Extraordinarily Ordinary

Extraordinary Uses for 16 Ordinary Household Items

TOOTHPASTE

1.  Remove crayon marks.  Squirt a small dab of non-gel toothpaste on the wall where the mark is. Rub gently with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.

2.  Deodorize hands.  Can't get garlic or onion odor off your hands? Wash them with a blob of toothpaste.

3.  Whiten sneakers.  Clean rubber soles by rubbing scuff marks with an old toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste.

4.  Buff a DVD.  Get rid of light scratches by squeezing a little non-gel toothpaste onto a cotton ball. Wipe over the DVD from the center out to the edge. Rinse with water and dry with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth - all gone.

5.  Defog goggles.  Coat the inside of swimming goggles with toothpaste, then wipe off. They'll be crystal clear.

RUBBER BANDS

1.  Identify a bottle.  Wrap a rubber band around a shampoo bottle and you'll be able to tell it's not a conditioner, even if your eyes are filled with suds.

2.  Neaten thread.  Keep spools of thread from unraveling by wrapping them with a rubber band.

3.  Hold a lid.  Prevent a potluck disaster - secure the lid of the dish by stretching a band over the top.

4.  Grip a tool.  Wrap a rubber band around the handle of a hammer or screwdriver for a firmer grip.

5.  Extend your pants.  Hook a rubber band through the button hole and secure the other side to the button for an extra half-inch of breathing room.

NAIL POLISH

1.  Secure a screw.  Tighten loose screws on cabinets or pot handles by brushing some clear nail polish on screw threads. Insert the screw and let dry before using again. (Bonus - polish also keeps them from rusting.)

2. Stop tarnish. Keep costume jewelry from turning black with a coat of clear polish.

3.  Seal an envelope.  Worried about whether the glue will hold? Brush polish on the underside of the flap.

4.  Mend a screen.  Stop a small hole (no bigger than 1/3 inch in diameter) from getting any bigger by brushing a little clear nail polish over the spot.

5. Smooth a hanger.  If there are rough edges on wooden or plastic hangers that could snag clothes, don't throw the hangers out. Just brush polish over the imperfections.

TAPE

1. Protect your wall.  Put a small piece on the spot where you're going to hammer in a nail. This keeps paint from chipping.

2. Tame scratchy clothes.  Annoyed by a shirt label rubbing the back of your neck? Tape down the label so it lies flat.

3. Save a button.  If threads are becoming loose, put a small piece over them to hold the button in place.

4.  Unstick plastic wrap.  Can't find the end of the roll? Lift it up with a piece touched to the edge.

5. Steady a candle.  Fit it snugly in the holder by wrapping a few layers around the bottom to secure it.

DRYER SHEETS

1.  Deodorize shoes.  Tuck a dryer sheet into smelly sneakers or shoes (gum bags and suitcases too!) over night to eliminate odors.

2. Clean stuck-on gunk.  Put a fresh sheet in a pan with baked-on food and fill with water. Let sit for a few hours and the food will easily wipe away.

3.  Freshen up the shower.  Rub shower doors and walls with a wet sheet to remove minderal deposits and soap scum.

4.  Ease sewing.  Run a threaded needle through a sheet before sewing; it helps keep thread from tangling.

5.  Tame hair.  Calm static electricity and flyaways by quickly running a dryer sheet over unruly hair.

HAIR DRYER

1.  Remove crayon marks or wax spills.  Blow-dry the stain on high heat until the was melts, then wipe it up with a sponge.

2. "Iron" out plastic tablecloth or shower curtain.  Hot air on plastic relaxes pesky wrinkles. Be sure the hold drying 12" away.

3. Set frosting or icing. Want your cake or cookies to look perfect? Cool air helps harden icing; hot air brightens a dull glaze.

4. Unstick a photo.  Blow warm air on the back of the photo album page while working the photo on the other side free.

5.  Dust hard-to-reach places.  Point a dryer set on cool at those shelves and corners, and blow the dust right off.

HAND LOTION

1.  Get rid of winter clothing static.  Put a small amount on your hands and rub them over your clothing or pantyhose.

2. Polish shoes.  In a pinch, a little bit of lotion buffed with a cloth salves the leather and makes shoes shine.

3.  Moisturize under your gloves.  Store a tube of it near your gloves, and smooth some onto your hands every time you pull them on.

4. Get rid of frizz.  Spread a little over fingertips (not directly on hair) and scrunch your fingers through the frizz.

5.  Shave.  Grab a bottle of lotion as a stand-in to shaving cream. Bonus: Your legs stay moisturized afterward.

CORNSTARCH

1. Slide rubber gloves on and off.  Sprinkle inside gloves before you put them on so they won't stick.

2. Freshen you feet.  Shake a bit into socks to absorb moisture and help prevent blisters.

3. Get cooking grease off a wall.  Put on a cloth and rub the spot until the mark is gone.

4. Squelch a squeaky floor.  Sprinkle a little between the boards to quiet it down.

5. Detangle a knot.  Rub some into stubborn knots in shoelaces, string, chain necklaces, etc. Works like magic.

PETROLEUM JELLY

1. Protect your pet. If your cat's or dog's paw pads are cracked and dry, rub a little petroleum jelly on them to soothe the discomfort.

2. Wipe away water marks.  Dab with petroleum jelly and let sit for 24 hours. Wipe off the excess and polish furniture as usual.

3. Loosen up outdoor lightbulbs. Dirt and dust can cause outdoor bulbs to stick. Rub a little petroleum jelly on the threads of the bulb before you screw it in and it won't stick in the future.

4. Sideline a squirrel.  Coat the pole of a bird feeder and squirrels won't be able to get at the food.

5. Neaten your nail job.  Dab it on the skin around nails before polishing. If you make a mistake, the polish will easily wipe away.

COFFEE FILTERS

1. Clean mirrors, windows and wine glasses.  Put your hand inside like a mitt and wipe. Filters are lint-free and leave no streaks.

2. Catch drips and crumbles.  Have kids use for cookies and other messy foods. Pop ice cream sticks through a hole in the bottom.

3. Line flowerpots.  Put a filter inside the pot to stop soil from leaking through the drainage holes on the bottom.

4. Protect your china.  Keep your best dishes chip and scratch free by putting a filter between each piece when stacking.

5. Save the wine after you've broken the cork.  If you pour the wine through a filter, you'll catch the lost pieces of cork.

SALT

1. Veggie wash.  Remove dirt from greens like spinach, arugula and kale by swirling them around in a bowl of salt water.

2. Keep windows frost-free.  Rub the inside of windows with a sponge dipped in salt water and frost won't collect.

3. Banish bubbles.  Get rid of excess suds when handwashing garments in the sink or doing the dishes by sprinkling them with a pinch of salt.

4. Clean a greasy pan.  Shaking a little salt on the pan before washing absorbs most of the grease.

5. Fix a sticky iron.  To remove gunk spots, sprinkle a little salt on a piece of brown paper and run the hot iron over it. Repeat if necessary.

6. Remove water marks from wood surfaces.  Make water marks disappear by making a paste of salt and cooking oil. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a sponge; let sit for a few minutes. Wipe with a soft cloth and polish as usual.

DISPOSABLE CUPS

1. Raise your centerpiece.  Turn four small cups upside down to elevate the centerpiece (push them together to hide them).

2. Make a string of lanterns.  Have kids decorate plastic cups. Then take a strand of lights and pop each light through the bottom of a cup.

3. Save yourself dishwashing. Put out a permanent marker and have guests write their name on their cup to keep track of it.

4. Set Jell-O fast.  Follow the speed-set instructions on the box; pour into small paper cups and refrigerate. It'll be ready in 20 minutes.

5. Make a sifter.  Poke holes in a cup bottom to sprinkle powered sugar on desserts. Just toss it when you're done.

VINEGAR

1. Clean a coffeemaker. Get rid of stains and mineral deposits by filling the reservoir with 1 part white vinegar, 2 parts water and brewing. Repeat every three weeks.

2. Prevent colors from running.  To keep new clothes or towels from losing color, soak them in 1 part vinegar, 1 part cold water for 15 minutes before washing.

3. Kill grass and weeds.  Pour vinegar on upshots between bricks and flagstones. The acidic component kills young weeds in one dousing.

4. Freshen wilted vegetables.  Perk up soggy leafy veggies by soaking them in 2 cups cold water mixed with 1 Tbsp. vinegar for 10 minutes. Rinse, dry and serve.

5. Avoid moldy cheese.  Soak a cloth in vinegar, wrap it around hard cheese and seal in a airtight container or ziplock bag. The vinegar prevents mold spores.

WAX PAPER

1. Protect pans.  Put a sheet between cast-iron pans when stacking them. The thin coat of wax prevents rust.

2. Store candles.  Roll colored candles in sheets of wax paper and twist ends to seal. They won't get nicked up or scuffed when they're placed in drawers.

3. Shine a faucet.  Rub chrome fixtures after cleaning to prevent water spots and finger smudges.

4. Clean a handheld can opener.  Run a piece of wax paper through the gears. It loosens dirt and coats them so they run smoothly.

5. Unstick pages. Insert paper between wet pages of a book. When they dry, they'll be good as new.

ZIPLOCK BAGS

1. Make a changing mat.  Tear open the side seams of a gallon-size bag and lay flat for an emergency diaper changing area.

2. Pack accessories.  Organize by category (jewelry, scarves, hosiery) so they're easier to find in  your suitcase.

3. Knead dough.  Use two quart-sized bags as gloves to avoid getting your hands sticky. You can also use a bag to store extra dough.

4. Create a temporary funnel. Improvise a funnel for anything from shampoo to children's beads and glitter.

5. Clean a showerhead.  Pour a little white vinegar in a bag, rubberband it to the showerhead and soak for a half hour.

CHALK

1. Remove stains.  Mark ring-around-the collar stains heavily with chalk before washing. The dust helps absorb the oils, making the stain easier to clean.

2. Stop varnish.  Wrap chalk in cheesecloth and store with silverware. It absorbs moisture and helps prevent tarnishing.

3. Steady a screwdriver.  Rub chalk over the handle of a screwdriver to prevent slipping.

4. Keep ants out.  If ants are trotting into your house, draw chalk lines around their entry points. Many chalks contain calcium carbonate, which ants don't like.

5. Hide cracks.  Cover hairline cracks in walls until you're ready to paint by rubbing over them with a matching color.