use this kitchen staple to pick up dirt and dust. Rip off a piece roughly the size of your sweeper and attach it just as you would a cleaning cloth. As you sweep highly trafficked or dirty areas, the gunk sticks. Wax on, dirt off.

Kirsten Strecker

WD-40 as Crayon Cleanup

To remove crayon marks apply just a small amount to almost any surface (plastic, metal, TV screens, freshly painted walls) and rub away with a clean cloth.

James Wojcik

Baking Soda as Container Deodorizer

Soak plastic containers in warm water and baking soda overnight to banish smells.

James Wojcik

Club Soda as Stainless Steel Polisher

Shine stainless-steel cookware and fixtures. Buff scuffs with a soda-dampened cloth, then wipe dry.

James Wojcik

Coffee Filter as Mirror Cleaner

Get a streak–free shine by using a coffee filter to buff a mirror or window.

James Wojcik

Cotton Swab as Silver Polisher

Apply a dab of polsih to the end of a cotton swab to shine those hard to reach crevices in silver flatware and serving dishes.

James Wojcik

Denture Tablet as Wineglass Cleaner

Do away with red-wine dregs in goblets. Fill the glass with warm water, drop in a tablet, and let it dissolve.

James Wojcik

Ketchup as Copper Polisher

Revive the color and shine of copper cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. After five minutes, rinse with warm water, and towel dry.

James Wojcik

Uncooked Spaghetti as Frosting Protector

Preserve a topnotch frosting job. Poke a few stiff pieces in the surface and sides of a dessert before wrapping it for easy transport.

James Wojcik

White Bread as Painting Cleaner

To clean an oil painting, softly rub a piece of white bread over it to remove dust or dirt.

James Wojcik

Zippered Plastic Bag as Gum Remover

Remove stuck-on gum. Rub with a baggie filled with ice cubes until the goo hardens, then shatter it with a blunt object and vacuum it up.

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