topic Re: Multi-Use Household Items in Home

Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 01:20:01 GMT

It dawned on me this morning, as I was opening a new bottle of Tylenol with my handy seam ripper, that I have never used it for its intended purpose. I use it to open the plastic shrink wrap around the cap that a pair of scissors wouldn't be able to.

Do you use a household item, meant for one purpose, and use it for something totally different?

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

mizree — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 01:42:39 GMT

denture tablets to clean drip coffeemaker, swell and contigo bottles, flower vases

playtex gloves (or similiar) to collect hair off floor before vacuuming.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

frenchie — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 02:09:35 GMT

I use an adjustable wrench to open soda and juice bottles. Also on the cat food pull tab cans. They kill my fingers. I use an exacto knife to open boxes, Q or Amazon. We get plenty of those don't we? I wish they made products as well as the glue on packaging.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Marsha2003 — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 07:23:01 GMT

The only thing I can think of is how I use the sponge scrubber on a stick that's meant for cleaning bathtubs and showers. I use it dry to pick up dust and hair from the bathroom floor. It works much better than a broom and doesn't require pulling the vacuum out of the closet.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Jk9 — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 06:01:37 GMT

I use an ice pick for lots of stuff like opening plastic shrink wrap etc. I don't think I ever used it for breaking up ice.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Flatbush — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 06:28:08 GMT

I use cotton balls with a bit of alcohol on it to clean the mungy film on my stove controls and refrigerator handles. Also use it to clean the munge on the fan above the stove.

Clothes pins to hold my sleeves up when I am cooking or washing dishes and also to hold back curtains so they stay clean when they brush against the screens if the windows are open.

I save old newspapers on counters to use when I am chopping or peeling vegetables and fruits.Then I wrap the peelings etc. up and pitch it in the garbage.Saves me cleaning the counters and time.

Also I keep a good stack of newspapers available for a handy trivet when I take some thing out of the oven and don't want to put the hot pan or plate on my counter.

A plastic throw away knife to run around the edges of a cake or muffins to help it easily release after baking. It does not scratch the pan. esp non stick pans.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Ainhisg — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:41:00 GMT

@Flatbush wrote:
I use cotton balls with a bit of alcohol on it to clean the mungy film on my stove controls and refrigerator handles. Also use it to clean the munge on the fan above the stove.
Clothes pins to hold my sleeves up when I am cooking or washing dishes and also to hold back curtains so they stay clean when they brush against the screens if the windows are open.
I save old newspapers on counters to use when I am chopping or peeling vegetables and fruits.Then I wrap the peelings etc. up and pitch it in the garbage.Saves me cleaning the counters and time.
Also I keep a good stack of newspapers available for a handy trivet when I take some thing out of the oven and don't want to put the hot pan or plate on my counter.
A plastic throw away knife to run around the edges of a cake or muffins to help it easily release after baking. It does not scratch the pan. esp non stick pans.

@Flatbush 60 years old, and I learned something new today! I am headed to the kitchen right now to try the alcohol on my stove knobs. And I use clothespins in the kitchen to clip chip bags...heck, any kind of bag, so now I am going to use them to hold up my sleeves. Goodbye, wet sleeves! Thank you for posting!

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

catter70 — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:17:27 GMT

Straight bladed screwdriver for opening pop tops and clothes pins for closing chip bags, etc.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:15:38 GMT

@frenchie wrote:
I use an adjustable wrench to open soda and juice bottles. Also on the cat food pull tab cans. They kill my fingers. I use an exacto knife to open boxes, Q or Amazon. We get plenty of those don't we? I wish they made products as well as the glue on packaging.

I use a wrench too especially if I can't find one of the many rubber jar opener thingies I have all over.

Maybe all the research and development goes into the glue😉

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:18:27 GMT

@Marsha2003 wrote:
The only thing I can think of is how I use the sponge scrubber on a stick that's meant for cleaning bathtubs and showers. I use it dry to pick up dust and hair from the bathroom floor. It works much better than a broom and doesn't require pulling the vaccuum out of the closet.

That's Great!

I have maybe three inches on either side of the toilet. It's between the sink and tub and that will be perfect! Thanks.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:24:33 GMT

@Flatbush wrote:
I use cotton balls with a bit of alcohol on it to clean the mungy film on my stove controls and refrigerator handles. Also use it to clean the munge on the fan above the stove.
Clothes pins to hold my sleeves up when I am cooking or washing dishes and also to hold back curtains so they stay clean when they brush against the screens if the windows are open.
I save old newspapers on counters to use when I am chopping or peeling vegetables and fruits.Then I wrap the peelings etc. up and pitch it in the garbage.Saves me cleaning the counters and time.
Also I keep a good stack of newspapers available for a handy trivet when I take some thing out of the oven and don't want to put the hot pan or plate on my counter.
A plastic throw away knife to run around the edges of a cake or muffins to help it easily release after baking. It does not scratch the pan. esp non stick pans.

@Flatbush

WOW! What great ideas.

Will use all of them especially the clothes pins for sleeves. My sleeves end up wetter then the dish rag.

Thanks!!!

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

SilleeMee — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 13:29:11 GMT

Binder clips I use for this:

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

deeva — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 19:30:57 GMT

I use rubber gloves to open stubborn caps and jar lids.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Twins Mom — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 04:27:40 GMT

I use a chop stick to get in the corners of window tracks when washing windows.

The metal ties on coffee bags are good alternative to rubber bands when binding electric cords on appliances.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

J Town Girl — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 21:55:22 GMT

I got this hint from a YouTuber who runs a cleaning company. I line my bathtub with old bath towels so it won't get scratched then I place my dirty oven racks on top of the towels. I fill the bathtub with very hot water and then add a cup of powdered dishwasher detergent. I let them soak for about 6-10 hours.

After the soak I remove the racks and wipe with a damp sponge. It is amazing how the dirty grime from the racks just melts away. I then rinse, dry and just replace in oven.

i wasn't sure how well this tip would work but believe me it does. Now if your racks are heavily caked with grime I'm sure that you would have to scrub them a bit. I don't let mine get too dirty so it works every time.

Let me just add that you need to use old towels that you won't care about getting stained and dirty. I just keep a couple of old towels for that purpose only.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

lynnie61 — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 23:53:22 GMT

@SilleeMee Haha. I thought I was the only one that used binder clips on my toothpaste. I do use clothes pins as bag clips.

I use coffee filters for quick snack like a few crackers, or a cup of popcorn, a few nuts, or dry cereal. Nothing to wash. 200 at the dollar store. A pack lasts forever.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Jo1313 — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 00:13:53 GMT

@lynnie61 wrote:
@SilleeMee Haha. I thought I was the only one that used binder clips on my toothpaste. I do use clothes pins as bag clips.

I use coffee filters for quick snack like a few crackers, or a cup of popcorn, a few nuts, or dry cereal. Nothing to wash. 200 at the dollar store. A pack lasts forever.

I do the same with binder clips..DIL thought I was a genius!!!..LOL

I use a nut cracker to open water/soda bottles.Looks better tha pliers!

New clean gardening gloves with grippy fingers and palms to open jars.

A small bowled spoon for iced tea to get under a lid of a glass jar to pop it.It also works for pop top cans.

Put a a piece of foam pipe insulation.. kind of like a pool noodle in the space between car seats to fill in the gap..

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 12:24:03 GMT

@lynnie61

I used coffee filters for that too!

Sometimes I'll put one in the bottom of a flower pot to keep the dirt in.

@lynnie61 wrote:
@SilleeMee Haha. I thought I was the only one that used binder clips on my toothpaste. I do use clothes pins as bag clips.

I use coffee filters for quick snack like a few crackers, or a cup of popcorn, a few nuts, or dry cereal. Nothing to wash. 200 at the dollar store. A pack lasts forever.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Chopsmom — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 12:26:10 GMT

@Jo1313 wrote:
@lynnie61 wrote:
@SilleeMee Haha. I thought I was the only one that used binder clips on my toothpaste. I do use clothes pins as bag clips.

I use coffee filters for quick snack like a few crackers, or a cup of popcorn, a few nuts, or dry cereal. Nothing to wash. 200 at the dollar store. A pack lasts forever.

I do the same with binder clips..DIL thought I was a genius!!!..LOL

I use a nut cracker to open water/soda bottles.Looks better tha pliers!

New clean gardening gloves with grippy fingers and palms to open jars.

A small bowled spoon for iced tea to get under a lid of a glass jar to pop it.It also works for pop top cans.

Put a a piece of foam pipe insulation.. kind of like a pool noodle in the space between car seats to fill in the gap..

@Jo1313

Great tips! I also use foam pipe insulation to keep boots upright in the closet.

Re: Multi-Use Household Items

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 13:47:01 GMT

@J Town Girl wrote:
I got this hint from a YouTuber who runs a cleaning company. I line my bathtub with old bath towels so it won't get scratched then I place my dirty oven racks on top of the towels. I fill the bathtub with very hot water and then add a cup of powdered dishwasher detergent. I let them soak for about 6-10 hours.

After the soak I remove the racks and wipe with a damp sponge. It is amazing how the dirty grime from the racks just melts away. I then rinse, dry and just replace in oven.

i wasn't sure how well this tip would work but believe me it does. Now if your racks are heavily caked with grime I'm sure that you would have to scrub them a bit. I don't let mine get too dirty so it works every time.

Let me just add that you need to use old towels that you won't care about getting stained and dirty. I just keep a couple of old towels for that purpose only.

....I have never used the bath tub method but in the summer time I spray the racks with easy off oven cleaner and put inside a large garbage bag and sit out side in th sun...scrub and spray off with the hose.