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25 Ways To Use Lemons

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Ways to use Lemons

Ways to Use Lemons

Here is a helpful list of 25 ways to use lemons. If life hands you lemons, why not make something useful out of them, right?! If you are looking for ways to save money, then a really fantastic way of doing so is by taking a look around at what you already have and making the most out of these items. Lemons are one of those products that most of us already have on-hand. I may not always have fresh lemons all the time, but I almost always have a bottle of lemon juice. And what I really love about lemons is how extremely versatile they are. Not only are they wonderful in recipes and beverages, but they are an excellent all-natural household cleaner as well. Here are some of my favorite ways to use lemons (Other than eating them. But hey, we’ll save that for a different post).

List of 25 Ways to Use Lemons

1. Lettuce Crisper. Add juice from half a lemon to a bowl of cold water and add the lettuce. Refrigerate for an hour, then remove from the water, drying the leaves completely (salad spinner works great if you have one).
2. Cauliflower Whitener. Cauliflower can sometimes brown while cooking. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with the water before cooking to help keep them white. This trick works with potatoes too.
3. Non-Sticky Rice. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the water when cooking rice to make the rice less sticky.
4. Greener Guac. Sprinkle lemon juice over the top of your guacamole to help keep it green longer.
5. Brown Sugar Softener. If your brown sugar turns hard, add a lemon peel to soften it back up.
6. Grout Cleaner. Scrub your grout clean using the following mixture: 7 cups of water, juice from 1 lemon, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda (scrubbing with an old toothbrush works well).
7. Berry Stain Remover. Berries and things like beets can stain dishes over a period of time. Soak them in a dishpan of hot water with lemon peels for a couple of hours to help revive those stained dishes.
8. Room Humidifier. Suffering from dry winter days? Add lemon peels and cinnamon sticks to a pot of water and simmer the water. Not only will it help humidify your house, but it will smell awesome at the same time.
9. Moth Deterrent. Got Moths? Make a sachet with dried lemon peels and hang in your closet or place in your dresser drawer.
10. Laundry Booster. Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to a regular load of laundry to help brighten your clothes.
11. Chrome Polisher. Add lemon juice to a damp sponge and scrub away to help remove mineral deposits from chrome that tend to build up over time.
12. Dandruff Destroyer. Massage 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinse well. Follow-up with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 1 cup of water. Shampoo as normal. Repeat every other day as needed.
13. Age Spot Lightener. Soak with lemon juice for 10-15 minutes and rinse.
14. Breath Freshener. Rinse with straight lemon juice as you would with mouthwash occasionally. Lemon is a natural breath freshener. Just be sure and rinse with water right afterwards. Long term exposure to the acid from the lemon juice could harm your tooth enamel.
15. Deodorant. If you’re in a pinch, lemon extract is said to work as a natural deodorant. I’m always skeptical of natural remedies like this one when it comes to things like deodorant. But, hey, it’s worth a shot.
16. Nail Whitener. Scrub your fingernails with a lemon wedge to help whiten your nails.
17. Fridge Freshener. Help remove refrigerator odors by dabbing a cotton ball with a several drops of lemon juice and place in the fridge for several hours.
18. Microwave Cleaner. Use a mixture of 2 cups of water to 3 tablespoons of water. Place bowl in the microwave and set the timer for five minutes on high. You will find cleaning the microwave SO much easier. It will smell a heck of a lot better too.
19. Cat Litter Odor Neutralizer. Cut a lemon in half, placing each side up on a dish in the same room with the cat litter. The lemon will help absorb the odors.
20. Tea Kettle Cleaner. Add a handful of lemon slices to your tea kettle and fill with water. Bring to a boil then let sit for a few hours, then rinse well. This method will help remove mineral deposits.
21. Cutting Board Refresher. Sanitize your cutting board by rubbing the surface with half a lemon. Let sit a few minutes before rinsing.
22. Glass Cleaner. Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice with water in a spray bottle. Works great as a window cleaner and on other glass surfaces.
23. Degreaser. Dip half of a lemon into salt and scrub over the greasy surface (works great on greasy pans).
24. Furniture Polish. Use one part lemon juice to two parts olive oil as a furniture polish. Note: it’s always a good idea to test a non-conspicuous area first.
25. Soap Scum Remover. Use a paste of one part lemon juice to two parts baking soda. This mixture helps remove soap scum from the bathtub or shower.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Hydrogen Peroxide

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.

25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.

25 Ways To Use Old Magazines

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Ways to use Old Magazines

Have you ever wondered if there are ways to use old magazines? Happily, the answer to that question is a resounding YES! There are actually quite a few ways you can re-purpose your old magazines and some of the ways may surprise you. Most of us probably already have our fair share of old magazines laying around the house. You might as well put them to good use and get rid of the clutter at the same time. Win win, right?! 😉

List of 25 Ways to use Old Magazines

1. Gift Bows. How About Orange shows how to make gift bows out of magazines with a very nice step by step tutorial.

2. Candy Bar Wrappers. Save your holiday-themed magazines and wrap them around full-size candy bars, making for a more festive and fin gift, whatever the holiday may be.

3. Packing material. Shred and use for shipping material. I would recommend putting the shreds in bags first before shipping though, unless you want to torture the person receiving the package with a mountain of paper shreds. LOL

4. Custom Envelopes. Check out this step by step on how to make envelopes from Hey Wanderer. This is just an insanely clever idea and they explain it So well, bravo!

5. Flowers. You can make your own paper flowers with an endless array of designs with various magazines, a great tutorial from Rock N Roll Bride.

6. Boot Inserts. Use old magazines as boot inserts to keep your boots upright while storing them in your closet. They’ll keep their shaoe better this way too.

7. Rolled Flowers. These make excellent gift toppers (awesome instructions via Stephanie Lynn).

8. Mirror frame. Make a really cool magazine Mirror, via Fleeting Thing.

9. Coiled Magazine Page Dish With Lid from Saved By Love Creations. Love this idea, making artwork out of your old magazines, too cool!

10. Gift Wrap. Perfect for small size gifts! Use brightly colored magazine pages and wrap your gifts in a unique and eye-catching way!

11. Donate. Retirement homes are often a great place to donate your magazines, most are delighted to replenish their reading supply at no cost.

12. Idea Notebooks or Vision Boards. Before the days of Pinterest, people often used magazines as inspiration for ideas. They made themed notebooks or vision boards and binders from various clippings including home decor, wedding ideas and just about anything else you can think of.

13. Inspire Yourself. I like to take Positive quotes out of magazines and pin them to my bulletin board or the refrigerator for inspiration.

14. Frame. Make an Artsy Paper Reed Frame out of old magazines, instructions from Suzy’s Sitcom.

15. Bracelets. Make a fun Rolled Magazine Bracelet, idea from Hipster’s Tea Party.

16. Origami. Use old magazine pages for origami projects.

17. Earwig Trap. Make a DIY Earwig trap using old newspapers or magazines, via Turning Clock Back. Who knew?

18. Magnets. Make your own magnets with a little mod podge, cutout magazine pictures and a little bit of creativity.

19. Fire-starter. Use a tied rolled up magazine for a handy campfire fire-starter.

20. Cage Liner. Line your pet cages with old magazine pages.

21. Make charade cards from old magazines.

22. Reshape Wet Shoes. Stuff wet shoes with magazine pages to help them dry faster. They will also maintain their shape as they dry.

23. Trash Can, now that’s a cool idea. Make a garbage can out of recyled materials!

24. Christmas Ornaments. Check out this Coiled paper Ornament Tutorial from Saved by Love Creations.

25. Butterfly Art. You can make all sorts of beautiful art projects, see this gorgeous Butterfly Collage from Peacock Chic for a bit of inspiration.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Use what you have

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.

25 Ways To Use Honey

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Ways to use Honey

Ways To Use Honey

A few years back after suffering from several bouts of sniffles and sore throats, I turned to honey at the suggestion of others. Not only did honey work like a charm for me, but I discovered a lot of other amazing ways to use honey too. Not only can honey be used to soothe a sore throat, but it can be used as homemade beauty treatments and for other different ways around the house. I especially like raw honey, it is one of those items I always keep in my pantry. I have listed a few of my favorite ways to use honey along with a few fantastic sounding honey recipes too.

1. Skin Clarifier. Raw honey contains natural enzymes that help clarify your skin and keep your pores clear at the same time. Use a mixture of one tablespoon of raw honey and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Apply to dry, clean skin, massaging gently into your skin. Rinse with warm water. Ahhhhh.

2. Scar Minimizer. Honey is said to lighten the appearance of scars. Rub into the affected area with an equal mixture of honey and olive oil (or coconut oil).

3. Hiccup Reliever. Mix a teaspoon each of honey and castor oil, consuming a little bit at a time until the hiccups stop. This mixture is said to have antispasmodic properties which helps relieve hiccups.

4. Weight Loss Aid. Drinking warm water with honey and lemon on an empty stomach is said to help flush toxins and digest the fat in your body.

5. Hangover Cure. Make a smoothie with honey, orange juice and yogurt to help soothe hangover symptoms.

6. Knockout Allergies. Consuming raw honey local to your area is said to help reduce allergies from tree pollen.

7. Natural Sleep Aid. Drink a glass of warm milk with a little of honey before bedtime for a peaceful night’s sleep.

8. Energy Booster. Feeling sluggish? Consume a tablespoon of raw honey for a quick burst of energy.

9. Tummy Upset Reliever. To relieve your indigestion naturally, drink a glass of warm water with honey and lemon.

10. Sore Throat Soother. When you feel a tickle in your throat coming on, consume a teaspoon of raw honey. This little tip has worked wonders for me.

11. Burn Treater. Gently apply honey with a cotton swab to the affected area.

12. Hair Hydrator. Adding a touch of honey to your shampoo is said to help fight off frizz.

13. Face Cleanser. Make an all natural soap like this wonderful sounding Homemade Oatmeal and Honey Soap from the Nerdy Farm Wife.

14. Lip Conditioner. Help seal in moisture and leave your lips feeling soft with a Diy Lip Balm like this mixture from Everyday Roots.

15. Acne Fighter. Applying honey directly to acne is said to help speed up healing.

16. Fresh Figs & Honey Compote Recipe from Miss in the Kitchen. All I can say is YUM, this sounds amazing!

17. Homemade Honey Butter Recipe from Happy Money Saver.

18. Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe from Funny is Family.

19. Honey Salmon in Foil Recipe from Damn Delicious.

20. Best Ever Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Bars Recipes with honey from Money Saving Mom.

21. Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe from Slender Kitchen.

22. Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe from My Whole Food Life.

23. Pectin Free Strawberry Jam sweetened with honey from Texanerin Baking.

24. Greek Yogurt & Honey Blueberry Muffins Recipe from Baker By Nature.

25. Southwest Shrimp Salad Recipe with Spicy Honey-Lime Dressing from Premeditated Leftovers.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Vinegar

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.

25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.

25 Ways To Use Borax

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25 Ways to use borax

Here is a handy list of 25 different ways to use borax. A smart and easy way you can cut costs is by using what you already have on hand around the house. Borax is one of those items that most of us already have in our pantries, so why not get as much use out of it as possible? While borax is most commonly used in the laundry room, there are a surprising number of other ways borax can also be utilized. Borax is generally very inexpensive to purchase as well.

1. Hairbrush Cleaner. Use a 1/4 cup of borax with a tablespoon of dish soap in a small tub of warm water. Soak the hairbrushes and rinse well. The borax works great at getting off any residue.
2. Rust Remover. Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and borax. Rub the paste on the rust stain and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse with water.
3. Drain Cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup borax down your drain. Follow up up with 2 cups of boiling water. After 30 minutes, run the tap water until the drain flushes out.
4. Ant Deterrent. Mix 1 tablespoon of borax with 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water. Mix together and add the mixture to a very shallow bowl. Personally, I found a lid worked the best. I also found soaking a cotton ball and putting the cotton ball on the lid worked better than just putting the water mixture in a lid by itself. I was very skeptical of this method until I tried it out for myself. I went into our bathroom one morning and a line of ants had made their way onto our bathroom counter, making breakfast out of our mouthwash of all things. UGH! I immediately tried out this solution and much to my delight, it totally worked. It takes time, but I found it to be very effective.
5. Floor Cleaner. Use a solution of 1/3 cup of borax, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 gallon of hot water.
6. China Reviver. If your china is starting to look a bit dingy, soak in warm water with 1/2 cup of borax for about 30 minutes. This will brighten your china right up!
7. Candle Wick Treater. Do you like making your own candles? Treat the wick with borax to get more life out of your handmade candles. Soak the wick in a solution of 3 tablespoons of borax, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 cup of water for 24 hours. Let the wick dry completely before using. Treating the wicks this way will make the wick last longer and reduce ashes.
8. DIY Cleaning Slime. Now here’s something I never thought of. Make your own cleaning slime to help clean items in hard to reach places like car vents. You can check out these Diy Slime instructions from Budget 101 for step by step details.
9. Cookware Cleaner. Sprinkle your aluminum or porcelain pans or pots with borax and gently clean away with a damp sponge.
10. Trash Can Refresher. Soak your trash can with a mixture of borax and warm water, let soak, rinse and dry thoroughly. Not only will it freshen up your garbage pail, but it will keep bugs away too.
11. Porcelain Sink Cleaner. Make a paste with 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Apply the paste on the sink with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse with warm water.
12. Make Your Own Bouncy Ball. Yep, you can actually MAKE your own bouncy ball, how cool is that? Check out this helpful DIY Bouncy Ball recipe from The 36th Avenue with step by step instructions.
13. Flower Preserver. Dry out flowers while maintaining there shape and petals by using a mixture of 1 part borax to 1 part cornmeal or sand. Either works well.
14. Dishwasher Cleaner. Sprinkle borax in the bottom of your dishwasher and run as usual. This will banish odors and clean your dishwasher at the same time.
15. Pest Control. Ants aren’t the only critters that do not like borax. Sprinkling on baseboards is said to keep away mice, fleas and roaches (keep out of reach of pets and kids though).
16. All Purpose-Cleaner. Borax is mild, so you can use it as an all-around cleaner. Mix a solution of 1/4 cup of borax, 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. Add to a spray bottle and you’re ready to go.
17. Mattress Deodorizer. Sprinkle borax on mattress. Let sit 15 minutes and vacuum.
18. Laundry Helper. Of course, you can always use borax for what it’s traditionally for and that is a laundry helper. It can make clothes brighter and smell fresh longer. Add about 1/2 a cup of borax with a regular size load of laundry.
19. Carpet Stain Remover. Make a thick paste of borax and warm water. Apply to stain, let sit for a few minutes and sponge off. While borax is generally considered to be very mild, it is always a good idea to test for colorfastness beforehand.
20. Oven Vent Cleaner. You know that oven hood air vent that always seems to get nasty and greasy? Soak it in a solution of borax and water for a few minutes and voila, sparkly clean vent!
21. Carpet Deodorizer. Use a mixture of 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of borax and about 20 drops of your choice of essential oil (lavender is a great option). Sprinkle on carpet and vacuum.
22. Mold Remover. Use 1 cup of borax per gallon of warm water, wiping up any excess moisture as you go along.
23. Make Your Own Crystals. I really like these borax crystal shapes instructions from Club Chica Circle. Their instructions are very clear with great pictures to illustrate the whole process. Very cool!
24. Soap Scum Remover. Sprinkle borax in your shower or bathtub and wipe with a damp sponge to help remove soap scum.
25. Adhesive Remover. Remove those gummy labels with a paste of 2 parts borax to one part water.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Honey

25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.

25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda

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ways to use baking soda

Here is a list of 25 ways to use baking soda. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house? This will be part of my “Use What You Have” series of posts. In each post, find out about different ways you can use common everyday items you are likely to already have around the house. You are probably familiar with the standard everyday uses for baking soda like deodorizing the refrigerator, so here are some not so common uses that should come in handy for future reference. See any uses not on the list? Please feel free to share your tips in the comments, thanks!

25 Ways to Use Baking Soda

1. Flower Freshener. Keep fresh cut flowers longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the water.
2. Antacid. The sodium bicarbonate in baking soda acts as a stomach acid neutralizer. The Mayo Clinic recommends adults take 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of cold water every two hours to reduce stomach upset or heartburn.
3. Hand Deodorizer. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Rub your hands with the paste, rinse well and presto, no more odor!
4. Itch Relief. Make a paste of baking soda & water to help relieve insect bites. It is also said to bring relief to sunburns.
5. Deodorant. Mix 1/2 teaspoon with a bit of water, making a paste, then rub on your armpits. Or, use a mixture of one part dry baking soda and six parts cornstarch and dust your pits with a powder puff. I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to try out this tip, but I love the idea of using a natural product for a deodorant. In the past though, I haven’t had much luck with any natural deodorants.
6. Skin Softener. Add a cup to your bath water to relieve skin irritations. You can make a body scrub out of it as well when paired with essential oil.
7. Nail Whitener. Make a paste with two parts baking soda and one part hydrogen peroxide. Massage into your fingernails (or toenails) and rinse.
8. Fire Squelcher. Put out small fires using baking soda.
9. Produce Wash. Clean your fresh fruits and vegetables with it. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a gallon of water.
10. Fluffier Omelets. Add a pinch of baking soda for a fluffier omelet.
11. Grease Remover. Remove grease from your pots and pans.
12. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda in your toilet bowl. Let set a few minutes, scrub and flush. Not only will it clean your toilet, but it will absorb odors as well. Good for hard water stains too.
13. Drain Cleaner. Keep your drains flowing by adding a few teaspoons weekly.
14. Modeling Clay. Yep, modeling clay! Be sure and check out I Can Teach My Child’s tutorial and instructions for homemade modeling clay, she does an excellent job of explaining it.
15. Garden Helper. Sprinkle around your garden to help deter rabbits. Apparently, they hate the stuff.
16. Insect Deterrent. Roaches and ants aren’t fans either, use baking soda to repel both of these pesky critters.
17. Seed Preserver. Keep by seeds dry by storing with a packet of baking soda. Helps absorb humidity.
18. Rain Repellent. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
19. Label Remover. Need to get a pesky label or tag off of a jar or glass? Make a paste with one part baking soda and two parts cooking oil to remove a stubborn label. Just don’t use this on any item that might absorb the oil. It works great on glass though.
20. Stain Remover. A thick paste of baking soda & water will remove unsightly stains from your plastic containers.
21. Sponge Reviver. Soak your kitchen sponges to help freshen them up.
23. Stuffed Animal Cleaner. Put a stuffed animal in a sealed plastic bag with baking soda and shake well. The baking soda helps remove dust and dirt.
24. Sneaker Refresher. Sprinkle in your shoes after a particularly strenuous day. Just don’t forget to tap the baking soda out of your shoes before you wear them again.
25. Jewelry Cleaner. Spiff up your sterling silver jewelry by making a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply with a cloth and rinse.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Lemons

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.

25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.
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25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide

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Ways to use Hydrogen Peroxide

Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide

If you are looking for simple ways to save money, one way is by taking a quick inventory of products that you already have on hand. In many cases, you may be surprised how versatile many common household products are. Hydrogen Peroxide is one of those items which can be utilized for many purposes other than it’s typical first-aid uses.

List of 25 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Note: In all cases, a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is used (like the bottles sold on the first aid section of just about any store).

1. Seed Germinator Booster. Soak seeds in one part hydrogen peroxide to 8 parts water for 5 minutes and rinse. This is said to help speed up the germination process.
2. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Pour half a cup into your toilet bowl and let soak for about 30 minutes. Scrub and flush. Disinfects and removes stains at the same time.
3. Floor Brightener. Use half cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water and use on your floors. No rinsing needed.
4. Grout Whitener. Spray full 3% solution directly on grout and let sit a few minutes. Scrub with old toothbrush and you should see immediate results. Apply again if stain persists.
5. Cutting Board Sanitizer. Spray on cutting board, let sit a few minutes, then rinse.
6. Toothbrush Cleaner. Soaking your toothbrush periodically in between uses will help prevent germ buildup.
7. Keep Produce Fresh. Soak fresh produce in a mixture of 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to 1 gallon of cold water. This will help keep your produce fresh longer.
8. Countertop Cleaner. Disinfect your countertop with equal parts white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
10. Mouthwash. Use one part hydrogen peroxide to one part water. Gargle/swish for 30 seconds, spit and rinse. Be sure and not to swallow any of the mixture. Brightens teeth at the same time.
11. Toothpaste. Run out of toothpaste? Make a paste out of equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. It won’t taste very good, but it will get the job done.
12. Foot Fungus Treater. The effectiveness of this technique is up for debate, but spraying a solution of half hydrogen peroxide and half water is said to curb foot fungus
13. Nail Whitener. Apply directly to fingernails to whiten them.
14. Mirror Cleaner. Spray your mirror with hydrogen peroxide for a smear-free cleaning.
15. All-Puprose Disinfectant. Use equal parts white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
16. Stain Remover. Said to work especially well on unsightly armpit stains.
17. DIY Laundry Bombs. Make your own all-in-one laundry bombs, get the full step by step instructions from PopSugar.
18. Revive Burnt Pots. Sprinkle a burnt pot with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. let sit for a few hours to release the burnt bits. Works great on stainless steel pots.
19. Cookie Sheet Renewer. You know how cookie sheets tend to get nasty looking after many uses? Use the same step as above to bring new life back to those cookie sheets.
20. Mold Remover. Use 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 cup of water in spray bottle. Spray affected area, let sit for a few minutes, Wipe with damp sponge.
21. DIY Watercolor Shirt. Ingenious idea involving sharpies and hydrogen peroxide. See the DIY Watercolor shirt tutorial from the Laurel Crowned.
22. Stove Top Cleaner. Make a paste of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to remove the extra stubborn grease from your stove top.
23. Acne Clearer. Apply hydrogen peroxide to cotton ball and use to help clear acne.
24. Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution. Use 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of grease-cutting dish soap (like Dawn) and 1 gallon of hot water.
25. Toy Cleaner. Disinfect those toys without using harsh cleaners. Use 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 cup of water in spray bottle. Spray and wipe with damp sponge.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Honey

25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.

25 Ways To Use Vinegar

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Ways to use Vinegar

Ways to use Vinegar List

Vinegar has got to be one of THE most versatile products known to man. Not only is it used in recipes, but there are a ton of other different ways to use vinegar around the house too. Vinegar is an excellent all natural household cleaner among it’s many amazing qualities. I have highlighted 25 fantastic ways you can put vinegar to use right now.

1. Grease-fighter. Remove grease stains in your kitchen including the stove by wiping down the area with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water.

2. Drain Deodorizer (and unclogger). Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and follow-up with 1 cup of vinegar. After the foaming dissipates, flush with hot water. Wait a few minutes and then flush again with cold water. This will not only unclog your drain, but it will keep it smelling fresh too.

3. Water Ring Dissolver. Remove water rings on your wood furniture by applying a 50/50 mixture of vinegar & olive oil, rubbing it with the grain. Use a second dry cloth to buff the spot away.

4. Candle Wax Remover. To remove melted candle wax from furniture, first blow-dry the affected area and blot with paper towels. Then rub with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Wipe the area clean with a soft cloth.

5. Rust Be Gone. Soak items like old rusty tools in full-strength vinegar to help remove rust. For especially rusty items, soak several days in an old container.

6. Dish Soap Booster. Adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to your dish soap will help it’s grease-fighting abilities.

7. Microwave Cleaner. This is one of my favorite ways to use vinegar. Place a bowl of 1 cup water and 1/4 cup of vinegar and zap it for 3-5 minutes. This super simple step makes cleaning the microwave SO much easier!

8. Cutting Board Disinfecter. Wipe down your cutting board with full-strength vinegar to help cut back on bacteria.

9. Coffeemaker Cleaner. If your coffee starts tasting bitter, then it’s time to clean your coffeemaker! Place a filter in the machine, add 2 cups vinegar and 1 cup water to your coffeemaker and let it run a full cycle. Remove the filter, replace with a new one and run it again with just water, repeat this step one time.

10. Fruit Fly Trapper. Check out this awesome DIY Fruit Fly Trapper Tutorial from Sweet Little Bluebird.

11. Bumper Sticker Remover. Saturate the bumper sticker with full-strength vinegar for 10-15 minutes. Then scrape away the residue with an old credit card. Wipe down with a rag soaked in vinegar to remove the rest of the residue.

12. Computer Cleaner. Keep your office & computer equipment clean and dust-free and they’ll thank you with years of service. First, turn off all your equipment. Next, take a damp cloth using a solution of 50/50 vinegar and water. Wring the cloth as much as you can before wiping down your equipment. Cotton swabs work great for smaller nooks & crannies.

13. Smoke Odor Buster. If you burned your food while cooking, you can quickly remove the odor by swinging a damp rag soaked on vinegar around the room. Just be sure and wring the rag really well first though unless you want to fling vinegar everywhere. If the odor has totally saturated the house, leave a few bowls of vinegar sitting out for a bit to absorb the smoky smell.

14. Painted Floor Preserver. Paint tends to peel from cement floors after a bit of use. Help the paint last longer by first applying a coat of vinegar to the cement floor. Allow the vinegar to dry completely before painting the floor.

15. Paint Fume Remover. Place a shallow dish of full-strength vinegar in a freshly-painted room to get rid of paint fumes more quickly.

16. Paintbrush Refresher. Remove dried-on paint from a paint brush by soaking it in vinegar until the paint dissolves and then washing the paintbrush in hot, soapy water.

17. Window Defroster. Help keep the frost off of your car windows by spraying with a solution of three parts vinegar, one part water. One coat should last a few weeks.

18. Scissors De-gunker. Wipes down the blades with full-strength white vinegar to strip them of the gunk that tends to build up on scissors after a lot of use. If the scissors have a lot of build-up, let the vinegar sit on the blades for a few minutes. Then, dry off with a rag and presto, your scissors are once again like new!

19. Mildew Cleaner. Remove mildew stains by using a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. For tougher stains, use full-strength vinegar.

20. Shower Door Shiner. Get your glass shower door sparkling clean with the following solution: 1 gallon water, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup ammonia.

21. Bathtub Cleaner. Remove especially pesky hard-water stains by filling your tub with hot water over the stains & adding 3 cups of vinegar. After letting soak for a 2-3 hours, drain the tub and then stains should scrub away fairly easily.

22. Showerhead Deblocker. Remove mineral deposits from showerheads easily by soaking them in one quart of hot water and 1/2 cup of vinegar.

23. Furniture Scratch Concealer. To make scratches less noticeable on wood furniture, mix vinegar & iodine together in a small container & apply to the affected area with a small brush. For darker wood, use more iodine. For lighter wood, use more vinegar.

24. Running Color Preventer. Soak your new brightly color clothes in a few cups of white vinegar for about 10 minutes before their first wash to prevent colors from running.

25. Washing Machine Cleaner. There is no need to buy those pricey washing machine cleaners. Simply pour in two cups of vinegar and run your washer a full cycle without any clothes or detergent.

Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?

Ways to use Old Magazines

 

25 Ways To Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.

25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.

25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.

25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.

25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.