7 Household Items You Could Use in Other Ways

More things are lying around your home that could serve multiple purposes if you just think out of the box. Most of us don’t even consider that a common household item could do more than that one job it was made for. But, it’s time to think outside of those conventional ways and put the things in your home to good use! Here are some examples of household items that could make your life easier with their unconventional usage.

Ketchup

Do you have old, stained silver items, whether cutlery or jewelry, lying around your home? It’s time to give them the sparkle they’ve been asking for. Simply squeeze a tiny amount of ketchup onto a paper towel and gently massage over the tarnished spots. If the stains persist, let the ketchup stay for 15 to 20 minutes before rubbing with a soft cloth and rinsing it. For textures or patterns on the silver, use a toothbrush to get to every corner of it. 

Dental Floss

Even with a sharp knife, getting a clean cut on cakes and soft cheeses can be challenging. If you’re particular about the décor and layers, a knife might even destroy your delicate work of art. Next time, take out your unwaxed, unflavored dental floss from the bathroom and slowly slide it down your dessert for a clean cut. This also works well with butter, goat cheese, and other similar foods.

Lemon

Traditional medical practices swear by citrus oil to repel insects of all kinds. Instead of heading to the store to buy an expensive bottle of it, simply use the peel! Rather than discarding citrus peels, put them to fight the good battle of a "pest-free house". Keep your lemon peels and place them outside your home along window sills and crevices to keep spiders, ants, and other nasty crawlers away. You can also use lemons to clean copper by combining lemon juice and salt or baking soda. Then, using a soft cloth, rub over your copper, rinse with warm water, and apply a little elbow grease while drying the item.

Coffee Filters

Don’t throw away your coffee filters either! You can use them to get rid of the tiredness after a long day at work. Coffee filters work remarkably well when it comes to relieving swollen and itchy eyes. It’s an easy process- refrigerate used coffee filters, fold them in half, and then place them over your eyes as a cooling compress. Additionally, coffee filters make excellent cleaning rags for a variety of cleaning tasks. Because they are lint-free, they are ideal for cleaning computer monitors, televisions, and windows. Even the most reflective surfaces will be streak-free and squeaky clean. 

Baking Soda

Before spending a hefty amount of money on getting your clogged sink fixed, give baking soda and white vinegar a chance. The first step is to toss 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Then, slowly add in an equal amount of white vinegar and set aside for five minutes. After that, flush the drain with a gallon of hot water and run the water to see if it’s mission accomplished or time to call your plumber. Most likely, if the damage isn’t too extreme, this trick will work magically.  

Deodorant

Insect bites, primarily mosquito bites, can cause intense stinging and swelling, especially if sensitive to them. The good news is that when applied to exposed body parts, deodorant spray or stick can work as a mosquito repellent. If a mosquito bit you, swipe it on the bite to relieve itching. The aluminum salts in the deodorant aid in the relief of pain and swelling.

Honey

Honey can make your hair shine. While there’s no comprehensive research to prove this fact, there’s no harm in providing your hair with a bit of extra nourishment. Make a DIY hair shine: 1 teaspoon honey dissolved in 4 cups of warmcups warm water, and a few drops of lemon juice. Pour the mixture through your hair after shampooing. Do not rinse; instead, dry.