Alternative uses for household items?

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When I was about ten years old, I remember spending the night over at my favorite aunt’s house. Come on—we all have a favorite family member. :sweat_smile: Anyway, I forgot to pack my toothpaste and my aunt said that I could use baking soda instead for brushing my teeth. What? My ten-year old mind was thinking: “You want me to brush my teeth with something you bake with?” :sweat_smile:

As my aunt instructed me, I poured an amount of the baking soda in my open palm, wet the toothbrush, and then brushed my teeth. There are some toothpastes that have baking soda in them. I have also used baking soda with water when I have had an upset stomach. While it does not have the best taste in the world, it worked in both of these instances. I also use baking soda in the refrigerator as a deodorizer.

Sometimes we use certain items because of what we have heard of its use or because a family member or friend has used those items.

A few other items that I have used:

Epsom salt - I have used Epsom salt for soaking my aching feet because I had seen my mother do it. One day I was reading the directions on the back of an Epsom salt box and I would learn that Epsom salt is a laxative (although I never tried it this way).

Toothpaste - When I have had a pimple, I have placed a small amount on the pimple.

Newspaper - I have used newspapers to clean my home windows and my car windshield / windows.

One item I have not used, but either read or heard about:

Peanut butter - I have heard that peanut butter gets gum out of one’s hair, but fortunately, I have not had that to find out. :sweat_smile:

It is amazing that some items used for internal use, could also be used for external use.

So, what are your alternative uses for household items?

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Depends on the scenario but we sometimes use one of our spare microfibre cloths as a handtowel on the last day of a sit so we can get all of the owners’ towels washed… It’s much easier taking one small dirty cloth on to the next place rather than one of our larger towels getting dirty/wet. I’ll do anything to make the logistics of cleaning easier. Sad but true! :laughing:

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That is a great idea!

I love microfiber cloths. I initially bought them to clean my car, but I also use them to clean my computer and tv screens.

There are so many items that can be used for something other than their intended purposes.

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This really made me think! When we kids were small and started brushing our teeth, my dad said toothpaste (which came in a tin, then) was too expensive for children to waste. We cleaned out teeth with salt (same way as you describe for baking soda) and I still have most of them today, 60+years later!

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You know you made me think that maybe folks just used what they had because things were expensive and taking kids to the doctor was expensive. I can remember my grandmother giving me castor oil as a kid when I had a cold. I would later learn in life that castor oil is a laxative. It got rid of the cold and everything else in my body! :sweat_smile:

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Scissors are pretty effective too :grinning:

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@CRU

Are you stating this because of experience?

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No, but i guarantee it will work

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Vinegar is great for odour. Learnt it from a dog breeder - after washing a puppy accident, have some vinegar on a damp cloth and wipe over. Will take the smell and the dog would not want to pee there again as it is smelly on that spot. Can also have a splash of vinegar in the soap chamber of the washing machine if the clothes are smelly (or the machine) and then do a normal wash. For odours in the home, have some vinegar in a bowl of some water and let it just stay in the bowl. Might even work for scented sticks… :grin:

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I had a sit last year whereby the dog had a pee accident on the HO’s carpet. The HO had not mentioned that the dog may have pee accidents, so I did a google search of “How to get dog pee out of the carpet”? and the first search I came across said to use white vinegar. I used white vinegar, a little water, and baking soda and blotted that combination with a cloth…let sit and blot again.

The instructions were to not rub or scrub as that could cause the stain to go further into the carpet. The white vinegar worked wonderfully at getting rid of the pee stain along with getting rid of the smell.

Up until that point, I had never used white vinegar, but I now keep a bottle in my cabinet.

I have also used it for toilet cleaning and in my trash bin when it gets smelly.

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I have also used vinegar in the washing machine to remove odours, and vinegar and water for cleaning pet urine from a carpet or mattress.

Also on one house sit with chickens I was asked to use vinegar water spray to clean the chicken house - a quick daily once iver after a poo pick. It worked very well

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Yes, white vinegar is so handy. Not to be confused with malt vinegar which is great with fish & chips

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It’s also good for removing permanent marker from whiteboards. How someone discovered that is a mystery, maybe they were desperate.

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White vinegar FTW !! :raised_hands:

I used it to get spilled nail varnish off a sofa- magic stuff indeed.

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I microwave a cup of white vinegar mixed with water to get rid of any residue food smells. Also loosens any food particles, making the microwave easy to wipe clean. And you can reuse that water/vinegar mix to wipe countertops, fridge shelves, etc. Plus pour it down the kitchen sink or into the toilet for cleaning, especially if mixed with baking powder so that it bubbles before you scrub.

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@Maggie8K I do that also but for a more lovely, long lasting fragrance, I use around ten drops or more of vanilla essence in around a half cup of water and do the same method.

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:lemon: Lemons

I use a lemon wedge to freshen a dishwasher ( can be an already squeezed wedge ) place on top rack or cutlery section when running the normal cycle.

To clean a microwave - half a lemon - squeeze juice into small cup or bowl of water ( leave the lemon in too) heat in the microwave . Cuts through grease and cooked on food residues and smells good too. It works with an old lemon too ( as long as it’s not mouldy ) .

Also lemons can be used to remove limescale from taps, shower heads and kettles .

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Make sense if you’re creating fragrance, @ziggy. The vinegar is aimed at cutting grease or other residue, more of a cleaning agent.

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BTW, I’ve read that vinegar and water is good for degreasing cooktops/hobs as well. I don’t cook, so have never tried that.

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@DianeS how did they find that out?!

Unfortunately most schools are nut free these days because of allergies, otherwise that could have been really useful!