Reader's Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things New Edition

An updated edition, now fully illustrated and in color, of the classic guide to using common household items to replace, restore, repair, or revive almost anything in your household—including yourself.

When you have a household problem, don’t run to the store and waste good money, just open your pantry door—and EXTRAORDINARY USES FOR ORDINARY THINGS. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with baby oil, bleach, duct tape, tea, rubbing alcohol, and dozens of other handy items. This book will open your eyes to more than 2,000 creative and helpful uses you can make of familiar household products, such as:

• Aspirin can revive a dead car battery and a coating of petroleum jelly will keep the battery’s terminals from corroding

• A dab of shaving cream can keep your bathroom mirror from fogging and can remove juice stains on carpeting

• Petroleum jelly makes a great lip balm, makeup remover, and moisturizer

• A turkey baster is the perfect tool for watering Christmas trees and hard-to-reach plants

• Beer can be combed through your hair as a setting lotion, used as lure to trap insects, and polish gold jewelry

• Sandpaper can be used to sharpen needles and scissors, roughen slippery soles of new shoes, remove ink stains and scuff marks from suede, and remove stains on grout lines

• Wax paper will prevent a cast-iron skillet from rusting, restore the nonstick surface on your iron, and use on the bottom of a microwave when cooking messy foods.

If you hate to throw things away or if you delight in dreaming up new ways to use ordinary items, then you’ll love the ideas in this book. You’ll be amazed at the problems you can solve. It’s a book you’ll be sure to turn to again and again for helpful ideas, trustworthy advice, and entertaining reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trusted Media Brands
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781621454373

Book preview

CONTENTS

most usful items for

JUST ABOUT ANYTHING

Discover What’s hiding

IN YOUR CUPBOARD

Top 18 super items

FOR EVERYONE

Top 10 most useful items for

AROUND THE HOUSE

Top 12 most useful items for

THE COOK

Top 11 most useful items for

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Top 11 most useful items for

THE GARDEN

Top 11 most useful items for

CLEANING

Top 11 most useful items for

OUTDOORS

Top 12 most useful items for

STORAGE

Top 15 most useful items for

KIDS

Top 13 most useful items for

QUICK REPAIRS

your complete

A - Z GUIDE

A

Address labels

Adhesive tape

Alka-Seltzer

Aluminium cans

Aluminium foil

Aluminium foil pans

Ammonia

Apples

Ashes

Aspirin

B

Baby oil

Baby powder

Baby wipes

Baby wipes containers

Baking soda

Balloons

Bananas

Basters

Bath oil

Bathtub appliqués

Beans (dried)

Beer

Berry baskets

Binder clips

Bleach

Blow-dryer

Borax

Bottle openers

Bread

Bubble wrap

Buckets

Butter

Buttons

C

Candles

Candy tins

Cans

Cardboard boxes

Cardboard tubes

Carpet scraps

Car wax

Castor oil

Cat litter

Chalk

Charcoal briquettes

Cheesecloth

Chest rub

Chewing gum

Chicken wire

Clipboards

Clothespins

Club soda

Coat hangers

Coffee beans

Coffee cans

Coffee filters

Coffee grounds

Coins

Colanders

Cold cream

Compact discs

Cooking spray

Corks

Cornstarch

Correction fluid

Cotton balls

Crayons

Cream of tartar

Curtain rings

D

Dental floss

Denture tablets

Disposable diapers

Duct tape

Dustpans

E

Earrings

Egg cartons

Eggs

Electrical tape

Emery boards

Envelopes

Epsom salt

F

Fabric softener

Fabric softener sheets

Flip-flops

Flour

Flowerpots

Foam food trays

Freezer

Funnels

G

Garden hose

Gloves

Glycerine

Golf gear

H

Hair conditioner

Hair spray

Hydrogen peroxide

I

Ice-cream scoops

Ice cubes

Ice cube trays

Ice scrapers

J, K

Jar lids

Jars

Ketchup

Keys

Kool-Aid

L

Ladders

Lemons

Lighter fluid

Lip balm

M

Magazines

Magnets

Margarine tubs

Marshmallows

Masking tape

Mayonnaise

Milk

Milk cartons

Mothballs

Mouse pads

Mouthwash

Mustard

N

Nail polish

Nail polish remover

Newspaper

Nonskid tape

O

Oatmeal

Olive oil

Onions

Oranges

Oven cleaner

Oven mitts

P

Paintbrushes

Pantyhose

Paper bags

Paper clips

Paper plates

Paper towels

Peanut butter

Pencil erasers

Pencils

Pepper

Petroleum jelly

Pillowcases

Pipe cleaners

Plastic bags

Plastic bottles

Plastic containers

Plastic lids

Plastic tablecloths

Plastic wrap

Plungers

Popsicle sticks

Potatoes

Pots and pans

R

Rubber bands

Rubber jar rings

Rubbing alcohol

S

Salt

Saltshakers

Sand

Sandpaper

Sandwich and freezer bags

Screening

Shampoo

Shaving cream

Sheets

Shoe boxes

Shoe organizers

Shortening

Shower curtains

Skateboards

Soap

Socks

Soda pop

Spices

Sponges

Spray bottles

Squirt bottles

Steel wool

Straws

String

Styrofoam

Sugar

T

Talcum powder

Tape

Tea

Tennis balls

Tires

Tomato juice

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Toothpicks

Twist ties

U, V

Umbrellas

Vanilla extract

Vegetable oil

Vegetable peelers

Vinegar

Vodka

W, Y, Z

Wallpaper

Wax paper

WD-40

Window cleaner

Yogurt

Zippers

Zucchini

pad a package with a disposable diaper…

lubricate skateboard wheels with hair conditioner…

clean fireplace doors with ash…

keep aphids off rosebushes with banana peels…

make finger paints from yogurt…

have a facial with cat litter…

get perfect poached eggs with vinegar…

repair your leaky garden hose with a toothpick…

NOTE TO READER

The information in this book has been carefully researched and all efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither the authors nor Reader’s Digest assumes any responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages or losses incurred as a result of following the instructions in this book. Before taking any action based on information in this book, study the information carefully and make sure that you understand it fully. Observe all WARNINGS and CAUTIONS. Before applying any new or unusual repair or cleaning method on a highly visible area or on a valuable item, test it first on a small, less visible spot. All product names and websites appearing in this book are subject to change and should be considered general examples rather than specific recommendations. Their mention does not imply an endorsement.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Welcome to Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things. On the following pages we’ll show you thousands of ingenious ways to use 205 ordinary household products to restore, replace, repair, or revive practically everything in and around your home or to pamper yourself or entertain your children. You’ll save time and money—and you’ll save shelf space because you won’t need all of those commercial products. You’ll even save on gas, because you won’t need to run out to the store every time you need a staple such as air freshener, shampoo, oven cleaner, or wrapping paper.

The main part of this book is arranged like an encyclopedia, with the 205 product categories organized in A to Z fashion (from Address Labels to Zucchini), to provide instant access to information as well as entertaining reading. But before that, in Most Useful Items for Just About Anything, you’ll find a guide that targets the most useful items for certain areas, such as the garden or for cooking, as well as a list of the Super Items (see here) that everyone should have in their home.

Scattered throughout, you’ll also find hundreds of fascinating anecdotes and helpful tips. Some highlight specific warnings and safety precautions, or offer advice about buying or using certain items. And others are just plain fun—providing quirky historical information about the invention or origins of products. We’ve also included dozens of engaging activities and simple science experiments you can do with children.

Whether you delight in discovering new ways to use commonplace household items, or if you simply hate to throw things away, you’re bound to find the ideas in this book both entertaining and informative.

The Editors

DISCOVER WHAT’S HIDING

IN YOUR CUPBOARD

The items featured throughout this book are not costly commercial products. Rather, they are everyday items that you’re likely to find in your home—in your kitchen, medicine cabinet, desk, garage, and even the trash. And you’ll be amazed by how much you can actually accomplish using just a few of the most versatile of these items, such as baking soda, duct tape, pantyhose, salt, vinegar, and WD-40.

Some things, like washing windows, don’t need to be complicated. But somehow, they have become more complicated. Today, supermarket shelves are filled with a dazzling array of cleaning products, each with a unique use, a special formula, and a million-dollar advertising campaign. Window cleaners alone take up plenty of space. The bottles are filled with colorful liquids and have labels boasting their orange power, berry bouquet, or lemon or apple–herbal scent. Ironically, many credit the added power of vinegar or ammonia as their ‘secret’ ingredient.

This is the way of the world today. Every problem, every mess, every hobby, every daily task seems to require special tools, unique products, and extensive know-how. Why use a knife to chop garlic when there are so many varieties of garlic presses available? Why use a rag for cleaning when you have specialized sponges, wipes, Swiffers, magnetically charged dusters, and HEPA-filter vacuums? The list of gadgets and gizmos goes on and on.

Which begs the question: Why not just use a solution of vinegar or ammonia like our grandparents did to clean the windows? It works just as well as those expensive, complicated products—if not better.

And it costs only about a quarter as much, and sometimes less than that.

LEARN HOW TO USE WHAT’S IN YOUR CUPBOARD

Making do with what you’ve already got. It’s a smart, money-saving approach to life. And in fact, it can be easy and pleasurable. You can buy a fancy lint brush to remove cat hairs from clothing, but it’s pretty amazing how a few cents’ worth of tape does the job just as well. And you can use strong kitchen chemicals to clean the inside of a vase that held its flower water a bit too long, but isn’t it easier, and more fun, to use a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets instead to fizz away the stuck-on grime? On the following pages, the lists of most useful items will help you target specific areas, such as the house or garden, or interests, such as repairs and beauty, so that you can zoom in on the subject area that’s of most interest to you. And in the list of ‘super items’, you’ll find amazing examples of how you can use the more common items lurking inside your cupboard.

LESS TOXIC AND MORE EARTH-FRIENDLY ITEMS

In addition to saving you time and money, there are other, less tangible advantages to using these everyday household products. For one thing, many of the items are safer to use and considerably more environmentally friendly than their off-the-shelf counterparts. Consider, for example, using vinegar and baking soda to clear a clogged bathroom or kitchen drain (see here). It’s usually just as effective as a commercial drain cleaner. The only difference is that the baking soda-and-vinegar combination is far less caustic on your plumbing. Plus, you don’t have to worry about getting it on your skin or in your eyes.

The hints scattered throughout this book will also help you reduce household waste by giving you hundreds of delightful and surprising suggestions for reusing many of the items that you would otherwise toss in the garbage or recycling bin. These include lemon rinds, milk cartons, egg cartons, used tea bags, worn-out pantyhose, plastic bags, empty bottles, aluminium cans, and newspapers, to name just a few.

At the end of the day, you’ll experience the distinct pleasure that can only come from learning creative, new ways to use those familiar objects in and around your house that you always thought you knew so well. Even if you never used Alka-Seltzer tablets to clean your toilet bowl, or repair your glasses with a dab of nail polish, isn’t it great to know you can?

Much of the advice you’ll find in the following pages isn’t really new—it’s just new to us. After all, ‘Waste not, want not’ isn’t merely a quaint adage from a bygone era. It actually defined a way of life for generations. In the days before mass manufacturing and mass marketing transformed us into a throwaway society, most people knew perfectly well that table salt and baking soda (or as it was referred to in the olden days as bicarbonate of soda) had dozens upon dozens of uses.

Now, as landfills swell and we realize that the earth’s resources aren’t really endless, there are signs of a shift back to the old-fashioned ways. From recycling programs to energy-efficient appliances to hybrid cars, we’re constantly looking for new ways to apply the old, common sense values. And the good news is that while you’re saving money and doing your bit to live in an earth-friendly way, you’ll also be freeing your home and garage of clutter.

The lists of the most useful items for just about anything on the following pages will help you target your efforts, and give you specific examples of how to use those ordinary things in ways that are extraordinary and practical.

top 18

super items

FOR EVERYONE

ALUMINIUM FOIL

Decorate a cake Make a toasted cheese sandwich Polish silverware Sharpen scissors Prevent paint from skinning over Make a fishing lure

AMMONIA

Repel moths Stop mosquito bites from itching Get rid of stains on concrete Use as plant food Keep stray animals out of the trash

BAKING SODA

Make your own dishwashing detergent Get yellow stains off piano keys Control dandruff Make deodorizing dog shampoo

CARDBOARD BOXES

Make a breakfast-in-bed tray Repair a roof temporarily Use to protect fingers while hammering Make a garage floor drip pan

DUCT TAPE

Waterproof footwear Catch flies Replace garden-chair webbing Make an emergency shoelace Fix a toilet seat

LEMONS

Remove warts Clean a microwave oven Make soggy lettuce crisp again Create blond highlights Turn a lemon into a battery

NAIL POLISH

Tighten loose screws Tarnish-proof costume jewelry Get rid of a wart Mend holes in window screens Plug a hole in a picnic cooler Fix torn blinds

PANTYHOSE

Vacuum a fish tank Stop a rolling pin from sticking Make a ponytail scrunchy Dust under the fridge Clean your pool Use to strain paint

PAPER BAGS

Create a table decoration Keep bread fresh Clean artificial flowers Add to compost Make a kite Make fire starters

PETROLEUM JELLY

Create emergency makeup Remove lipstick stains Shine patent leather shoes Prevent unwanted hair dye runs Keep a bottle lid from sticking

PLASTIC BAGS

Line a cracked flower vase Treat chapped hands Keep purses in shape Spin-dry salad greens Make a jump rope Ripen fruit

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Make a foot warmer Save water when flushing the toilet Create a drip irrigator for plants Keep a cooler cold Space seeds in the garden

SALT

Give brooms a longer life Make your own brass and copper polish Keep oven spills from hardening Revive overcooked coffee Condition your skin

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Soften hard marshmallows Make a bath pillow Use as a portable water dish Make instant dessert treats

TAPE

Make flypaper Prevent jewelry tangles Deter cats from scratching furniture Make sewing easier Mend a broken plant stem

TEA

Tan your skin Stop foot odor Drain a boil Feed ferns Tenderize tough meat

VINEGAR

Unclog drains Clean and deodorize just about anything Unset old stains Prevent bruises Repel insects Speed up seed germination

WD-40

Relieve arthritis symptoms Remove chewing gum from hair Protect a bird feeder Kill poison ivy and prickly weeds Remove barnacles on boats

top 10

Most useful items for

AROUND THE HOUSE

CARPET SCRAPS

Make an exercise mat, car mat, or knee pad Muffle appliance noise Protect flooring under plants Cushion kitchen shelves Give your car traction Protect tools

COMPACT DISCS

Use as Christmas ornaments, driveway reflectors, or a circle template Catch candle drips Make an artistic bowl, decorative suncatcher, or a clock

DUCT TAPE AND ELECTRICAL TAPE

Repair toilet seats, screens, vacuum hoses, and frames Make a bandage or bumper sticker Catch flies Replace a grommet Hem pants Hang Christmas lights Make a Halloween costume Cover a book, wallet, or present Reinforce book binding Remove lint

FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS

Freshen air and deodorize cars, dogs, gym bags, suitcases, and sneakers Pick up pet hair Repel mosquitoes Stop static cling Make bedsheets smell good Stop sewing thread from tangling

NAIL POLISH

Mark hard-to-see items Mark thermostat and shower settings and levels in measuring cups and buckets Label sports gear and poison containers Seal envelopes and labels Stop shoe scuffs and keep laces, ribbons, and fabric from unraveling Make needle threading easier Keep buckles and jewelry shiny Stop a stocking run Temporarily repair glasses Fix nicks in floors and glass Repair lacquered items Fill bathtub nicks

PANTYHOSE

Find and pick up small objects Buff shoes Keep a hairbrush clean Remove nail polish Keep spray bottles clog-free Organize suitcases Hang-dry sweaters Secure garbage bags Dust under the fridge Prevent soil erosion in houseplants

PAPER BAGS

Bring on trips for souvenirs Dust off mops Carry laundry Cover textbooks Create a table decoration Use as gift bags and wrapping paper Reshape knits after washing Use as a pressing cloth Bag newspapers for recycling

PLASTIC BAGS

Keep mattresses dry Stuff curtain valances, pillows, and crafts Drain bath toys Clean out pockets before doing laundry Make bibs and a highchair drop cloth Line a litter box Dispose of a Christmas tree

RUBBER BANDS

Reshape a broom Childproof cabinets Keep thread from tangling Make a holder for car visors Use to grip paper Extend a button Use as a bookmark Cushion a remote control Secure bed slats and tighten furniture casters

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Protect pictures and padlocks Dispense fabric softener Display baby teeth Carry baby wipes Mold soap Starch craft items Feed birds Make a funnel

pad a package with a disposable diaper… see here

top 12

Most useful items for

THE COOK

ALUMINIUM FOIL

Bake a perfect piecrust Soften brown sugar Decorate a cake and create custom-shaped cake pans Keep rolls and bread warm Make an extra-large salad bowl

APPLES

Keep a roast chicken moist and cakes fresh Ripen green tomatoes Soften hardened brown sugar Absorb excess salt in soups

BAKING SODA

Clean fruit and vegetables Remove fish smells Reduce the acidity of coffee and tomato-based sauces Reduce gas-producing properties of beans Make fluffy omelets Replace yeast

COFFEE FILTERS

Cover food in microwave Filter cork crumbs from wine or food remnants from cooking oil Hold a taco, ice-cream cone, or popsicle

ICE CUBE TRAYS

Freeze eggs, pesto, chopped vegetables, and herbs, chicken soup—even leftover wine—for future use

LEMONS

Prevent potatoes from turning brown or rice from sticking Keep guacamole green Make soggy lettuce crisp again Freshen the fridge and chopping boards

PAPER TOWELS

Microwave bacon, clean corn, and strain stock Keep vegetables crisp and vegetable crisper clean Avoid soggy bread and rusty pots

PLASTIC BAGS

Cover a cookbook Bag dirty hands to answer the phone Make cookie crumbs Use as a mixing bowl or salad spinner Ripen fruit

RUBBER BANDS

Keep spoons from sliding into bowls Secure casserole lids for travel Anchor a chopping board Get a better grip on twist-off lids and glasses

SALT

Prevent grease from splattering Speed up the cooking process Shell hard-boiled eggs or pecans easier Test eggs for freshness and poach eggs perfectly Wash spinach more effectively Keep salad crisp Revive wrinkled apples and stop cut fruit from browning Use to whip cream, beat eggs, and keep milk fresh Prevent mold from forming on cheese

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Store grater with cheese Make a pastry bag Dispose of cooking oil Color cookie dough Keep ice cream from forming crystals Soften marshmallows, melt chocolate, and keep soda from going flat Grease cake pans

the secret to perfect poached eggs is vinegar … see here

TOOTHPICKS

Mark steaks for rare, medium, or well done Retrieve garlic cloves from marinade Prevent pots from boiling over Microwave potatoes faster Limit salad dressing Make frying sausages easier

top 11

Most useful items for

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

ASPIRIN

Dry up pimples Treat calluses Control dandruff Cut inflammation from bites and stings Restore hair color after swimming in chlorinated water

BABY OIL

Remove a band-aid painlessly Treat cradle cap Make your own bath oil Remove acrylic paint from skin without irritation

BAKING SODA

Soothe minor burns, sunburn, poison ivy rash, bee stings, diaper rash, and other skin irritations Combat cradle cap Control dandruff Use as a gargle or mouthwash Scrub teeth and clean dentures Alleviate itching in casts and athlete’s foot Soothe tired, stinky feet Remove built-up hair gel, spray, or conditioner Use as an antiperspirant

BUTTER

Make pills easier to swallow Soothe aching feet Remove tree sap from skin Smooth legs after shaving Use as shaving cream Moisturize dry hair

CHEST RUB

Make calluses disappear Soothe aching feet Stop insect-bite itch Treat toenail fungus Repel ticks and biting insects

restore hair color with club soda … see here

LEMONS

Disinfect cuts and scrapes Soothe poison ivy rash Relieve rough hands and sore feet Remove warts Lighten age spots Create blond highlights Clean and whiten nails Cleanse and exfoliate your face Treat dandruff Soften dry elbows

MAYONNAISE

Relieve sunburn pain Give yourself a facial Condition hair Remove dead skin cells Strengthen fingernails

MUSTARD

Soothe an aching back Relax stiff muscles Relieve congestion Make a facial mask

PETROLEUM JELLY

Heal windburn Help prevent diaper rash Protect baby’s eyes from shampoo Moisturize face and lips Remove makeup Create emergency makeup Strengthen perfume Soften hands Do a professional manicure Smooth wild eyebrow hairs Stop hair-dye runs

TEA

Relieve tired eyes Soothe bleeding gums Cool sunburn Relieve baby’s pain from an injection Reduce razor burn Condition dry hair and get the gray out Tan your skin Drain a boil Stop foot odor Soothe mouth pain

VINEGAR

Control dandruff and condition hair Protect blond hair from chlorine Apply as antiperspirant Soak aching muscles Freshen breath Ease sunburn and itching Banish bruises Soothe sore throat Clear congestion Heal cold sores and athlete’s foot Pamper skin Erase age or sun spots Soften cuticles Treat jellyfish or bee stings Treat corns and calluses on feet

top 11

Most useful items for

CLEANING

ALKA-SELTZER

Clean residue off a narrow-necked vase Unclog a drain Clean your ovenproof glass cookware, coffeemaker, toilet bowl, and gold and silver jewelry

AMMONIA

Clean carpets, upholstery, ovens, fireplace doors, windows, porcelain fixtures, crystal, jewelry, and white shoes Remove tarnish and stains Fight mildew Strip floor wax

BAKING SODA

Clean baby bottles, thermoses, chopping boards, appliances, sponges and towels, coffeemakers, teapots, cookware, and fixtures Clear clogged drains Deodorize garbage cans Boost dishwashing liquid (or make your own) Remove stains Shine jewelry, stainless steel, chrome, and marble Wash wallpaper and remove crayon marks

BORAX

Clear a clogged drain Remove stains Clean windows and mirrors Remove mildew from fabrics Eliminate urine odor

FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS

Lift burned-on food Freshen drawers Remove soap scum Repel dust on TV and computer screens Freshen laundry baskets and wastebaskets Buff chrome Keep dust off blinds Renew grubby stuffed toys Prevent musty odors in bags and suitcases

LEMONS

Get rid of tough stains on marble Polish metals Clean the microwave Deodorize chopping boards, fridge, and garbage cans

RUBBING ALCOHOL

Clean bathroom fixtures, venetian blinds, windows, and phones Remove hair spray from mirrors Prevent ring around the collar Remove ink stains

SALT

Clean vases, discolored glass, flowerpots, artificial flowers, percolators, refrigerators, woks, and wicker Make brooms last Easy fireplace or flour clean-up Make metal polish Remove wine and grease from carpet, watermarks from wood, and lipstick from glasses Restore a sponge Remove baked-on food Soak up oven spills Remove stains from saucepans and clean cast iron

TOOTHPASTE

Clean piano keys and sinks Polish metal and jewelry Deodorize baby bottles Remove ink or lipstick from fabric, crayon from walls, and watermarks from furniture

VINEGAR

Clean blinds, bricks, tiles, panelling, carpets, piano keys, computers, appliances, and chopping boards Clean china, crystal, glassware, coffeemakers, cookware, and windows Banish kitchen grease Clean and deodorize drains Polish metal Erase ballpoint pen marks Remove water rings and wax from furniture Revitalize leather Clean a variety of fixtures Get rid of insects in the pantry

WD-40

Remove carpet stains and floor scuffs Remove tea and tomato stains Clean toilet bowls Condition leather furniture Clean a chalkboard Remove felt pen and crayon from walls

clean fireplace doors with ash … see here

top 11

Most useful items for

THE GARDEN

ALUMINIUM FOIL

Create a window box for plants or an incubator for seedlings Mix with mulch to deter insects Hang strips to scare crows and other birds Wrap tree trunks to prevent sunscald or to keep deer and rabbits away Prevent cuttings from getting tangled

COFFEE CANS

Make a sprinkler to spread seeds and fertilizer Measure rain to ensure your garden is getting enough water Make a bird feeder Collect food scraps for compost

MILK CARTONS

Make a bird feeder Use as a seed starter Make a collar to protect vegetables Collect food scraps for compost

NEWSPAPER

Protect and ripen end-of-season tomatoes Use as mulch or add to compost to remove odor Block weeds in flower and vegetable beds Get rid of earwigs

PANTYHOSE

Stake delicate plants Fill with hair clippings to repel deer Make a hammock for growing melons Store onions and off-season bulbs Prevent soil loss in houseplants Fill with soap scraps for cleaning hands at a garden faucet

PLASTIC BAGS

Protect plants from frost and shoes from mud Speed budding of poinsettias Keep insects off fruit ripening on trees Store outdoor equipment manuals Clean a barbecue easily

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Make a bird feeder, an all-purpose scoop, a watering can, or an individual drip irrigator for a plant Secure netting over flower beds Isolate weeds when spraying Cover seed-packet markers or make plant tags from cut strips Use as a garbage can when you mow the lawn Use to space seeds Trap insects

PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Make traps for slugs and wasps Stop ants from crawling up picnic table legs Use for a dog’s outdoor water bowl

SALT

Kill snails and slugs Inhibit the growth of weeds in walkway cracks Extend the life of cut flowers Clean flowerpots

TEA

Spur growth of rosebushes Water acid-loving plants Nourish houseplants Prepare a planter for potting Speed the decomposition of compost

WD-40

Keep animals out of flower beds and squirrels off bird feeders Keep tool handles from splintering Stop snow from sticking on a shovel Prevent wasps from building nests and repel pigeons Kill thistle plants Protect a bird feeder

keep aphids off rosebushes with banana peels … see here

top 11

Most useful items for

OUTDOORS

ALUMINIUM FOIL

Improve outdoor lighting Keep bees away from beverages Make an impromptu picnic platter or improvise a frying pan Make a drip pan for a barbecue and clean the grill Warm your toes when camping and keep a sleeping bag and matches dry

BAKING SODA

Keep weeds out of concrete cracks Clean resin garden furniture Feed flowering plants Maintain proper pool alkalinity Scour a barbecue grate to remove food residue

BUBBLE WRAP

Keep soft drinks cold Sleep on air while camping Cushion seats and benches

BUCKETS

Boil lobster over a campfire Use as a food-storage bin Build a camp washing machine or make a camp shower

CAT LITTER

Give your car traction on ice Prevent barbecue grease fires Keep tents and sleeping bags free of musty odors Remove grease spots from the driveway

COOKING SPRAY

Prevent grass from sticking to your mower Spray on fishing line for quicker casting Prevent snow from sticking to your shovel Lubricate a bicycle chain

DUCT AND ELECTRICAL TAPE

Make bike streamers Seal out ticks Create a clothesline Stash a secret car key Patch a canoe or a pool Repair outdoor cushions and patio-chair webbing Tighten hockey shin guards and revive a hockey stick Preserve skateboarders’ shoes Repair ski gloves or a tent Waterproof footwear

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Make a scoop or bailer for a boat Make a bottle into a weight for anchoring or lifting Make a bird feeder Fill a bottle with sand or cat litter for winter traction Keep a picnic cooler cold

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Inflate to make valuables float when boating Store hand cleaner for the beach Use as a portable water dish Apply insect repellent with ease

VINEGAR

Keep water fresh Clean outdoor furniture and decks Repel insects Trap flying insects Get rid of ants Clean off bird droppings

WD-40

Repel pigeons and wasps Waterproof boots and shoes Remove wax from skis and snowboards Remove barnacles from a boat and protect it from corrosion Untangle a fishing line and lure fish Clean and protect golf clubs Remove burrs from a horse’s mane and protect hooves in winter Keep flies off cows

lubricate skate wheels with hair conditioner … see here

top 12

Most useful items for

STORAGE

BABY WIPES CONTAINERS

Organize sewing supplies, recipe cards, coupons, craft and office supplies, small tools, photos, receipts, bills, and more Store plastic shopping bags Store towels and rags

CANDY TINS

Make an emergency sewing kit Store broken jewelry Make a birthday keepsake Prevent jewelry-chain tangles Store car fuses Keep earrings together Store workshop accessories

CANS

Compartmentalize your tool pouch with juice cans Make a desk organizer Create pigeonholes to store silverware, nails, office supplies, and other odds and ends

CARDBOARD TUBES

Store knitting needles, fabric scraps, and string Keep Christmas lights tidy Preserve kids’ artwork, important documents, and posters Keep linens and pants crease-free and electrical cords tangle-free Protect fluorescent light tubes

CARDBOARD BOXES

Make magazine holders from detergent boxes Make a home office in-a-box Store hoes, rakes, and other long-handled garden tools and kids’ sporting equipment Protect glassware or lightbulbs Store posters and artwork Store Christmas decorations Organize dowels, moldings, weather stripping, and metal rods

CLOTHESPINS

Keep snacks fresh Organize workshop, kitchen, bathroom, and wardrobes Keep gloves together

COFFEE CANS

Make a kids’ piggy bank Collect kitchen scraps Carry toilet paper when camping Store screws, nuts, and nails Organize and store belts Collect stuff from clothes’ pockets before laundering

EGG CARTONS

Store and sort coins Organize buttons, safety pins, threads, bobbins and fasteners Store golf balls or Christmas ornaments

PANTYHOSE

Store wrapping paper Bundle blankets Store onions or flower bulbs

PLASTIC BAGS

Store extra baby wipes Collect used clothes Protect clothes Store skirts Keep stored purses in shape

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Store sugar Store and organize small workshop items Use as a boot tree Make a bag or string dispenser

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Protect fragile breakables Store seasonal sweaters Add cedar to a closet Make a pencil bag De-clutter the bathroom

stash your valuables at the gym in a tennis ball … see here

top 15

Most useful items for

KIDS

ALUMINIUM FOIL PANS

Use as molds for ice ornaments Minimize glitter mess and make trays for craft supplies

make finger paints from yogurt … see here

BAKING SODA

Make watercolor paints or invisible ink Produce gas to blow up a balloon Clean crayon marks from walls and baby vomit from clothing Combat cradle cap and diaper rash Wash chemicals out of new baby clothes

BATHTUB APPLIQUéS

Stick to bottom of kiddy pool Affix to toddler training cups and high-chair seats

CARDBOARD BOXES

Make a medieval castle, a puppet theater or a sundial Make a garage for toy vehicles Store tennis racquets, baseball bats, fishing rods, and other sporting goods Use as an impromptu sled Make a liquor-box skee-ball game

CARDBOARD TUBES

Make a kazoo or a megaphone Preserve kids’ artwork Build a toy log cabin Make Christmas bonbons

COMPACT DISCS

Make a fun picture frame Make wall art for a teenager’s room Create spinning tops Use as Christmas ornaments

CORKS

Use burnt cork as Halloween face paint Create craft stamps Make a cool bead curtain for a kid’s room

DUCT AND ELECTRICAL TAPE

Make Halloween or dress-up costumes, a toy sword, or hand puppets Create bicycle streamers

JARS

Make a piggy bank Dry kids’ mittens Bring along baby treats and store baby food portions Collect insects Create a miniature biosphere

MARGARINE TUBS

Make a baby footprint paperweight Divide ice cream into individual portions Bring ready-made food for baby Make a piggy bank Give kids some lunchbox variety

PAPER BAGS

Cover textbooks Make a kite Create a life-sized body poster

PAPER PLATES

Make prompt cards and Frisbee flash cards Make masks, mobiles, and seasonal decorations

PILLOWCASES

Prepare travel pillows for kids Make wall hangings for kids’ rooms Clean stuffed animals

SANDWICH AND FREEZER BAGS

Display baby teeth Make cheap baby wipes Dye pasta for crafts Make kids’ kitchen gloves Make a pencil bag Keep spare kids’ clothes in the car for mishaps Cure car sickness Play football while making pudding

TAPE

Secure a baby’s bib Create childproofing in a pinch Make multicolored pen designs Make an unpoppable balloon

top 13

Most useful items for

QUICK REPAIRS

ALUMINIUM FOIL

Make a flexible funnel for hard-to-reach places Reflect light for photography Reattach vinyl floor Make an artist’s palette Prevent paint from skinning over Line roller pans and keep paint off doorknobs Keep a paintbrush wet

BAKING SODA

Clean car-battery terminals and remove tar from car Use as a footpath de-icer Tighten cane chair seats Give decks a weathered look Clean air conditioner filters Keep a humidifier odor-free

BASTERS

Cure a musty air conditioner Transfer paints and solvents Fix a leaky refrigerator

BUCKETS

Hold paint and supplies when painting on a ladder and use lids to contain paint drips Organize extension cords Soak a saw to clean it Use as a Christmas tree stand

CARDBOARD BOXES

Make a temporary roof repair Protect fingers while hammering small nails Make an oil drip pan Identify fluid leaking from your car Make a bed tray Make an in-box Organize your workshop Keep upholstery tacks straight

repair your leaky garden hose with a toothpick … see here

CLOTHESPINS

Clamp thin objects Make a clipboard Grip a nail to protect fingers Float paintbrushes in solvent

DUCT TAPE

Repair siding Make a temporary roof shingle Create a clothesline Stash a secret car key Patch a canoe Repair a garbage can

ELECTRICAL TAPE

Temporarily fix a car taillight Remove broken window glass safely Hang glue and caulk tubes for storage Repair outdoor cushions

GARDEN HOSE

Protect handsaw and ice skate blades Make a rounded sanding block Make a paint-can grip

PANTYHOSE

Test a sanding job Apply stain in tight corners Patch holes in screens Strain paint

PLASTIC BAGS

Protect a ceiling fan when painting a ceiling Store paintbrushes Contain paint overspray

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Make a neater paint bucket Store paints Make a workshop organizer Use as a level Make an anchor for weighting tarps and patio umbrellas

VINEGAR

Wash concrete off skin Remove paint fumes Degrease grates, fans, and air conditioner grilles Disinfect filters Help paint adhere to concrete Remove rust from tools Peel off wallpaper Slow plaster hardening Revive hardened paintbrushes

A

ADDRESS LABELS

LABEL YOUR STUFF • Few people bother to take out insurance on their collection of personal electronics equipment, but replacing an iPhone, digital camera, or MP3 player can run into some serious money. Still, a tape-covered address label conspicuously placed on your gear just may facilitate its safe return. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it’s cheap enough.

HANG ON TO YOUR UMBRELLA • A well-made umbrella can last for years, but that won’t help if you lose it. Minimize the risk of your loss becoming someone else’s gain by sticking an address label on the umbrella handle, then covering it with clear packing tape. This protects the label from the elements, and makes it more difficult to remove.

ADHESIVE TAPE

TAG YOUR BAGS