35 Ways to Use Ordinary Things in Extraordinary Ways
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When used imaginatively, ordinary items can have practical magic. Here’s some inspiration for employing everyday household goods in unusual—and helpful—ways.
The Mother of Invention
Do you need to clean? Organize? Throw a dinner party? Instead of buying new products to aid in your endeavor, dig deep into your cupboards. Ordinary items have dozens of extraordinary uses, so you may already have what you need right at your fingertips. To get your creative juices flowing, we’ve compiled 35 repurposing ideas that unlock the magic hidden in common household goods.
Pillowcase Laundry Bags
Use an old pillowcase to keep your delicate laundry separate in your hamper. Then, when it’s time to do the laundry, just toss the filled pillowcase into the machine, where it will function as a wash bag to protect your underwear, slips, stockings, and other garments. To prevent the contents from spilling out into the wash, first turn the pillowcase into a drawstring bag: Hem the opening of the case, leaving a small space for a cord to be inserted, then feed the cord through the hem. Pull the drawstring tight before you drop the pillowcase in the wash, and take comfort in knowing that this special treatment will help your delicates last longer.
Related: 9 Home Organization Secret Weapons
Coke for Composting
Has the two-liter of soda left over from last week’s potluck gone flat? Rather than dumping that flat Coke down the drain, add it to your compost heap. The sugar in the cola feeds good microorganisms and increases the acidity of the pile, helping organic material decay faster.
Reusable Wipes in the Shower
Those reusable blue Handi Wipes are great for the shower too. After every shower, wipe down the stall and tub area with a kitchen wipe, then wring it out. This simple step will help prevent mold, mildew, and hard water stains from building up.
Shoebox Storage
If you’re in the middle of a closet purge and organizational overhaul, resist the temptation to head to the nearest home goods store to stock up on storage containers. Ordinary shoeboxes will do just as well. Fill each box with similar items, then put it on a closet shelf or in a dresser drawer, where they are just the right size for keeping your socks and underwear in order. You can even place the lids in desks or shallow drawers to carve out storage space for office supplies, gloves, jewelry, and more.
Do Litter
Even if you don’t have a cat living at home, there’s a good reason to keep kitty litter in your garage. The reason, of course, is that the properties that help cat litter to absorb liquid pet waste are the same qualities that help it to soak up grease, oil, and other spills around the garage. In fact, a 10-pound sack can absorb up to a gallon of liquid! Cover fresh spills with an ample amount of litter, was for the material to work its stain-lifting magic, then sweep up the mess. Kitty litter can also be used to provide tire traction on snowy driveways or curbsides, so you may wish to keep a box of it in the trunk of your car if you live in a region that is prone to foul winter weather.
Related: 10 Astonishing Feats You Can Accomplish with Kitty Litter
Lemon Bug Repellent
It may be true that you’ll catch more flies with honey, but paint seems to work too—which can be a huge annoyance when you’re working on an outdoor paint job. Small winged insects seem to be drawn to paint cans and freshly painted surfaces. There are plenty of theories as to why this is so—odor, color, reflection, moisture—but theories won’t keep the critters away from your painting project. Lemon juice, on the other hand, will. Ward off insects by squeezing a few drops of lemon juice directly into your can of paint. Bugs hate the zesty scent of lemon, so they’ll they’ll steer clear, leaving you with fewer pesky pests buzzing around your ears—and a smooth, professional finish.
Foil Scissors Sharpener
Are dull scissors slowing down your craft sessions? Foil your frustrations by reaching for a roll of aluminum foil. Fold a sheet of foil into quarters, then cut through the stack with the dull scissor blades to sharpen them up.
Related: 11 Surprising Uses for Aluminum Foil
Clothes Iron VInyl Repair
Although vinyl flooring tiles are relatively durable, they take a beating from the normal wear and tear of an active household. If your vinyl flooring tiles have begun to curl and warp, you may not need to replace the floor—you may just need a clothes iron. Cover the damaged portion of flooring with aluminum foil, plug in the iron, and set it on high. Run the hot iron over the foil to soften the adhesive enough so you can pull up the tile. Then lay down new adhesive, and replace the tile. After the tile is firmly in position, weigh the spot down with heavy books to promote proper adhesion.
Take Two for Sweat Stains
An ordinary aspirin tablet can do more than just treat a headache. When sweat stains discolor your white T-shirts, crush a few uncoated aspirin tablets, mix them with warm water to form a paste, and apply it to the affected area. Allow the mixture to sit for a few hours, then throw your clothing in the washing machine and wash as normal to ditch the unsightly yellow marks. For especially dark stains, let the garment air-dry. (Don’t toss it in the dryer, which could set the stains.) When it’s dry, check to see if the stains are still there. If so, re-treat the area, run the garment through the washer again, then air-dry and check the stain.
Vinegar to Boost Your Blooms
The next time you buy cut flowers, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and two tablespoons of sugar to the water. The vinegar cuts down on bacteria, while the sugar feeds the blooms. During the day, keep the flowers away from heat sources and bright sun; at night, place the vase full of flowers in the fridge to preserve them even longer.
Vinegar Itch Soother
Apple cider vinegar is a kitchen staple that should also be in your first aid kit. For mosquito bites, soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply to the affected area to help tame the itch.
Related: 10 Handy Household Uses for Vinegar
Toothpaste Cleanser
A baking-soda-based toothpaste not only freshens your breath but also cleans things around the house. For starters, you can eradicate stale odors from reusable food containers by scrubbing them with a non-gel toothpaste. You can even scrub your kitchen sink with toothpaste for a bright shine.
Bobby Pin Tricks
If you share the bathroom with someone who insists on squeezing the toothpaste from the middle of the tube, a bobby pin can help restore order—and household harmony. Place a bobby pin at the end of the tube to encourage users to slowly slide it up to squeeze out every drop. This smart solution will keep annoyance at bay and might even keep toothpaste off your shopping list for a few extra days.
Scarf Art
Living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms get the most attention when it comes to decorating, but dorm rooms, garages, and other less formal spaces need pretty flourishes too. Hanging a beautiful textile on a wall is a lovely way to add some color and cheer, and you can do this on the cheap by choosing an attractive scarf, tablecloth, or rug and mounting it with adhesive Command clips or strips.
Related: 10 Doable Designs for a DIY Rug
Marbles to Soothe Worries
Do you often find yourself fidgeting, biting your nails, or engaging in other nervous tics? Keep a bowl of marbles, river stones, or glass gem vase fillers by your desk, then reach for these smooth, tactile objects and work them through your fingers to help relieve daily stress.
Pashmina Throw
That beautiful cashmere wrap in your closet can easily double as a living room throw. The color will add a nice pop to a chair or couch, and the material is light yet warm enough to keep the cold off your knees or shoulders.
Teacup Votive Holders
What to do with antique teacups? Today’s coffee lovers tend to prefer ample mugs, leaving Grandma’s heirlooms to collect dust on the shelf. Don’t get rid of these beloved pieces. Instead, use them to hold votive candles. A tea light flickering in the base of a teacup can be an instant mood enhancer in the living room or can create a spa-like atmosphere in the bath. Just be sure to put the teacup in a safe location so it doesn’t clatter to the bathroom floor, where you could end up dodging stray pieces of broken china when you step out of the tub.
Saucer Soap Dishes
Cut back on liquid soap—and the disposable plastic containers it comes in—by switching back to bar soap. When you make the switch, repurpose old china saucers into pretty, functional soap dishes to add a little antique charm to your bathroom design.
Rubber Band Paint Tool
Use a rubber band to stop drips during your next painting project. Stretch a large rubber band around the paint can, top to bottom, so the band runs across the opening of the can. After you dip your brush into the paint, scrape it against the rubber band to remove excess paint and keep from making a dribbling mess.
Flashlight Story Time
The humble flashlight is wonderfully versatile and kid-friendly. For a special treat, switch off electric lights and smartphones, and spend the evening reading stories by flashlight.
Coffee Maker Pancakes
If your stove’s pilot light goes out, or if your hangout spot or work space lacks a full kitchen, or you’re just looking for a way to entertain the kids on a Sunday morning, use your coffee maker’s warming plate for cooking pancakes. Just line the plate with aluminum foil, add a dollop of batter, and watch for bubbles to know when to flip. Plate up the pancakes, toss the foil, and voilà— breakfast without the mess.
Salty Shoe Deodorizer
Gym shoes smelling a little funky? Table salt is the answer. The sodium chloride crystals help fight bacteria and the odors bacteria create. Just sprinkle a little salt inside your sneakers, let them sit for an hour (or overnight), and shake them out over the sink. Odor eliminated.
Floss Cutter
Cut soft cheeses and banana bread with dental floss (the unflavored variety, of course). The tough threads are better than serrated knives for moving through softer foods and creating even, smooth sl