8 NEW Uses for Three Household Products!

By: Misty Capley

Growing up my family always had different ways of doing things and used different methods for cleaning up. For instance my grandma would use a newspaper and gasoline to get her windows cleaner than I’ve ever seen windows (takes away everything, only smells for a minute). Also if there is a ring on the inside of the toilet, pour a can of coke along the ring and flush it away! Here are a few more uses for Coca – Cola that can come in handy.

Kitchen Cleaner
If your kitchen counters, stove or microwave get a little greasy after a marathon cooking session take out the coke can. Pour a little bit of the soda onto a sponge and wipe the counter down. Coke acts like a degreaser. Just make sure you wipe the counter down a second time with water; this way the counter will not be sticky.

Insect Distracter
We all know that bugs go crazy for sweet things -- use that knowledge to your advantage. If you're having a barbeque, leave a small cup of coke on the ground a few feet away from your patio. The scent will get the attention of all the little critters and draw them to the soda instead of your picnic table.


Grout Cleaner
If the tile grout on your bathroom floor is looking a little...interesting...reach for a can of Coke. The acid in the soda combined with the carbonation packs a 1-2 punch against ground-in dirt. Simply pour over the tile, let sit for a few minutes, and then clean the floor as usual.


Cornstarch is another household product that has some interesting uses.


Dry Shampoo For Your Pets
When the family pet is starting to get a little stinky, reach for the corn starch. Give your pet a light dusting, then wipe off with a dry washcloth or brush out. The cornstarch helps absorb oils and odors that are making your pet less than fresh.


Finger Paint
DIY for children’s play. You can make finger-paint for your kids, using cornstarch, water and food coloring. This is an inexpensive way to make hours of fun for young ones during their summer vacation.


Toothpaste can clean more than just your mouth.


Restore Your Headlights
Sometimes the plastic headlight cases can get pretty cloudy, causing your headlights to look dull. Using some toothpaste (and an old toothbrush), buff the inside of the plastic. Then, rinse out the headlight case thoroughly. Once dry, reassemble the light fixture. Good as new.


Stinky Hand Cleaner
One of the worst parts of doing dirty household jobs, whether they be gardening, unclogging a pipe or even cooking with onion or garlic, is that they can make your hands smell really bad. Sometimes so bad, not even hand soap will do the trick. In any case, what works for bad breath also works for bad smells: toothpaste. Just rub your hands with the stuff, then rinse.


DVD Repair
Does your copy of Pirates of the Caribbean skip? Try buffing a small dab of toothpaste on the readable side of the disc with a paper towel. This helps resurface the disc by filling in the scratches and helps prevent the disc from skipping. Just remember to do a good job wiping off the excess toothpaste, as you don't want it getting in your player.

These clever tips can get you out of a stinky, smelly, sticky situation. Keep this article handy in case you find yourself faced with one!