14 clever uses for everyday household items
Discover some new uses for everyday items that are easy to do, low in cost and save you time.
These low-budget tips and tricks can help you organise and de-clutter space, find an alternative use for something or teach you something that you simply did not know before.
1. Onions
If you keep your car parked on your drive or street overnight and are expecting the temperature to drop, this simple trick can help you save time in the morning. Slice an onion and rub it on your windscreen; the sugars in the juices of the onion will help create a barrier and prevent your window from frosting over too severely.
2. Banana Skins
You can make your own all-natural liquid fertiliser by steeping banana peels in a large bowl or bucket of water. Add your peels, cover with water, then leave to steep for a couple of days. This will create a concentrated mix. To use, add one part fertiliser to five parts water and it’s ready to use.
3. Lemons
Heavy wooden chopping boards are great for cooking, but can slowly absorb the smell of foods like garlic, fish and onion. Sanitise your cutting board and get rid of the smell with the cut side of a lemon and some salt. Sprinkle over with salt and use the lemon to rub in.
4. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used a number of different ways to support your home garden, but this is the most unusual – adding them to soil can change your blossoms from a white-pink to blue! Adding coffee grounds changes the acidity of the soil, and as the pH balance shifts so too does the colour of the hydrangeas.
5. Toothpaste
If you have visiting grandchildren who are budding artists, you might find crayon on the wall after a visit one day. It’s easy enough to remove using toothpaste and a scrub brush. Rinse with water and you’re done.
6. Soap
Running a bar of soap along your zip can help loosen it and get it moving again when it’s stuck.
7. Empty Egg Boxes
You can use the egg carton to start seedlings. Just fill each section with soil and plant a seed.
8. Zoflora
If you use a car air freshener that isn’t giving off much scent anymore, try this trick instead of buying a new one. Soak in Zoflora and leave to dry, then place them back in the car – they’ll be as good as new!
9. Silica Gel Packets
Silica gel packets can be placed in airtight containers or storage bags to keep important documents, such as birth certificates or passports, dry and free from moisture damage.
10. Aluminum Foil
Quickly sharpen your dull scissors by taking a clean piece of foil and folding into several layers. Cut through them about a dozen times to sharpen again.
11. Shampoo
If you’re trying to take apart a piece of furniture or need to remove a nut and bolt from something and it just won’t budge, shampoo could be your miracle cure. Drop some onto the bolt then leave for a few minutes. The shampoo will work its way down into the grooves of the bolt and then come away easier.
12. Baby Oil
If you have a delicate chain necklace that has become tangled, rather than risk breaking it, use a few drops of baby oil to help ease the knot and release it.
13. Sellotape
In a pinch, sellotape is just as effective at picking up pet hair or stray lint as a lint roller. Wrap a piece of tape around your hand twice to create a good surface area, then work in quick and light dabs.
14. Ice cube trays
Instead of pouring out the last of an unfinished bottle of wine, try freezing it in ice cubes. You can quickly add them to cooking or use the wine cubes to make your own light and refreshing summer sangria.
Lisa Lawrenson
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