Some Odd Uses for Common Things

I am one of those people who try to figure out different ways to use what I have at home.   There are so many uses for common every day things that many don't even think about.  Any time we can find many uses for an item, we are saving ourselves money and time!

Here are a few of my unconventional uses!

• I love baking soda!  So many uses.  I mix baking soda and peroxide together into a paste and use that 2 - 3X a month as a tooth whitener.  Just use as you would toothpaste.  Baking soda is a wonderful cleanser - I use it all the time for cleaning.  I throw some in the with the kitty litter to reduce any odors.  I keep some old and outdated baking soda in the frig and freezer to rid it of food odors.  Pour some baking soda in your drain and top off with vinegar for a great drain cleaner.  Many people add to laundry as a whitener.  **(I use peroxide instead of bleach)
• Vinegar is another multi-functional item.  As stated above, use with b. soda as a drain cleaner.  I use in the rinse cycle of laundry for a fabric softener (no smell when laundry dries).  I use vinegar to soothe the burn from sunburn and often use it to soothe the itch from poison ivy.  It works wonders to clean windows and mirrors.  Once in a great while I use it as a rinse for my hair - it softens my hair and it removes all residue buildup from soap (helps eliminate itchy scalp). (No smell when dry).  I also add a little vinegar to my dish soap to act as a grease cutter.
• Dawn dish soap is another multi use item.  It's not just for dishes any more!  Blue Dawn is a wonderful stain remover for clothes.  I have even used on set in stains and it has removed them ( may need to do it a couple times).  It is good to use with b. soda as a cleanser.  I use it in bug killers and weed killer I make up and spray on flowers and garden and yard - it helps set the mixture on the grass/plants.  I mix with water and spray on certain pest bugs that flock the yard/house in summer.  We get box elders bugs to cover the siding and furniture outside and simply spraying with a mixture of Dawn and water - they instantly die.  I mix vinegar, water and a squirt of Dawn to make my window cleaner.  Shoot I have even used in a pinch to wash my hair and a couple times in a pinch added a squirt or two to do laundry.
• Salt is another great product.  I keep a bottle of salt water in the bathroom all the time and use it anytime I have a blister or sore in my mouth.  It heals almost instantly.  If you have bleeding gums, salt water helps heal that as well.  Glen swore by it.  Recently I was talking with G's aunt about how my face breaks out (been doing this for a couple years).  She said grandma used salt and salt water to heal everything.  I tried it as a rinse on my face after washing and within 2 days it was healed!!!!!  I splash a bit every night on my face and my face has remained blemish free!!!  Amazing.  Sometimes the old ways are the best.  THANKS ROSE! I have even used salt on my toothbrush if running out of toothpaste or baking soda.  If you are dying fabric - add salt to the water to help set the color.
• I keep lids from parmesan  cheese containers and from the glass jar candles to reuse on Mason jars for dry storing.  Lids from peanut butter jars also work on Mason jars.  I also have a neighbor that gives me their individual size pop bottles.  I use those to refill with water (for emergency water storage).  I also use for that salt water I keep in the bathroom.  Squirt bottle lids (like detergent & shampoo) fit them and they make great bottles for shampoo or dish detergent (condensing down from big bottles).  I also cut fresh chives in the summer and drop into a bottle and keep in the freezer.  Whenever I want chives in the winter I simply shake some out.  I refill and make my own individual water bottles, instead of buying bottled water.  I also keep the tops of iodized salt boxes - they can be cut and used on Mason jars under the ring for a pouring jar!

• Epsom salts are good for a variety of things as well.  It works in a nice hot bath to soothe aches and pains and help detox body.  I sometimes sprinkle a bit on a wet wash cloth and use as a scrub.  Depending on how you mix it and what you mix it with - it can also be used as a weed killer or as a plant booster.
• Add liquid coffee to anything you are baking that is chocolate.  Coffee really intensifies the chocolate flavor.  Coffee grounds can be added to your garden/plants and compost for beneficial results.  Grounds can also be added to homemade soap- making a great scrubbing soap.
• Lemon juice added to rice while cooking keeps it from getting sticky.  I always add a splash to cooking rice.  No lemon flavor in the rice.  This really does work.  I like adding a splash of lemon to tea or water for a fresh flavor.  
• If you have old home canned pickles that are limp and soggy - drain and slightly pat dry  and then dehydrate.  After completely dried grind into a powder.  This is a great add to sour cream for a dip - or to add to dressings or salads or salt.  No need to throw things away - find a new use!  I like adding some pickle powder to deviled eggs or to potato salad (it is also good mixed with salt on popcorn!).
• My brother keeps all toilet paper rolls to make seed starter pots.  He cuts them in half and folds in the bottom a bit and starts all his seeds in them.  Just fill with soil and add seed.  They can be placed directly into the garden without disturbing the plants roots!
• I am not a coffee drinker  -  but I do buy instant coffee for my morning blended drink I make (I like mocha flavor).  I keep the bottles and reuse instead of using my Mason jars.  They are great for candy storage (M&M's or any small candy), they are also good for mixes and all dry storage.  I can place items in them for gifting and not be worried about getting them back.  Good for so many things.

• Coconut oil is great and healthier for cooking - but has other uses as well.  It works great for dry skin.  Just a little works wonders and is so healing.  I have had many people tell me they do a hair treatment once a month with it as well for dry hair.  Wash hair, lightly apply coconut oil and cover with a heated towel for a while - wash well and rinse.  Stops brittle hair and breakage.

So there are a few of my uncommon uses for common things.  Do you have any great ideas of using things in a new way?  I am always looking for new ideas.

Any tricks that save time and money using household items?  Ways to reduce waste and reuse items?

Give us a shout out!!!