Clever Uses for Common Household Goods

Today, I received my Kroger savings packet and it came with some neat simple ideas for cleaning with products you already have in your pantry.

Coffee Filters

For cleaning,use coffee filters with glass cleaner on windows and mirrors for a sparkling shine.

Baking Soda

Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to laundry can boost your detergent's cleaning capabilities.

Sponges soaked in baking soda and hot water will stay fresher longer.

Diluting 1/4 tsp of baking soda for every cup of water also makes a gently, natural rinse for fruits and veggies.

Salt

Don't clean your cast iron skillet with soap, but a little salt will give it a deep clean. Simply heat a bit of oil over edium heat in a cast-iron skillet, then sprinkle in three tablespoons of salt. Hold a paper towel with tongs to scour clean and rinse with water and coat with vegetable oil to cure.

Furniture Polish

Non-abrasive oil or silicone based furniture polishes can quiet squeaky door hinges. Just mist the hinges with furniture polish while slightly opening and closing the door to allow the cleaner to coat the hardware.

It can help prevent mildew and soap scum buildup in the bathroom, too. Lightly mist shower doors and wall tiles with furniture polish and let stand for 15 minutes, then buff with a dry cloth.

Pillowcases

Before you toss a pillowcase in the wash, use one to make cleaning ceiling fans mess-free. Slip a pillowcase over the panels and lightly close the open end around the panel to make sure you clean the top and bottom in one swipe. Then pull the pillowcase toward the end of the panel. When the job is done, take the pillowcase outside and turn inside-out to shake away the dust.

Dryer Sheets

In the bathroom, a wet dryer sheet can remove soap scum. Use it like a sponge to speed up your cleanup.

A dryer sheets anti-static properties weaken the bond between burnt or baked-on food and cookware. Just submerge one in a dirty pan filled with warm water and let stand for 30 minutes or overnight to reduce the need for heavy scrubbing.


Pretty cool, huh?