One of the best ways to save yourself time and money is by finding more ways to use the stuff you already have around the house. It’s a concept that I’m really passionate about, and it’s one that I’ve talked about extensively here on my blog. Not only is being more resourceful better for your wallet, but it’s also better for the planet! And I think it just feels good to be able to solve a problem without having to rush out to the store to buy anything. :-)
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Today I’m sharing another 9 ideas for repurposing common household items (stuff you likely already have at home). These brilliant ideas will help you save time and money, or even just help you solve a tricky problem in a pinch! (And if you have a creative use for a common household item that you’d like, share it with us in a comment at the bottom of this post! I believe that when we pool our knowledge together, we all benefit from it!)
9 Uncommon 
1. Use Soap To Unstick A Zipper
Metal zippers are very durable, but they tend to get snagged more than other kinds of zippers. But there’s a simple way to fix a stubborn metal zipper, and all you need is a bar of soap! Just gently rub the bar of soap over the teeth of both sides of the zipper. The soap residue will help lubricate the zipper, making it easier to slide open and closed.
2. Use Wipes To Clean A Sink
If you have baby wipes on hand somewhere in your house, you can use them for quick bathroom cleanups! Use a baby wipe to wipe up toothpaste splatters, makeup smears, and other everyday bathroom messes. Not only will these quick cleanups keep your bathroom looking nice during the week, but they’ll make your deep bathroom cleanings faster and easier too.
3. Use Toothpaste To Banish Odors
The smell from garlic and onions can linger on your fingers long after you’ve finished handling them. But you can quickly and easily get rid of that smelly odor with a bit of toothpaste! Just squeeze some minty toothpaste over your fingers and rub them together, then rinse them clean. The toothpaste will help erase the odor and leave your fingers smelling much fresher!
4. Use Gloves To Open Jars
Having trouble opening a jar? Grab your rubber gloves from under the sink! Just lay the glove over the lid, then try opening the lid again. The rubber gloves should provide enough extra grip that the jar lid will pop right off.
5. Use Vinegar To Wash Produce
You can use white vinegar to make a natural and effective produce wash. Just mix together one part white vinegar and three parts water. To wash your produce, just dunk it in the diluted vinegar solution and swish it around a bit. Rinse the produce in cold, clean water, then pat dry with a paper towel. The vinegar will help remove any yucky stuff from the product that you don’t want to eat! (And I promise your produce won’t taste like vinegar!)
More Ideas You'll Love
6. Use Sponges To Remove Pet Hair
Everyone with a cat or dog struggles with pet hair to some degree. One simple way to help remove pet hair from carpets or upholstery is by using a sponge! Just get a sponge damp with a bit of water, then swipe it across the surface you’re trying to clean. The sponge will grab onto the hair, then you can just scrape it off into the trash.
7. Use Baking Soda To Absorb Grease
Baking soda is useful for scrubbing away stains and absorbing odors, but it’s also great at absorbing greasy messes! Sprinkle some on a greasy stain or into a greasy pan to help make it easier to clean. And add some to your dishwasher whenever you’re washing a particularly greasy pot or pan!
Related: Surprising Uses For Baking Soda (That Have Nothing To Do With Baking!)
8. Use Lemons To Clean Brass
You can use lemon juice (fresh or from a bottle) to remove tarnish from brass! Soak a sponge with lemon juice, then rub it onto tarnished areas on a brass item like a pot or pan. Sprinkle the area with salt, then let it sit for minute or two. Rinse the salt and lemon juice off, then stand back and admire the shine!
9. Use Dryer Sheets To Freshen A Gym Bag
Don’t toss out your dryer sheets after they’ve been run through the dryer. You can use them again to help keep your gym bag smelling fresh! Just tuck a used dryer sheet into your running shoes or in the bottom of your gym bag, and they’ll smell much better!
Instead of using my baking soda from a box, I emptied the whole box into a parmesan cheese container and shake it out of it. Then it is much easier to use and I can control how much comes out at once. PS The whole box fit in the container.
Tip #9 is very creative. My kids’ bags and shoes smell very bad, and I don’t like paying for those little scent removal/freshener things. I’ll give the used dryer sheets a try! Thank you.
I have a copper bottom pan that I clean with lemon juice. Just dribble straight on the copper and watch the shine appear! Spread around and rinse. No elbow grease required.
I use hint 7 quite a bit. I also purchase the dollar store hand soap to clean out my plastic. A squirt or two then rub it over plastic will remove the grease and most times get rid of the stain. Another hint I learned for ring around the collar was shampoo. Doing the blue military shirts for my husband who always had to be ready for inspection and be super clean. Shampoo worked amazing well.
Yes, dilute the vinegar in water and just give the lettuce (or anything else) a quick swish
IODIZED SALT RUBBED ONTO WET HANDS WILL ALSO REMOVE ONION SMELL OR GARLIC..
Or wash your hands using anything made of stainless steel and water
WAX WILL DO NICELY TO MAKE A STICKY ZIPPER WORK I LEARNED THIS WHEN MY MOM AND ME WORKED IN A DRY CLEANERS.
I would not use vinegar solution for basil leaves. It turns them black.
What about romaine lettuce? Can vinegar be used as well?
Yes!
Tea light candles also work very well for unsticking zippers and the un-stick properties last longer than with soap.
Clorox and Lysol wipes are great for getting grease off your stove.
We keep the 3/1 vinegar mixture in a spray bottle. Not only does it work great for cleaning veggies, you can also use it as a spray cleaner for silk plants (rinse with plain water afterwards) and it makes a dandy nontoxic ant spray.
Also, ifyou are trying to unzip a metal zipper, you can run a stndard pencil lead ip and down the teeth, the graphite in the leadcacts as a lubricant.
Graphite is dusty and will get all over your hands and clothes. Wax is better.