Lemon

Create an all-in-one hair highlighter and fragrance spray. Slice two lemons, place in a small pot, and cover with water. Simmer for an hour, adding water every 20 minutes. Cool, strain, and funnel into a small spray bottle.

Baking Soda

Keep linens fresh. Leave an open container in your linen closet.

Vinegar

Remove spots from glassware, crystal, or eyeglasses. Use a vinegar-soaked cloth.
Clean your washing machine. Run the machine through the warm-water wash cycle empty, then add a gallon of vinegar during the rinse cycle.
Clean your iron. Put vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Remember to flush it with water when you are done.
Loosen splattered food stains in (and deodorize) the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water.
Boil eggs. Add a bit of vinegar to the water when boiling eggs so the shells won’t crack.
Eliminate ugly deposits in the fish tank. Rub the tank with a cloth dipped in vinegar. Rinse well.
Remove hard-water stains. Some states won’t sell phosphoric or glycolic acid to break them down, so use vinegar instead.
Treat ingrown nails. Soak the hand or foot in straight vinegar.
Treat yeast infections. Soak in a bath filled with water and a capful of vinegar.

Velcro

Turn a photograph or anything else lightweight into a refrigerator “magnet.” Apply strips of Velcro to the back of the photograph and to the refrigerator.

View all of Real Simple's New Uses for Old Things.