Surprising Uses for Not so Surprising Products
1) Baking Soda: You can typically find baking soda listed as a staple ingredient in grandma’s hand-me-down cake recipes, and I’m sure most of us keep a box in the refrigerator and/or freezer to absorb foul odors, but baking soda has one or two other uses outside of the kitchen. In fact baking soda works wonderfully as an alternative to chemical laden cleaning products. Use in your sinks, bathtubs, on your countertops, tables, etc. in much the same way that you would use Comet cleanser. Let it sit and then scrub or wipe clean. If your aim is to remove stains from the bathtub, however, I strongly suggest using a sponge that has a rough side. Unlike bleach based cleansers, baking soda doesn’t leave a harsh smell in the air and is perfectly safe to use around children and pets.
Baking soda is also fabulous when used in conjunction with the product listed after this one (vinegar). If you have children, and even if you don’t, it’s always entertaining to make a “volcano” with baking soda and vinegar. Although this is commonly used for science projects, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done at home for fun. You can use a cup, 2 liter bottle, big bowl, or your kitchen sink, but make sure whatever you use can withstand the acidity of the vinegar. Always put the baking soda in first and be liberal with it. Baking soda comes cheap at the dollar store, so stock up. After that, it’s as simple as pouring vinegar over the baking soda and watching it foam and overflow. For added entertainment, put a few drops of food coloring in the vinegar before you pour for a colorful “lava” flow.
2) Vinegar: Used in salads and coleslaw, vinegar is sometimes overlooked as a cleaning savior. Before I go any further, it is incredibly important to dilute vinegar properly and in a clean, new spray bottle. You always want to use one part vinegar to one part water because vinegar is acidic and can do damage to some surfaces if used by itself or improperly diluted, but I digress. Vinegar not only cleans, but also disinfects and deodorizes, and is even effective at eliminating some pet urine odors. In the bathroom, use in the sink, tub, and toilet. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl and around the inside rim and scrub with a toilet brush. Mop the floor with a diluted vinegar solution. Make sure it’s okay to use with your tile floor (for instance, double check if you have slate tiles), and be sure the solution is diluted enough that it will not eat at your grout. All things considered, mopping your bathroom floor with the vinegar/water solution is a great way to get rid of soap scum and hard water stains. Continue on to the kitchen, and use your diluted solution on the stovetop, floor, table, counters, refrigerator (inside and out), sink, and wherever else. Just be sure to test an inconspicuous spot with the solution to make sure it’s safe.
Another prime spot to use vinegar is in the laundry room. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, and is good if you’re in a tight spot economically and/or if you have sensitive skin since a lot of brand name fabric softener is heavily scented and textured. Just add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle for any load of laundry. Vinegar also breaks down laundry detergent more effectively.
3) Lemons: These tart fruits are great for making lemonade and pies, but they’re also good for cleaning, especially for shining certain metals like brass and copper, and making pastes with lemon juice plus baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. You can dip half a lemon in baking soda and scrub dishes, appliances, etc. You can make your own furniture polish by mixing 1/2 cup lemon juice with 1 cup olive oil (make sure to use olive oil and NOT canola or vegetable oil). If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, you can put either the peel or a whole or half a lemon down the drain and grind it up to freshen the drain as well as your whole kitchen.
4) Coke (or any off brand cola): Coke tastes fantastic when poured over ice and paired with a grilled hotdog or hamburger, but it has another unique and fantastic use as well. When fresh (read: not flat), any version of cola works well as a drain cleaner. I wouldn’t recommend using cola if you have a serious drain problem, but cola is great at keeping your drains clear. In order to prevent having to pour liters at a time down your drain to get rid of a bad clog, use one can per drain (i.e. kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tub) every month. Let the soda stand in your drains for at least 15 to 30 minutes before running the water, and when you do, I advise running or pouring hot water down your drains.
5) Fabric Softener Sheets and Magazine Perfume Ads: Some fabric softener sheets have a lot of life in them, even after you’ve done the laundry. Instead of tossing your fabric softener sheets straight off, tuck the used sheets wherever you want some added scent, in drawers, linen closests, suitcases, between towels in stacks, etc. Magazine perfume ads are also perfect for tucking in clothing drawers or in suitcases and duffel bags for an added kick.
6) Cardboard: Tissue boxes, toilet paper and paper towel tubes, cardboard egg cartons, posterboard scraps, shirt cardboard, etc. are good to keep around if you happen to have kids, or even nieces, nephews, or grandchildren who visit often. Whether or not your area has a recycling program (hopefully they do), keep some of these essentials around in a designated area for crafts. It may sound off the wall, but plenty of these pieces are already structured and offer a solid starting point for the child who would like a pair of binoculars, a telescope, a pair of clown shoes, a hot air balloon, or whatever meets his or her fancy. Keep all these scraps in one spot, as it can get messy. Large plastic totes work well.
7) Oranges: Oranges are delicious in the summer months and refreshing when you’re sick with a cold, but the peels of an orange are good for something as well. By placing dried orange peels in a cloth bag, you make a sort of sachet, good for linen closets and clothing drawers or sweater totes. Dried orange peels are also good as kindling for a fire, either out of doors or in the fireplace. Oranges can be used in a couple different ways to discourage insects as well. A puree of orange peel and water creates a barrier for ants, and a pile of orange zest in a shallow dish makes a repellent just as good as a citronella candle without spending the big bucks.
Hopefully you’ve acquired some new knowledge about everyday products. Always use even basic household products with care and make sure to test products meant for surfaces in a small, inconspicuous spot first. Enjoy!
Thanks to:
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .
Sarah Aguirre, housekeeping.about.com/cs/environment/a/alternateclean.htm
