Off-lable uses for everyday products?
October 4, 2013 9:39 AM Subscribe
Today I discovered that Mr. Clean Magic Erasers -- which are meant for cleaning scuffs and dirt off of floors and walls -- effortlessly worked on some clean-but-stained melamine bowls I own. What new ways have you discovered to use common household goods and items?
35 new uses
Wacky Uses
Amazon comments.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wacky Uses
Amazon comments.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hairspray is great at removing basic ballpoint ink. Peanut butter dissolves chewing gum.
posted by kimdog at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kimdog at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
White vinegar will clean pretty much anything.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:46 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you have a fireplace or wood stove with glass in front, before you light a fire clean off last night's soot with newspaper. Crumble up a piece, dampen it with water, dip the wet paper in last night's ashes and clean the glass with it. Then wipe with a wet paper towel. Toss both into the fire to dispose. Do this every single time you light a fire and your glass will remain clean.
To clean labels off of bottles use lighter fluid. This was our trick back when I used to clean printers. People would run mailing labels through, they'd get stuck, and we'd get 'em off with lighter fluid. You can buy small bottles of lighter fluid in grocery stores, you don't need to keep a quart of it around your house.
posted by bondcliff at 9:57 AM on October 4, 2013
To clean labels off of bottles use lighter fluid. This was our trick back when I used to clean printers. People would run mailing labels through, they'd get stuck, and we'd get 'em off with lighter fluid. You can buy small bottles of lighter fluid in grocery stores, you don't need to keep a quart of it around your house.
posted by bondcliff at 9:57 AM on October 4, 2013
Sticky glue left over from peeling a sticker off a hard surface can be removed with a pencil eraser.
posted by griphus at 10:03 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by griphus at 10:03 AM on October 4, 2013
Before discarding them after a meal, use dirty paper napkins to wipe grease off frying pans to make washing up a breeze.
posted by Dragonness at 10:04 AM on October 4, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Dragonness at 10:04 AM on October 4, 2013 [4 favorites]
Put Downy Unstoppables in-wash scent boosters in a wax melt and your house will smell like laundry. Strongly like laundry.
posted by lstanley at 10:04 AM on October 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by lstanley at 10:04 AM on October 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
You can use an eraser to clean corrosion off battery contacts on home electronics.
posted by drezdn at 10:08 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by drezdn at 10:08 AM on October 4, 2013
Used fabric softener dryer sheets are good for light dusting.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:10 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:10 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
bars of glycerine soap can also be used for shampoo and shaving cream, saving you money and minimizing your contribution of plastic bottles and metal cans to landfills.
posted by bruce at 10:10 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bruce at 10:10 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
OMG, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and white vinegar have changed my life. I had resigned myself to an existence of alternating bouts of filth and Lady Macbeth-style futile scrubbing, but now I can be reasonably confident that I can get most things presentable again.
If you run out of pot scrubbers, a wad of crumpled aluminum foil will do.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
If you run out of pot scrubbers, a wad of crumpled aluminum foil will do.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh, sort of relevant but Mr. Clean Magic Erasers can be bought a lot cheaper if you just check Amazon (or whatever) for "melamine foam."
posted by griphus at 10:19 AM on October 4, 2013 [23 favorites]
posted by griphus at 10:19 AM on October 4, 2013 [23 favorites]
You can get off brand majick erasers super cheap by searching for Melamine Sponges or Melamine Foam.
posted by 26.2 at 10:21 AM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by 26.2 at 10:21 AM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
When your dog gets sap all over his fur, rub peanut butter into it. The peanut butter will emulsify it and then the dog will do a superlative job of cleaning it off.
posted by HotToddy at 10:25 AM on October 4, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 10:25 AM on October 4, 2013 [7 favorites]
A 50/50 mix of vinegar and Dawn dishwashing detergent in a spray bottle is the best shower cleaner you will ever use.
posted by COD at 10:26 AM on October 4, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by COD at 10:26 AM on October 4, 2013 [7 favorites]
Tractor Supply store pine pellets ($6 for 40lbs) sold for horse bedding instead of Feline Pine cat litter ($19 for 40 lbs).
posted by JujuB at 10:34 AM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by JujuB at 10:34 AM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
Tractor Supply store pine pellets ($6 for 40lbs) sold for horse bedding instead of Feline Pine cat litter ($19 for 40 lbs)
Same with woodstove pellets. (Equine pellets and woodstove pellets and Feline Pine are all the same thing.)
posted by mudpuppie at 10:41 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Same with woodstove pellets. (Equine pellets and woodstove pellets and Feline Pine are all the same thing.)
posted by mudpuppie at 10:41 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
World's Best Cat Litter is suspiciously close to layer crumbles, which is poultry feed. Also available at Tractor Supply, $16 for a 50 lb. bag. Makes sure it's unmedicated and crumbles, not pellets.
posted by jquinby at 10:43 AM on October 4, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 10:43 AM on October 4, 2013 [8 favorites]
Lighter Fluid formulation has changed over the years, so I use coconut oil or a coconut oil based soap instead (Charlie's Soap) to remove label gunk.
Cream of Tartar is a faaaaaaaaab stain remover.
posted by tilde at 10:49 AM on October 4, 2013
Cream of Tartar is a faaaaaaaaab stain remover.
posted by tilde at 10:49 AM on October 4, 2013
WD-40 takes crayon off of walls. Just spray it on, then wipe off with a clean cloth. I like this option better than using magic erasers because it does not remove paint or change the sheen on that part of the wall.
posted by belladonna at 11:07 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by belladonna at 11:07 AM on October 4, 2013
Plastic net bags (the ones that tangerines or babybel cheeses come in) are great pan/vegetable scrubbers. And they're much easier to rinse out than a dedicated scrubbing sponge.
posted by homodachi at 11:48 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by homodachi at 11:48 AM on October 4, 2013
Sunscreen removes Sharpie, and vegetable oil dissolves sticky tape and label goo.
posted by limeonaire at 12:19 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by limeonaire at 12:19 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have turned wire clothes hangers into all manner of ad-hoc tools for poking, hooking, pinching, grasping, and clipping various things. I regard them essentially as a convenient way to store small quantities of number 8 wire.
The only thing they're not very good for is hanging clothes.
posted by pont at 12:45 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
The only thing they're not very good for is hanging clothes.
posted by pont at 12:45 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Melamine foam is also great at cleaning windows. And whiteboards.
posted by gjc at 1:01 PM on October 4, 2013
posted by gjc at 1:01 PM on October 4, 2013
I have turned wire clothes hangers into all manner of ad-hoc tools for poking, hooking, pinching, grasping, and clipping various things.
If you wrap enough masking tape around the ends so they don't poke through the fabric, they make great cheap boning for pocket hoops for historical costumes.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:06 PM on October 4, 2013
If you wrap enough masking tape around the ends so they don't poke through the fabric, they make great cheap boning for pocket hoops for historical costumes.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:06 PM on October 4, 2013
The only thing they're not very good for is hanging clothes.
But since you can turn the hook and hang clothes in unusual places (say, through the louvers of a dressing-room door), that often trumps the fact that clothes don't want to stay on them. That's where clothespins or small-size binder clips come in handy.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:11 PM on October 4, 2013
But since you can turn the hook and hang clothes in unusual places (say, through the louvers of a dressing-room door), that often trumps the fact that clothes don't want to stay on them. That's where clothespins or small-size binder clips come in handy.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:11 PM on October 4, 2013
My mom taught me to clean mirrors and windows with coffee filters... they don't leave lint or streaks behind.
posted by JenMarie at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by JenMarie at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
-Dr. Bronner's Castille Soap (peppermint), will get out any blood stain, just whisk briskly with water
-50/50 hydrogen peroxide and Original Dawn dishwashing detergent will get out any red wine stain, new or old
-white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol makes a great window cleaner, used with coffee filters
posted by nanook at 1:27 PM on October 4, 2013 [4 favorites]
-50/50 hydrogen peroxide and Original Dawn dishwashing detergent will get out any red wine stain, new or old
-white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol makes a great window cleaner, used with coffee filters
posted by nanook at 1:27 PM on October 4, 2013 [4 favorites]
I use magic erasers to remove the printing on my super-cheap translucent face powder so now when I pull it out of my purse it looks like a plain black compact and not a super-cheap translucent face powder. (Water, elbow grease, five minutes and a magic eraser is all you need.)
posted by not.so.hip at 2:51 PM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by not.so.hip at 2:51 PM on October 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
hairspray is great for putting new grips on a bike or motorcycle/scooter!
posted by vespabelle at 2:59 PM on October 4, 2013
posted by vespabelle at 2:59 PM on October 4, 2013
Toothpaste gets dark nail polish stains off nails and fingers. Just rub it in with a nail brush and wash it off.
Speaking of nail polish, if you have thick layered or glitter polish that won't come off, soak a cotton round in polish remover and then secure it to your fingertip with a scrunched up piece of aluminum foil. Let it sit for a few minutes and then remove, dragging the cotton round firmly over the nail as you do. This will get rid of most of the polish. (You will look like a freak while you do this.)
posted by Biblio at 3:00 PM on October 4, 2013
Speaking of nail polish, if you have thick layered or glitter polish that won't come off, soak a cotton round in polish remover and then secure it to your fingertip with a scrunched up piece of aluminum foil. Let it sit for a few minutes and then remove, dragging the cotton round firmly over the nail as you do. This will get rid of most of the polish. (You will look like a freak while you do this.)
posted by Biblio at 3:00 PM on October 4, 2013
Polish a bathroom mirror with a dab of shaving foam on a paper towel and it won't fog up.
posted by essexjan at 4:13 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by essexjan at 4:13 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hand sanitizer works amazingly well to get tree sap off your clothes (let it sit on the sap for a short while).
Really cheap vodka works alarmingly well as a paint brush cleaner.
posted by Pecinpah at 5:11 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Really cheap vodka works alarmingly well as a paint brush cleaner.
posted by Pecinpah at 5:11 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
>I have turned wire clothes hangers into all manner of ad-hoc tools for poking, hooking, pinching, grasping, and clipping various things.
Yes, particularly handy for retrieving lost socks from behind your washer/dryer.
posted by Dragonness at 5:44 PM on October 4, 2013
Yes, particularly handy for retrieving lost socks from behind your washer/dryer.
posted by Dragonness at 5:44 PM on October 4, 2013
Maybe not everyone is as super sensitive to the smell of eggs as I am, but if you have something with that gross egg smell, you can get it off with vodka. Probably any kind of alcohol, but vodka would be the cleanest. Thinks like a pasta maker, or something that comes out of the dishwasher smelling eggy.
posted by HotToddy at 5:46 PM on October 4, 2013
posted by HotToddy at 5:46 PM on October 4, 2013
I keep a box of alcohol wipes (the kind the nurse uses to clean an injection site) around - they work really well for cleaning gummy sticker residue and grease/dirt.
posted by davey_darling at 9:31 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by davey_darling at 9:31 PM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cornstarch or baby powder works as a great dry shampoo.
Rubbing alchohol will get out pen/permanent marker on many surfaces.
Vinegar has hundreds of uses. Look it up. Even works as a deodorizer for the bathroom, hair conditioner.
posted by eq21 at 1:08 AM on October 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Rubbing alchohol will get out pen/permanent marker on many surfaces.
Vinegar has hundreds of uses. Look it up. Even works as a deodorizer for the bathroom, hair conditioner.
posted by eq21 at 1:08 AM on October 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Alcohol wipes will also remove white deodorant marks from clothing.
posted by wiskunde at 7:03 AM on October 5, 2013
posted by wiskunde at 7:03 AM on October 5, 2013
Liquid dish washing soap of the kind that says "with Oxy action" or something similar can help unclog a plugged toilet: after plunging and removing as much water as you can, squirt the soap 3-4 times into the toilet bowl, where it will sink to the bottom. Wait at least 30 mins, then attack with plunger. If you don't sense that the clog is starting to "give," (eg you don't hear gurgling, or the water does not go down, even a little) repeat he process until you do, plunging each time. You can do this 3-4 times. When you sense that it is working, flush the toilet.
This has saved me an expensive plumber visit a couple of times.You can also use it as a preventative, putting a couple of squirts in the toilet and then leaving it for a bit before flushing. I hear it works on clogged drains, too, although I have never tried it myself.
posted by rpfields at 7:09 AM on October 5, 2013
This has saved me an expensive plumber visit a couple of times.You can also use it as a preventative, putting a couple of squirts in the toilet and then leaving it for a bit before flushing. I hear it works on clogged drains, too, although I have never tried it myself.
posted by rpfields at 7:09 AM on October 5, 2013
Put a spoonful of Oxy-Clean in your brown-stained coffee carafe, fill with warm water, put the lid on (loosely) and let it foam for a few minutes. Dump out water that now looks like coffee, and marvel at your shiny new carafe.
posted by bink at 7:13 AM on October 5, 2013
posted by bink at 7:13 AM on October 5, 2013
Vodka, by the way, can also be used as a "secret ingredient" in pie crust. Well I guess it's not much of a secret, but it is sort of surprising.
posted by jquinby at 7:22 AM on October 5, 2013
posted by jquinby at 7:22 AM on October 5, 2013
Gel hand sanitizer will clean ink out of upholstery.
posted by cherrybounce at 9:01 PM on October 5, 2013
posted by cherrybounce at 9:01 PM on October 5, 2013
Rub a candle along a sticky zipper or squeaky, stiff drawers.
Boric acid is great for yeast infections.
Melamine foam takes sharpie marker off skin, but don't rub too much!
Swirl hot water, a little dish soap and uncooked rice to scour gunk from the insides of containers that your hand / sponge / scrubbie-on-a-stick can't fit inside.
Personal lubricant will stop your parts from chafing while jogging.
posted by pajamazon at 9:09 PM on October 5, 2013
Boric acid is great for yeast infections.
Melamine foam takes sharpie marker off skin, but don't rub too much!
Swirl hot water, a little dish soap and uncooked rice to scour gunk from the insides of containers that your hand / sponge / scrubbie-on-a-stick can't fit inside.
Personal lubricant will stop your parts from chafing while jogging.
posted by pajamazon at 9:09 PM on October 5, 2013
Alcohol wipes are great for cleaning smudged phone screens and dirty laptops.
WD-40 is great for loosening the glue on the dumb dealer name decal they slap on the back of the car.
Spray furniture wax where the wooden door is binding (not on the hinge, where wood is rubbing wood) to make it work smoothly.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great (and scent-free) mouthwash mixed 50/50 with water.
posted by zippy at 12:14 AM on October 6, 2013
WD-40 is great for loosening the glue on the dumb dealer name decal they slap on the back of the car.
Spray furniture wax where the wooden door is binding (not on the hinge, where wood is rubbing wood) to make it work smoothly.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great (and scent-free) mouthwash mixed 50/50 with water.
posted by zippy at 12:14 AM on October 6, 2013
Melamine sponges (aka Magic Eraser) are the only thing I've found that gets that soap scum off the glass shower door. I've heard that using shampoo can work, but it's just so easy to use a Magic Eraser! I examined the package and noticed that they ARE indicated for cleaning glass, but I never would have guessed.
posted by Groovymomma at 9:13 AM on October 6, 2013
posted by Groovymomma at 9:13 AM on October 6, 2013
When I worked in a library, we used surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol to clean the laminated book covers, and it was astonishing what dirt came off. I use it to get make-up stains out of my cosmetic bag lining.
posted by mippy at 3:31 AM on October 7, 2013
posted by mippy at 3:31 AM on October 7, 2013
Corroded battery terminals in your car and nothing to clean them with? Pour coffee on them!
posted by klausman at 10:07 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by klausman at 10:07 PM on October 7, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jquinby at 9:40 AM on October 4, 2013 [7 favorites]