Surprising Cleaning New Uses

By Real Simple
Updated January 27, 2014
Hallie Burton
More hidden tricks to get your house sparkling in record time.
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Baking Soda as Tub Scrubber

Hallie Burton

Rub tub stains away. Create a paste mad up of equal parts baking soda and cream of tartar and a little lemon juice. Let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse.

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White Bread as Glass Magnet

Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

The next time a tumbler takes a tumble, sponge up the shards with a slice of bread. Even tiny slivers will cling to it.

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Collapsible Laundry Bins as Garbage Bins

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

During seasonal cleaning binges, soft-sided, handled laundry bins can double as trash cans. Submitted by: HookemSuz

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Coffee Filter as Screen Cleaner

Antonis Achilleos

For lint-free viewing, grab a coffee filter to wipe down dusty and staticky computer monitors and TV screens regularly.

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Salt as Homemade Drain Cleaner

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Get a slow-moving drain flowing again and pour a solution of ½ cup of salt for every quart of hot water down the pipe.

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Baking Soda as Stain Remover

Antonis Achilleos

Clean discolored teacups and teapots by making a paste of baking soda and water. Gently rub over the stain to remove.

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Bleach Bottle as Cat Litter Scoop

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Cut diagonally across the middle of an empty, clean bottle, toss the base, and use the half with the handle to scoop up soil or cat litter.

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Tennis Ball as Light Bulb Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Remove a hot bulb that’s just burned out, using the other half of the ball.

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Socks as Floor Protector

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Protect wood floors. Slide socks onto the legs of chairs and tables so they don’t scratch the floor when you rearrange the room (yet again).

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Binder Clip as Sponge Stand

Levi Brown

To prevent a smelly, waterlogged sponge, air-dry it in a binder clip away from the sink.

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Panty Hose as Candle Cleaner

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Revive a forgotten flickerer. Slide a dusty candle inside a stocking and roll it around.

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Baby Oil as Paint Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Dab some baby oil on splatters to remove latex paint from skin.

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Colander as Toy Scoop

Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

One of the most popular kitchen tools also happens to double as a clean-up aid. Before draining the tub, use a colander to make scooping up small toys fun and easy.

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Clothespin as Cord Holder

Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Keep a retractable cord from rewinding too soon. Just clip the cord near the opening to prevent the cord from being sucked back in too quickly.

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Salt as Iron Cleaner

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt.

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Olive Oil as Sap Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

If dragging and decking out fresh spruce leaves you with sticky digits, pour a tablespoon of oil onto a cloth, then rub until clean. Bonus: The oil is a great moisturizer for dry winter skin.

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Newspaper as Refrigerator Odor Absorber

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Absorb odors in the refrigerator’s vegetable drawer with a lining of newspaper.

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How to Clean Stainless Steel Without Any Chemicals At All

Getty Images

Both durable and shiny, stainless steel is the ideal material for kitchens and bathroom. But as anyone who's owned stainless steel kitchen appliances knows, the name is somewhat of a misnomer. The material is prone to fingerprints, streaks, and water stains. The name "stainless" was originally used to describe the metal's ability to withstand heat and humidity without corroding. Although this material is tough, harsh abrasives can scratch it or make it rust, so it's important to learn how to clean stainless steel the right way. Follow the steps below to get your stainless steel shiny and have it live up to its name.

RELATED: Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist

What You'll Need:

  • Soft cloth
  • Mild dish soap
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda

Follow These Steps:

1. Check the manual: Before you clean a stainless steel appliance, it's a smart idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations. Lost the manual? Don't worry, you may be able to find it online. It's important to check the directions for your specific appliance, because there are numerous grades of stainless steel that may be more or less durable, and some appliances are treated with a clear-coat finish, which can be stripped by certain cleaning products.

2. Go with the grain: Just like wood, stainless steel has a grain. Check out the striations on the surface of your appliance, and wipe in that direction, beginning at the top and working your way down.

3. The quick clean: In most cases, wiping down the stainless steel appliance with a clean cloth dipped in hot water should do the trick. But for more stubborn stains, add a drop of dish soap to the water and use the sudsy solution to wipe the surface. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.

4. The steam clean: To sterilize stainless steel, you can also use a steam cleaner with a nozzle attachment. The steam will disinfect the surface, which can then be wiped dry with a soft cloth. Because stainless steel can scratch easily, avoid using a brush attachment or any stiff cleaning tools.

5. Try vinegar: For stubborn grease spots or water scaling, wet a soft cloth with a diluted solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Wipe the entire surface from top to bottom, but never let vinegar sit on the surface. Follow with a complete rinse and dry.

6. Baking soda scrub: Burned or caked-on messes on stainless steel pots and pans or countertops typically need a bit more attention. Make a soft paste out of baking soda and water and apply to the stain, allowing it to sit for about 20 minutes. Then, scrub the area with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and dish soap. It’s important to use a soft cloth and work parallel with the grain to avoid scratches. Be sure to fully rinse and dry.

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Chopsticks as Lint Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Pluck the lint buildup from a clothes dryer's trap.

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Lint Roller as Handbag Cleaner

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Quickly clean the interior of your purse by running a lint roller over the lining. Submitted by: Dotchie

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Baby Oil as Chrome Polish

Kana Okada

Forget keeping skin soft, baby oil also polishes chrome. Apply a dab to a cotton cloth and use it to shine everything from faucets to hubcaps. You'll end up with shiny, happy surfaces from a medicine-cabinet staple. (Who actually owns chrome cleaner, anyway?)

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Hair Spray as Lipstick Stain Remover

James Wojcik

Kiss that smudge of Really Red good-bye. If the fabric is machine washable, saturate the spot with hair spray, let it sit for 10 minutes, then dab with a damp cloth or sponge to remove. Launder as usual to wash out any residual stain and spray.

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Aluminum Foil as Glassware Scrubber

Quentin Bacon

To get baked-on food off a glass pan or an oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of a steel-wool soap pad, says Mary Findley, president of the cleaning-products developer Mary Moppins. It's one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out.

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Baking Soda as Silver Polish

Beatriz da Costa

To polish silver: Wash items, then place on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot. Add a baking-soda solution (¼ cup soda, a few teaspoons salt, 1 quart boiling water) and cover for a few seconds. The result? A chemical reaction that gets the black off the gravy boat.

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Broom as Long Distance Duster

Kana Okada

To dust crown moldings, place a microfiber rag over the broom's bristles and secure with a rubber band. Then use the long handle to dust areas that your arms can't reach. No more circus acts (starring you, on a rickety, wobbly stool).

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Car Wax as Sink Polish

Frances Janisch

Polish faucets, sinks, tile, even shower doors with Turtle Wax, which leaves behind a protective barrier against water and soap buildup, so your hard-earned sparkle will last past the next tooth-brushing.

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Car Wax as Garden Shear Lubricant

Aya Brackett

For cleaner cuts with less elbow grease, rub a little paste on the hinge of a pair of garden shears so they don’t get jammed.

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Chalk as Tarnish Prevention

Monica Buck

Slow the tarnish on your good silver by tying up a few moisture-absorbing pieces in cheesecloth and store them with your cutlery for shinier flatware that reflects well on you in no time flat.

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Coaster as Drip Catcher

Monica Buck

Catch the sticky stuff from bottles and jars in cupboards. No more shelves that require a full wipe-down after every spoonful of honey, slather of jam, or glug of olive oil.

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Cooking Spray as Candlestick Cleaner

James Baigrie

Celebrating by candlelight? Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a tea light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out.

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Use Cooking Spray as an Ice Repellent

Mark Lund

Before clearing snow off a driveway, liberally spray both sides of a plastic or metal shovel with cooking spray. The ice will slide right off the oily surface. It's the easiest trick for smoother snow removal.

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Cotton Ball as Rubber Glove Protector

James Baigrie

For leak-resistant gloves at your fingertips, push one cotton ball into the end of each finger of a dishwashing glove to keep sharp nails from splitting the rubber.